ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
maran munasaa sooriaa hak hai jo hoe maran paravaano ||
ਮਰਣੁ ਮੁਣਸਾ ਸੂਰਿਆ ਹਕੁ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਹੋਇ ਮਰਨਿ ਪਰਵਾਣੋ ॥
The death of brave heroes is blessed, if it is approved by God.
soorae saeee aagai aakheeahi dharageh paavehi saachee maano ||
ਸੂਰੇ ਸੇਈ ਆਗੈ ਆਖੀਅਹਿ ਦਰਗਹ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਸਾਚੀ ਮਾਣੋ ॥
They alone are acclaimed as brave warriors in the world hereafter, who receive true honor in the Court of the Lord.
--------------------------------
ਬਸ ਏਕ ਹਿੰਦ ਮੇਂ ਤੀਰਥ ਹੈ ਯਾਤਰਾ ਕੇ ਲਿਏ,
ਭਟਕਤੇ ਫਿਰਤੇ ਹੈਂ ਕਿਉਂ ? ਹਜ ਕਰੇਂ ਯਹਾਂ ਆ ਕਰ,
ਯੇਹ ਕਾਬਾ ਪਾਸ ਹੈ, ਹਰ ਏਕ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਕੇ ਲਿਏ
(Yogi Allah Yar Khan....)
Click on any Picture To View Enlarged version:
 |
Gurdwara Garhi Sahib, Chamkaur Sahib, Punjab, India |
 |
| Sahebzada Ajit Singh Jee in the Battlefield |
 |
| Sahebjada Jujhar Singh Jee in the Battlefield |
The four sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji are known as SAHIBZADAS
(i) SAHIBZADA AJIT SINGH JI
(ii) SAHIBZADA JUJHAR SINGH JI
(iii) SAHIBZADA ZORAWAR SINGH JI
(iv) SAHIBZADA FATEH SINGH JI
(i) SAHIBZADA AJIT SINGH JI
(ii) SAHIBZADA JUJHAR SINGH JI
(iii) SAHIBZADA ZORAWAR SINGH JI
(iv) SAHIBZADA FATEH SINGH JI
INTRODUCTION:
The eldest of the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh, Sahibzada Ajit Singh was born at Paunta sahib on 7th january 1687 A.D. Sahibzada Jujhar Singh the second son of the tenth Guru, was born in March 1689 A.D. at Anandpur Punjab. The two were aged 18 yrs and 16 yrs respectively when they achieved martyrdom at Chamkaur Sahib. Because of their heroic deeds at such a young age, Sikhs reverdly call them “Baba”, expressive of their highest regard and respect for these brave sons of the Guru..They underwent training in physical ftness,riding,and use of weapons apart from getting formal and religious (Gurmat) education from competent Sikhs and their father right from their childhood.
Sahibzada Ajit Singh performed deeds of great courage during various battles that took place around Anandpur Sahib between the forces of Hindu Kings & Muslim rulers on one side & Guru’s forces on the other side.
Under the ablest guidance and leadership of Guru Gobind Singh, the Sikhs started hunting Tigers and other wild animals in the jungels around Anandpur Sahib by learning the use of all sorts of weapons including the latest weapens. Casteless society, i.e., Sikhism raised hopes of equality for all and freedom from tyrant rulers of the time. Ever increasing numbers of Hindus and even Muslims adoping Sikhism, alarmed both Hindu kings of Hill States adjoining Anandpur Sahib, and the Muslim rulers who thought that if Sikhism is allowed to grow at this rate they would not be able to control the opressed for very long, the Hindu Hill State Kings through persistent complaints alarmed Emperor Aurangzeb about the growing strength and influence of Guru Gobind Singh which according to them could one day endanger the rulers of both Hindu and Muslim communities. Thus the Muslims rulers in Delhi, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir joined hands with the Hindu rulers of Hill States around Anandpur Sahib, to destroy the growing influence of Guru Gobind Singh forever. Their combined fighting forces marched towards Anandpur Sahib and encircled it completely. They cut off supplies to the besieged Sikh community in the Anandpur Sahib Fort.
The Sikhs besieged in Anandpur Fort had to undergo extreme hardship due to non-availability of rations, water and medicines. On the other hand , seven months of unsuccessful military venture had also demoralised the leaders and soldiers of tyrant rulers. As a result they started to find a face-saving device to please Emperor Aurangzeb.
