Dharam Singh (Punjabi: ਧਰਮ ਸਿੰਘ (Gurmukhi); 1666–1708), born as Dharam Das, was one of the original Panj Pyare or the Five Beloved, the forerunners of the Khalsa.

Biography

He was the son of Chaudhary Sant Ram and Mai Sabho of the village Hastinapur (modern-day Meerut District, Uttar Pradesh, India). He was born into the Saini Hindu caste. Originally said to be fourth position of the inaugural group of Panj Pyare according to older historical sources, he was upgraded to second in-position by later sources.

Dharam Singh reunited with and accompanied the Guru in the Malwa region in the aftermath of the Second Battle of Chamkaur. He, alongside Bhai Daya Singh, were the two Sikhs entrusted with delivering the Guru's Zafarnama letter to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. They were dispatched from either Kangar village, Bathinda or Dina village, Moga, for this purpose.

He was seen as the reincarnation of Bhagat Dhanna in early Sikh literature.

Further reading

  • Kuir Singh, Gurbilas Patshahi 10. Patiala, 1968
  • Chhibbar, Kesar Singh, Bansavalinama Das Patshahian Ka. Chandigarh, 1972
  • Santokh Singh, Bhai, Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar 1926-37
  • Macauliffe, Max Arthur, The Sikh Religion. Oxford, 1909
  • Harbans Singh, Guru Gobind Singh. Chandigarh, 1966