KellyeZimmermann at 08:23, 6 May 2026

2026-05-06T08:23:39Z

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{{Short description|Sikh princess (1718–1789)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}

'''Pardhan Kaur''' (1718–1789) was a [[Women in Sikhism|Sikh woman]] from the ruling [[Phulkian dynasty]] of [[Patiala State|Patiala]] who became a religious figure.<ref name=":722">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Kirpal |url=http://archive.org/details/BabaAlaSingh |title=Baba Ala Singh: Founder of Patiala Kingdom |publisher=Guru Nanak Dev University |year=2005 |edition=2nd |location=Amritsar |pages=124–126}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Bhagat |title=A History of the Sikh Misls |publisher=Publication Bureau, Punjabi University |year=1993 |pages=309}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Mann |first=Gurinder Singh |title=Sikhism |publisher=Prentice Hall |isbn=9780130409775 |pages=105 |quote=In the post-Guru period, Bibi Pradhan Kaur (d. 1789), daughter of Baba Ala Singh, the founder of the Patiala dynasty, is known for her spirituality and for the school for children she started at Barnala, which was open until recently.}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Kaur |first=Bhupinder |title=Status of Women in Sikhism |publisher=Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee |year=2000 |pages=24–25}}</ref> She was the daughter of Ala Singh, founder of Patiala. She later became the disciple of Nikka Singh. She founded five dharamshalas across Punjab.
== Life ==
She was the daughter of [[Ala Singh]], the first ruler of [[Patiala State|Patiala]], and [[Mai Fatto]].<ref name=":722" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> She had three brothers, Sardul Singh, Bhuma Singh, and Lal Singh.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Seetal |first=Sohan Singh |title=The Sikh Misals and the Punjab States |publisher=Lahore Book Shop |year=1981 |pages=91, 101}}</ref> She was married to Sham Singh Randhawa of Ramdas village in Amritsar district.{{Efn|Some sources give the name of her husband as 'Mohar Singh Randhawa'.|group=note}}<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Bhatia |first=Sardar Singh |title=PARDHĀN KAUR (1718-1792) |url=https://eos.learnpunjabi.org/PARDHAN%20KAUR%20(1718-1792).html |access-date=10 April 2026 |website=Encyclopedia of Sikhism (Online Edition) |publisher=Punjabi University, Patiala}}</ref> However, she became widowed shortly after and returned to her parental home.<ref name=":0" /> Other sources claim the couple had given birth to a son named Bhup Singh, who died in childbood, with the couple fighting afterwards and becoming separated after the husband took-on a second wife.<ref name=":722" /><ref name=":5" />

After her return to her parental home at Barnala, Pardhan became more religious.<ref name=":722" /><ref name=":5" /> Her father, Ala Singh, granted her a ''[[jagir]]'' estate and dispatched a knowledgeable [[Nirmala (sect)|Nirmala]] named Bhai Nikka Singh (disciple of Bhai Langar Singh) to guide Pardhan Kaur regarding the [[Guru Granth Sahib]], teaching her both Sanskrit and Punjabi.<ref name=":722" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |title=Punjab History Conference: 26th Session: Papers, Volume 1 |publisher=Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University |year=1995 |pages=172}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> Pardhan Kaur offered the ''patta'' of a land-grant of thirty villages to Nikka Singh.<ref name=":4" /> A ''[[Dera (organization)|dera]]'' and ''[[gurdwara]]'' were established by for Bhai Nikka Singh.<ref name=":722" /> Bhai Nikka Singh was succeeded by Bhai Gandha Singh.<ref name=":722" /> Pardhan Kaur founded a Sikh religious school (''pathshala'') for children at Barnala.<ref name=":722" /><ref name=":5" /> She also established a [[Langar (Sikhism)|langar]].<ref name=":5" /> It is said that she authored a Bhakha commentary on the Sanskrit work ''Yoga Vaśiṣṭha.''<ref name=":5" /> The motto used in her personal seal was ''nām jape seī pardhān'' ("he alone who spends his time repeating God's Name is the ranked one").<ref name=":5" /> At least five dharamshalas were constructed by her, namely at [[Barnala]], [[Malerkotla]], [[Jagraon]], [[Raikot]], and [[Patiala]].<ref name=":5" />

She also played a role, alongside Rani Khem Kaur, Thamman Singh Dhaliwal, and Hamir Singh, in the imprisonment of the ''diwan'' Nanu Mal.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sandhu |first=Jaspreet Kaur |title=Sikh Ethos: Eighteenth Century Perspective |publisher=Vision & Venture |year=2000 |isbn=9788186769126 |pages=72}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=The Panjab Past and Present |publisher=Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University |year=1985 |volume=19 |pages=32–33 |quote=... Bibi Pardhan Kaur, grand-aunt of Raja Sahib Singh and some others got him [Diwan Nanu Mal] arrested as he was lying at Anandpur where he was wounded by Khurram Beg and sent him a prisoner to Patiala.}}</ref><ref name=":3" />

Pardhan died in 1789.<ref name=":722" /> According to Sardar Singh Bhatia, she died in 1792 at [[Sekha]].<ref name=":5" />

== Legacy ==
A ''[[Samadhi (shrine)|samadh]]'' dedicated to her can be found at Sekha.<ref name=":5" /> The school established by her at Barnala continued in-operation for a long time but recently closed.<ref name=":722" /><ref name=":1" /> The ''[[Dharamshala (type of building)|dharamshala]]'' she had constructed at Barnala for Bhai Nikka Singh is now Dera Baba Gandha Singh.<ref name=":5" />

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
<references />

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1718 births]]
[[Category:1789 deaths]]
[[Category:Patiala State]]
[[Category:18th-century Indian women]]
[[Category:18th-century Indian royalty]]
[[Category:People from Patiala]]

Bibi Pardhan Kaur - Revision history

KellyeZimmermann at 08:23, 6 May 2026