<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>VAST&#298 R&#256M BH&#256&#298 (1708-1802)</TITLE>
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<p class="C1">&#65279VAST&#298 R&#256M, BH&#256&#298 (1708-1802), was son of Bh&#257&#299 Bul&#257k&#257 Si&#7749gh, who is said to have accompanied Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh to the South in 1707 from where he returned with his blessings to settle in Lahore. Vast&#299 R&#257m lived through the long period of persecution the Sikhs endured and their eventual rise to political power in the Punjab. He devoted himself to the study of medicine, and became famous for his skill in the use of indigenous herbs. He was deeply religious and God-fearing, and treated his patients free of charge. Stories of his healing power and of his piety spread far and wide, and he came to be credited with supernatural powers. To say nothing of the common people, he was visited by important Sikh chiefs who came to seek his blessings. Among his frequent visitors were Jass&#257 Si&#7749gh &#256hl&#363v&#257l&#299&#257 and the Bha&#7749g&#299 <i>sard&#257rs</i>, Lahi&#7751&#257 Si&#7749gh, Gujjar Si&#7749gh, Ga&#7751&#7693&#257 Si&#7749gh and Jha&#7751&#7693&#257 Si&#7749gh. Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh himself became an ardent devotee early in his career. He often used to say that it was due to Vast&#299 R&#257m's blessings that he came out successful in the battle of Bhas&#299n (1800), which confirmed him in the possession of Lahore.</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bh&#257&#299 Vast&#299 R&#257m died in 1802 at the ripe age of 94. A marble <i>sam&#257dh</i> was raised near the Lahore Fort at the spot where he was cremated. Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh used to visit it on the occasion of his death anniversary.</p>
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BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> S&#363r&#299, Sohan L&#257l, <i>'Umd&#257t ut-Tw&#257r&#299<u>kh</u></i>. Lahore, 1885- 89<BR>
<li class="C1"> Kirpal Singh, <i>Bhai Vasti Ram and Bhai Ram Singh</i>. Amritsar, n.d.<BR>
<li class="C1"> Chopra, Barkat Rai, <i>Kingdom of the Punjab</i>. Hoshiarpur, 1969<BR>
</ol><p class="CONT">J. S. Khur&#257n&#257<br></p><BR>
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