GURBAṄSĀVALĪ, by Saundhā (variously Saundhā Siṅgh), is a chronology in verse of the Gurūs and of their families. The author, a contemporary and for some time an employee of Mahārājā Raṇjīt Siṅgh was a Sandhū Jaṭṭ of the Lahore district. His father was Chaudharī Hem Rāj, and his elder brother, Hīrā Siṅgh, was the founder of the Nakaī family. Among his other works are Amrit Mahimā, Gur Ustati, Parsaṅg Pātshāhī Dasvīṅ and Hātimnāmā, besides several independent poems.

         The Gurbaṅsāvālī which is more a good piece of literature than a document of historical information starts with homage to the Gurūs. The author records that Gurū Nānak, son of Kālū Mehtā and Mātā Triptā, was a Bedī Khatrī. The Gurū had two sons, Srī Chand and Lakhmī Dās. He lived up to the age of 70 years, 5 months and 7 days.

         Gurū Nānak's spiritual successor, Gurū Aṅgad, was of the Trehaṇ sub-caste. He was married to Khīvī and had two sons, Dāsū and Dātū. The author does not mention the Gurū's two daughters, Bībī Amaro and Anokhī. His time is computed to be 12 years, 6 months and 9 days. Similar accounts are presented of the Gurūs following.

         Written in simple verse, which is a mixture of Hindi and Punjabi, the work has been included, after minor editing, in Gurpranālīāṅ published by the Shiromaṇī Gurdwārā Parbandhak Committee in 1964.

Bhagat Siṅgh