'''Bhai Mardana ''' ({{lang-pa|ਭਾਈ ਮਰਦਾਨਾ}}; 6 February 1459 — 1534) was a Muslim and longtime companion of [[Guru Nanak Dev]], first in the line of gurus noted in Sikhism. Bhai Mardana was a devout Muslim who would accompany Guru Nanak Dev on his journeys and became one of his first disciples and followers. Sikhism at the time was about being learned, and convertednot toa religion on its own, but would change later with the newlylater establishedGurus. religionMany Sikhs claim that Bhai Mardana was a Sikh convert, but the idea of converting is not what Guru Nanak preached. <ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Sardar Harjeet |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/428923087 |title=Faith & philosophy of Sikhism |date=2009 |publisher=Kalpaz Publications |isbn=978-81-7835-721-8 |location=Delhi, India |pages=65–66 |oclc=428923087}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ranbir |title=The Sikh Way of Life |last2=Singh |first2=Surjeet |publisher=Sanbun Publishers |year=2007 |isbn=9788189540623 |pages=16}}</ref> Bhai Mardana was born to a [[Mirasi]] [[Muslim]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.webindia123.com/news/ar_showdetails.asp?id=702050232&cat=&n_date=20070205|title=Pak delegation arrives to celebrate Bhai Mardana's 550 bith anniv - News - Webindia123.com|website=news.webindia123.com|access-date=2019-08-04}}</ref> family, a couple, Badra and Lakkho, of Rai Bhoi di Talwandi, now [[Nankana Sahib]] of [[Pakistan]]. He was the seventh born, all other children had died at birth. He had very good knowledge of music and played rabāb when Guru Nanak sung Gurbani. [[Swami Haridas]] (teacher of [[Tansen]]) was the disciple of Bhai Mardana and learnt [[Indian classical music|Classical Music]] from him.
