Anandpur Sahib by Harjinder Singh Dilgeer PDF

Contents
- Preface 9
The Birth of Chakk Nanaki and Anandpur Sahib II
Foundation of the City of Anandpur Sahib and the Forts 28
Revelation of Khalsa 38
Attacks on Anandpur Sahib 43
Hola Mahalia of Anandpur Sahib 70
Naina Devi Fair 74
Visakhi of Anandpur Sahib 76
The Map of Anandpur Sahib 79
Gurdwaras of Anandpur Sahib 84
The Forts of the Greater Anandpur Sahib 94
Guru Da Lahore 97
Some Gurdwaras associated with
Guru Sahib's stay at Anandpur Sahib 99
Gurdwaras at Keeratpur Sahib 110
Other Gurdwaras in this Zone lIS
-Maps 117
Preface
Anandpur Sahib is the Puri (City) ofAnand (Bliss). The very
mention of Anandpur Sahib creates a thrill in the veins of a
genuine Sikh, his hair begin standing on the ends, his blood begins
throbbing in his biceps, and, he feels himself in unexplainable
moment of bliss.
Paying obeisance at Kesgarh Sahib immediately reminds
of the revelation of Khalsa, the Pun} Piaray and Khandey Di
Pahul. A visit to Anandgarh fort reminds of the martial music of
the Chandi Di Vaar. Damalgarh becomes a living scene of
Sahibzadas learning sword wielding. Thara Sahib seems to be
receiving Bhai Kirpa Ram (Singh) Dutt and 16 Brahmins from
Kashmir. Guru De Mahal remind of Mata Nanaki, Mata Gujari,
Mata Jeet Kaur, Mata Sunder Kaur and Mata Sahib Kaur
preparing sacred food for the visitors to the City of Bliss. At Takht
Damdama Sahib, we feel Guru Sahib still holding his court and
Bhai Mani Singh giving final touches to Guru Granth Sahib. Guru
Da Lahore still seems to be celebrating the marriage of Guru
Gobind Singh Sahib and Mata Jeet Kaur. At Lohgarh one can still
feel Bhai Bachitar Singh hitting the drunken elephant and Bhai
Udey Singh chopping off the head of the evil hill ruler Kesri
Chand. The music of Ran}it Nagara fills a Sikh with great
enthusiasm. But, the sad scene of Guru Sahib, Mata Gujari, four
Sahibzadas, forty liberated ones and about five hundred Sikhs
leaving Anandpur Sahib, on the night of December 5 and 6, 1705
makes us Dilgeer (despondent). It makes us crave for kissing the
feet of the great Guru Sahib and for this purpose take a journey
from Anandpur Sahib to Charnkaur, Machhiwara, Dina, Kangar
and Talwandi Sabo and then to Nander, on the foot steps of the
10 Preface
last journey of Guru Sahib so that even a single ray of his light
may enlighten us and make us say "I shall be a Khalsa in the reai
sense."
This book is a record of the history of the Sikh City of
Anandpur Sahib, from its origin to the days of Guru Sahib.
Besides it also gives a summary of the events of the post-Guru
period.
The Birth of Chakk Nanaki and
Anandpur Sahib
The zone, which is now known as Anandpur Sahib, includes
the villages of Chakk Nanaki, Anandpur Sahib, Sahota, Mianpur,
Laudipur, Thabbal and Mataur etc.
It is generally believed that Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib
founded Anandpur Sahib town on June 19, 1665. In fact, it was
Chakk Nanald (now only Chakk in official papers) that had been
founded in 1665. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib laid the foundation
stone of the city of Anandpur Sahib on March 30, 1689. The area
of Chakk Nanaki extended from the bank of the river Charan
Ganga to the square between Kesgarh Sahib and the bus stand.
Chakk Nanaki was carved out of the villages of Laudipur,
Mianpur and Sahota. (These three villages still exist). The
foundation stone of Chakk Nanaki was laid in the vicinity of
Sahota village. Anandpur Sahib was founded in 1689 on the ruins
of the village of Makhowal.
Generally, new towns are founded, established and developed
by monarchs. It is a unique phenomenon in the history of the Sikh
nation that Guru Sahib founded a number of towns and turned
several villages into major and important towns. Hence, social,
spiritual, economical and political roles became one in Guru
Sahib.
The first town associated, with the Sikh history is that of
Nanakana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Sahib. But the first
town ever founded by Guru Sahib was Kartarpur Sahib (now a
part of Pakistan). It was founded by Guru Nanak Sahib in 1522.
Sultanpur Lodhi also had the privilege of having felt the touch
of the feet of Guru Nanak Sahib. Guru Sahib spent about three
years (1504 to 1507) in this village.
Guru Angad Sahib transformed the small unknown village
12 Anandpur Sahib
of Khadur into Khadur Sahib. Guru Amar Das founded the town
of Goindwal. He also asked Guru Ram Das Sahib to establish a
new Sikh City State in the heart of Maajha (the area of the
districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Lahore is known as Maajha
zone). Guru Ram Das Sahib laid the foundation of Guru Da
Chakk, which later came to be known as Chakk Ram Das and now
it is known as Amritsar. Guru Arjan Sahib developed Chakk Ram
Das into a major city. He also founded the towns of Gobindpur
(now known as Hargobindpur), Tam Taran, Kartarpur (Jalandhar)
and Chheharta. Guru Hargobind Sahib revealed the Throne of the
Almighty in the Sikh City State. He also purchased the land of
present town of Keeratpur Sahib. (The foundation of Keeratpur
Sahib was laid by Baba Sri Chand, son of Guru Nanak Sahib, in
1624). Guru Har Rai Sahib played major role in the development
of Keeratpur Sahib. He also developed the village of Chanauli
(Charnauli) where he kept 2200 horses. Guru Harkarishan Sahib
brought the minor village of Panjokhra on the map of the world
and turned the bungalow of Raja Jai Sinh Mirza into Bangia
Sahib. Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib founded Chakk Nanaki. Guru
Gobind Singh Sahib founded the town ofPaonta Sahib (1685) and
the city of Anandpur Sahib (1689).
Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib founded Chakk Nanaki in 1665.
Earlier, he used to live at Bakala (which became Baba Bakala due
to his stay there). In 1656, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib left for a
missionary tour of the eastern zone of Assam, Bengal, Bihar etc
and spent more than seven years in this area. During his stay at
Patna, a son (Guru) Gobind Das (Singh) was born to him on
December 18, 1661 (some writers have wrongly mentioned the
year of his birth as 1666). Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib was installed
as the Ninth Nanak on August 11, 1664 at Bakala. In the middle
of April 1665, he paid a visit to Talwandi Sabo and laid the
foundation of the Gurusar Sarovar (tank). From here he went to
Dhamtan (in Baangar area) where Bhai Daggo served him in a
royal manner. The residents of Baangar area loved Guru Sahib so
much that they wanted him (Guru Sahib) to establish his
headquarters at Dhamtan. When he gave his consent Bhai Daggo
began the construction of the residence for Guru Sahib.
In the third week of April 1665, Guru Sahib visited
Keeratpur Sahib. Here, he received information about the death
The Birth of ChakJc Nanaki and Anandpur Sahib 13
of Raja Deep Chand of Bilaspur State. Raja Deep Chand was a
devoted Sikh. His wife, now Dowager Rani, Champa, too, was
a very devoted Sikh. On May 10, 1665, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib
went to Bilaspur to join the last prayers for the Raja. His mother
Mata Nanaki, wife Mata Gujari and several prominent Sikhs
accompanied Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib stayed at Bilaspur up to
May 13. Dowager Rani Champa wanted Guru Sahib to spend
some more days at Bilaspur but GUI:U Sahib told her that he had
to go to Dhamtan. Rani Champa had already known that Guru
Sahib was going to establish his headquarters at Dhamtan. The
Rani approached Mata Nanaki (mother of Guru Sahib) to ask him
not to go far away from Bilaspur State. Rani Champa became so
much sentimental that she began to weep. At this, Mata Nanaki
promised that she would impress upon Guru Sahib not to move
to Dhamtan. The Rani promised to donate land for a new Sikh
Centre in her State at the site of Guru Sahib's choice. When Mata
Nanaki told Guru Sahib about the feelings of the Rani, at first he
hesitated but later agreed to establish his headquarters in the
territory ofBilaspur State. Guru Sahib told the Rani that he would
establish his Centre in her State subject to the condition that she
should accept the price of the land, as he won't like to establish
a Sikh City on a donated land. The Rani agreed to accept the price
of the land. She, however, declared that she would spend that
money for the welfare of the poor people of her State.
Guru Sahib took a tour of the area around Keeratpur Sahib.
He selected an area on the bank of Satluj River. He carved out
the new town from the territory of the villages of Sahota, Mianpur
and Laudipur. At that time river Satluj used to flow near the
territory of the present Anandpur Sahib. When Rani came to know
about Guru Sahib's selection, her joy knew no bounds at the
thought that her State will have the patronage of Guru Sahib. Rani
Champa and her ministers were happy because it also meant
protection from the invasion of the Moghuls.
The site chosen by Guru Sahib was of great strategic
importance. On one side there was a river and on the other side
were hills and dense forest. It was a peaceful zone for meditation
as well as for promotion ofarts and intellectual activities. The area
ofChakk Nanaki was supposed to be very peaceful zone. Besides,
it was to give two crops a year, hence sufficiency of food as well.
14 Anandpur Sahib
It was also safe from military point of view. The Sikhs had
experienced Moghul invasion of Guru Da Chakk (Amritsar) in
1634 and Kartarpur in 1635. Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib had
himself participated in these battles. So, he knew as to what would
be a safe and peaceful zone. Though Keeratpur Sahib was also
a peaceful zone. It was surrounded by Satluj River (on the side
of Chakk Nanaki) and Sarsa rivulet (on the side of Ropar) and
hills and dense forest on north as well as south side. But as the
family of Baba Suraj Mal used to live there, Guru Sahib did not
want to disturb them.
Bhai Gurditta (great grandson of Baba Buddha) laid the
foundation stone of the new town on June 19, 1665 at the present
site of Guru De Mahal. Diwan Dargah Mal (religious minister of
Guru Sahib) made the first prayer. The town was named as Chakk
Nanaki after the name of Mata Nanaki (the mother of Guru Tegh
Bahadur Sahib) who had played a major role in making Guru
Sahib agree to establish his headquarters in the State of Bilaspur.
With in a few days, Guru De Mahal was built. Guru Sahib spent
three months at Chakk Nanaki. During this period several Sikhs
visited the town. Within a short period several Sikhs moved to
Chakk Nanaki and established themselves in the new town.
In the last quarter of 1665, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib left
for another long missionary journey. He could not visit Chakk
Nanaki for more than six years. During this period, he visited
Assam, Bengal and Bihar where he spent the period from January
1666 to March 1670. He returned to Bakala in the middle of 1670.
By this time his wife and son had also joined him. He spent about
one and a half-year at Bakala. In March 1672, Guru Sahib and
his family moved to Chakk Nanaki.
Now Chakk Nanaki became a major centre of the Sikhs.
Thousands ofSikhs began visiting Chakk Nanaki. With in the next
three years several Sikhs established their houses and business in
the Sikh State. Chakk Nanaki changed the map of the Hathaut
area. The area, where an average man did not dare to pass through,
became a land of hundreds of houses. Within a short time Chakk
Nanaki became the major town of the zone.
The Birth of Chakk Nanald and Anandpur Sahib 15
Betrothal ceremony of
Guru Gobind Singh Sahib
On May 12, 1673, Betrothal ceremony of(Guru) Gobind Oas
(Singh) with Bibi Jeeto (Jeet Kaur after initiation) daughter of
Bhai Harijas Subhikkhi, a resident of Lahore, was performed at
Chakk Nanaki. By this time (Guru) Gobind Singh had started
learning horse riding and sword wielding from Bhai Bajjar Singh
(son of Bhai Jeeta Singh). In 1673, several Sikhs visited Chakk
Nanaki. Among these was also Bhai Aalam Chand Chauhan (later
known as Nachanna), ofOuburji Udey Karan WaH, Sialkot. Later,
he became chamberlain of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. He spent
the rest of his life in the service of Guru Sahib. (He embraced
martyrdom in the battle of Chamkaur).
Visit of Kashmiri Brahmins
On May 25, 1675, a large group of Kashmiri visited Chakk
Nanaki. Among them was also a group of 16 Kashmiri Brahmins
who had joined Bhai Kirpa Ram Outt, a prominent Sikh from
Mattan. Bhai Kirpa Ram introduced these Brahmins to Guru
Sahib. The Brahmins told Guru Sahib that the Muslim Governor
of Kashmir had launched a campaign of forcible conversion of
Brahmins of Kashmir to Islam. He had the blessing of Aurangzeb,
the Moghul emperor, who was at that time at Hassan Abdal, near
Rawalpindi, hence not far from Kashmir. The Brahmins told Guru
Sahib that they had approached the Governor through some Sufi
saints but he was adamant. They told that they had tried to seek
help from various chiefs of the Hindu shrines but all of them had
expressed their helplessness. The Brahmins told Guru Sahib that
the house of Guru Nanak Sahib was their only hope.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib consoled them and said, "Don't
worry. Waheguru shall help you." After this Guru Sahib paused
and then announced: "to achieve religious freedom for the Hindus
and the other non-Muslims some prominent person shall have to
make a sacrifice." (Guru) Gobind Singh Sahib, who was about 14
years of age at that time, was also sitting by his side. On hearing
Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib's statement he.said, "It means that you
shall have to make a sacrifice. There is none who is more
prominent than you are; moreover, as these Brahmins have told
16 Anandpur Sahib
that all the Hindu chiefs and priests have surrendered themselves
to fate. Father, it means that you shall have to make sacrifice."
On hearing this Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib kept quiet. He, later,
sent Hukamnamas to all the prominent Sikhs to visit Chakk
Nanaki. In the first week of July, most of the prominent Sikhs
reached Chakk Nananki. Guru Sahib explained to them about the
petition of the Kashmiri Brahmins. He announced that he shall
have to make a sacrifice ofhis own life for the sake ofthe religious
freedom of the Hindus and the other non-Muslims. The Sikhs, on
hearing the words of Guru Sahib, became sad. They asked Guru
Sahib if there was any other alternative to that. When Guru Sahib
told them that that was the only option, some Sikhs began even
weeping. Guru Sahib told them that a sacrifice was not a matter
of sorrow. He said, "My sacrifice will give life to thousands and
hundreds of thousands of people. It is the promise of Guru Nanak
Sahib's house that we shall never say NO to any petition for help
even if we have to make great sacrifices. I will meet Aurangzeb
and offer him that if he could convert me to Islam, all the people
ofKashmir and Punjab will become Muslims; otherwise he should
stop forcible conversions."
On July 8, 1675, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib held his court.
In the presence of prominent Sikhs, he installed Guru Gobind
Singh Sahib as the Tenth Nanak and announced that he shall leave
for Delhi to have a meeting with Aurangzeb. Guru Sahib already
had a dialogue with Aurangzeb in November 1665, so he knew
his nature Bhai Dial Das Parmar, Bhai Mati Das and Bhai Sati
Das too joined Guru Sahib.
On July 10, 1675, Guru Sahib left Chakk Nanaki for Delhi.
He proceeded towards Delhi on foot. He decided that on his way
he would visit a large number of villages and towns and awaken
the public. He spent the first night at Keeratpur Sahib. He
addressed a big gathering ofthe people at Keeratpur Sahib. People
from Keeratpur, Kalyanpur, Jiowal, Bhagwal, Chanauli and
several other viHages attended Guru Sahib's court. At night he
discussed the situation with Baba Suraj Mall, Bibi Roop Kaur and
others. The next morning Guru Sahib left Keeratpur Sahib. Before
beginning his journey Guru Sahib told them that that was his last
meeting with them. Guru Sahib's next stop was at village
Malikpur (at that time known as Malikpur Rangharan), about six
The Birth of Chakk Nanaki and Anandpur Sahib 17
km before Ropar. At Malikpur, Guru Sahib stayed at the residence
of Bhai Nigahia, a Sikh belonging to a devoted Saini family.
