Bhai Mani Singh Ji was born on 10 March 1644 AD in Muzaffargarh (Pakistan) of Alipore district to Bhai Mai Das and Bibi Madhri Bai. They were married in 1659 AD. Born to the daughter of Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara.
1657 AD Bhai Mani Singh came to Kiratpur Sahib with his father to visit Guru Har Rai Sahib. After the passing away of Guru Har Rai Sahib, he engaged in the service of Guru Har Krishan. After the death of Guru Har Krishan Sahib in Delhi, he came to Baba Bakala to serve Guru Tegh Bahadur.
Bhai Mani Singh's grandfather Ballu Rai was a general in the army of Guru Hargobind and was martyred in Amritsar in 1628 AD while fighting the Mughals. Bhai Mani Singh now had 12 brothers. Of these, 11 were martyred. Out of ten sons of Bhai Mani Singh, seven sons and ten grandchildren were martyred. Bhai Bachittar Singh, who competed with a drunken elephant, was the son of Guru Sahib. In addition, on the banks of the river Sarsa, Bhai Sahib's son Udai Singh rescued Bhai Ajit Singh. Bhai Anak Singh, Bhai Ajab Singh, Bhai Ajaib Singh were martyred in the battle of Chamkaur Sahib.
From 1705 to 1706 AD, Guru Gobind Singh had the Bir of Guru Granth Sahib written by Bhai Mani Singh at Talwandi Sabo (Damdama Sahib). When Guru Tegh Bahadur went to Delhi to be martyred, he left Bhai Mani Singh with Guru Gobind Ji at Anandpur. At the request of Mata Sundari, he was appointed the third Head Granthi after Bhai Gurdas Ji at Darbar Sahib, Amritsar.
Manvir Singh Khalsa said that At the behest of the government, Suba Zakariya Khan had imposed so many restrictions on every religion that no religion could perform any ritual of its own accord. Bhai Mani Singh decided to celebrate Diwali in Amritsar in association with the Sikh Sangat. When a letter was sent to Zakariya Khan for approval, he said that if he wanted to celebrate Diwali in Amritsar, the government would have to pay Rs 5,000 as tax. Bhai Mani Singh agreed to pay the tax. But Zakariya Khan ordered the army to kill the Sangat gathered on Diwali. When the news reached Bhai Mani Singh, he canceled his decision to celebrate Diwali in Amritsar. The Sangat, which had traveled from afar, was stopped on the way. Some of the Sangat that had arrived retreated and some were killed in clashes with the troops.
When the government demanded Rs. 5,000 from Bhai Mani Singh, Bhai Mani Singh said, "If Diwali is not celebrated then why to pay taxes." Brought to Lahore. Here Bhai Mani Singh was asked to convert to Islam. But in the Sikh etiquette, the Puran Gursikh accepted to endure oppression. The Mughal government ordered that Bhai Mani Singh be tortured to death.
On 24 June 1734, at the age of 90, Bhai Mani Singh was hacked to death. His shrine is in front of Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj, near the railway station, Lahore. The place of this great martyr remained in Pakistan at the time of partition, so we are deprived of service and prostration.
Even today when we pray “Those Singhs who gave their heads for the sake of religion, cut off their heads Khalsa Ji by paying attention to their earnings! Please speak! Vahiguru ”When every Sikh hears this letter in Ardas, the picture of Bhai Mani Singh Ji's martyrdom comes before his face. According to Bhai Manvir Singh, The martyrdom of Bhai Mani Singh Ji holds a very important place in Sikhism.
