<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>GA&#7748G&#256 R&#256M</TITLE>
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<p class="C1">&#65279GA&#7748G&#256 R&#256M, an affluent Br&#257hma&#7751 merchant of Ba&#7789hi&#7751&#7693&#257 (30º-14'N, 74º-59'E) now a district town in M&#257lv&#257 region of the Punjab, accepted Sikh faith at the hands of Gur&#363 Arjan. He, according to Bh&#257&#299 Santokh Si&#7749gh, <i>Sr&#299 Gur Prat&#257p S&#363raj Granth</i>, once crossed the Sutlej with a large stock of <i>b&#257jar&#257</i>, a variety of millets. Learning that a vast body of men was at work digging a large tank at Gur&#363 Chakk (present-day Amritsar), he proceeded in that direction hoping to sell his merchandise profitably. At Amritsar, he saw large number of Sikhs engaged in voluntary <i>sev&#257,</i> digging and shovelling and carrying basketfuls of earth on their heads, and, although they had had little to eat owing to Gur&#363 k&#257 La&#7749gar or community kitchen having run short of rations, their pace had not slackened. Ga&#7749g&#257 R&#257m was deeply affected by the Sikhs' zeal and devotion. He turned over his entire stock of grain to the <i>la&#7749gar</i>, and himself joined the devotees in the holy <i>sev&#257.</i> He declined to accept money for the grain he had brought and, instead, humbly supplicated the Gur&#363 to be admitted as a disciple. He stayed on in Amritsar and returned to his village Ba&#7789hi&#7751&#7693&#257 only after the completion of the sacred pool. He devoted his remaining years to meditation and to preaching message of Gur&#363 N&#257nak. His descendant, Bh&#257&#299 M&#363l Chand, became famous for his piety and spiritual powers. M&#363l Chand's shrine at Sun&#257m (30º-7'N, 75º-48'E), in Sa&#7749gr&#363r district of the Punjab, is still visited by devotees of diverse faiths. Ga&#7749g&#257 R&#257m's direct descendants officiate as priests there.</p>
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BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Santokh Si&#7749gh, Bh&#257&#299, <i>Sr&#299 Gur Prat&#257p S&#363raj Granth.</i> Amritsar, 1927-33<BR>
<li class="C1"> Satib&#299r Si&#7749gh, <i>Paratakhu Hari.</i> Jalandhar, 1982<BR>
</ol><p class="CONT">T&#257ran Si&#7749gh<br></p><BR>
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