On the other hand, the Governor of Sirhind got information
about Guru Sahib's mission. He ordered the police chief of Ropar
to arrest Guru Sahib. The chief of Ropar police too wanted to get
an award from Aurangzeb as well as from the Governor of
Sirhind. He, along with a party of policemen, left Ropar for
Malikpur and arrested Guru Sahib. He escorted Guru Sahib and
his three companions to Sirhind and presented them before the
Governor. The Governor jailed them in the fort of Bassi Pathanan
and sent an official to inform Aurangzeb. At that time, Aurangzeb
was at Hasan Abdal. After some days the Governor of Sirhind
received Aurangzeb's instructions. Aurangzeb ordered the Governor
to send some Sufi preacher to impress Guru Sahib for conversion
to Islam. The Sufis, in stead of convincing Guru Sahib, became
so much impressed by him that they requested the Governor of
Sirhind to release Guru Sahib. They sent a letter to Aurangzeb
to stop forcible conversions. Aurangzeb, who was a fanatic
Muslim, rejected the request of the Sufis. He, now, sent the chief
of Roza Sirhind, a successor of Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi (who had
written a letter of appreciation to Jahangir for execution of Guru
Arjan Sahib). The chief of Roza Sirhind visited Guru Sahib at
Bassi Pathanan fort and tried to impress upon Guru Sahib. Guru
Sahib had a lengthy discussion with him and convinced him that
forcible conversion to Islam was against the teachings of
Mohammed. But, as the chief of Roza Sirhind was a fanatic
person, he refused to accept logic. He insisted that all the non-
Muslims were Kaafir (non-believers). Guru Sahib rejected his
statement with quotations from Quran. This angered the chief of
Roza Sirhind and he reported to Aurangzeb that no one could
convince Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib. He suggested that he should
be forcibly converted and for this purpose he may be tortured.
Report of the chief of Sirhind mission angered Aurangzeb.
He, however, tried to make another attempt. He offered Guru
Sahib to choose between the Governor-ship of Lahore and the
status of Khalifa ifhe embraced Islam. When Guru Sahib received
this offer, he smiled and rejected it. When Aurangzeb was told
about Guru Sahib's reply to the offer, he became angry and ordered
the torture of Guru Sahib. Bassi Pathanan fort became a cruel
18 Anandpur Sahib
torture centre. The Pathan in charge of the fort perpetrated
unspeakable atrocities on Guru Sahib as we11 as Bhai Dial Das,
Bhai Mati Das and Bhai Sati Das. For the next several weeks, they
tortured Guru Sahib and his companions. When torture, terror or
threat of death could not deter Guru Sahib, the Governor of
Sirhind decided to send Guru Sahib to Delhi. They put Guru Sahib
in a big iron cage and s ~ n t him and the three Sikhs to Delhi, under
the escort of a heavy police party. They reached Delhi on
November 4, 1675.
At Delhi, the Moghul regime made another attempt to win
Guru Sahib. He was again offered honour and luxury, which Guru
Sahib rejected in plain words. Now another phase of torture
began. This too, could not deter Guru Sahib. On the night of
November 10, 1675, the chief of the Kotwali (police station) at
Chandni Chowk received Aurangzeb's orders to issue final Fatwa
(Islamic religious order) to Guru Sahib to chose between Islam
and death.
On November 11, 1675, Bhai Dial Das was put in a big
cauldron filled with water. His head was tied with a rope to the
opening ofthe cauldron. After this the cauldron was placed on fire.
Soon, water began boiling and after suffering a lot of torture, Bhai
Dial Das died. All this happened in front of Guru Sahib. After the
martyrdom of Bhai Dial Das, the police chief asked Guru Sahib
if he had changed his mind. Guru Sahib told him that every one
has to die sooner or later. The death of a martyr is in fact like living
forever. Now, Bhai Mati Das was nailed in two wooden blocks
and was sawed alive. This too could not awe Guru Sahib. Finally,
cotton was tied around the body of Bhai Sati Das and it was set
to fire. Guru Sahib saw the torturous death of Bhai Sati Das also.
He had seen three of his most beloved companions being tortured
to death before his own eyes.
After the martyrdom ofBhai Sati Das, the police chief again
came to him and asked that he (Guru Sahib) had seen three of
his followers being killed, if he wished he could still choose to
save his own life. Guru Sahib told him that these three martyrs
are not dead, they have become mortals. The whole of the world
shall remember them forever. But, the terrorist Moghul regime
will not continue for a very long period. This cruel regime wi11
wither away soon. Hearing this the police chief asked the
executioner to translate Aurangzeb's order in action. Guru Sahib's
head was severed from his body with in a few moments.
(Gurdwara Sis Ganj has been built at the site where Guru Sahib
and the three valiant Sikhs had been martyred).
Bhai Jaita (Jiwan Singh), Bhai Nanu Ram Dilwali, Bhai Uda
Rathore carried Guru Sahib's severed head away. They travelled
on foot to Chakk Nanaki and presented the head to Guru Gobind
Singh Sahib. On the other hand Bhai Lakkhi Rai (Yadav) Wanjara
and his sons carried the head-less body of Guru Sahib to their
house. They set ablaze their house to cremate the body of Guru
Sahib. (Gurdwara Rakab Ganj has been built at the site where
Guru Sahib's body was cremated). Guru Sahib's head was
cremated outside the village of Chakk Nanaki on November 17,
1675. (Gurdwara Sis Ganj has been built at that site).
After the martyrdom of
Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib
After the cremation of the head of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib
at Chakk Nanaki, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, addressing the Sikh
congregation (at the site of Gurdwara Akal Bunga, near Gurdwara
Sis Ganj), asked them to be prepared for a long struggle to bring
an end to the terrorist regime. He asked them to be armed. He,
however, told them not to think in the terms of revenge. A Sikh
must never be revengeful in his attitude. We must bring an end
to injustice and annihilate terrorism but it should not be done with
the feeling of anger or revenge. He told them to be ready for a
"holy war" against terrorism.
Guru Sahib organised the Sikhs of different parts of the
subcontinent into organised units. He appointed some prominent
Sikh as in charge of each unit. He institutionalised the Daswandh
(tithe). With in a short period, the whole ofthe Sikh commonwealth
had been organised in a well-knit network.
Marriage of Guru Sahib
Guru Gobind Singh Sahib had been betrothed to Bibi Jito
Ji (Jit Kaur after initiation) in 1673. The marriage was to take
place in 1676 but it had to be postponed due to martyrdom ofGuru
Tegh Bahadur Sahib. Bhai Harijas Subhikkhi (father ofBibi Jito),
20 Anandpur Sahib
a resident of Lahore, wanted to perform the marriage rites at
Lahore. Owing to the political situation, it was not possible for
Guru Sahib to go to Lahore. In order to respect the feelings of
Bhai Harijas Subhikkhi, Guru Sahib laid the foundation of a new
village, at a distance of about II km from Chakk Nanaki and
named it Guru Oa Lahore. The marriage ceremony of Guru Sahib
and Bibi Jito Ji was performed here on June 21, 1677.
Final Compilation of Guru Granth Sahib
In 1678, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib asked Bhai Mani Ram
(Mani Singh after initiation) to prepare a volume of Adi Granth
(given the status of Guru Granth Sahib on October 6, 1708). The
original volume of (Guru) Granth Sahib, prepared in 1604, was,
at that time, in the possession of the sons of Ohir Mal (Ohir Mal
was the son of Baba Gurditta and grandson of Guru Hargobind
Sahib. He was the elder brother of Guru Har Rai Sahib. This
family did posses the original volume of the Granth but they did
not form a part of Sikh commonwealth and had their own family-
Dera). A few copies of the original volume of the Adi Granth had
already been prepared and were in the possession of different
persons at different places. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib wanted to
prepare the final version by adding the hymns of Guru Tegh
Bahadur Sahib to it.
When final version of Granth Sahib was ready, Guru Sahib
decided to compare spellings etc with the first volume. As the first
version was in the possession ofthe successors ofOhir Mall, Guru
Sahib asked Bhai Mani Ram (Singh) to borrow it from them for
a few days. Ohir Mall's family was passing through a difficult
period in those days. Ohir Mall himself had died in Aurangzeb's
prison at Ranthambhor Fort on November 16, 1677 and his elder
son Ram Chand had been killed under the orders of Aurangzeb,
on July 24, 1678. Now, only Ohir Mall's youngest son Bhar Mall
was alive. The final prayers for Ram Chand were being held on
August 9, 1678 at Bakala (Baba Bakala after 1664). Guru Gobind
Singh Sahib asked Bhai Mani Ram to go to Bakala and represent
him (Guru Sahib) at the ceremony of final prayer for Ram Chand
and also borrow the original volume of (Guru) Granth Sahib from
Bhar Mall, for a few days. After the ceremony was over, Bhai
Mani Ram gave Guru Sahib's message to Bhar Mall. Bhar Mall
refused to hand over the volume to Bhai Mani Ram on the pretext
that his family was moving to Kartarpur (Jalandhar) to avoid
further actions by the Moghul authorities. He told Bhai Mani Ram
that he wouldn't have any objection if some one could visit
Kartarpur and compare the new volume with the original volume.
Bhai Mani Ram returned to Chakk Nanaki and reported the matter
to Guru Sahib. Later, Guru Sahib sent Bhai Mani Ram to
Kartarpur to compare the final version with the original volume.
Formation of an army
In February 1680, Guru Sahib got a Nagara (drum) mounted.
On March 15, 1680, the Sikhs began beating this Nagara every
day after the evening prayers. Later, it was beaten twice a day after
each prayer. Nagara, in those days, was a symbol of national
sovereignty.
Now, Guru Sahib sent Hukamnamas to all the Sikhs
informing them about his decision to form an army. When Sikhs
received these letters, hundreds of Sikhs flocked to Chakk Nanaki
to join the army of Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib bought good weapons
and horses and distributed them to the new soldiers. After this
Guru Sahib sent another Hukamnama to the Sikhs asking them
to bring good horses, weapons and books as presents to him.
Within a couple of years, the City State of Chakk Nanaki had a
very large number of horses and weapons as well as books.
Visit by the ruler of Tripura
On October 12, 1680, Raja Ratan Rai (the then ruler of
Tripura and Jentia), along with his mother and several State
officials, visited Chakk Nanaki. Ratan Rai was born in 1668.
During his second major tour of the Eastern States, Guru Tegh
Bahadur Sahib had spent about four years, 1666 to 1670, at Patna,
Dhaka (Dacca), Dhubri and other parts of Assam, Bengal and
Bihar. In 1668, Raja Ram Sinh, the then ruler of Tripura and
Jentia, happened to visit Assam. When he came to know about
the personality of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, he went to make his
obeisance to Guru Sahib. He requested Guru Sahib to bless him
with a son. Guru Sahib told him that birth and death are in the
22 Anandpur Sahib
hands of the Almighty. The Raja then requested Guru Sahib to
make a prayer for him to the Almighty for such a blessing. Guru
Sahib made a prayer for the Raja. Towards the end of 1668, the
Raja was blessed with a son. After the birth of the boy, the Raja
and his wife again visited Dhubri and thanked Guru Sahib. Guru
Sahib w e l c o ~ e d them and told them to thank only the Almighty
for His Blessings. The Raja asked Guru Sahib to choose a name
for the boy. Guru Sahib suggested him to name the boy as Ratan
Rai. In 1670, Guru Sahib left Assam for the Punjab. In 1675, Guru
Sahib embraced martyrdom. When this news reached Tripura,
Raja Ram Sinh became very sad. He became so despondent that
he stopped taking interest in the affairs of the State. His younger
brother, however, helped him and managed the affairs ofthe State.
In 1680, Raja Ram Sinh died. At that time, Ratan Rai was
only 12 years old. He was installed as the new Raja, but, as he
was a minor, his mother and uncle acted as his guardians. One
day, during conversation, Ratan Rai's mother told him that he was
born with the blessings ofGuru Tegh Bahadur Sahib. At this Ratan
Rai requested her to take him to Guru Sahib so that he should make
obeisance. She told Ratan Rai that Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib had
embraced martyrdom in 1675. Before his martyrdom he had
installed his son (Guru) Gobind Das as the Tenth Nanak and had
merged his light with the light ofGuru Gobind Das. Though a new
physical existence, Guru Gobind Das had the same light of Guru
Tegh Bahadur Sahib. Ratan Rai expressed his desire to visit Guru
Gobind Das. The queen mother told him that Guru Sahib lived
at Chakk Nanaki in the Punjab. The queen mother too wanted to
visit Chakk Nanaki and make obeisance to Guru Sahib.
Now Ratan Rai began preparations for a visit to Chakk
Nanaki. He decided to take with him some fine presents for Guru
Sahib. He bought a very fine elephant (later known as Parsadi
Haathi). It was a unique elephant of dark black colour and a
straight white stripe ran from its trunk to its tail. Another gift was
a five-in-one-weapon. It could be transformed into a spear, a
sword, a knife, a gun and a Gurj (mace, a sort of club for blowing
the head of an enemy with a single stroke). Among other gifts
included a rosary, a fine aigrette, an engraved jug, a royal Chaunki
(an eastern style of stool-type throne) etc. Ratan Rai also trained
the elephant to perform extraordinary functions like washing the
The Birth of Chakk Nanaki and Sahib 23
feet, to make those feet dry with a towel, holding a torch in trunk
to show passage at night, to run after and bring back an arrow shot
by some one etc. When every thing was ready, Ratan Rai, his
mother and several of their official staff and servants left for
Chakk Nanaki.
The royal guests reached Chakk Nanaki on October 12,
1680. Guru Sahib gave them a warm welcome. Ratan Rai
presented all his gifts to Guru Sahib. First he brought the elephant
near Guru Sahib. It picked up a jug and washed Guru Sahib's feet
with water. Then, it wiped Guru Sahib's feet with a towel. After
this the elephant began fanning Guru Sahib by holding a hand fan
with its trunk. Now Ratan Rai asked Guru Sahib to shoot an arrow.
When Guru Sahib shot the arrow, the elephant ran after it and
brought it back to Guru Sahib. At night the elephant held a lantern
in its trunk and showed Guru Sahib way to his residence. Ratan
Rai also exhibited the functioning of the five-in-one weapon.
Ratan Rai spent five months at Chakk Nanaki. Guru Sahib
was very pleased with Ratan Rai's dedication. Guru Sahib and
Ratan Rai became very friendly to each other. Guru Sahib gave
a lot of religious and political knowledge to Ratan Rai. He also
taught him the art of administration. Even after a period of five
months, Ratan Rai did not want to go back to Tripura. He
expressed his desire to live at Chakk Nanaki forever but Guru
Sahib asked him to go back to Tripura and manage the affairs of
his State. Ratan Rai requested Guru Sahib to send some Punjabi
Sikhs who would help him in administration as well as for the
defence ofthe country. Guru Sahib obliged him and selected some
Sikhs to accompany the king to Tripura. Ratan Rai left Chakk
Nanaki with some precious gifts from Guru Sahib.
Chakk Nanaki as an Arts Centre
On one hand Chakk Nanaki had become a political and
military capital ofthe Sikh nation, on the other hand it also became
a great centre for the promotion of arts and literature. A large
number of artists, bards, musicians, poets, scholars and other elite
personalities began to live at Chakk Nanaki. Bhai Nand Lal, a
great poet and a scholar of Persian and Punjabi languages, was
also one of them. He came to Anandpur Sahib in March 1682 and
24 Anandpur Sahib
became a part and parcel of the City. For the next three years
military exercises and academic activities went on side by side.
Poetical symposia, academic discussions etc. were a daily routine.
More than 52 poets used to participate in the poetical symposia.
Celebration of Hola Mahalia
During the month of Phaggan of the Bikrami calendar
(February-March), every year, the Hindus used to celebrate their
Holi festival. During the'celebration of this festival, the Hindus
used to sprinkle dye on their friends and relatives. Some Sikh
friends of these Hindus too joined them. During the Hindu Holi
festival of 1683, some Sikhs visited Chakk Nanaki. On their way
they had joined their Hindu friends in sprinkling dye on each other
and had spoiled their clothes. When Guru Sahib saw them, he told
them to stop observing such a silly custom, as that was nothing
but nonsense to spoil the clothes of each other. Moreover, several
incidents of hooligans teasing, fighting and even rioting had also
taken place during these celebrations. Guru Sahib told them that
being Sikhs they should not celebrate the festivals of other
religions. To add to Sikhs' entertainment activities, Guru Sahib
introduced a new festival and named it Hola MahalIa. The first
Hola Mahalia was celebrated on March 4,1683. On this day, Guru
Sahib held wrestling competitions, horse races, fencing
competitions, war manoeuvring games and other martial activities.
It not only brought an end to spoiling of clothes and untoward
happenings but also nurtured the spirit of martial and recreational
moods.
Marraige of Guru Sahib with
(Mata) Sundari (Sunder Kaur)
Guru Sahib's wife (Mata) Jeeto (Jeet Kaur after initiation)
had remained confined to bed for the past few years. She asked
Guru Sahib to have another wife; hence the second marriage of
Guru Sahib was performed with (Mata) Sundari (daughter ofBhai
Ram Saran Kumarav, a resident of village Bijwara, district
Hoshiarpur) on April 4, 1984, at Chakk Nanaki. (Mata Sunder
Kaur gave birth to Sahibzada Ajit Singh, on January 26, 1687, at
Paonta Sahib. She died at Delhi in 1747).
