ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>MAHESH&#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="MAHESH,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">&#65279MAHESH&#256, BH&#256&#298, or Bh&#257&#299 Mahes&#257, a rich and influential Dh&#299r Khatr&#299 of Sult&#257npur Lodh&#299, in present-day Kap&#363rthal&#257 district of the Punjab, once waited upon Guru Amar D&#257s and begged to be initiated a Sikh. The Gur&#363, says Sar&#363p D&#257s Bhall&#257, <i>Mahim&#257 Prak&#257sh</i>, pointed out to him that to be a true Sikh he would have to forsake his love of the riches. "For", added Gur&#363 Amar D&#257s, "if the riches forsake you, you may be laughed at for being poorly rewarded for your change of faith." Mahesh&#257 was firm in his resolve and received the rites of initiation at the Gur&#363's hands. It so happened that Bh&#257&#299 Mahesh&#257 did suffer heavy losses and became a poor man, ridiculed by others as the Gur&#363 had predicted. But he did not waver in his faith. After some time he regained his former position. He retained the equanimity of his mind in both circumstances, in adversity as well as in affluence. Gur&#363 Amar D&#257s was pleased at his steadfastness and he bestowed on him the headship of a <i>mañj&#299</i> or preaching district.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Bhall&#257, Sar&#363p D&#257s, <i>Mahim&#257 Prak&#257sh</i>. Patiala, 1971<BR> <li class="C1"> Santokh Si&#7749gh, Bh&#257&#299, <i>Sr&#299 Gur Prat&#257p S&#363raj Granth</i>. Amritsar, 1927-35<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Balb&#299r Si&#7749gh Dil<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>