They swore on Geeta and Koran assuring Sri Guru Gobind Singh that in case he vacated Anandpur Fort alongwith his Sikhs, they would not attack him and his soldiers. After this evacuation, they would also go away and be in a position to show their faces to the Emperor Aurangzeb. Guru Gobind Singh Ji decided to evacuate Anandpur Sahib on the advice of Sikhs although he had no confidence on the promised made by the adversaries and told them about his views.
Guru Ji, accompanied by Sikhs and his family members evacuated Anandpur Sahib in December 1704 A.D. They had hardly reached the bank of rivulet Sirsa, when the enemy forces attacked them from behind without caring a bit about the promises made by them earlier in the name of their Holy Books. Sahibzada Ajit Singh and part of Sikh forces kept the attacking enemy at bay by engaging them in a fierce battel till Guru Gobind Singh accompanied by others crossed the rivulet, which was in spate due to heavy rains upstream. Later Ajit Singh and the remaining Sikhs too crossed the rivulet sirsa & joined Guru Gobind Singh later. The enemy forces were deeply impressed by the fighting & leadership qualities shown by the eldest son of Guru Gobind Singh. The flooded rivlet took a heavy toll of Sikh lives. By evening of the follwing day, Guru Gobind Singh accompanied by his only two elder sons and forty surviving Sikhs arrived at village Chamkaur, thoroghly exhausted. They quickly got themselves setteld in fortess-like house of chaudhary Budhi Chand and decided to face the approching enemy forces there.
During the night, enemy forces encircled this fortess in large numbers. Their numbers swelled to lacs by day break. When the enemy attacked the fortess in the morning, Guru Gobind Singh, and his disciples kept the enemy at bay with the help of deadly arrows inflicting heavy casualties. When the stock of arrows started dwindling and the enemy forces starting coming close to the fortess, it was decided by Guru Gobind Singh to send Sikhs outside the fortess in batches offive toengage the enemy soldiers in hand to hand fight. Imagine 5 Sikhs, daring to take on lakhs enemy soldiers! This amply proved to the world how fearless the Sikhs of the Guru were and had love not for their lives, but the orders of their master.
SAHIBZADA AJIT SINGH’S MARTYRDOM:
When groups of Sikhs started going out of Garhi (fortess) and fought bravely in afflicting heavy casualities before laying down their precious lives, Sahibzada Ajit Singh sought permission of his father to also allow him to go out to fight side by side the brave Sikhs.
Guru Gobind Singh was immensly pleased at this and embraced his son. He himself armed his son and sent him out with the next group of five Sikhs whomhe considered no less dear than his own sons, to prove Guru’s saying that he would be worthy of being Gobind Singh when he would make a Sikh so brave and fearless that he would fight with one lakh and quarter enemies alone.
Coming out of the fortess Ajit Singh, the brave son of the Tenth Master, attacked the enemy soldiers like a lion leaping on a flock of sheep to be cut to pieces. Many enemy soldiers were both astonished and terrified on seeing the fighting calibre and methods of attack of this young boy. The accompanying Sikhs prevented enemy soldiers from other sides from encircling the brave Ajit Singh. After the brave son of the Master exhausted his arrows, he attacked to enemy with his spear. However, the blade of spear which had penetrated into the chest of one of the adverseries piercing his steel dress, broke inside the body of the enemy solider, when Sahibzada Ajit Singh pulled his spear back. Taking advantage of this delay caused by stuck up spear of Baba Ajit Singh, the enemy soliders were successful in injuring his horse, which fell dead. The Sahibzada swiftly dismounted the horse and pulling out his sword from its sheath, engaged the enemy soldiers. While he was cutting the adverseries to pieces by lightening attacks with his sword, an enemy soldier successfully attacked the brave son of Guru Gobind Singh with a sharp spear. This spear pierced deeply into the bady of Baba Ajit Singh. The brave son of Guru Gobind Singh was fatally injured and his youthful body fell on ground. He attained martyrdom under the watchful and appreciative eyes of his great father. Scores of enemy soldiers bodies were lying in heaps around the fallen body of brave Ajit Singh.
Guru Gobind Singh was watching the brave acts of his son in the battle field from the fortess. He had been keeping the enemy at bay by his arrows thus providing his son a chance for prolonged fight with the enemy soldiers.
