Bhai Daya Ram Purohit, son of Bhai Jati Mall (Malik) and grandson of Shaheed Bhai Singha, was a dedicated Sikh of the time of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. His father and grandfather, both were the Purohits (family priest) of Sodhi family. Both had participated in the battle of Amritsar (April 15, 1634). Bhai Singha embraced martyrdom in this battle. Bhai Jati Mall also participated in the battle of Mehraj (December 1634) and Kartarpur (April 1635). On April 30, 1635, he joined Guru Hargobind Sahib, when the latter moved to Keeratpur Sahib. He remained in the service of Guru Sahib till his death in 1642. Before his death he presented his son (Daya Chand) before Guru Hargobind Sahib and requested Guru Sahib to take care of the child. Bhai Daya Ram Purohit remained in the service of Guru Har Rai Sahib, Guru Harkrishan Sahib, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib and Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. He was with Guru Gobind Singh Sahib at Paonta. He fought bravely in the battle of Bhangani (September 18, 1688). Bhai Daya Ram Purohit got initiation, in the fourth batch, on the first day of the initiation of Khalsa and became Bhai Daya Singh, though Purohit remained his surname (to distinguish him from his namesake Bhai Daya Singh, the first of the Punj Piaray). Purohit Daya Singh was a close confident of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. When Guru Gobind Singh Sahib left Aanandpur Sahib, he was perhaps one of the Sikhs who were not along side Guru Sahib. He might have left Aanandpur Sahib on some other mission or in a different batch. He joined Guru Sahib at village Lamme-Jatpura. It was he who first brought the news of the martyrdom of Mata Gujari and the two younger Sahibzadas. Purohit Daya Singh was the leader of the advance party which looked after the arrangement for travel of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib from Lamme-Jatpura to Talwandi Sabo. He was present with Guru Sahib at village Dina, Dhilwan Kalan, Kot Kapura and Talwandi Sabo. It seems that he returned to Keeratpur in 1706, as he did not accompany Guru Sahib to Nander. Bhai Daya Singh Purohit was born sometimes before 1635 and he died sometimes after 1706. Also see: Singha, Jati Mall.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)