Foundation of Paonta Sahib
By 1685, Chakk Nanaki had become a major City-State. At
that time, Dowager Rani Champa, the ruler of Bilaspur and her
son Crowned Prince Bhim Chand were followers of the Sikh faith
but Bhim Chand's son Ajmer Chand, under the influence of his
mentor Pandit Parma Nand, did not like the Sikhs. Ajmer Chand
used to live the life of a debauch person. Being the only son of
Bhim Chand, he could not be stopped from living an unscrupulous
life. Guru Sahib had also learnt about Ajmer Chand's hatred for
the Sikhs. Per chance, in March 1685, Raja Medani Parkash, the
ruler of Nahan State sent his minister to Guru Sahib inviting him
to visit his State. Guru Sahib accepted his invitation and visited
Nahan on April 14, 1685. The Raja gave a royal welcome to Guru
Sahib. He requested Guru Sahib to establish a Sikh Centre in his
State too. The Raja escorted Guru Sahib through various parts of
the State so that Guru Sahib may choose some site to establish
such a Centre. When Guru Sahib reached the bank of Yamuna
River, on the border of Doon valley, he praised the panorama of
the area. The Raja was pleased that Guru Sahib had selected a
site. Here, Guru Sahib decided to set up his headquarters. Bhai
Ram Kanwar (Bhai Gurbakhsh Singh after initiation), a direct
descendant of Baba Buddha, laid the foundation stone of the new
town, on April 29, 1685. Bhai Nand Chand Diwan (the religious
minister) made the first prayer.
The next three years were a period of great activities at
Paonta Sahib. The first building to come up was the fort ofPaonta
Sahib (which does not exist any more). There were about 500
Sikhs, most of whom were amateur soldiers too, that used to live
there. Besides, dozens of poets, writers, intellectuals, musicians
and other artists also used to live at Paonta Sahib. Paonta Sahib
had become as important city as Chakk Nanaki was. It was here
than Ram Rai, elder son of Guru Har Rai Sahib, who had been
disowned by his father for his association with Aurangzeb, the
Moghul emperor, visited Guru Sahib and apologised for his
misdeed. Guru Sahib accepted his apology and admitted him to
the Sikh faith.
26 Anandpur Sahib
Battle of Bhangani
When Aurangzeb came to know about this, he decided to
eliminate Ram Rai. Under Aurangzeb's instructions, some
attendants of Ram Rai killed him. Ram Rai's wife reported it to
Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib visited village Khurvadhi, the residence
of Ram Rai, to participate in final prayers for him. Here,
Gurbakhsh Rai, an associate of Ram Rai, who wanted to become
the chief of the centre at Khurvadhi and was the chief conspirator
to kill Ram Rai, tried to insult Guru Sahib. At this Bhai Mani
Ram, Nand Chand and other Sikhs taught a lesson to Gurbakhsh
Rai and his associates. Gurbakhsh Rai fled the village and reached
Sri nagar Garhwal. He approached Fateh Shah, the ruler of
Garhwal and provoked him to attack Guru Sahib. Fateh Shah, who
was already jealous of Guru Sahib's glory, agreed to lead an army
to Paonta Sahib. He thought that Guru Sahib did not have a large
number offollowers at Paonta and a sudden attack will result into
his victory.
Guru Sahib received information about the attack in
advance. He asked all the Sikhs to leave Paonta Sahib and check
the enemy at village Bhangani. On September 18, 1688, Fateh
Shah's army attacked the Sikhs. A fierce battle was fought
between the Garhwal and the Sikh soldiers. The hill soldiers were
no matches to amateur Sikh soldiers. Fateh Shah's army suffered
heavy casualties. By the evening Fateh Shah's army fled the
battlefield. Guru Sahib told the Sikhs not to chase the fleeing
army. In this battle four Sikhs embraced martyrdom. Among these
four two were the cousins of Guru Sahib (Sago Shah and Jeet Mal)
and the two others were Bhai Hatthi Chand Parmar (brother of
Bhai Mani Singh) and Bhai Uda Rathore.
Return to Chakk Nanaki
In October 1688, Guru Sahib received a letter from Dowager
Rani Champa, the queen of Bilaspur and Prince Bhim Chand,
requesting Guru Sahib to return to Chakk Nanaki. The victory of
Guru Sahib at Bhangani had impressed Raja Bhim Chand and he
wished to have Guru Sahib's protection and patronage as a
defence from the invading forces of Moghul or the other hill
States. Even other hill rulers thought of Guru Sahib as their
Godfather. Rani Champa had written the letter in such a humble
manner that Guru Sahib could not help accepting her request and
decided to return to Chakk Nanaki.
Guru Sahib left Paonta Sahib for Chakk Nanaki on October
28, 1688. On his way to Chakk Nanaki, Guru Sahib visited Kapal
Mochan, Laharpur, Toka, Dabra, Raipur Rani, Dhakauli, Nadda,
Mani Majra, Kotla Nihang, Ropar, Ghanaula, Bunga, Attari and
Keeratpur. Guru Sahib reached Chakk Nanaki in the middle of
November 1688.
After Guru Sahib's return to Chakk Nanaki, thousands of
Sikh began visiting Chakk Nanaki again. When Rani Champa
came to know about the return of Guru Sahib, she sent her
minister to Chakk Nanaki to request Guru Sahib to visit Bilaspur.
Guru Sahib had special regards for Rani Champa, so he accepted
her invitation. The next week Guru Sahib left for Bilaspur via
Keeratpur Sahib. When Guru Sahib reached Bilaspur, the aged
Rani Champa and her son Bhim Chand welcomed Guru Sahib at
the entrance of the city of Bilaspur. She gave a grand welcome
to Guru Sahib. Several rulers of the adjoining hill States had
reached Bilaspur to make obeisance to Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib
spent five days at Bilaspur. Before Guru Sahib's departure, Rani
Champa requested Guru Sahib not to go far away from her State.
She told Guru Sahib that she wouldn't be able to survive if Guru
Sahib moved his headquarters to any other place. She requested
Guru Sahib to build fine forts for the city of Chakk Nanaki.
Foundation of the City of
Anandpur Sahib and the Forts
After reaching Chakk Nanaki, Guru Sahib sent Hukamnamas
to the Sikhs to visit Chakk Nanaki on March 28, 1689. Thousands
ofSikhs responded to Guru Sahib's call. A mammoth congregation
was held at Chakk Nanaki. On this day, Dowager Rani Champa
too visited Chakk Nanaki. Her son Raja Bhim Chand and some
of her ministers and officials also accompanied her. On that day
Guru Sahib held his court under a big canopy. Here, Rani Champa
requested Guru Sahib to establish a new town as the capital of the
Sikh State and also to build some forts for the defence of the State.
She offered to grant as much land as Guru Sahib needed for this
purpose. Guru Sahib agreed on the condition that she would accept
the price for the land. At first she hesitated but finally she
consented accepting the price and also announced that she shall
spend that amount for the welfare of the poor people of her State.
Guru Sahib paid the price for the land of the village of Makhowal
(which was just ruins) as well as the land of the villages of
Agampur, Tarapur, Laudipur, Mataur and Sahota. Guru Sahib
announced the construction of five forts as well. Guru Sahib also
decided that the new city Anandpur shall be built at the site of
ruins of the village of Makhowal and the five forts will be built
in the territory of Anandpur, Sahota, Laudipur, Tarapur and
Agampur etc.
On March 29, 1689, Guru Sahib laid the foundation of the
new town of Anandpur Sahib. Bhai Chaupat Rai (Bhai Chaupa
Singh after initiation) recited five stanzas ofAnand Sahib (a hymn
composed by Guru Amar Das Sahib) and made a prayer as a part
of the ceremony of laying down of the foundation stone of the
Sikh capital. The foundation stone of the fort of Anandgarh was
laid down the next day. Four more forts (Taragarh, Lohgarh,
Holgarh/Agamgarh and Fatehgarh) were to be built after some
time. Among these forts Anandgarh was the main cantonment of
the Sikh soldiers and Lohgarh had a factory for manufacture of
arms and ammunition. The main gate of Lohgarh was a very
strong one and it was not possible for the enemy to break it open.
All these forts, except the fort of Taragarh, were at a distance of
about 800 yards from each other. These forts gave protection to
the villages of Chakk Nanaki and Anandpur Sahib as well as the
other villages, which had, by then, become a part of Greater
Anandpur Sahib, the Sikh City State. Besides, these five forts the
Sikh City State had also the protection of Charan Ganga and other
rivulets as well as river Satluj (which used to flow on the border
of Anandpur Sahib at that time) on two sides and a range of the
hills on the third side.
Battle of Nadaun
During those days (in 1690) Dowager Rani Champa, the
queen of Bilaspur State and Bhim Chand, the crowned prince,
were loyal to Guru Sahib. Rani's grandson Ajmer Chand was
inimical to the Sikhs. He even tried to tum his grandmother and
his father against Guru Sahib but could not succeed. Rani Champa
always remained devoted to Guru Sahib. She had had close
relations with Guru Har Rai Sahib, Guru Harkarishan Sahib and
Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib too. Rani's devotion impressed Guru
Gobind Singh Sahib also. As a result Guru Sahib too patronised
the Bilaspur State.
In March 1691, the Governor of Lahore sent a battalion of
the Moghul army, under the command of Alif Khan, to collect
revenue and tribute from the hill States. Before his arrival Alif
Khan had sent letters to the hill States to pay heavy amounts as
taxes. When Bhim Chand received this letter, he sent his minister
to Guru Sahib to save him from the attack of the Moghul army.
Rulers of some other Hill States also sent similar requests. Guru
Sahib assured them full help and asked the Sikhs to be ready for
a fight against the invading Moghul army.
On March 19, 1691, the Sikh soldiers, under the command
of Guru Sahib, reached the city of Nadaun, near Kangra (on the
bank ofriver Beas). Guru Sahib divided the Sikh army in different
30 Anandpur Sahib
groups, under the command of Bhai Nand Chand Sangha, Bhai
Mani Ram, Bhai Aalam Chand Nachanna, Bhai Dhann Chand
Chhibber, Bhai Udey Ram, Bhai Bachitar Ram etc. The next day
Alif Khan's anny attacked them. The Sikhs fought bravely and
killed several soldiers of the invading anny. The Sikhs had been
waiting for an opportunity to fight for the past two and a half years
(since the battle of Bhangani). The enthusiasm of the Sikh soldiers
compelled Alif Khan to flee the battlefield. In this battle a large
number of Moghul soldiers were killed. Among the Sikhs Bhai
Sohan Chand (brother of Bhai Mani Singh), Mool Chand (son of
Bhai Raghupati Rai Kamboj of Khemkaran) etc. embraced
martyrdom.
After the victory, Guru Sahib spent seven days in the palace
of the ruler of Nadaun and then left for Anandpur Sahib. On their
way home the Sikh soldiers taught a lesson to the mischievous
residents of village Alsoon because they had troubled them while
they were proceeding to Nadaun.
Guru Sahib and the soldiers reached Anandpur Sahib on
March 28, 1691. A large number of Sikhs were eagerly waiting
for him. The Sikhs celebrated the victory of the Sikh anny at
Nadaun by singing hymns.
Death of Rani Champa
On May 12, 1691, Dowager Rani Champa, the queen of
Bilaspur, died. She was a devoted Sikh and all the Sikhs and Guru
Sahib had special regards and love for her. When Guru Sahib
received the news of the death of Rani Champa, he left for
Bilaspur. Mata Nanaki li (in whose name the village of Chakk
Nanaki had been founded), Mata Gujari li, Mata lito li and other
members of the family of Guru Sahib, along with several
prominent Sikhs, joined Guru Sahib. Final prayer of Rani Champa
was said on May 27, 1691.
After his return from Bilaspur, Guru Sahib began living at
Anandgarh fort. Guru Sahib's family continued to stay at Guru De
Mahal, in the village ofChakk Nanaki. Guru Sahib began holding
his court at Kesgarh Sahib. With this shifted the seat ofAkal Takht
Sahib from Takht Damdama Sahib (Chakk Nanaki) to Takht
Kesgarh Sahib. The Sikhs, too, began visiting Guru Sahib at
Anandgarh fort and Kesgarh Sahib.
Conference of the Hill Rulers
Though Guru Sahib had helped the hill rulers against the
attack of Alif Khan, in March 1691 and the Moghuls made no
further attack for several months, yet, the hill rulers were afraid
of the Moghul army. They expressed their fears to Bhim Chand
(now the king of Bilaspur State). Bhim Chand conveyed the
feelings ofthe hill rulers to Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib sent a message
to Bhim Chand to call a conference of the hill rulers. Bhim Chand
invited all the hill rulers at Rawalsar, on March 29, 1692. Guru
Sahib presided over this conference. The hill rulers requested
Guru Sahib to grant them protection from the invasions of the
Moghul rulers. Guru Sahib agreed to help them subject to the
condition that they shall remain united and would never accept
subordination of the Moghuls in any manner. When hill rulers
accepted this, Guru Sahib agreed to patronise them.
After this conference, Guru Sahib stayed at Rawalsar for a
few days and then left for a tour of the hills. He visited Purmandal,
Jammu, Chakk Kahna, Ramgarh, Khirari and Samba etc. From
here Guru Sahib returned to Anandpur Sahib via Pathankot and
Hoshiarpur.
Death of Raja Bhim Chand
On September 16, 1692, Raja Bhim Chand died. He had
already abdicated the throne of Bilaspur State for his only son
Ajmer Chand. Bhim Chand's final prayers were said on October
3, 1692. Guru Sahib, Mata Nanaki, Mata Gujari and other
members of the family of Guru Sahib, Bhai Chaupat Rai and
several other prominent Sikhs visited Bilaspur to attend the
ceremony. Guru Sahib spent three days at Bilaspur and then
returned to Anandpur Sahib. With the death of Raja Bhim Chand,
now Anandpur Sahib and Bilaspur were likely to be two different
blocks because Ajmer Chand was inimical to the Sikhs. It was
Rani Champa and Raja Bhim Chand who were devoted Sikhs and
had always remained loyal to Guru Sahib.
Tour of Malwa and Baangar area
In April 1693, Guru Sahib left Anandpur Sahib for a
32 Anandpur Sahib
missionary tour of Malwa and Baangar zones of the Punjab. His
first stop was at Talwandi Sabo where Bhai Dalla gave him a
warm welcome. Guru Sahib spent several days at Tawandi Sabo.
After a tour of other villages and towns of the Malwa zone, Guru
Sahib went to Dhamtan in Baangar zone. At Dhamtan, he stayed
with Bhai Nigahia (son ofBhai Daggo). Guru Sahib spent several
weeks at Dhamtan and people from far and wide visited Bhai
Nigahia's house to make obeisance to Guru Sahib. From Dhamtan,
Guru Sahib went to Keeratpur Sahib and finally reached Anandpur
Sahib. Guru Sahib had spent about six months out of Anandpur
Sahib and the Sikhs had been waiting him very anxiously. In
January 1694, Guru Sahib took a tour of Khurwadhi (Dehradun),
Hardwar, Kankhal, and Kurukashetra etc. When Guru Sahib was
at Kankhal, Madho Das (later known as Baba Banda Singh) met
Guru Sahib. At Khurwadhi Guru Sahib enquired about the affairs
of the shrine of Ram Rai. Mata Punjab Kaur, wife of Ram Rai,
told Guru Sahib that Fateh Shah of Garhwal had not disturbed her
since the battle of Bhangani because he feared the wrath of the
Sikhs. Towards the end of March 1694, Guru Sahib again returned
to Anandpur Sahib.
On March 29, 1694, thousands of the Sikhs from various
parts of the subcontinent visited Anandpur Sahib. On this day,
Bhai Nihang Khan, ofKotla Nihang, also visited Guru Sahib. Bhai
Nihang Khan, his wife, son and daughter requested Guru Sahib
to attend the betrothal ceremony of Aalam Khan (son of Bhai
Nihang Khan) on May 3, 1694. Guru Sahib promised to reach
Kotla Nihang. Guru Sahib spent the first week of May 1694 at
Kotla Nihang and Keeratpur Sahib and attended the betrothal
ceremony of Bhai Aalam Khan.
On July II, 1694, Bhai Lal Chand Subhikkhi, father of Mata
Gujari and maternal grandfather of Guru Sahib died. Guru Sahib
went to village Lakhnaur to join final prayer for Bhai Lal Chand.
In October 1694, several thousand Sikhs again visited Anandpur
Sahib. On February 10, 1695, Diwan Dargah Mall died. He had
been Diwan (religious minister) of four Guru Sahib. His body was
cremated at village Agampura, near the fort of Agamgarh.
Guru Sahib forbade the Sikhs from cutting hair
In March 1695, Guru Sahib sent Hukamnamas to all the
Sikhs to visit Anandpur Sahib on March 29. 1695. Thousands of
Sikhs responded to Guru Sahib's call. While addressing the main
congregation, Guru Sahib announced that no Sikh should ever cut
his/her hair in future. Though majority of them already used to
keep unshorn hair but with this commandment cutting ofhairfrom
any part ofone's body was forbidden by Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib
also ordered that every Sikh should, in future, wear a steel/iron
Kara (bracelet) in his right hand.