The Guru was immensly pleased at the courage shown by his son and the tactics employed by him for inflicting heavy casualties on the adversaries.
Guru Gobind Singh thanked God for helping, Ajit Singh to live upto his father’s expectations. The Guru thus proved that for the cause he was fighting, he would not hesitate to offer his own sons for sacrifice, while demanding supreme sacrifice from his Sikhs. The Sikhs were as dear to him as his own sons.
Thus fell the brave son of the Great Guru providing inspiration to the Sikhs for generation to come. The Sikh community will keep remembering this young martyr son of the tenth master for all times to come.
SAHIBZADA JUJHAR SINGH JI ‘S SACRIFICE:
Sahibzada Jujhar Singh, the second son of Guru Gobind Singh had been keenly observing from the fortess Chamkor the heroic fight put up by his elder brother, Sahibzada Ajit Singh against overwhelming number and better equipped enemy soldiers. The brave fight put up by his elder brother filled Sahibzada Jujhar Singh with happiness and courage. No sooner did Sahibzada Ajit Singh fell martyr, Sahibzada Jujhar Singh requested his dear father Guru Gobind Singh to grant him permission to accompany the next batch of Sikhs to repeat the heroic acts of his elder brother. He assured his father that he will not let him down and that he would attack the enemy soldiers and drive them away as a shepherd drives his flock of sheep.
The Guru Father was filled with immense pleasure at the determination of his 16 years old second son. He armed his son with weapons and allowed him to go out with next batch of five Sikhs.
Once outside the fortess, the young Jujhar Singh fearlessly attacked the enemy soldiers like a lion, while accompanying Sikhs formed a protective ring around him. Guru Gobind Singh was watching his brave son’s deeds of valour and appreciated his courage and swordsmanship from top of the fortess. Even the enemy soldiers could not help appreciating the ferocity and smartness of the young boy. They had never seen such bravery performed by anyone at such a young age against mighty enemy forces. Sahibzada Jujhar Singh using arrows spear and finally his sword felled numerous enemy soldiers. Headless bodies of enemy soldiers were piling up around him. The accompanying Sikhs were likewise putting to death many more enemy soldiers while keeping a protective ring around Sahibzada Jujhar Singh.
After a long drawn battle, the enemy soldiers attacked the young Jujhar Singh from all sides in large numbers, breaking the protective ring around him.
Under the appreciative gaze of his father and the accompanying Sikhs, Sahibzada Jujhar Singh put up a brave fight but was ultimately fatally injured and fell martyr on the ground encircled by heaps of dead bodies of the enemy forces.
The way both the elder sons of Guru Gobind Singh achieved martyrdom upholding the principles for which their father had been actively mobilising his disciples, the Guru was able to show to all the Sikhs and enemy the he did not value his own sons more than his Sikhs and that he would not hesitate even to sacrifice his own sons for the Sikh cause.
On seeing his second son falling martyr like his first-son, Guru ji thanked God for enabling his sons to live upto his expectations. There is no parallel in the world when a father had thanked God, instead of weeping, on the death of his sons in front of his eyes.
The heroic deeds of these two elder sons of Guru Gobind Singh will keep inspiring the young Sikh generations to rise to the occassion when ever called upon to fight for justice and rights against injustice and cruelty for all times to come.
Thus, Guru Gobind Singh, sacrificed his dear and brave sons, only to prove that when it comes to making sacrifices for Sikh cause, he would not hesitate to offer his own sons to show to the world that the Sikh ideals alone, and not his own sons, were more dear to him.
