Bhai Satta Doom | |
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Personal | |
Religion | Sikhism |
Known for |
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Relatives | Balvand Rai (brother) |
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Sikhism |
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Satta Doom (fl. late 16th to early 17th century), also spelt as Satta Dum, was a drummer and author of eight verses found within the Guru Granth Sahib.[1][2]
He was born a Muslim in a Doom-Mirasi family.[3] He started playing music for the Sikhs during the guruship of Guru Angad.[3] He was a drummer whilst his brother, Balvand Rai, was a rababi (rebec player).[1] Some sources describe him as a rababi, like his brother, rather than a drummer.[4] Other sources do not ascribe a brotherly blood relation between Satta Doom and Balvand Rai.[5] They would play kirtan at the Sikh gurus' durbar (court).[6] At some point, him and his brother abandoned the company and employment of the Guru but returned after facing hardships, where they were forgiven.[4] They then wrote hymns for penance for their past mistakes, which would form part of the Adi Granth.[4] The compositions he co-composed with his brother Balvand can be found on pages 966–968 of the Guru Granth Sahib under the title of Ramkali ki Vaar Rai Balwand tatta Satte doom akhi.[7][4]
In his hymns, he emphasized the continuity of the guruship from Nanak to Angad, referring to the latter as having been sat on the takht (throne) of Nanak.[8] It further praises the first five gurus of the Sikhs.[6]