First attack on Anandpur Sahib
Guru Sahib's first confrontation with the Moghul anny had
taken place in March 1691 at Nadaun. Since then there had been
complete calm. Guru Sahib had fought this battle (of Nadaun) to
help Raja Bhim Chand of Bilaspur. Since the death of Raja Bhim
Chand (1692), Guru Sahib had not visited Bilaspur, as Bhim
Chand's son Ajmer Chand was inimical to the Sikhs. He was so
aggressive that he even wanted Guru Sahib to leave Anandpur
Sahib. Though he himself did not dare attack Anandpur Sahib, he
instigated the Governors of Sirhind and Lahore against Guru
Sahib. As it was Dilawar Khan (the Governor of Lahore) who had
sent Alif Khan to Nadaun (in March 1691), he (Governor of
Lahore) agreed to attack Anandpur Sahib to avenge the defeat of
1691. In August 1695, Dilawar Khan sent his son Rustam Khan
with a huge anny to attack Anandpur Sahib. He reached the
outskirts of Anandpur Sahib on August 19, 1695. That day, the
rainy water had flooded all the streams and rivulets. It was not
possible for his anny to cross the rivulet on the outskirts of the
Greater Anandpur Sahib. On the other hand Bhai Aalam Chand
Nachanna had seen the Moghul anny. He infonned Guru Sahib
and soon a large number of Sikhs gathered on the top of the hill
at Kesgarh Sahib and Anandgarh Sahib. The Sikhs began beating
Ranjit Nagara and started raising Jaikaara (Bole so nihal...). The
thunder of the drum and the sounds of the Sikh war cry frightened
the Moghul soldiers. So, on the pretext of flood in the rivulet, the
Moghul soldiers beat a retreat without a fight. The Sikhs felt
relieved. They renamed the rivulet as Himaiti Naala (supporter
34 Anandpur Sahib
rivulet) because due to flood in this rivulet the Sikhs had won a
victory, without fighting a battle. (Now, this rivulet does not exist
as the floodwater now falls in Charan Ganga and the other small
rivulets. The land, on which this rivulet existed, is now cultivated
land).
Divorce between Anandpur Sahib and Bilaspur
Though the death of Rani Champa, followed by the death
of Raja Bhim Chand, had brought an end to the friendship between
Anandpur Sahib and Bilaspur, yet both of them had never openly
stood against each other. Ajmer Chand wanted to expel Guru
Sahib from Anandpur Sahib, but he dared not lead an army at
Anandpur Sahib. In August 1695, he had tried to get Anandpur
Sahib attacked by the Moghul army but he could not succeed as
Rustam Khan retreated without a fight.
Though Dilawar Khan, the Governor of Lahore, had failed
in his mission to attack Anandpur Sahib, but he decided to send
his army to collect revenue and tribute from the hill States. In
February 1696, he despatched Hussain Khan, the Moghul chief
ofKangra, to collect revenue. Hussain Khan first attacked Dadwal
and Bilaspur. Both of them tried to give a fight to Hussain Khan
but they surrendered very soon. Hussain Khan agreed to forgive
them on the condition that both of them would join him in
collecting tribute form the other hill States. Ajmer Chand at once
agreed because he wanted to use the Moghuls in order to get
Anandpur Sahib vacated.
Hussain Khan's next target was the State of GuIer. Raja
Gopal, the ruler of State, sent his minister to Anandpur Sahib to
seek Guru Sahib's help. Guru Sahib sent a unit of the Sikhs
soldiers to help Raja Gopal. On February 20, 1696, Hussain Khan
put a siege to the city of GuIer. Bhai Sangatia and other Sikhs first
tried to negotiate a compromise but Hussain Khan was very
aggressive. He even tried to arrest Raja Gopal. This resulted into
a battle. Bhai Sangatia, Hanumant, Darso and other Sikhs fought
bravely and killed several soldiers of the Moghul army. In this
battle Hussaini too fought bravely. Even some Rajputs fought
bravely but during the battle Hussain Khan was killed and with
this fled the Moghul soldiers. On the Sikh side eight Sikhs
embraced martyrdom, including Bhai Sangatia, Bhai Hanumant,
Bhai Lehnu and Bhai Darso.
In this battle Ajmer Chand ofBilaspur had fought on the side
of the Moghuls; hence it was the first encounter between the Sikhs
and the Bilaspur State. The defeat of Hussain Khan was, in a way,
also the defeat of Ajmer Chand. This meant clear-cut divorce and
rather enmity between Anandpur and Bilaspur. Now, Ajmer
Chand began planning to attack Anandpur Sahib in order to
avenge his defeat at Guier, as an ally of the Moghuls.
On the other hand, when the Governor ofLahore learnt about
the death of Hussain Khan, he sent another battalion ofthe Moghul
anny under the command of a Rajput named Jujhar Sinh Hada.
Hada led three thousand soldiers against Guier State but he too
was killed in the battle. This further enraged the Governor of
Lahore.
When Aurangzeb came to know about successive defeats of
the Moghul anny at the hands of the Sikhs, he sent his son prince
Muazzam (later known as Bahadur Shah) to enquire into the
matter. Prince Muazzam left Agra with a big anny. During his
expedition of the hill States, he did not attack Anandpur Sahib.
He reported to his father that the Sikhs were a peaceful people
and they were never offensive to anyone, in any situation; hence,
not a problem for the Moghul empire.
Aurangzeb was not satisfied with the report of his son
because Ajmer Chand and the Governors of Lahore and Sirhind
had sent adverse reports about the activities of the Sikhs. In order
to ascertain the authenticity of the report of the Prince, Aurangzeb
sent Mirza Beg, one of his senior anny Generals, to report about
the affairs of the hill States and the Sikhs. Mirza Beg visited
Anandpur Sahib and had a meeting with Guru Sahib. Mirza Beg
was very much impressed by the personality of Guru Sahib. He
reported to Aurangzeb that there was no sense in attacking
Anandpur Sahib. Aurangzeb was, still, not satisfied. He sent
another team of four senior officials towards Anandpur Sahib and
the hill States. These four officers too confinned the earlier reports
by the Prince and Mirza Begh. This brought an end to the rumours
of attack of the Moghul anny on Anandpur Sahib.
36 Anandpur Sahib
Disbanding of the institution of Masands
Since the period of Guru Nanak Sahib, the Sikhs had been
organised in the form of Sangats. Guru Ram Das Sahib appointed
Masands (organisers or area chiefs) for each unit or a group of
various units/zones. Their main function was to act as a link
between Guru Sahib and the Sikhs of that particular area. The
institution of Masands contributed a lot to the Sikh mission. It was
helpful in organising the Sikhs of various areas as well as the
missionary activities. It also played an important role in
channelling the economic system of the Sikh nation. These
Masands were the organisers but not the religious deputies or
bosses or sub-Guru. They were supposed to serve as humble
servants of the mission and the nation. But, with the passage of
time, some of them became corrupt. They began misusing
donations, the tithe and other gifts given by the Sikhs to be made
over to Guru Sahib through them. Some Masands began collecting
forced donations and some even tried to behave as sub-Gurus. So,
a very useful system became a corrupt institution and an obstacle
to the mission of Guru Sahib.
In the month of February 1698, Guru Sahib was watching
a skit performed by some artists. The artists presented the story
of a poor family tormented by a Masand who wanted to force a
donation upon them in spite of their poor economy. This satire
was an eye opener for every one. When the presentation of the
satire was over, Guru Sahib asked the artist whether that was based
on a true event. The artist confirmed it. Bhai Nanu Ram Dilwali
was also present there. He narrated several other instances of the
corrupt activities of the Masands. Guru Sahib immediately sent
some prominent Sikhs to bring all the Masands to Anandpur
Sahib. Within a few days, all the Masands reached Anandpur
Sahib. Guru Sahib tested the credentials of each and every
Masand. Those who were found debauch, corrupt and scoundrel
were punished according to the gravity of their crimes. On the
other hand, honest missionaries and genuine Masands were
presented with Siropaos (robes of honour). Those who received
robes of honour included Bhai Sangat Rai, also known as Bhai
Pheru (Mian Ki Maur, Lahore), Bhai Bakht Mall Suri (Jalalpur
Jattan), Bhai Kambo (Dipalpur), Bhai Jodh (Kamalia), Bhai
Durga Das Chauhan (DubUlji Udey Karan WaH, Sialkot) and Bhai
Tulsi Das Chhimba (Delhi).
Though there were some genuine missionary Masands also
but Guru Sahib decided to disband the institution ofMasands. He
declared that, in future, no Sikh should send any thing to Guru
Sahib thro1Jgh any Masand. Guru Sahib would not accept any
offering sent through a Masand. Guru Sahib also issued a
Hukamnama to all the Sikhs to attend a special congregation, on
March 29, 1698, at Anandpur Sahib.
Revelation of Khalsa
Khalsa Akaal Purakh ki fauj
Pargatio Khalsa Parmatam ki Mauj
(Khalsa is the anny of the Almighty.
Khalsa has been revealed as per the Will of the Almighty).
On March 29, 1698, more than twenty thousand Sikhs
reached Anandpur Sahib (The popular date accepted by several
writers is 1699). After regular Keertan, Guru Sahib stood up,
unleashed his Kirpaan and said, I need a Sikh who is ready to
sacrifice his life for the nation." On hearing this, all the Sikhs were
surprised. They began staring at Guru Sahib. Some of them could
not even understand the meaning of the words of Guru Sahib.
Guru Sahib repeated his words. Now all of them began thinking
that Guru Sahib was serious. A large number of people got even
. frightened, hence no one stood up to respond to the call of Guru
Sahib. Guru Sahib repeated his call for the third time. Now, a Sikh,
named Bhai Daya Ram Sobti, of Lahore stood up and said, "Guru
Sahib, I am your Sikh. I and my life are all yours. I offer my head
for the nation." Guru Sahib moved forward, held Bhai Daya Ram
by his arm and took him into a tent pitched on a nearby mound.
Soon the sound of a thud was heard. After a few moments Guru
Sahib came out of the tent. Blood was dripping from his sword.
The people thought that Guru Sahib had severed the head of Bhai
Daya Ram. Most of them got frightened. Some of them began
moving away from the congregation ground.
Guru Sahib began addressing the Sikhs again. He made
another call asking for another head. Now, no one spoke. There
was complete silence. But, within seconds, another Sikh, named
Bhai Muhkam Chand, stood up and with folded hands he
expressed his desire to sacrifice himself. Guru Sahib held Bhai
Muhkam Chand by his arm and took him too into the tent. The
Revelation oj Khalsa 39
same sound ofthud was heard again. The Sikhs saw blood flowing
downwards from the tent. Guru Sahib returned soon with fresh
blood dripping from the sword. The audience was completely
stunned. But when Guru Sahib gave the call for a third head, a
large number of Sikhs began slipping away. On the other hand
Bhai Sahib Chand, a barber from Bidar (Karnataka), stood up and
rushed towards Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib took him too towards the
tent and returned soon with fresh blood on his sword and made
another call for the fourth head. Now people began whispering
as to what had happened to Guru Sahib. People thought that no
fourth Sikh would now come forward as every body had presumed
that Guru Sahib had severed the heads of the three Sikhs. But to
their astonishment Bhai Dharam Chand Jawanda, a Jat of
Hastinapur (near Delhi), stood up and offered his head. Guru
Sahib took Dharam Chand to the tent and returned again with
fresh blood on his sword. Guru Sahib now asked for the fifth head.
By this time a very large number of Sikhs had left the
congregation ground. On hearing Guru Sahib's call, Bhai Himmat
Chand got up smilingly and moved towards Guru Sahib with fast
steps. He too was led to the tent.
Now people were really horrified but it was strange that now
five more Sikhs were standing to offer their heads. This time Guru
Sahib did not come back. This made the congregation worried as
to what had happened to Guru Sahib himself. Some Sikhs began
asking each other "What is Guru Sahib doing now? Is he coming
back to ask for the sixth head? Has he really killed five Sikhs?
Is he cremating them? What is he doing after all?" Every one had
a different question and a different answer. The Sikhs were
frightened, horrified, surprised, worried but also curious to know
the reality; still no one dared to go towards the tent. But soon,
the congregation was amazed to see Guru Sahib stepping out of
the tent with a blue dress on his person. All the five Sikhs wearing
the same blue dress followed Guru Sahib. They looked like God's
chosen beloved one's, their eyes glowing and their faces shining.
They looked like the messengers from some spiritual land. On
seeing them, the Sikhs began raising the Jaikaaras of Bole so
nihal... A strange wave of amazement and joy spread throughout
the congregation.
When Guru Sahib reached the dais and saw another batch
40 Anandpur Sahib
of five Sikhs standing in the middle of the congregation ground,
he asked them as to why were they standing. (These five were:
Deva Ram, Ram Chand, Tahil Das, Ishar Das, Fateh Chand). They
told Guru Sahib, "We have been waiting since you left with Bhai
Himmat Chand, we too offer our heads." Guru Sahib smiled and
said, "I needed only five Marjiwras (living martyrs). May
Waheguru bless you also because you are ready to sacrifice your
life for the nation. Your dedication has been accepted in the court
of the Almighty. You too will have special place in His court.
Those who offered their head first are the Pun} Piaray (five
chosen beloved ones) and you will be known as Pun} Muktey (five
liberated ones)." After this, Guru Sahib addressed the congregation:
"I needed Punj Marjiwras (living martyrs) who will be ready to
sacrifice their lives for the nation. These five have passed the test
of sacrifice and loyalty for the nation. So long the sun and the
moon exist, these five shall be remembered by the history for their
devotion, dedication and sacrifice. Whenever the Sikhs prepare
Karah Parshad (blessed pudding) the Pun} Piaray shall be served
first. The Sikhs shall always remember them in their national
prayer."
After this Guru Sahib asked Bhai Chaupat Rai to bring fresh
water from Satluj River. In those days, river Satluj used to flow
near the boundary of the city of Anandpur Sahib. Now its flow
has turned towards Keeratpur Sahib). When Bhai Chaupat Rai
came back with fresh water, Guru Sahib asked Bhai Dharam
Chand Chhibber (the religious minister) to bring a Bata (an iron
vessel) and Khanda (double edged sword). Guru Sahib poured the
water into the Bata and began stirring it with the Khanda. The
Pun} Piaray sat around the vessel and began reading five hymns
(Japuji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, Swaway. Chaupai and Anand Sahib).
During this Mata Jito (Jeet Kaur after initiation) went towards
them and added Patasas (sugar candy) into the water. When Guru
Sahib and the Punj Piaray finished the hymns, an Ardaas was
offered.
After the Ardaas, Guru Sahib put five drops of the Khandey
Di Pahul in his mouth with the Khanda and then gave Khandey
Di Pahul to the Pun} Piaray. (It was an after thought that he got
initiation from the Pun) Piaray after initiating them. This story
became popular in the beginning of the nineteenth century. No
Revelation of Khalsa 41
book written prior to the beginning of the nineteenth century
mentions that Guru Sahib got initiation from the Pun} Piaray).
After Khandey Di Pahul, Guru Sahib told them, "Now, you are
new persons. Your previous family of birth, your beliefs, your
deeds, illusions and taboos do not exist any more. From now
onwards you are Khalsa (sovereign beings) of the Supreme
Sovereign (the Almighty). Guru Sahib gave them new names as
well: Daya Singh, Muhkam Singh, Sahib Singh, Dharam Singh
and Himmat Singh. Guru Sahib named himself also as Gobind
Singh in place of Gobind Das.
Guru Sahib told the Khalsa that they would never cut their
hair from any part of their bodies. They must not eat Halal (meat
in Muslim fashion); must not use tobacco in any form, and, must
not cohabit a Turkani (literally: it meant a Muslim woman, but
it seems that Guru Sahib wanted to prohibit adultery). Guru Sahib
prohibited the Sikhs from having any relationship with Minas
(descendants of Pirthi Chand), Dhirmallias (descendants of Dhir
Mall), Ramraiyas (the followers of Gurbakhsh Rai, a Masand of
Ram Rai, who had begun a new sect named Ramraiyas), Masands
and Sirgumms (those who are born in a Sikh family but cut their
hair later on). Guru Sahib further said that a Sikh should never
bow before mausoleums, graves, smaadhs (memorials raised by
the Hindus after their dead ). He commanded that a Sikh must have
five articles of faith always on his person all the time till hisfher
death. These five are: Kes (unshorn hair), Kangha (Sikh-comb to
be kept in hair-knot), Kirpaan (the Sikh sword), Kachhehra (the
Sikh-shorts designed and stitched in a specific manner) and Kara
(Sikh-bracelets, though bracelet is not a proper term) in one's
hand. This Kara should be made of iron/steel and not gold because
it is not an ornament. The commandments for Khalsa also included
not dying or plucking grey hair from any part of body. Guru Sahib
told the Khalsa that a Khalsa belongs to the Almighty and has his
loyalty for the Almighty only.
