ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>HEM&#256 BH&#256&#298</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="HEM,BH*"> <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">&#65279HEM&#256, BH&#256&#298, a devout Sikh of <u>Kh</u>&#257npur, a village now known as <u>Kh</u>&#257n Chh&#257pr&#299, 8 km west of Goindv&#257l (30º-22'N, 75º-9'E) in Amritsar district of the Punjab, who would extend the hospitality of his humble thatched hut, <i>chhapr&#299</i> in Punjabi, to any Sikh or holy man. Once, during the winter season, Gur&#363 Arjan, while travelling through the countryside with a few attendants, was suddenly caught in rain and storm near <u>Kh</u>&#257npur. As records the author of the <i>Gurbil&#257s P&#257tsh&#257h&#299 Chhev&#299&#7749</i>, his attendants knocked at the doors of several well-built mansions, but none opened to give them shelter. The Gur&#363 then took them to Bh&#257&#299 Hem&#257's hut. It was an unexpected delight for Hem&#257 to receive and serve the Gur&#363. He gave the Gur&#363 the only blanket he had, and himself, exposed under the leaking roof, prepared a frugal fare which he adoringly served to the holy guest and his Sikhs. Gur&#363 Arjan was very pleased and composed, extempore, the hymn beginning with the lines : "Handsome and prosperous is the thatched hut in which God's praises are recited; useless, utterly useless are the mansions where He is not remembered." (GG, 745).</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Bh&#257&#299 Hem&#257 was taken ill owing to sudden exposure in the cold night. Gur&#363 Arjan stayed with him during his sickness. But Hem&#257 did not survive and died, as had been his wish, in the Gur&#363's arms. The Gur&#363 himself performed the obsequies.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"><i>Gurbil&#257s P&#257tsh&#257h&#299 Chhev&#299&#7749</i>. Patiala, 1970<BR> <li class="C1"> Gi&#257n Si&#7749gh, Gi&#257n&#299, <i>Tw&#257r&#299<u>kh</u> Gur&#363 <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257</i> [Reprint]. Patiala, 1970<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">T&#257ran Si&#7749gh<br></p><BR> </font> <img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""> </HTML></BODY>