Shaheedi Chhote Sahibzadey:
Baba Zorawar Singh Jee and Baba Fateh Singh Jee
During the catastrophe that befell in crossing the flooded Sarsa river, the companions of the Guru Gobind Singh ji and his family were scattered in different directions. Mata Jit Kaur, Mata Sahib Kaur and their two female attendants, Bhai Mani Singh, Dhana Singh and Jawahar Singh, were all together in one group. Jawahar Singh who was an inhabitant of Delhi, took this whole group to his house in Delhi. Guruji’s mother, Mata Gujri Jee, and his two younger sons, Baba Zorawar Singh Ji (Aged 7 years) and Baba Fateh Singh Ji (Aged 5 years) went with Gangu Brahman to his village Saheri near Morinda. Gangu worked in Guru’s kitchen for twenty-one years. Guru’s mother, Mata Gujri was carrying money in a bag. Seeing Mata’s money, Gangu got tempted forgetting that he ate Guru’s salt for twenty-one years. As Mata Gujri was half-asleep, Gangu stole the money and shouted, “Thief, thief, ” to create the impression that some thief stole the money. Mataji encountered Gangu and told him that she did not see anybody else entering the house. Upon this he tried to defend himself by saying that he was being blamed because he had given shelter to the homeless and the outlawed. Instead of admitting his guilt, he ordered them to leave his house. Gangu finally handed them over to the police officer of Morinda who in turn took them to Wazir Khan, the viceroy of Sirhind. They were imprisoned in a tower(Thanda Burj).
 |
| Thanda Buraj |
Next morning the two children, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, were presented in the court of the viceroy. Wazir Khan reflected that if the children became Mohammadans, it would be a glory to his faith- Islam. He, therefore, told them that if they accepted Islam, he would grant them an estate, would marry them to the princesses and they would be happy and be honored by the Emperor. The nine years old Zorawar Singh replied,” Our grandfather, Guru Tegh Bahadur, parted with his head but not with his religion and he ordered us to follow his example. It is best that we should give our lives to save the Sikh religion and bring down God’s vengeance on the Turks.” Continued Zorawar Singh, “O viceroy, I spurn your religion and will not part with my own. It has become the custom of our family to forfeit life rather than faith. Why do you seek to tempt us with worldly ambitions? We shall not be led astray by the false advantages of your offer.” Wazir Khan could not endure such an outspokenness and got very angry. He decided that he must put these children to death.
Sucha Nand, a Hindu minister supported Wazir Khan by implying that their arrogant words were uncalled for. He ignited Wazir Khan’s anger by saying that when these children grew up, they would follow their father’s foot steps and would destroy enemies. Therefore, this progeny of a cobra must be smothered in time. At that time, Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan of Maler Kotla interceded, “O viceroy, these children are still drinking milk in the nursery, and are too young to commit an offence and know not good from evil. The holy Quran does not allow the slaughter of innocent and helpless children. Therefore be pleased to release them.” In spite of his appeal, the Qazi confirmed that the holy law would give the infidels the choice between Islam and death. It is said that in order to bring the children to submission to Islam, they were made to enter, next day, through a very small door while the Quran was displayed on the other side. The idea was that as the children would enter the door with their heads down, they would then be told that they had bowed to the holy Quran and thereby to Islam.
When the children saw that trap, the seven years old Sahibzada Fateh Singh threw his feet first instead of his head while entering through the small door. Throwing the feet towards the Quran meant an insult to Islam.
When the children saw that trap, the seven years old Sahibzada Fateh Singh threw his feet first instead of his head while entering through the small door. Throwing the feet towards the Quran meant an insult to Islam.
 |
Bricks where Baba Zorawar Singh Ji (Aged 7 years) and
Baba Fateh Singh Ji (Aged 5 years) were bricked alive to martyrdom.
|
Wazir Khan, therefore, could not conquer the nine and seven years old children of Guru Gobind Singh. When every effort failed to convert the children to Islam, it was finally ordered that they should be bricked alive in the wall.
Bhai ZORAWAR SINGH (1696-1705), the third son of Guru Gobind Singh, was born to Mata Jito ji at Anandpur on 28 November 1696 and was barely nine years old at the time of the evacuation of Anandpur on the night of 5-6 December 1705. Since the death, on 5 December 1700, of Mata Jito ji, Mata Gujari, his grandmother had been especially attached to young Zorawar Singh and his infant brother, Fateh Singh.
Bhai FATEH SINGH (1699-1705), the youngest of Guru Gobind Singh's four sons, was born to Mata Jito ji at Anandpur on 12 December 1699. After the death of his mother, on 5 December 1700, he was brought up under the care of his grandmother, Mata Gujari Kaur ji, with whom he remained till the last. On 26 December 1705, he was martyred at Sirhind along with his elder brother, Zorawar Singh. He is probably the youngest recorded martyr in history who knowingly laid down his life at the very tender age of 5 years. Sahibzada Fateh Singh and his older brother, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh are among the most hallowed martyrs in Sikhism.