After the initiation of the Pun} Piaray was completed, Guru
Sahib initiated the Pun} Muktey. After these ten Sikhs, the next
batch to get Khandey Di Pahul included: Bhai Mani Singh, Chitar
Singh, Bachitar Singh, Ajab Singh, Ajaib Singh, Anik Singh,
Udey Singh (six sons of Bhai Mani Singh), Bhai Chaupa Singh
(Chaupat Rai), Bhai Dharam Singh Chhibber Diwan, Bhai Aalam
42 Anandpur Sahib
Singh Nachanna and Bhai Gurbakhsh Singh (Ram Kanwar). After
these 21 Sikhs, another batch was given Khandey Di Pahul. They
included Bhai Kirpa Singh (Kirpa Ram) Dutt, his brother Bhai
Sanmukh Singh Dutt, their father Bhai Gurrnukh Singh (Aru
Ram) Dutt, Bhai Rai Singh Multani (brother ofBhai Mani Singh),
Bhai Gurbakhsh Singh, Bhai Gurbakhshish Singh, Bhai Daya
Singh Purohit, Bhai Subeg Singh, Bhai Amrik Singh, Bhai Barn
Singh, Bhai Lal Singh Pishauria, Bhai Ani Singh (Ani Rai poet),
Bhai Rup Singh, Bhai Deep Singh and Bhai Nand Singh (both,
sons ofBaba Suraj Mall and grandsons ofGuru Hargobind Sahib),
Bhai Nanu Singh Dilwali and three Bania brothers from Sirhind
(Bhai Hazari Singh, Bhai Bhandari Singh and Bhai Darbari
Singh). After this the Pun) Piaray began initiating the rest of the
Sikhs. In the next few days thousands of Sikhs got Khandey Di
Pahul.
Bhai Mani Singh sent to
Guru Da Chakk (Amritsar)
Guru Da Chakk (Amritsar) had been under the management
of the Mina family from 1635 to 1696. In 1696 Harji, son of
Meharban and grandson of Pirthi Chand, died. He had four sons.
They could not look after the affairs of the town and left the city
for far off places. In 1698, some Sikhs from Guru Da Chakk
visited Anandpur Sahib and requested Guru Sahib to send one
Sikhs to take care of the shrine and look after the affairs of the
town. Guru Sahib promised to send some Sikhs to Guru Da
Chakk. In the last week of April 1698, Guru Sahib asked Bhai
Mani Singh to move to Guru Da Chakk. He also asked Bhai
Bhupat Singh, Bhai GuIzar Singh, Bhai Koer Singh and Bhai Dan
Singh to accompany Bhai Mani Singh. These five Sikhs reached
Guru Da Chakk in the first week of May and began living there.
They started regular Keertan and Katha at Harimandir Sahib and
people began visiting the shrine as before. Now, Guru Da Chakk
too became another centre for. the Sikhs of the Maa)ha area.
Attacks on Anandpur Sahib
After the revelation of Khalsa, thousands of Sikh began
flocking to Anandpur Sahib to receive Khandey Di Pahul. This
news reached the Moghul rulers. They were worried to learn about
the declaration of the Sikh nation. Not only the Moghuls but the
Brahmins (the Hindu priestly class) were also embarrassed to learn
it because thousands of Punjabis, now, considered it a matter of
pride to receive Khandey Di Pahul. The Brahmins feared major
losses of their priestly business and their revenues because their
clientele was sure to decline because a Khalsa has nothing to do
with the Brahmins or a priest. Parma Nand, the prime Minster of
Bilaspur State, was a Brahmin. He was also the mentor of Ajmer
Chand, the ruler of Bilaspur. He found it as a proper opportunity
to exploit the situation to provoke Ajmer Chand to attack
Anandpur Sahib.
Politically too, the Moghul and the hill rulers, were jealous
of Guru Sahib's growing number of the followers and his power.
Guru Sahib had, by then, built four forts and the fifth one, the
Fatehgarh fort, was also near completion. The Sikhs had a large
number of horses and an equally good quantity of arms and
ammunition. A factory of arms had already been set up inside the
fort of Lohgarh under the charge of Bhai Ram Singh Sikligar who
was an expert of manufacture of arms and ammunition.
Anandpur Sahib had become a major centre. From
cantonment, business and political aspect Anandpur Sahib was
much more important than Bilaspur and all the other capitals of
the hill States. From arts and education point of view too
Anandpur Sahib was supreme. This created jealously in the minds
of some of the hill rulers. They were looking for an opportunity
to harm Anandpur Sahib in some manner.
44 Anandpur Sahib
Attack by Katochs
On July 12, 1698, Guru Sahib, along with a few Sikhs, went
to the hill forests for hunting. When they reached in the middle
of the forest, they came across a party led by Aalam Chand and
Balia Chand, the two Katoch feudal. The Katoch had deep friendly
relations with Ajmer Chand. As the Katoch party was much bigger
than the number of the Sikhs accompanying Guru Sahib, they
thought that they would be able to kill the Sikhs and capture
Guru Sahib; hence they attacked Guru Sahib. In a hand to
hand fight Bhai Aalam Singh and Bhai Udey Singh seriously
wounded the two Katoch feudal. Bhai Udey Singh cut the right
arm of Balia Chand with a single blow of his sword. On seeing
their chiefs in such a condition the hill soldiers began running to
save their lives.
Guru Sahib's marriage with (Mata) Sahib Kaur
In the last days of March 1700, a large number of Sikhs
visited Anandpur Sahib. Among them were Bhai Har Bhagwan
(alias Bhai Ramu), his wife Bibi Jas Devi and their children Sahib
Singh and Sahib Kaur (Sahib Devan before initiation). They were
the residents of Rohtas (district Jhelum, now a part of Pakistan).
Bhai Har Bhagwan requested Guru Sahib to accept Bibi Sahib
Kaur as his wife. Guru Sahib politely refused and told him that
he had already two wives and four sons, hence it won't be proper
to have another wife. Bhai Har Bhagwan told Guru Sahib that his
daughter had always treated him (Guru Sahib) as her husband and
she won't even dream of marrying any other person. Guru Sahib
told him that he (Guru Sahib) would not consummate the marriage
with her but if she still insisted for marriage, she could stay in
his family even as a wife but without having any marital relations
with him (Guru Sahib). Bhai Har Bhagwan and Bibi Sahib Kaur
agreed to this. As a result, a formal marriage ceremony was
performed on April 15, 1700. Guru Sahib never consummated this
marriage but Mata Sahib Kaur remained in Guru Sahib's
household as his wife. According to one writer Guru Sahib granted
her the status of the "Mother of Khalsa", though this is not
confirmed by any other source.
Attack by Painda Khan and Dina Beg
Having suffered at the hands of the Sikhs, the Katoch feudal
went to Bilaspur and narrated the whole story to Ajmer Chand.
Ajmer Chand contacted the other hill chiefs but he could not get
good response. No hill ruler was interested in a fight against Guru
Sahib. Then he approached Aurangzeb. He too did not show any
interest in helping Ajmer Chand. Finally he contacted the
Governors of Sirhind and Lahore. The Governor of Lahore agreed
to help Ajmer Chand and sent a battalion of the Moghul soldiers
under the command ofPainda Khan and Dina (Adina) Begh. They
attacked Anandpur Sahib on July 26, 1700. Guru Sahib had
already got information about the attack and the Sikhs were
prepared to have a fight. Battle between the Sikhs and the Moghul
soldiers lasted only for a few hours. The invaders suffered heavy
losses and retreated in the evening.
Attack by Ajrner Chand
When Ajmer Chand learnt that the Moghul army had been
defeated and the Sikhs had an upper hand, he decided to attack
Anandpur Sahib with his own army. On August 29, 1700, Ajmer
Chand led a large number of soldiers and attacked the fort of
Taragarh. Taragarh fort was on the border of village Tarapur and
Bilaspur State. It was at a distance of about five km from
Anandpur Sahib. At that time there were only a few dozen Sikh
soldiers in this fort. Sahibzada Ajit Singh was the in charge of the
fort. Ajmer Chand knew that the number of the Sikhs in that fort
was very small and he would be able to kill all ofthem and occupy
the fort. But, Ajmer Chand was simply mistaken. Though it was
a sudden attack but the Sikhs had seen the hill soldiers advancing
towards the fort. Sahibzada Ajit Singh sent a Sikh soldier to
inform Guru Sahib about the attack. Before the hill soldiers could
reach the fort of Taragarh, the Sikh messenger had already
disappeared from their sight and reached Anandgarh fort. He
informed Guru Sahib about the attack. Guru Sahib sent one
hundred and twenty-five soldiers under the command of Bhai
Udey Singh.
By the time Bhai Udey Singh could reach the fort the fight
had already begun. The Sikhs had killed some of the hill soldiers.
46 Anandpur Sahib
Bhai Udey Singh's party began attacking the hill soldiers from the
other side. As a result several of the soldiers of hill army were
killed. Ghumand Chand, a leader of the hill army was seriously
wounded in a hand-to-hand fight with Bhai Udey Singh. On
seeing Ghumand Chand badly wounded, the hill soldiers began
retreating. In this battle dozens of hill soldiers were killed. On
the Sikh side Bhai Kalyan Singh Parmar (son of Shaheed Dial
Das), Bhai Mangat Singh (brother of Bhai Pheru) and Bhai Ishar
Singh embraced martyrdom. In the evening Guru Sahib sent
messages to the leaders of the other forts asking them to be
vigilant and be prepared to face another attack by Ajmer Chand's
army.
Attack on Fatehgarh fort
Ajmer Chand knew that the Fatehgarh fort was not fully
built and one of its walls was still incomplete, so he decided to
attack this fort. On August 30, 1700, he attacked Fatehgarh fort.
Bhai Bhagwan Singh, son of Bhai Mani Singh, was the in charge
of this fort. He encouraged the Sikhs to give Ajmer Chand a
befitting reply so that they may not be able to attack Anandpur
Sahib again. The Sikhs fought bravely and Ajmer Chand was not
able to reach near the incomplete wall of the fort. Even at
Fatehgarh fort Ajmer Chand suffered heavy casualties. Under the
pretext of darkness, the hill army fled the battlefield. In this battle
Bhai Bhagwan Singh, Bhai Jawahar Singh (son of Bhai Lakkhi
Shah Wanjara), Bhai Nand Singh (son of Bhai Aalam Singh and
grandson of Bhai Daria) embraced martyrdom.
Attack on Agamgarh fort
Ajmer Chand had suffered heavy losses in two battles but
he was still not subdued. On the third day, i.e. August 31, 1700,
he made another attempt to defeat the Sikhs. This time he attacked
the fort at Agamgarh village. This fort was at a distance of about
one and a half a kilometre from Anandgarh fort and about 800
metres from the fort of Fatehgarh. The Sikhs had sensed that
Ajmer Chand would attack that fort so they were fully prepared
for a fight. Within an hour a large number of hill soldiers were
killed. Ajmer Chand was depressed to see heavy casualties, so he
decided to beat a hasty retreat, hence the battle could not last
long. On the Sikh side, Bhai Bagh Singh (nephew of Bhai Mani
Singh) and Bhai Gharbara Singh (son of Bhai Nanu Singh
Dilwali) embraced martyrdom.
Attack on Lohgarh fort
Having suffered shameful defeat for three successive days,
Ajmer Chand became more aggressive. On the other hand the hill
soldiers felt very much demoralised. Some of them suggested that
they should return to Bilaspur. But, Ajmer Chand wanted to make
another trial. His maternal uncle Kesri Chand was more aggressive
than him. He tried to infuse new spirit among the hill soldiers.
Kesri Chand's minister Karam Chand advised him against a new
fight. But Kesri Chand swore that he wouldn't return to Bilaspur
ifhe could not chop off the head of Guru Sahib. Parma Nand, the
minister of Ajmer Chand, suggested that they should attack the
fort of Lohgarh, as that was the major arsenal of the Sikhs. He
said if they could occupy that fort all the losses in the three battles
would be avenged. Karam Chand told them that the gate of the
Lohgarh fort was so strong that they won't be able to break it open.
At this Parma Nand suggested that a drunkard elephant should be
brought in to break it open. Ajmer Chand immediately agreed to
this proposal.
A Sikh intelligence officer, Bhai Chatar Singh, received this
information and he immediately informed Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib
asked the Sikhs to be ready to push this elephant back on the hill
army. He assigned the job to Duni Chand Dhaliwal, who had a
bulky, tall and impressive physique. But, in fact, he was a known
coward. At night, Duni Chand approached some senior Sikhs in
the fort and asked them to request Guru Sahib not to send him
for such a job, which would mean sure death. When no one could
extend help to Duni Chand, he, along with his five companions,
tried to flee Anandgarh fort by scaling down the walls of the fort
with the help of a rope. As Duni Chand had a heavy body, the
rope got broken and he fell down. He was seriously wounded. (His
companions carried him to his native village where he died soon
after). Guru Sahib received the news of Duni Chand's escape
within a short period. He knew what Duni Chand would do so,
48 Anandpur Sahib
so he had already decided to assign this job to some one else.
The next day, early in the morning, Guru Sahib asked Bhai
Bachitar Singh to turn the drunken elephant back. He immediately
stood up to accept the duty. Guru Sahib gave him his own
Naagani spear to carry out this job. Bhai Bachitar Singh left for
Lohgarh fort at once. After he was gone, Bhai Udey Singh stood
up and said, "Guru Sahib Kesri Chand has sworn to cut off your
head. I wish to chop off his head, I seek your permission to do
so". Guru Sahib embraced him and gave him his own Karpa spear
to carry out the assignment. Bhai Udey Singh too left for Lohgarh
fort immediately. Both the brothers reached the gate of Lohgarh
fort and began waiting for the attack of Ajmer Chand's army.
As planned by the hill army, they brought a drunken
elephant to break open the gate of Lohgarh fort. Big and strong
iron plates had been tightened on the forehead of the elephant.
When the elephant reached near the gate of the fort, Bhai Bachitar
Singh rushed towards the elephant with a great speed and attacked
it with the Naagani spear. The spear pierced through the iron
plates and entered deep into the forehead of the elephant. Bhai
Bachitar Singh immediately pulled the spear back. As a result the
elephant began trumpeting due to sever pain. The elephant made
a hasty retreat and ran at a high speed thus wounding and killing
a large number of hill soldiers.
On the other hand, Bhai Udey Singh rode his horse and ran
towards Kesri Chand, the maternal uncle of Ajmer Chand, who
had sworn to cut the head of Guru Sahib. Bhai Udey Singh
challenged Kesri Chand to make the first attack. Kesri Chand
made three successive attempts but failed to hit Bhai Udey Singh.
Now Bhai Udey Singh wielded his sword and cut Kesri Chand's
head with a single stroke. Bhai Udey Singh hanged the head of
Kesri Chand on Karpa spear and rushed immediately towards
Anandgarh fort to present the same in the feet of Guru Sahib. The
hill soldiers tried to stop Bhai Udey Singh but he disappeared in
no time and the arrows shot by them could do nothing.
After the death of Kesri Chand a pitched battle began. The
Sikh soldiers fought bravely and killed a very large number of hill
soldiers. Bhai Mani Singh, Bhai Sher Singh, Bhai Nahar Singh
and others fought bravely. In this battle Bhai Aalam Singh (son
of Bhai Daria), Bhai Sukkha Singh (a nephew of Bhai Mani
~ facy ~ If'f'illf
G"rdwara Qila Anandgarh Sahib
~ facy ~ If'f'illf
Gurdwara Qila Lahgarh Sahib
i!JO?"f'CJT fco/ ~ R'!'i:Pr
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GlIrdwara Qila Holgarh Sahib
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Gurdwara Bhora Sahib (The first building of Anandpur Sahib)
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Gurdwara Damdama Sahib (This was the seat of Akal Takht Sahib)
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Gurdwara Thora Sahih (aile of the first hui/dings of Allandpur Sahih)
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(The site of cremation of the head of Guru Tegh Balladur Sahih)
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the Sikhs ajier the cremation of the head of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib)
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Gurdwara at Basali
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Gurdwara at Bilaspur
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Guru Sahib's relics ar Kesgarh Sahib
Singh), Bhai Khushal Singh (son of Bhai Makhan Shah Lubana)
embraced martyrdom.
Guru Sahib moved to Nirmohgarh
After loosing four successive battles and the death of Kesri
Chand, the hill army returned to Bilaspur. The death of a royal
leader like Kesri Chand was a great loss to the hill folk and a great
personal loss to Ajmer Chand and his supporter hill rulers, feudal
and other elite. They held a meeting at Bilaspur and discussed their
plight. They finally agreed that they wouldn't be able to defeat the
Sikhs in a battle. Parma Nand, a minister of Ajmer Chand,
suggested a plan to expel Guru Sahib from Anandpur Sahib and
eventually kill him. Every one liked his suggestion. In furtherance
of this plan, they sent Parma Nand to Anandpur Sahib, on October
I, 1700. Parma Nand made a cow (which is sacred to Hindus) of
wheat floor and placed it in a brass plate along with some flowers
and a letter, and, placed it outside the gate of Anandgarh fort. The
next morning, when a Sikh opened the gate of Anandgarh fort,
he sawall this. He picked up the plate and took it to Guru Sahib.
