ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>B&#256B&#256</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="BB"> <META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279B&#256B&#256, a Persian word meaning 'father' or 'grandfather', is used among Sikhs as a title of affection and reverence. In its original Persian context, B&#257b&#257 is a title used for superiors of the Qalandar order of the S&#363f&#299s, but as transferred to India its meaning extends to cover the old as well as any <i>faq&#299r</i> or <i>sanny&#257s&#299</i> of recognized piety. This was also one of Gur&#363 N&#257nak's honorific titles during his lifetime. It assumed a hereditary character and all the physical descendants of the Gur&#363s were generally addressed by this title. Apart from them, the title was also applied to one who combined piety with the exercise of a secular authority. The founder of the Pa&#7789i&#257l&#257 city and the progenitor of its royal house is commonly known as <i>B&#257b&#257</i> &#256l&#257 Si&#7749gh. One most revered name in Sikh history is that of the long-lived <i>B&#257b&#257</i> Bu&#7693&#7693h&#257 (1506-1631), a Sikh of Gur&#363 N&#257nak's time, who anointed with his hands five succeeding Gur&#363s. Beyond the orthodox ranks of the Panth, the title is also applied to the leaders of sects which claim to exist within the community or to have strong links with it.</p> </ol><p class="CONT">W. H. McLeod<br></p><BR> </font> <img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""> </HTML></BODY>