Bani written by the Bhats is recorded under the title of 'Savaiyye.'

 

'Bhata de Savaiyye' is the name given to the composition of the Bhats included in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (pp.1389-1409)

From the 17 Bhats whose compositions figure in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Bhai Bhikha, son of Bhai Rayya, was a resident of Sultan Lodhi and a follower of Guru Amar Das. Of the total 123 savaiyye in the Guru Granth Sahib two are of his composition, both in praise of Guru Amar Das.

Of the remaining 16 Bhat contributors 4 are Bhai Bhikha's sons, Bhai Kalh, who is reckoned to be the most learned of all the Bhats, has 53 savaiyye, 10 in praise of Guru Nanak, 9 each in praise of Guru Angad and Guru Amar Das, 13 in praise of Guru Ram Das and 12 in praise of Guru Arjan, Bhai Jalap who had migrated to Goindval with his father has 4 savaiyye to his name which are all in praise of Guru Amar Das. Bhai Kirat (d.1634) has 8 savaiyye, 4 each in praise of Guru Amar Das and Guru Ram Das; and Bhai Mathura ( d.1634) 12, all in praise of Guru Ram Das.

Bhai Salh who has 3 savaiyye extolling the pre-eminence of Guru Amar Das(1) and Guru Ram Das (2), and Bhai Bhalh who has one savaiyye in praise of Guru Amar Das were the sons of Bhai Sekha, a brother of Bhai Rayya.

Bhai Bhalh who has also 5 savaiyye stressing the spiritual oneness of the Gurus was the son of Bhai Tokha, another brother of Bhai Rayya.

Bhai Haribans, the eldest son of Bhai Gokha, a brother of Bhai Rayya, has 2 savaiyye both in praise of Guru Arjan dev.

Bhai Nalh has 5 savaiyye all in praise of Guru Ram Das.

Bhai Das, also spelt as Dasu or Dasi, has composed 10 savaiyye including one written conjointly with Bhai Sevak who, in addition to this one, has 4 savaiyye of his own.

Bhai Parmanand’s 5 savaiyye are in praise of Guru Ram Das

Bhai Tal’s single one in praise of Guru Angad Dev.

Bhai Jalan has 2 savaiyye, both in praise of Guru Ram Das.

Bhai Jalh has one in praise of Guru Amar Das.

Bhai Gayanand has 5 which glorify Guru Ram Das.

Of the total 123, 10 each pay homage to Guru Nanak and Guru Angad, 22 to Guru Amar Das, 60 to Guru Ram Das and 21 to Guru Arjan.

The main purpose of these savaiyye is to acclaim the Gurus, not as individuals but as the revelation they embodied.

The Bhats see the Guru’s as one light, as one spirit passing from one body to the other. Bhat Kirat for instance writes ‘just as (Guru) Angad was ever the part of Guru Nanak’s being so is Guru Ram Das of (Guru) Amar Das’s’ (SGGS, pp1405)

The concept of all the Gurus being one light, one voice has informed all along the Sikh belief and development and constitutes to day a fundamental principle of the faith.