Guru Sahib asked a Sikh to read the letter. It said: "Respectable
Guru Sahib! We are ashamed for having attacked Anandpur Sahib.
We are all very sorry for our misdeed. Our defeat and losses have
put us to great shame. Every body laughs at us. This has made
our life miserable. Because of this disgrace, we can not appear in
public. We apologise for all our sins. We can not live without your
help and grace. Please forgive us. It will be a great act of mercy
on us if you could do something for us so that we may gain some
respect among the people. We request you to vacate the town of
Anandpur Sahib for a few days so that we may boast of our
success. You may come back here after a few days. In return we
promise that we shall always remain loyal to you. We swear by
this cow that we shall never attack Anandpur Sahib in future.
Please forgive us and help us. We know you are a very kind
person. Please help us. We shall never forget your generosity"
When Guru Sahib heard the wording of the letter he smiled
and said, "These stone (idol) worshiper hill rulers are not
trustworthy people. They don't deserve mercy." At this, some
Sikhs requested Guru Sahib to show mercy, as they might be
50 Anandpur Sahib
willing to wash their s i n s ~ Guru Sahib told the Sikhs, "I know their
mind. They are ungrateful people. But, as per your wish I will
give them a chance; but you will see how do they react to this
_act of mercy."
On October 4, 1700, Guru Sahib, along with hundreds of
Sikhs, left Anandpur for village Nirmoh. It was ajourney of about
10 kilometres. At village Nirmoh there was a big hill. Guru Sahib
asked the Sikhs to pitch their tents at the top of the hill. This hill
was safe from defence point of view because there was only one
way to climb up the hill.
When Ajmer Chand came to know about the departure of
Guru Sahib from Anandpur Sahib, he sent some soldiers to
confirm it. Having confirmed, he made an announcement in
Bilaspur that he had expelled Guru Sahib from Anandpur Sahib.
This helped him gain his lost respect. But, as he was a man of
satanic tendencies, he forgot that Guru Sahib had left Anandpur
Sahib as an act of mercy. Parma Nand told him that Guru Sahib
had stationed himself on a hill without any fort or other defence
so it would be easy to attack him in this situation. Ajmer Chand
and Pandit Parma Nand forgot that they had sworn by their
"spiritual goddess mother cow" that they wouldn't attack Guru
Sahib in future. Ajmer Chand ordered his army to be ready to
attack Guru Sahib at Nirmoh village.
On October 8, 1700, Ajmer Chand led a big army to village
Nirmoh and attacked Guru Sahib. When Guru Sahib saw the hill
army he told the Sikhs that he had told them the truth about the
hill rulers that they won't keep their vows. At this the Sikhs said,
"Let these ungrateful people come near us we shall teach them
a lesson." Within a short time the hill soldiers reached near the
hill. The Sikhs, though much less in number, gave a befitting reply
to the hill soldiers. The Sikhs repulsed the attack and killed a very
large number of soldiers of the invading army. But they too lost
some brave soldiers, including Bhai Sahib Singh Diwan (religious
minister) son of Shaheed Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Mathura Singh son
of Shaheed Bhai Dial Das, Bhai Surat Singh, Bhai Deva Singh,
Bhai Anup Singh Dhaliwal and Bhai Sarup Singh Dhaliwal
(grandsons of Duni Chand Dhaliwal).
Altacks on Anandpur Sahib 51
Attack by Rustam Khan
This time Ajmer Chand had not expected a defeat. Now, he
thought that it would need a long siege to defeat the SHills. So,
he decided to use some other tactics. He sent his minister Parma
Nand to the Governor of Sirhind requesting him to attack Guru
Sahib. He sent some money as his contribution towards the
expenses of the attack. He assured the Governor of Sirhind that
Guru Sahib was stationed at a very insecure place with not many
soldiers and a small quantity of arms and ammunition; hence in
a much inferior military position. Ajmer Chand's proposals
convinced the Governor of Sirhind and he agreed to attack Guru
Sahib. He sent a large battalion under the command of Rustam
Khan and his brother Nahar Khan to attack the Sikhs.
When Bhai Bachitar Singh and Chitar Singh (sons of Bhai
Mani Singh) came to know about the movement of Rustam Khan
towards Nirmohgarh (the place was called Nirmohgarh because
it was used by the Sikhs as a Garh i.e. a small fort), they took
a vow to punish Rustam Khan in an exemplary manner. Several
other Sikh soldiers also expressed such a determination. On
October 13, 1700, the army led by Khan brothers reached near
Nirmoh village. They occupied a hill from where they could shoot
arrows or make shelling with cannons at Nirmohgarh. They began
their attack with a ball from their cannon. The ball hit Bhai Ram
Singh Kashmiri, a personal attendant ofGuru Sahib. He was killed
at the spot. It meant that the cannon ball could have hit Guru Sahib
too. Guru Sahib immediately shot an arrow and killed Rustam
Khan, the chief of the invading army. Bhai Udey Singh also shot
an arrow that killed Nahar Khan. Though both the brothers had
been killed, still, the Pathan soldiers continued fighting against the
Sikhs. The fighting continued till it was dark. In the evening the
Moghul army beat a retreat. Though the Sikhs were victorious,
yet they too suffered some losses including Bhai Ram Singh
Kashmiri, Bhai Mohar Singh, Bhai Himmat Singh and Bhai Ram
Singh.
The next day Ajmer Chand attacked again. This time he had
a much bigger army. Guru Sahib divided the Sikhs in different
units so that they could fight on different fronts. This led to heavy
losses for the hill soldiers. By the evening, dozens of hill soldiers
52 Anandpur Sahib
had been killed. Two Sikhs, Bhai Jeeta Singh and Bhai Neta Singh
also embraced martyrdom.
Another attack by Ajmer Chand and
Guru Sahib moved to Basali
Basali village is at a distance of about 13-14 kilometres from
Keeratpur as well as Nirmoh village. Basali, in those days, was
a small State. Raja Salahai Chand, whose wife was the sister of
Rani Champa (who had been one of the greatest devoted Sikhs
of the history), ruled this State. [Salahi Chand's wife Heera Devi
too was an admirer of Guru Sahib. Both the sisters were the
daughters of the ruler of Mandi State. This family had been a part
of the Sikh brotherhood since the time of Guru Nanak Sahib].
When he came to know that Ajmer Chand had taken a vow by
the name ofcow but still deceived Guru Sahib, he led a small army
towards Nirmoh village. When he reached near Sarsa stream, he
sent his minister to Nirmoh to ask Guru Sahib to leave the hill
and accompany him to Basali. When Guru Sahib received Raja
Salahi Chand's invitation, he gave his consent and asked the Sikhs
to march towards Sarsa stream. When Guru Sahib and the Sikhs
were moving towards Sarsa stream, the hill army again attacked
them. The Sikhs went on fighting as well as advancing towards
the direction of the stream. Bhai Udey Singh and his associates
stopped the movement of the hill soldiers with their arrows.
Within a short time Guru Sahib and most of the Sikhs crossed the
stream. Rest ofthe Sikhs also crossed very soon. During this battle
too a few Sikhs were killed. Those who embraced martyrdom
included Bhai Kesra Singh and Bhai Gokal Singh. Guru Sahib
reached Basali in the evening of October 15, 1700. Guru Sahib
stayed at the palace of Raja Salahi Chand and the Sikhs pitched
their tents in the foothill of the village. Guru Sahib spent fifteen
days in this village. During this period Raja Salahi Chand
negotiated a compromise between the Sikhs and Ajmer Chand.
During his stay at Basali, one day Guru Sahib planned a
hunting tour of the hills. On October 20, the Sikhs, under the
leadership of Bhai Udey Singh, left for hunting, under the beat
of a drum. After a long journey they found a jackal and began
chasing it. The jackal was seriously wounded but it continued
running. When it reached near the village of Kalmot, the residents
of the village came out of their houses and began quarrelling with
the Sikhs. During arguments, one of the residents shot at the Sikh
party killing Bhai Jiwan Singh (son of Bhai Prema who was the
brother of the grandfather ofBhai Mani Singh). When Bhai Jiwan
Singh was killed the Sikhs too began fighting. During the
skirmishes some residents of Kalmot were killed. Later, the
residents of Kalmot apologised and the Sikhs went back to Basali.
Guru Sahib's return to Anandpur Sahib
During Guru Sahib's stay at Basali, Raja Salahi Chanp
mediated a compromise between the Sikhs and the ruler of
Bilaspur. Though it was a temporary agreement but it brought
peace for the time being. On October 30, 1700, Guru Sahib and
the Sikhs returned to Anandpur Sahib.
Death of Mata Jeet Kaur
On December 5, 1700, Mata Jeet Kaur, the first wife of Guru
Gobind Singh Sahib, breathed her last. She had been ill for a very
long time. She was cremated near the bank of rivulet Charan
Ganga in the vicinity of Agampur village. The last prayers for
Mata Jeet Kaur were held ot'l December 21, 1700. At the time of
her death, Sahibzada Fateh Singh was just two years old. Mata
Gujari and Mata Sunder Kaur brought him up.
Celebration of Hola Mahalia
In 1702, Hola Mahalia was celebrated with great fervour
because a very large number of Sikhs had reached Anandpur
Sahib. Oh March 4, a procession was led from Anandgarh fort
towards Holgarh fort, at Agamgarh. The Sikhs wearing dark grey
turbans looked like a cluster of clouds moving towards the bank
of Charan Ganga rivulet. [On their way some Sikhs showered shoe
beating at the spot where Bhai Udey Singh had killed Kesari
Chand, the maternal uncle of Ajmer Chand of Bilaspur, on
September 1, 1700. (This action is still repeated by some Sikhs).
At Holgarh Fort, Guru Sahib held competitions of sword
wielding, fencing, horse races, arrow shooting, guerrilla battles,
54 Anandpur Sahib
wresting and other martial sports. Since 1683, observing Hola
Mahalia had become a regular event of Anandpur Sahib. Guru
Sahib, by beginning a healthy festival, had brought an end to a
silly and non-sense festival as well as hooliganism. Nowadays,
some ignorant Sikhs, under the influence of the Hindus, have
begun using sprinkling dye on each other but this is against the
teachings of Guru Sahib and totally against the purpose of Hola
Mahalia.
Punishment to the terrorists of Bajrur
On March 15, 1701, the Sikhs of Darap area (area between
the rivers Ravi and Chenab) visited Anandpur Sahib to make
obeisance to Guru Sahib. On their way to Anandpur Sahib they
were attacked and robbed by the terrorist residents of the village
of Bajrur. Chittu and Mittu, the ringleaders of the Ranghar and
Gujjar gangs, not only robbed the Sikhs, but also challenged them
to seek the help of their Guru. Bajrur is at a distance of about 5
kilometres from Keeratpur Sahib. When these Sikhs appeared in
the court of Guru Sahib they reported the whole incident. Guru
Sahib told them that had all of them taken Khandey Di Pahul and
been wearing Kirpaans, such a situation would not have arisen.
He told them that every Sikh must have some weapons for his/
her defence. After this Guru Sahib asked Sahibzada Ajit Singh and
Bhai Udey Singh to lead a batch of 100 Sikhs and punish the
terrorist robbers. On March 17, 170I, the Sikh soldiers went to
Bajrur and punished the robbers and their collaborators. Chittu and
Mittu were killed in the battle. After this, no one ever tired to
attack the Sikhs visiting Anandpur -Sahib.
Death of Raja Salahi Chand
On October 25, 1702, Raja Salahi Chand of Basali breathed
his last. Guru Sahib visited Basali, on November 11, 1702, to
participate in the last prayers for the Raja. Raja Salahi Chand was
the person who had mediated a compromise between the Sikhs
.and Ajrner Chand. His death was sure to bring an end to this
compromise.
Attack by Syed Begh and Alif Khan
In January 1703, Guru Sahib visited Lakhnaur, Ambala,
Kurukashetra and some other villages and towns in this zone. On
his way back to Anandpur Sahib, on January 13, 1703, Guru Sahib
was attacked by a unit of the Moghul army led by Syed Begh and
AlifKhan near Chamkaur. At that time Mata Gujari, Mata Sunder
Kaur, Mata Sahib Kaur and about 125 Sikhs accompanied Guru
Sahib. The Sikh soldiers, though small in number, fought bravely
and compelled the attackers flee the battlefield.
Restoring of the wife of Devki Das Brahmin
In March 1703, Devki Das, a Brahmin, visited Anandpur
Sahib and told Guru Sahib that Jabar lang Khan, the chief of an
area in Doaba (an area between rivers Beas and Satluj, had
forcibly taken his wife. He requested Guru Sahib to help him in
getting his wife back from the Khan. Guru Sahib at once ordered
a band of 100 Sikhs, under the command of Bhai Udey Singh and
Sahibzada Ajit Singh, to go to Bassi Kalan to get the Brahmin's
wife restored to him.
The next day this band reached Bassi Kalan and sent a
message to the Khan to return the wife of the Brahmin. But, the
Khan, instead of returning the wife of the Brahmin, ordered his
men to attack the Sikhs. Soon a fierce battle began. All the hired
soldiers of Khan were either killed or captured. Jabar Jang Khan
too was killed. The Sikhs escorted the wife of the Brahmin to her
residence. When this news reached the people of the area, they
praised Guru Sahib and the Sikhs. Most of the residents of the
area, including this Brahminand his wife, embraced Sikhism. On
the other hand, jealous Ajmer Chand became more inimical to the
Sikhs.
New Attack by Ajrner Chand
Raja Salahi Chand, who had mediated a compromise
between the Sikhs and Ajmer Chand, had died in October 1702.
After his death, Ajmer Chand began harassing the Sikhs again.
His soldiers attacked some Sikhs between the area of Anandpur
and Tarapur. Soon the ruler of Handur (his grandfather Himmat
56 Anandpur Sahib
Chand was one of the prisoners who had been got released by
Guru Hargobind Sahib from Gwalior Fort prison in October 1619)
too joined hands with Ajmer Chand. He too began quarrelling with
the Sikhs living in or passing through the area between Keeratpur
Sahib and Nalagarh. Several small skirmishes took place in the
second half of 1703.
Beginning of the Farra (flag in turban)
On January 16, 1704, Ajmer Chand made a full-fledged
attack on Anandpur Sahib. The Sikh soldiers fought bravely and
repulsed this attack. During this attack Bhai Maan Singh
Nishanchi, who had been carrying the blue Khalsa flag, was
seriously wounded. He fell down and also came down the blue
Khalsa flag. This battle continued throughout the day. In the
evening the invading forces fled the battlefield.
After the battle, the Sikhs told Guru Sahib about the falling
of the flagpole with the wounding ofBhai Maan Singh Nishanchi.
At this, Guru Sahib announced that in future the Sikh nation would
have such a flag, which will never fall or get lowered. Guru Sahib
tore a stripe from his blue Keski (under turban) and hung it on
the left side of his turban. He said that all the leaders of the army
units will always have such a Farra (flag) in their turbans, hence
the blue Khalsa flag shall always furl up high (in the turban) and
never get lowered. Bhai Udey Singh, Bhai Aalam Singh, Bhai
Himmat Singh, Bhai Sahib Singh and Bhai Muhkam Singh, who
were sitting by the side of Guru Sahib, also tore a stripe each from
their blue Keskis and hung the same on the left side oftheir turban.
Sahibzada Fateh Singh, who was just six years old at that time,
too did the same. [This was the beginning of the Sikh Farra flag,
which is sometimes attributed to Bhai Man Singh, as well as
Sahibzada Fateh Singh. It is in fact Khalsa's blue national flag,
which is a must for the leader of each and every Jatha. This
custom has been forgotten by most of the Sikhs, only the Nihangs
have preserved it. But, on the other hand, most of the Nihangs
have not preserved any thing else of the Khalsa army]. Farraflag
was not the beginning of a new institution of Nihangs.
Marriage of Sahibzada Ajit Singh
In October 1704, among several other visitors to Anandpur
Sahib, there was also the family ofBhai Jetha Singh of Burhanpur.
Bhai Jetha Singh, his wife and his daughter Tara Kaur (Tara Bai
before initiation) spent a few days at Anandpur Sahib. One day
when Sahibzada Ajit Singh was having a bath in the stream, Bibi
Tara Kaur saw him and fell in love with him at the first sight.
