The legacy of the
A coalition force of the Hindu hill rajahs and the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had counted repeated attacks on the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib over a period of three years in an attempt to destroy Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and totally wipe out Sikhi from the face of the earth. Even against these odds the power of Amrit and supreme fighting skills (shaster videay) of the Khalsa panth made them victorious against the combined force.
The enemy forces always suffered great losses in the battles and were forced to retreat for their lives. The enemy after great frustration realised that it was too hard to beat the Sikhs at their full strength therefore they put siege around Anandpur Sahib and neighboring towns, to cut off all supplies (food & arms) of the Sikhs.
The idea was to starve the Sikhs until they submitted. During a 7 month period rations ran out, by this time some 40 Sikhs had deserted the Guru and Khalsa panth. The enemy forces also suffered a lot of death due to disease (due to bad weather conditions). Due to the enemy losses who were rapidly dying everyday, they sent a Maulvi and a Brahmin, who swore by the Koran and the gita that if the Guru agreed to leave the fort, he would be allowed to go unharmed. Guru Ji didn’t trust the enemy, however the innocent Khalsa said that “they have sent 2 religious people we should leave, there will be no problem.” Guru Ji decided to put their word on trail. He got a few carts loaded with rags, bones and skeleton and had the material covered with silk and velvet cloth. No sooner had these carts traveled a short distance from Anandpur Sahib Fort there was a sudden attack by the mughal soldiers who killed the Singh’s riding these carts. A few days after the Mughals apologized to Guru Ji and sent a Koran signed by Aurangzeb; along with a letter promising safe exist. The Sikhs pleaded with Guru Ji to accept Aurangzeb’s assurances. On the repeated request and persuasion from the Panth, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji agreed to leave the fort. Just after midnight on the 20th December 1704, when the winter was as its peak, Guru Gobind Singh Ji departed from Anandpur Sahib with his wife, mum, four son’s, panj pairyea and 500 Singh’s. They all walked in small bands. When they reached the
Bhai Uday Singh Ji a commander of the Sikhs put many enemies to death before being martyred at the river. Bhai jiwan Singh Ji and Baba Ajit Singh Ji fought the enemy trying to protect each other from enemy attacks. Bhai jiwan Singh Ji also became Shaheed. The Khalsa fought with so much joosh that the enemy was forced to retreat. Only 40 Singh’s and the two elder sons managed to cross the river alive. They were all traveling to the village called ropar on the way Guru Ji;s horse rode over a brick kiln to ever ones amazement the brick kiln was suddenly cooled when the horse rode over it. Gudwara Bhatha Sahib is now there as a memory of this happening. They arrived at ropar in the evening; they set up camp in an open and vast uncultivated piece of land. The residents of ropar sent Rations for the Singh’s, after an exhausting day the Khalsa went asleep after the evening prayers, while a Pathan of Kotla Nihang Singh took up guard duty. The next morning Chaurdri budhi chand came to know of Guru Ji’s arrival, he rushed to the camp and requested Guru Ji to shift his forces to his house which was built like a fortress (Chamkaur di Garhi). On hearing of the Gurus presence at Chamkaur. Wazir Khan led and army of ten lakh soldiers to chamkaur. He announced with drum beat that if the Guru surrendered along with his companions then their lives would be spared. Guru Ji and the Sikhs replied with a storm of arrows which put many enemies to death.
The battle of chamkaur began………..
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji appointed 8 men on each of the four walls of the fort. Two Sikhs held the door (Bhai Maddan Singh Ji and Bhai Ganda Singh Ji) and the other two were appointed as sentinels. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Baba Ajit Singh Ji, Baba Jujhar Singh Ji , Bhai Daya Singh Ji and Bhai Sant Singh Ji went on the top storey.
General Nahar Khan put up a ladder along one of the walls of the fortress and tried to step up. As he raised his head, Guru Ji destroyed him with an arrow straight at his head. General Ghani Khan came forward; Guru Ji flung his Gurj at him. His head was crushed with the fierce shot. Arrows and bullets were flying in both directions, as the enemy approached closer to the fort, small batches of 5 Singh’s were dispersed to stop the enemy. Swords and shield sounded the batches fought with great skill and achieved shaheedi. The first batch of Singh’s destroyed 1000,s of enemies.
By the time of the third batch the enemy army was able to surround their selves’ at all four directions around the fort. Observing the situation the remaining Singh’s pleaded with Guru Ji to leave the fort along with his sons. Guru Ji acted as if he had not heard their plea; he drew their attention to the arrows being shot from both sides.
When the Singh’s repeated their request to save the lives of the young sahibzadas. Guru Ji stated: which ones are you referring to? You all are my sons.
On seeing the sacrifices of his elder Khalsa brothers, Baba Ajit Singh asked his father to dispatch him in the next batch. On hearing this, a smile lit up the face of Guru Ji who was pleased with the Biras (warrior-sprit/might) of his son. Baba Ajit Singh Ji was dispatched and put many enemy soldiers to death before becoming Shaheed. Seeing his elder brothers sacrifice Baba Jujhar Singh Ji in Biras asked Guru Ji to dispatch him in the next batch of Singh’s. Baba Jujhar Singh Ji dashed out the gates and shouted “SAT SRI AKAL”. He also put many soldiers to death before becoming a martyr. It was now sunset, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji attached four letters and aimed them at the Maghal generals.
