Bhai Kanahiya was a resident of village Sodhara, district Gujranwala. He came to Anandpur for the first time to have an audience with Guru Tegh Bahadur. He was delighted by the audience. To feel that bliss all the time he stayed on in the Guru's institution. He was entrusted the service of fetching water for the community kitchen.

Before the start of the Battle of Bhangani, Guru Gobind Rai bestowed upon him the duty of serving water to the needy in the battlefield. On the 15th April 1687, the hill states, rajas, weaning away four hundred Pathans (Natives of Afghanistan), attacked the Sikhs. In the battlefield whosoever was thirsty came to Bhai Kanahiya. He served them water. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Pathans were given a drink of water by him. Thus refreshed, they again took to fighting.

When the Sikhs saw Bhai Kanahiya serving water to their enemy, they were annoyed. The Sikhs thought, " If Bhai Kanahiya does not serve water to the wounded soldiers of the enemy, they will surely die of thirst." The Sikhs went to the Guru and complained about it. After narrating the whole story they beseeched that Bhai Kanahiya be prevented from serving water to the enemy.

The Guru called Bhai Kanahiya and asked him, "Brother, is it true that you are serving water to the enemy soldiers who are thirsty and wounded by the Sikhs, thus refreshing them to fight against them again?"

Bhai Kanahiya replied, "O' True lord, I do not see any enemy. I behold you everywhere. Whom should I serve water and to whom should I refuse? I serve water to everyone who is in need and comes to me. You, yourself, have betowed the service of giving water to those in need."

The Guru was very pleased to hear the answer of Bhai Kanahiya. Giving him balm and bandages, the Guru said to him, "Bhai Kanahiya from now on , besides serving water, you should also bandage the wounded. Take some other Sikhs with you and raise a team. You will be the leader of this band."

Bhai Kanahiya did as directed. He set up a band of the Sikhs. He himself became the head of that band. This was the beginning of the first ' Red Cross service'. Afterward the bands looking after the needy and wounded began identifying themselves as 'Sewa Panthi'.

Battle of Bhangani, Pathans, Natives of Afghanistan, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Bhai Kanahiya, Enemy Soldiers, Balm and Bandages, Serving Water, Band of Sikhs, Red Cross Service, Sewa Panthi