ਗੁਰਿਆਈ ਕਾ ਹੈਂ ਕਿੱਸਾ ਜਹਾਂ ਮੇ ਬਨਾ ਚਲੇ
ਸਿੰਘੋਂ ਕੀ ਸਲਤਨਤ ਕਾ ਹੈਂ ਪੌਦ: ਲਗਾ ਚਲੇ
ਗੱਦੀ ਸੇ ਤਾਜੋ-ਤਖ੍ਤ ਬਸ ਅਬ ਕੌਮ ਪਾਏਗੀ
ਦੁਨੀਆ ਸੇ ਜ਼ਾਲਿਮੋਂ ਕਾ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਂ ਤਕ ਮਿਟਾਏਗੀ
ਠੋਡੀ ਤਕ ਈਂਟੇਂ ਚੁਨ ਦੀ ਗਈਂ ਮੂੰਹ ਤਕ ਆ ਗਈਂ
ਬੀਨੀ ਕੋ ਢਾਂਪਤੇ ਹੀ ਵੁਹ ਆਖੋਂ ਪ: ਛਾ ਗਈਂ
ਹਰ ਚਾਂਦ ਸੀ ਜਬੀਨ ਕੋ ਘਨ ਸਾ ਲਗਾ ਗਈਂ
ਲਖ਼੍ਤੇ-ਜਿਗਰ ਗੁਰੂ ਕੇ ਵੁਹ ਦੋਨੋਂ ਛੁਪਾ ਗਈਂ
ਜੋਗੀ ਜੀ ਇਸ ਕੇ ਬਅ਼ਦ ਹੁਈ ਥੋੜੀ ਦੇਰ ਥੀ
ਬਸਤੀ ਸਰਹਿੰਦ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਕੀ ਈਂਟੋਂ ਕਾ ਢੇਰ ਥੀ
-Allah Yaar Khan
ਹਮ ਜਾਨ ਦੇ ਕੇ ਔਰੌਂ ਕੀ ਜਾਨੇਂ ਬਚਾ ਚਲੇ
ਸਿੱਖੀ ਕੀ ਨੀਵ ਹਮ ਹੈਂ ਸਰੋਂ ਪਰ ਉਠਾ ਚਲੇ
ਸਿੱਖੀ ਕੀ ਨੀਵ ਹਮ ਹੈਂ ਸਰੋਂ ਪਰ ਉਠਾ ਚਲੇ
ਗੁਰਿਆਈ ਕਾ ਹੈਂ ਕਿੱਸਾ ਜਹਾਂ ਮੇ ਬਨਾ ਚਲੇ
ਸਿੰਘੋਂ ਕੀ ਸਲਤਨਤ ਕਾ ਹੈਂ ਪੌਦ: ਲਗਾ ਚਲੇ
ਗੱਦੀ ਸੇ ਤਾਜੋ-ਤਖ੍ਤ ਬਸ ਅਬ ਕੌਮ ਪਾਏਗੀ
ਦੁਨੀਆ ਸੇ ਜ਼ਾਲਿਮੋਂ ਕਾ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਂ ਤਕ ਮਿਟਾਏਗੀ
ਠੋਡੀ ਤਕ ਈਂਟੇਂ ਚੁਨ ਦੀ ਗਈਂ ਮੂੰਹ ਤਕ ਆ ਗਈਂ
ਬੀਨੀ ਕੋ ਢਾਂਪਤੇ ਹੀ ਵੁਹ ਆਖੋਂ ਪ: ਛਾ ਗਈਂ
ਹਰ ਚਾਂਦ ਸੀ ਜਬੀਨ ਕੋ ਘਨ ਸਾ ਲਗਾ ਗਈਂ
ਲਖ਼੍ਤੇ-ਜਿਗਰ ਗੁਰੂ ਕੇ ਵੁਹ ਦੋਨੋਂ ਛੁਪਾ ਗਈਂ
ਜੋਗੀ ਜੀ ਇਸ ਕੇ ਬਅ਼ਦ ਹੁਈ ਥੋੜੀ ਦੇਰ ਥੀ
ਬਸਤੀ ਸਰਹਿੰਦ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਕੀ ਈਂਟੋਂ ਕਾ ਢੇਰ ਥੀ
-Allah Yaar Khan