The first arrow struck the belt of Khwaja Mahmud Ali. The Guru wrote to him: You have lost honour both in the world and in your religion by taking an oath and going back on it”
The second arrow hit Wazir Khans horse: “He who swears and than does not abide by it will be thrown in the burning fire of hell”
The third arrow pierced the turban of Zabardast Khan: “He who swears by the holy Koran and betrays will burn in the fire of hell it is not far when the brave Khalsa will cause havoc for you and your kingdom”
The fourth arrow hit Ajmer Chand on his leg: “You will never have peace in your life. Waheguru is our protector and saviour”
Due to the injuries and nightfall, the enemy retreated and set up camp all around Chamkaur di garhi.
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji then addressed the Khalsa warriors on his desire to get Shaheed the next day. “There is no course left but to die fighting for truth and justice. Every drop of blood from us will lay a firm foundation for the panth. A shaheeds blood is always the growth of the next generation”
The 10 Singhs who were still in the fort requested Guru Ji that it was critical that he leaves the fort. However Guru Ji was still keen in becoming shaheed and dying with his beloved Singhs. The Singhs then formed the Panj Pairyea and requested Guru Ji to leave the fort the same night. He agreed, but he told the Khalsa I will not leave quietly. Bhai Daya Singh, Dharam Singh and Maan Singh decided to accompany Guru Ji. Guru Ji placed his Kalgi on Bhai Sangat Singh Ji. (Bhai Sangant Singh Ji resembled Guru Ji) he clothed him and seated him in position on the rooftop where Guru Ji was sitting. He told the Singh’s to get some rest; Guru Ji took up guard duty and massaged the Singh’s when they were asleep. At Amrit vela he and the three Singh’s left, he told them just in case they become separated they should all proceed in the direction of a certain star. Guru Ji got on the rooftop and blew his special trumpet. This wakened some of the enemy. As Guru Ji and the three Singh’s were leaving a couple of guards from the enemy came with torches to investigate the noise. Guru Ji attacked them with arrows and started clapping and shouting the Guru is leaving.
The next morning the 7 Singh’s fought like lions and inflicted great damage on the enemy. Bhai Sant Singh came out on his own to face an enemy of thousands. He lived up to the words of Guru Ji: I will make one Fight thousands. The Maghals were greatly disappointed when they realised that Bhai sangat Singh Ji wasn’t the Guru. Wazir Khan sent orders in all direction in his areas that anyone who offered aid to the Guru would be severely punished (they would be dug in the ground until their head which would be then attacked by dogs), and the person who captures or informed of Guru Ji’s whereabouts would be greatly rewarded.
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji after leaving the fort proceeded on his journey alone because he was separated from the 3 Singh’s. he passed through Jandsar and Behlopur, he reached the jungle of Machhiwara, by this time Guru Ji tried and his feet were covered with blisters. Guru Ji reached a nice spot; he laid down before going to sleep Guru Ji recited a shabad:
Go tell the beloved lord,
The condition of his yearning disciples,
Without out thee, rich covering are an agony to us
It is said that Guru Ji was chatting to a shaheed Singh who came to do the Darshan of Guru Ji before going to Sach Khand.
While he was resting the 3 Singh’s relocated Guru Ji, The enemy was in hot pursuit of Guru Ji. Gulaba, an old masand of machhiwara, took Guru Ji and the Singh’s to his home, but soon as he got there he got frightened for his on safety and requested Guru Ji to leave. On hearing this two Pathan horse merchants, Nabi Khan and Ghani Khan, who were old acquaintances of Guru Ji came and choose to risk their lives for the services of Guru Ji.
There also lived an old Sikh woman who had made some cloth for Guru Ji. Guru Ji blessed the woman for her Gift, Guru Ji got the cloth died blue and made a robe out of it. (The robe was the same style and the colour as the ones Muslim pirs used to wear).
Guru Ji disguised him self as Uch da pir and left galabas village. Guru Ji was carried by the two pathans and two singhs (who were also in disguise). Bhai Daya Singh Ji waved a chaur Sahib over Guru Ji. At a village called lal a military officer at a checkpoint had some doubts and made some inquires. Pir Mohammad (a high priest) of Nurpur, who knew Guru Ji, was asked to identify the pir. He confirmed that he was really Uch da pir, upon hearing this, the officer let them go. From Lal Guru Ji visited Katana and the kanoch where masand Fateh put Guru Ji off with excuses and did not let him stay. From there Guru Ji reached Alam Gir. Here Bhai Nand Lal (a zamindar) presented Guru Ji with a horse. Guru Ji gave Nabi Khan and Ghani Khan a saropa and asked them to return home.
He also sent a letter of appreciation to Pir Mohammad by the hands of the pathans. From Alam Gir he advanced on horse back in the direction of rai kot, Rai Kalla. It is here where Guru Ji was informed by Nura mahi about the fate of the younger sahibzadas and Mata Gujri Ji. Guru Ji with an arrow uprooted a plant and said in the same way the Mughal Empire shall be up rooted.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji ki fateh