One day one of her friends told her mother about the feelings of
Tara Kaur. Her mother hesitatingly talked to Mata Gujari and
Mata Sunder Kaur (the mother of Sahibzada Ajit Singh) and told
them about the feelings of the girl. Both mothers promised her
that they would discuss the same with Guru Sahib. When Guru
Sahib came to know about this, he immediately agreed and the
marriage of Sahibzada Ajit Singh and Bibi Tara Kaur was
solemnised on January 15, 1705.
[Bibi Tara Kaur gave birth to a son (Hatthi Singh) on
December 9, 1705, at Agra, at the residence of Bhai Shardha
Singh Gulati, with which she stayedfor the time being along with
Mata Sahib Kaur and Mata Sunder Kaur. Hatthi Singh died at
a ripe age at Burhanpur. Some writers have mistakenly mentioned
Hatthi Singh as the son of Ajit Singh Palit].
Guru Sahib evacuated Anandpur Sahib
After suffering heavy losses in the battle of January 16,
1704, Ajmer Chand remained silent for more than one year. In
fact he had been planning for a long time siege of Anandpur Sahib
followed by a major assault by the joint armies of the hill rulers
and the Moghuls. To test the strength of the Sikhs, he made an
attack on Anandpur Sahib in March 1705. The Sikhs repulsed this
attack of March 12, 1705 too.
By this time, the Sikhs had received information that Ajmer
Chand had planned a long-term siege of the area of Anandpur
Sahib from all the sides. It would mean stopping the visit of the
Sikhs to Anandpur Sahib as well as the blockade of entry of food,
arms, fodder, messages and every thing. He wanted to cut
Anandpur Sahib from the rest of the world. It meant a prolonged
war. When Guru Sahib came to know about the joint plan of the
hill rulers as well as the Moghul, he called a meeting of the
58 Anandpur Sahib
residents of the Greater Anandpur Sahib. This meeting was held
on March 29, 1705. In this meeting Guru Sahib told the
congregation that the time had come for a very prolonged battle,
hence all the families must move to safer places. Only male folk
could stay there. Within a few days most of the families moved
out of Anandpur Sahib. Guru Sahib asked Mata Gujari, Mata
Sunder Kaur, Mata Sahib Kaur and Bibi Tara Kaur also to leave
Anandpur Sahib. All of them, except Mata Gujari, agreed to leave
Anandpur Sahib. Bhai letha Singh (father of Bibi Tara Kaur)
escorted Mata Sunder Kaur, Mata Sahib Kaur and Bibi Tara Kaur
out of Anandpur Sahib. Bibi Tara Kaur was pregnant at that time.
They began their journey for Burhanpur. On their way they spent
some days at Lakhnaur and Shahjahanpur (Delhi) and then went
to Agra where Tara Kaur gave birth to a son. Later, they moved
to Burhanpur (where Guru Sahib met them in May 1708).
After the departure ofthe families, Guru Sahib saw that there
were still some female folk in the city. Besides Mata Gujari, Bibi
Bhikkhan (wife of Bhai Aalam Singh Nachanna) who was the in
charge of the Langar, one attendant of Mata Gujari and the wife
ofBhai Rai Singh Multani (brother ofBhai Mani Singh) were still
living at Anandpur Sahib. Guru Sahib told Bhai Rai Singh that
he too should leave Anandpur Sahib with his family as the time
had come for final battle. Bhai Rai Singh obliged Guru Sahib and
moved to Kaahna-Kaachha (in Maajha area). Now only male folk
and three ladies were left in the town.
Siege of Anandpur Sahib
As expected, Ajmer Chand and some other hill rulers
despatched their soldiers to put a siege to Anandpur Sahib. On
May 3, 1705, Anandpur Sahib was fully cut from the rest of the
world. Not a single person could enter or leave Anandpur Sahib,
nor any food, fodder or even message was allowed to enter
Anandpur Sahib. Though there was sufficient food in the store of
the Langar but it could not have lasted for more than a couple
of months. Some Sikhs thought that the state of siege wouldn't
continue for a very long period but their guesses proved wrong.
The siege continued for more than 6 months. The Sikhs, now,
began taking a small quantity of food every day and even that was
not expected to last for several weeks. Due to the shortage of
fodder, Parsadi elephant (presented by the ruler of Tripura) too
died of hunger. The Sikhs had to kill several horses for eating.
Now, some Sikhs began suggesting Guru Sahib to break the
siege of Anandpur Sahib and move to some safer place. Guru
Sahib wanted them to wait for some more time. According to one
source Guru Sahib had been in communication with Aurangzeb,
the Moghul emperor, and was waiting for his letter. (Some other
sources don't believe that there was any correspondence between
Guru Sahib and Aurangzeb. But, the mention of a letter from
Aurangzeb, in Zafarnamah, by Guru Sahib, confirms that there
must have been some correspondence). During this period, some
Sikhs approached Mata Gujari also to request her to ask Guru
Sahib to leave Anandpur Sahib.
On the other hand, the anti-Sikh camp had its own planning.
The siege of Anandpur Sahib had continued for about 7 months
and they had not been able to expel Guru Sahib from Anandpur
Sahib. Now they planned for the final assault. Ajmer Chand and
the Governor of Sirhind held a meeting and planned a joint attack.
Both the armies were to join each other near Keeratpur.
On December 5, 1705, Ajmer Chand's army reached
Keeratpur Sahib and began waiting for the army of the Governor
of Sirhind, which was to join them on December 6. Guru Sahib
too had received this information. A day earlier, Guru Sahib had
also received a letter from Aurangzeb, asking him (Guru Sahib)
to leave Anandpur Sahib and move to Kaangar village where a
meeting between the emperor and Guru Sahib would be arranged.
This letter had reached Guru Sahib pasted in a volume of Quran.
On December 5, almost all the Sikhs went to Guru Sahib and
requested him to move Anandpur Sahib. Guru Sahib agreed and
it was decided that all the Sikhs would leave together. The
departure was to begin at midnight of December 5 and 6. Guru
Sahib divided the Sikhs into different batches: one batch was to
be headed by Bhai Bachitar Singh, the second by Bhai Udey
Singh, the third by Sahibzada Ajit Singh, the fourth by Bhai Jiwan
Singh. One batch was to comprise ofMata Gujari, Sahibzadas and
ninety Sikhs. The last batch was to comprise of Guru Sahib and
thirty-seven of the forty Sikhs who had taken a vow to remain
on the side of Guru Sahib. These forty Sikhs included: (Pun)
60 Anandpur Sahib
Piaray:) Daya Singh, Muhkam Singh, Sahib Singh, Himmat
Singh, and Dharam Singh), (Pun) Muktey:) Deva Singh, Ram
Singh, Tahil Singh, Ishar Singh, Fateh Singh, (five sons of Bhai
Mani Singh:) Ajab Singh, Ajaib Singh, Anik Singh, Bachitar
Singh, Udey Singh, (two brothers of Bhai Mani Singh:) Dan
Singh, Man Singh, (four members ofBhai Aalam Singh Nachanna
family:) Aalam Singh, his sons Amolak Singh and Mohar Singh
and his brother Vir Singh, (two in charges of the stables:) Madan
Singh, Kaattha Singh,(two Sikhs of Delhi:) Jiwan Singh, Nanu
Singh Dilwali, Mukand Singh Chhibber, Sanmukh Singh Dutt,
Daya Singh Purohit, Khazan Singh, Lal Singh Pashauria, Sukkha
Singh, Dhanna Singh poet, Kesra Singh, Hukam Singh, Jawahar
Singh, Kirat Singh, Sham Singh, Anand Singh, Sant Singh
Bangeshari, Sangat Singh Arora.
On the midnight of December 5 and 6, Guru Sahib visited
Gurdwara Sis Ganj for the last time and asked Bhai Gurbakhsh
Rai to take care of the shrines and the town till the return of the
Sikhs. After this Guru Sahib reached Anandgarh fort. The first
batch to leave comprised of Mata Gujari, two younger Sahibzadas
and 90 Sikhs. It was followed by the batch comprising of Guru
Sahib and 37 Sikhs. The next to leave was the batch led by
Sahibzada Ajit Singh. The last to leave were the batches led by
Bhai Bachitar Singh and Bhai Udey Singh.
All these batches went towards Keeratpur Sahib through
fields, dense bushes and trees. On that day it was pitch dark and
the movement of the Sikhs could not be known. They crossed
Keeratpur Sahib much earlier than the sunrise. After the sunrise
the movement of the Sikhs became known and this infonnation
reached the hill anny too. From Keeratpur Sahib the Sikhs went
towards rivulet Sarsa. They were to cross the rivulet at village
Nangal Gujjran (now known as Nangal Sarsa). When the Sikhs
reached near village Jhakkhian (about 6-7 km from Keeratpur
Sahib), they came to know that the hill anny had come to know
about them and were chasing them with a very high speed. At this
Guru Sahib asked the Sikhs to stop the advance of the hill anny.
Guru Sahib sent an advance party towards Ropar also. Bhai
Bachitar Singh's band was to engage the Sirhind anny and stop
its advance. So his Jatha (batch) was the first to cross the rivulet
Sarsa. After crossing the river this batch left for Ropar via
Malikpur Ranghran (now known as Malikpur only). Guru Sahib
asked Bhai Jiwan Singh to take positions outside the village of
Jhakkhian and Bhai Udey Singh at Shahi Tibbi.
Now, Mata Gujari, two Sahibzadas and their two attendants
crossed the rivulet. Guru Sahib asked them to move towards
Chamkaur. The next to cross the rivulet was Guru Sahib and the
37 Sikhs. After crossing the rivulet Guru Sahib asked most of the
37 Sikhs to go to Chamkaur and wait for him there. He himself
moved towards Kotla Nihang to see Bhai Nihang Khan. Within
a short time the group led by Sahibzada Ajit Singh too reached
village Jhakkhian. Bhai Jiwan Singh asked him to cross the rivulet
and go towards Kotla Nihang. Most of the Sikhs of his batch
stopped there to fight against the hill army.
Soon Guru Sahib, Mata Gujari, four Sahibzadas and about
50 Sikhs were out of sight. By that time the hill army had reached
there. An unequal fight between a couple of hundred of the Sikhs
and thousands of the hill soldiers began. The first to embrace
martyrdom was Bhai Jiwan Singh. He was shot in his forehead.
He died in the fields of village Jhakkhian. One hundred Sikhs
accompanying Bhai Jiwan Singh too laid their life fighting against
the hill armies. Along with these 100 Sikhs, Bibi Bhikkhan, the
wife of Bhai Aalam Singh Nachanna, also embraced martyrdom.
On the second front, at Shahi Tibbi, Bhai Udey Singh and his
companions continued fighting against the hill armies. This
fighting continued for several hours. Bhai Udey Singh and his
companions killed a very large number of hill soldiers and finally
fell martyrs themselves. As Bhai Udey Singh was wearing the
aigrette ofGuru Sahib, the hill soldiers thought that they had killed
Guru Sahib. They severed the head of Bhai Udey Singh and sent
it to the Governor of Sirhind in order to boast of their success and
hope for a prize. But, they were shocked to know that they had
been fooled by the aigrette and Guru Sahib had escaped safe and
sound.
Guru Sahib reached Kotla Nihang along with a few Sikhs.
Bhai Nihang Khan served them with food. Guru Sahib was tired
after a walk of about 50 kilometres, so he wanted to take some
rest. He wanted to move towards Chamkaur in the dark of the
night. After some time Sahibzada Ajit Singh and a couple of his
companions too reached the fort of Bhai Nihang Khan. They had
62 Anandpur Sahib
brought with them Bhai Bachitar Singh who had been wounded
in battle at village Malikpur Ranghran. The family ofBhai Nihang
Khan tried to bandage the wound of Bhai Bachitar Singh hut he
was so seriously wounded that it seemed almost impossible to save
his life. But, still, no body wanted to leave the hope; hence they
continued trying to treat him.
By the evening all the Sikhs became ready to move. No body
wanted to remain there because it was likely that the Sirhind army
would attack the fort of Bhai Nihang Khan too. The Sikhs began
leaving Bhai Nihang Khan's house one by one. Guru Sahib was
the last to move. Bhai Aalam Khan, the son of Bhai Nihang Khan,
escorted him. They had to leave Bhai Bachitar Singh behind
because it was not possible to carry him. (Later, Bhai Bachitar
Singh died there and was cremated in the village by Bhai Gursa
Singh Gahunia and Bhai Bagga Singh).
Guru Sahib reached Chamkaur in the morning of December
7 and took shelter in the fortress ofBhai Budhi Chand Rawat. Here
too the Moghul army attacked them and the Sikhs had to fight the
most unequal battle of the Sikh history, perhaps of the history of
the world. In this battle two elder Sahibzadas and forty Sikhs
embraced martyrdom while fighting against thousands of the
soldiers of the Moghul army. Guru Sahib and five Sikhs (Daya
Singh, Dharm Singh, Daya Singh Purohit, Ram Singh and Man
Singh) escaped from the fortress in the dark of the night between
December 7 and 8. Guru Sahib left the fortress with the help of
Bhai Nabi Khan and Bhai Ghani Khan (the cousins of Bhai
Nihang Khan) and went to Machhiwara. After spending two nights
at Machhiwara Guru Sahib left for village Dina in blue dress as
Uchch Da Pir (a holy man from Uchch). He reached Dina via
Ajner, Doraha and Aalamgir. He spent a couple of days at Dina,
where he wrote Zafarnamah, and then moved towards Talwandi
Sabo.
Anandpur Sahib after 1705
After exodus of the Sikhs from Anandpur Sahib, the hill
army ransacked the town. The soldiers looted each and everything
from the town. They also demolished the forts. The hill army did
not occupy the town, as they were always afraid of the return of
the Sikhs. So, instead of living there, they demolished most of the
buildings of Chakk Nanaki and Anandpur Sahib. Ajmer Chand
had learnt that Guru Sahib was alive and the Sikhs could organise
themselves and return to the town any time so he did not want
to take risk for himself. [Guru Sahib, in one of his letter, dated
October 15, 1707, had asked the Sikhs to visit him (Guru Sahib)
after his return to Anandpur Sahib]. So, between December 1705
and October 1707, Anandpur Sahib and Keeratpur Sahib
remained fully deserted. Even Sodhi family (the descendants of
Baba Suraj Mall) left Keeratpur and moved to Nahan.
Guru Sahib breathed his last on October 7, 1708. Now
Ajmer Chand became fearless as the hopes of the Sikhs returning
to Anandpur Sahib were no more there. He decided to take control
of the towns of Anandpur Sahib and Keeratpur Sahib.
On the other hand, Guru Sahib before his death, had already
assigned the command ofthe Sikh army to Baba Banda Singh who
had left for the Sikh Homeland on October 5, 1708. Banda Singh
Bahadur reached Punjab in a few days. He sent letters to all the
Sikhs and began organising an army. With in a year, he occupied
Samana (on November 26, 1709). Sadhaura fell to him on
December 5,1709 and by 14th of May 1710, he had occupied
most of the eastern zone of the Sikh Homeland including the
capital of Sirhind province. In October 1710, Bahadur Shah, the
Moghul emperor, led a mammoth army to reoccupy the liberated
territory. Baba Banda Singh, at first, tried to fight against the
Moghul army but he, soon, realised that Bahadur Shah had a very
big army as well as arms and sources, hence it won't be wise to
waste energy, resources and men. So, he moved towards the hills.
He wanted to punish Ajmer Chand also for compelling Guru Sahib
to leave Anandpur Sahib.
On December 28, 1710, Baba Banda Singh reached the
outskirts ofBilaspur. Ajmer Chand had already received information
about the advance of the Sikh army towards Bilaspur, so he had
asked his army to stop them outside the city. The hill army took
positions on the bank of the Barsana rivulet. Here, a fierce battle
was fought between both the armies. A very large number of hill
soldiers were killed. On the Sikh side Bhai Keso Singh, Bhai Bhag
Singh a few others too lost their lives.
Having lost a large number of soldiers, Ajmer Chand
64 Anandpur Sahib
realised that the strength of Baba Banda Singh's anny was much
more than his soldiers, so he surrendered and agreed to pay
tribute. It is not understandable as to why Baba Banda Singh
forgave Ajmer Chand who was the major perpetrator ofatrocities
on the Sikhs and was responsible for compelling Guru Sahib to
evacuate Anandpur Sahib. In comparison to Wazir Khan of
Sirhind. Ajmer Chand was no less scoundrel.
After the victory of Baba Banda Singh, some Sikhs returned
to Keeratpur. But these two cities could not be inhabited because
Baba Banda Singh was captured in December 1715 and executed
on June 9, 1716. After Banda Singh's martyrdom Ajmer Chand
again became aggressive towards the Sikhs. As a result the Sikhs
left Keeratpur Sahib again. After a couple of years, the Sodhi
family of Keeratpur Sahib (Gulab Singh and Sham Singh)
approached Ajmer Chand and sought his pennission to live at
Keeratpur Sahib and Anandpur Sahib. Ajmer Chand agreed to sell
one acre of land at the market price. Although Guru Sahib had
already paid the price for the whole of Keeratpur Sahib and the
whole of the Greater Anandpur Sahib and these villages belonged
to the Sikhs, Ajmer Chand still wanted them to "buy" land from
him. Sodhi family paid the price of the land and became the
subjects of Ajmer Chand.
