On 31 March 1522, Mata Khivi Ji was married (Anand Karaj) to Bhai Lehna Ji—who later became Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji. Let us take a brief look at the life of Mata Khivi Ji. Mata Khivi Ji was born in 1506 CE to Bhai Devi Chand Khatri and Mata Karam Devi. Bhai Devi Chand belonged to the town/village of Sanghar in the Amritsar region (now in Tarn Taran district). He was a shopkeeper and also worked on a small scale as a moneylender. Because Khivi Ji was gentle, sweet-spoken, and cheerful from childhood, her parents named her “Khivi.” Her parents were religious in nature and were devotees of a देवी (deity). Naturally, their spiritual life influenced her early upbringing. In childhood itself, Mata Khivi Ji adopted virtues like contentment, discipline, and truth. She helped her father at the shop and regularly sat near her parents during worship. Bibi Virai Ji (also referred to as Bibi Bharai Ji) lived in Khadur Sahib and was a devotee of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Bhai Feru Mall also lived in Khadur Sahib and worked under an official in Firozpur. Bibi Virai Ji had close relations with Bhai Feru Mall and also had close family connections with Bhai Devi Chand’s household. According to the customs of that time, on Bibi Virai Ji’s suggestion, Bibi Khivi Ji was married to Bhai Lehna Ji (son of Bhai Feru Mall) around 1522 CE. Bhai Lehna Ji used to go on pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi with his family. Thus, the two families shared not only social ties but also religious ties. Due to similar values, temperament, and spiritual inclination, the newly married couple became an ideal pair. They dissolved ego and merged their lives into one—becoming “one light in two bodies.” In their household, two sons and two daughters were born: the elder son Dasu Ji (9 Bhadon 1532), Bibi Anokhi Ji (29 Jeth 1534), Bhai Datu Ji (1 Vaisakh 1537), and Bibi Amro Ji (2 Poh 1538). Both spouses fulfilled household responsibilities well, raised their children properly, and instilled religious values in them. After Bhai Feru Mall’s passing, Bhai Lehna Ji took over his father’s responsibilities and began leading pilgrimage groups. Yet, Bhai Lehna Ji did not feel spiritually satisfied; he remained in search of inner peace. Mata Khivi Ji understood his inner state and fully supported him. Eventually, the blessed day arrived when Bhai Lehna Ji learned about Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and went to Kartarpur. In the very first meeting, he found the truth, contentment, spiritual fulfillment, and peace he had long sought. He became devoted to Guru Nanak Dev Ji and remained in the Guru’s company for seven years. A verse captures this transformation: “Purab karam ankur jab pragte bhetio purakh rasik bairaagi… Mitio andher milat Har Nanak janam janam ki soi jaagi.” (Ang 204) Meaning: When past karmic seeds sprout, one meets the divine, loving, detached being; by meeting Guru Nanak, darkness disappears and a consciousness asleep for ages awakens. From Kartarpur, Bhai Lehna Ji occasionally visited Khadur to check on his family. Likewise, Mata Khivi Ji also visited Kartarpur to meet him and listen to the Guru’s teachings. There she observed that Guru Nanak Dev Ji deeply honored women and encouraged them to join the sangat without hiding behind a veil—an astonishing change for that era. She also saw the institution of langar, where men and women served together, sharing responsibilities equally. At that time society was torn apart by caste hierarchy, untouchability, and social discrimination. Many were denied religious access and basic dignity. Women, regardless of their social background, faced restrictions and disrespect. The rich and powerful oppressed the poor, corruption was widespread, and justice was scarce for the marginalized. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji initiated a comprehensive revolutionary movement that transformed society—especially in Punjab—across social, spiritual, political, psychological, and economic spheres. He challenged exploitative and hypocritical systems and laid the foundation of a new egalitarian order—“Nanak nirmal panth chalaya.” A major part of this revolution was restoring the dignity of women. While stone idols of goddesses were worshipped, living women were often humiliated and mistreated. Guru Nanak Dev Ji established through strong reasoning that woman is the mother of humanity, the pillar of society, and the central foundation of the world—so that household life and society could flourish with love, respect, tolerance, and cooperation. Gurmat offered a new and meaningful system based on coexistence: honest labor (kirat), sharing (vand chhakna), seva, simran, sangat and pangat—free from discrimination of caste or gender. Women were allowed to participate openly in sangat and seva. Mata Khivi Ji carried these ideals forward at Khadur Sahib. While Guru Angad Dev Ji strengthened society through Gurmukhi education and physical discipline (akhara), Mata Khivi Ji encouraged women to come without veils, serve in langar, and listen to kirtan. Because of this, she is remembered as one of the earliest female preachers and role models in Sikh history. Mata Khivi Ji was also an ideal mother who raised her sons and daughters with spiritual values, seva, and devotion, loving her daughters as much as her sons. Despite many responsibilities, she also cared for the comfort and well-being of Guru Sahib, embodying the qualities of an ideal companion. Baba Sarup Das Bhalla (author of Mahima Prakash) describes that while Guru Angad Dev Ji nourished seekers with spiritual wisdom, Mata Khivi Ji managed the langar for the sangat. Bhai Satta and Balwand praised her in Ramkali ki Vaar: “Balwand Khivi nek jan jis bahuti chhau patraali… Langar daulat vandeeai ras amrit kheer ghiyaalee.” (Ang 967) It is also said that Bhai Amar Das (later Guru Amar Das Ji), initially a devotee of a deity, came to Guru Angad Dev Ji’s court, witnessed the spirit, discipline, and especially Mata Khivi Ji’s humility in langar seva—cooking, serving, and cleaning utensils herself. Inspired, he began serving in the langar too. Her life became a living example that awakened selfless service in many hearts. When Mata Khivi Ji learned that her sons had chased and confronted Bhai Amar Das, she personally went with them and, with deep humility, sought forgiveness—teaching a timeless lesson for all mothers. Bhai Amar Das embraced the children and forgave them. Even after Guru Angad Dev Ji merged with the Divine, Mata Khivi Ji continued langar seva. The langar at Khadur Sahib continued through Guru Amar Das Ji’s time. Though she grew old, she remained devoted and vigilant in service. Later, she also served for some time after Amritsar was established. In 1582, she passed away at Khadur Sahib, and Guru Arjan Dev Ji is said to have personally performed her last rites. The tradition of seva that Mata Khivi Ji strengthened continues to this day. If Bebe Nanaki is remembered as the first Sikh woman, Mata Khivi Ji is remembered as a pioneering sevika (selfless servant) in Sikh history. Zorawar Singh Tarsikka.
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