KALIĀṆĀ, BHĀĪ, a prominent and learned Sikh of the time of Gurū Arjan. The Gurū once sent him to the hill country, present-day Himāchal Pradesh, to raise funds and bring timber for the holy Harimandar, then being built at Amritsar. When Kaliāṇā arrived at Maṇḍī, the capital of a hill state of the same name, he found that it was Janam Aṣṭamī, the birth anniversary of Lord Kṛṣṇa, prolcaimed by the ruler, Rājā Harī Sen, to be observed by the entire population as a day of fasting. Bhāī Kaliāṇā and the Sikhs accompanying him did not consider themselves bound by the prince's fiat in a purely religious matter and did not observe the fast. He was pulled up by the Rājā for the "sacrilege," but he argued against compulsion in matters of faith so convincingly that Rājā Harī Sen became interested to know more about the Sikhs and their Gurū. He not only helped Bhāī Kaliāṇā with whatever he needed, but also accompanied him back to Amritsar. He paid obeisance to Gurū Arjan and received instruction at his hands.

         Bhāī Kaliāṇā, according to Bhāī Santokh Siṅgh, Srī Gur Pratāp Sūraj Granth, was among those who were specially blessed by Gurū Arjan for their dedication and piety and who enjoyed a place of honour in his retinue. Bhāī Kaliāṇā had the privilege of being included in the (Gurū) Hargobind's marriage party travelling to the village of Ḍallā in 1604.