Sodhi Gulab Singh began to live at Anandpur Sahib. He even
declared himself as a Guru and began collecting offerings from
the Sikhs. Bhai Gurbakhsh Das, whom Guru Sahib had appointed
as caretaker of the shrines, told Gulab Singh not to do so as Guru
Sahib had installed Guru Granth Sahib as the Guru-Eternal of the
Sikhs. But, Gulab Singh, instead of listening to Bhai Gurbakhsh
Das, abused him and even beat him. After this incident Bhai
Gurbakhsh Das left the town and moved to Nakkian village. Soon
after the departure of Bhai Gurbakhsh Das all the four sons of
Gulab Singh died one by one and he himself could not survive
for a very long time. The people believed that all that was a
punishment to Gulab Singh for calling himself a Guru. After the
death ofGulab Singh, his brother Sham Singh continued receiving
gifts from the Sikhs but he did not present himself as a Guru. (His
direct descendants still live there).
In the beginning, Sodhi family was in the possession of Guru
De Mahal, Bhora Sahib, Damdama Sahib, Sis Ganj and Akal
Bunga (in the villages ofChakk Nananki and Sahota) but the rest
of the land of Greater Anandpur was in the possession of Ajmer
Chand. Later, Ajmer Chand distributed the rest of the land of
Greater Anandpur to Behrok Rajput families of the nearby
villages. Eventually, the Behrok Rajputs also embraced Sikhism.
After embracing Sikhism, the Behroks gifted some of the land to
the Sodhis. (Even today the Behroks posses a lot of land of the
town. The Nambardar of Chakk Nanaki, Sirdar Hardial Singh,
also belongs to a Behrok family).
During the rule of the Misls, a few families moved to
Keeratpur Sahib and Anandpur Sahib. When Moghul began
perpetrating atrocities on the Sikhs and chased them even to this
zone, they moved towards Nahan and Mandi States. The Sikhs
still continued visiting Anandpur Sahib to celebrate Hola
Mahalla. In 1753, when the Sikhs were celebrating Hola MahalIa
at Anandpur Sahib, Adina Begh, the chief of lalandhar area,
attacked them on March 5, 1753. As the families had been
accompanying them, several of the Sikhs were killed.
During the second half of the eighteenth century the Sikhs
had been playing hide and seek with the Moghul rulers, so it was
not possible for the Sikhs to live at Anandpur Sahib. Even in this
situation, two Sikhs, named Bhai Sher Singh and Baba lalmast
Singh, chose to live here forever. Whenever the Moghuls attacked,
they moved towards the hills; otherwise they continued to take
care of the Sikh shrines. They did not build big buildings nor did
they decorate the buildings for fear of attacks by the Moghuls.
According to one source Baba Sher Singh was killed during one
of the attacks by the Moghul army (perhaps in 1753).
After Baba Sher Singh and Baba Jalmast Singh, Baba
Gurbakhsh Singh (of Leel village) moved to Anandpur Sahib. He
served the shrines for more than a decade. In 1764, he went to
Amritsar to make obeisance there. On December 1, 1764, when
he was present at Akal Takht Sahib along with 30 companions,
Ahmed Shah Durrani attacked the Darbar Sahib complex. T h l ~ s e
31 Sikhs, instead of surrendering or trying to flee, fought against
the Afghan army. Though these 31 Sikhs embraced martyrdom
but they also killed several of the. 30000 Afghan soldiers.
After Baba Gurbakhsh Singh's martyrdom, Bhai Sukkha
Singh became the caretaker of the shrines of Anandpur Sahib. It
66 Anandpur Sahib
is believed that he was the same person who wrote Gurbilas
Patsahi Dasvin during his stay at Anandpur Sahib.
In 1790, Baba Baghel Singh, of Karosinghia Misl, who had
built the shrines at Delhi, visited Anandpur Sahib. He built
buildings of most of the shrines of Anandpur Sahib also. In the
beginning of the nineteenth century, Raja Karam Singh, the ruler
of Patiala State and his son Narinder Singh spent a lot of money
for the shrines of Anandpur Sahib. They built a Saran (hostel for
the visitors) also. It was known as Raja Da Bunga.
Another attack on Anandpur Sahib
In 1812, Mahan Chand, grandson of Ajmer Chand, asked
Bhai Surjan Singh Sodhi (son of Nahar Singh and grandson of
Sham Singh Sodhi) to pay tax to him. When the Sikhs refused to
pay any tax, Mahan Chand threatened to attack and occupy the
town again. During those days, Hukma Singh Chimni, a General
of the army of (Maharaja) Ranjit Singh, was camping in a nearby
area. When he came to know about the attack by Mahan Chand,
he led his army towards Anandpur Sahib. By that time the hill
army had also reached near Anandpur Sahib. A battle took place
between both the armies. The hill army suffered heavy losses.
After loosing hundreds of soldiers, Mahan Chand surrendered. So,
instead of getting tax, the hill rulers agreed to pay a huge amount
as penalty.
In 1814, when (Maharaja) Ranjit Singh began showing
special favours to the Dogras, the Brahmins and the Bhaiyyas,
Akali Phula Singh protested against it. When Ranjit Singh did not
bother for him, he left Arnritsar and moved to Anandpur Sahib,
on August 28, 1814. On September 29, 1814, Raja Partap Singh
of Jind State (which was under British protectorate), reached
Anandpur Sahib and took asylum there. The British sought the
help of (Maharaja) Ranjit Singh, Raja Jaswant Singh ofNabha and
the ruler of Malerkotla. A joint army of Lahore, Nabha and
Malerkotla was sent to Anandpur Sahib to arrest him (and Akali
Phula Singh). When this joint army reached near Anandpur Sahib
it (the Sikh army) was told that it was to arrest Akali Phula Singh
and Raja Partap Singh, the Sikh soldiers refused to move into
Anandpur Sahib. Later, Sahib Singh Bedi mediated a compromise
between Ranjit Singh and Akali Phula Singh and Ranjit Singh
mediated negotiations between the British and Raja Partap Singh.
After some time Akali Phula Singh returned to Arnritsar.
After 1815, Bhai Karam Singh, Baba Kharak Singh, Bhai
Budh Singh, Bhai Puran Singh and Bhai Amar Singh became the
caretakers of the shrines of Anandpur Sahib served for the rest
of the century. In the beginning of the twentieth century, Baba
Sampuran Singh became the caretaker of Kesgarh Sahib. He was
a learned person. He had a good knowledge of medicine as well.
He served the residents of the area for a very long time. Bhai Amar
Singh succeeded him. Bhai Amar Singh died in 1948. During this
period Bhai Bakhshish too served as the chief Granthi ofKesgarh
Sahib. He was one of the members of the first Shiromani
Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
After 1947
After 1947, Anandpur Sahib became a centre for the
meetings, conferences and religious training camps. Shiromani
Akali Oal, the Sikh Students' Federation and the other organisations
held several religious training camps at Anandpur Sahib.
Punjabi Suba Morcha
In 1955 and again 1960-61, Shiromani Akali Oal launched
an agitation for the creation of a Punjabi speaking. Though both
these agitations ended without any achievement, the Sikhs still
continued their struggle. In February 1966, Shiromani Akali Oal
(Master Tara Singh group) had passed a resolution that if Punjabi
Suba was not created by March 7, 1966, the Sikhs shall erase the
boards written in Hindi language and Oevnagri script in the
Punjabi speaking region. As expected, the government ofIndia did
not bother and the Sikhs began their action of erasing the Hindi
boards and plates. The first action was to erase the Hindi plates
of Anandpur Sahib railway station on March 8, 1966.
Anandpur Sahib Resolution
Anandpur Sahib is also known for another historical event.
Shiromani Akali Oal, the foremost Sikh organisation, passed its
68 Anandpur Sahib
new policy programme and manifesto, here, on October 16-17,
1973. This manifesto is known as "Anandpur Sahib Da Mata" (the
resolution of Anandpur Sahib). According to this resolution,
"Akali Dal will endeavour to carve out a State (Desh kaal
gharhna) where the Sikhs shall have all decision making powers
(Khalsa}i de boal baley)." It meant "a sovereign Sikh State". This
resolution became a phobia with all the anti-Sikh forces of India.
Later, one group of the Akalis "modified" this resolution by
changing it into 12 demands. This group also defined Khalsa}i de
boal baley as "pre eminence of the Khalsa" and Desh kaal
gharhna as "to create a congenial environment". The other groups
however called it creation of a separate Sikh State.
Hoisting of Khalistan Flag
On March 21, 1981, some Sikh organisations held a
Khalistan conference at Anandpur Sahib. In this conference a
"Khalistan Flag" was hoisted by Dr. Rajinder Kaur (daughter of
Master Tara Singh).
Killing of 15 innocent Sikhs by
the Barnala Government:
In March 1986, when the movement for the freedom of
"Khalistan" was in full swing, SUljit Barnala, the then chief
minister of the Punjab, ordered the arrest of Bhai Muhkam Singh
of Bhindran-Mehta Jatha. The militants asked Barnala to release
him. He did not oblige the militants. At this the militants
challenged him that if Muhkam Singh was not released by March
25, Barnala won't be allowed to make a speech at Anandpur Sahib.
Barnala refused to bother for the militants' ultimatum. As a result,
on March 25, when Barnala stood up to make a speech in the
conference, at Anandpur Sahib, the Sikh youth began moving to
the venue of the conference. The Sikhs disturbed Barnala's speech
by raising slogans against him. At this, Barnala asked the police
to start firing. 15 Sikhs were killed in this firing. It was the first
killing of the Sikhs at Anandpur Sahib since 1753.
300th Anniversary of Khalsa
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (S.G.P.c.),
Shiromani Akali Dal and the other Sikh organisations decided to
celebrate the 300th anniversary of the revelation of Khalsa from
April 1998 to April 1999, at Anandpur Sahib. Several grand
programmes were chalked out for this purpose. The first
important function was held on November 22, 1998. But, within
a few days Badal faction of the Akali Dal began exploiting a
statement made by Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra (for which
he apologised several times), which led to division in the Akali
Dal. It led to exist of Jathedar Tohra as the president of the
S.G.P.C. (and formation of a new Akali Dal by him later on). All
this spoiled the charm of the celebration of the 300th anniversary
ofthe revelation ofKhalsa. Both factions held separate conferences.
The conference of Badal had much less number of the audience
but more of pomp and show where as Tohra supporters attracted
huge public but it became more of anti-Badal and pro-Ranjit
Singh conference than that of a religious function.
More than one third of the total
Sikh population visited Anandpur Sahib
Though the Akalis spoiled the function due to their ego and
infighting but the Sikhs did respond to the call ofAnandpur Sahib.
According to an estimate more than 8 million (80 lakh) Sikhs
visited Anandpur Sahib between April 8 and 14, 1999. The city
looked like an ocean of turbans. Never had the world seen such
a grand gathering of the visitors in such a short duration and
possibly it shall remain a world record.
Hola Mahalia of Anandpur Sahib
Hola MahalIa of Anandpur Sahib is one of the most
prominent fairs of the Punjab. It has a special significance for the
Sikhs. Though, nowadays, it is being observed as a fair but its
origin was much different and unique one. Some part of its
original celebration is still observed though much has been
changed and a lot new has been added. Hola MahalIa is held on
the first of Chetar Sudi (February-March) every year. It was first
held on March 4, 1683.
How began the Hola Mahalia
In the last week of Phaggan month of the Bikrami calendar
(February-March) every year, the Hindus used to celebrate their
Holi festival. During the celebration of this festival, the Hindus
sprinkle dye on their friends and relatives. During the Hindu Holi
festival week of 1683 (February 24 to March 3), some Sikhs
visited Chakk Nanaki. On their way they had joined their Hindu
friends in sprinkling dye on each other and had spoiled their
clothes. When Guru Sahib saw them, he told them to stop
participating in such a silly custom. It is nothing but nonsense to
spoil the clothes of each other just for fun. Moreover, several
incidents of hooliganism, teasing and even riots had also taken
place during these celebrations. Guru Sahib told them that they
(Sikhs) should not celebrate the festivals of the other religions.
Guru Sahib asked them that they could enjoy fun in other manner
too. To add to Sikhs' entertainment, Guru Sahib introduced a new
festival and named it Hola MahalIa. The first Hola MahalIa was
held on March 4, 1683. On this day Guru Sahib held wrestling
competitions, horse races, fence competitions, war manoeuvring
games and other martial activities. It not only brought an end to
spoiling of clothes and untoward happenings but also nurtured the
spirit of martial and spiritual moods.
Later, Guru Sahib made more additions to the Hola MahalIa.
He began holding poetical symposia and other artistic competitions
as well. Bhai Nand Lal, Sainapati, Amrit Rai Lahori, Bhai Pheru
and several other prominent poets of the day used to participate
in these poetical symposia. Even Guru Sahib himself used to
recite his own compositions. Thus, the Sikh Hola Mahalia, during
the time of Guru Sahib, was a combination of entertainment,
martial games and sports, artistic activities etc. But, there was no
question of sprinkling dye on each other or spoiling the clothes
of one another.
Guru Sahib spent more than three years at Paonta Sahib
(April 1685 to October 1688). During this period Hola Mahalia
was held at Paonta Sahib. Guru Sahib returned to Anandpur Sahib
in November 1688. So, from 1689, Hola Mahalia celebrations
were resumed again. Guru Sahib left Anandpur Sahib on the night
of December 5 and 6, 1705. Hence no Hola MahaIla was held at
Anandpur Sahib for the next several decades. Anandpur became
a centre of the Sikhs again in the second quarter of the nineteenth
century. Though the population of Anandpur Sahib, during the
nineteenth century, remained around five thousand only but a
large number of people from the adjoining areas used to visit the
City for the Hola Mahalia celebrations.
In the nineteenth century, the fair of Anandpur Sahib was
considered as one of the major fairs of the Punjab. According a
report of 1866: "The biggest fair of this area is held at Anandpur
Sahib (Makhowal) on Hola Mahalia day. This fair is observed for
two days and on the second day, in the afternoon, the priests of
different Gurdwaras come out with their Nishan Sahibs (the Sikh
flags) and proceed towards Charan Ganga ground. When all the
flags reach this complex, it gives the look of a magnificent show.
The priests and the Sikh Jathas (bands) go round with their flags.
They (priests) receive offerings from the people and bless them.
The flag of Anandgarh is of blue colour and it is carried by the
Nihangs who wear black dresses and tie angular turbans with
quoits on it. They ride their horses and move around here and
there and raise the Jaikaaras (war cries) ofAka! ! Aka! !! Aka! !!!
They also make a show of artificial battles by signs and signals
72 Anandpur Sahib
as if they are defending their national flag from the army of an
enemy. Some of the Jathas sing songs in the praise of Guru Sahib
at a high pitch. Sodhi leaders come out of their houses and sit on
the elephants and horses. The people make obeisance to them.
They receive offerings and gifts from the people. Normally, about
3000 Sikhs attend this fair. In the evening all the Jathas return
to their Gurdwaras in such a style as if they have won some battle.
After the sunset, the people begin returning to their villages and
most of the crowds begin diminishing.
This fair is considered of political importance because
several Nihangs attend this fair and they are known for their
enthusiasm and valour. In 1864, a Nihang killed a Christian
missionary from Ludhiana because he was preaching Christianity
in front of Gurdwara Kesgarh Sahib. This Christian missionary
had also used abusive language for Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.
Since then, the police, a magistrate and other officers remain
present during the whole of the fair. During these days Hindus
too observe their festival of Holi. They sing vulgar songs and
there is always a possibility of riots."
The above report has been taken from a detailed account of
the cultural life of the district, in the year 1866 by an Englishman.
In 1925, the shrines of Anandpur Sahib and Keertpur Sahib came
under the management of the S.G.P.c. With this came a major
change in the administration of the shrines as well as the
celebration of the Hola MahalIa. According to a report of 1945:
"This fair is held for about one week. For the first three days
people celebrate it at Keeratpur Sahib and for the next three days
at Anandpur Sahib. In fact, the total activity of the celebrations,
around this festival last for about two weeks. The Sikh Jathas can
be seen moving between Keeratpur Sahib and Anandpur Sahib
and even Guru Da Lahore. It looks like an ocean of turbans and
the Sikh Jathas moving from one place to another look like waves
of the sea.
In the last three days of the fair, religious congregations and
political conferences are held. The S.G.P.c., Shiromani Akali
Dal, Doaba Diwan, Malwa Diwan, Myen Doaba Diwan and other
organisations hold their separate conferences and sing hymns.
The ballad singers sing the ballads of chivalry of the Sikh martyrs
and please the audience with their art. Besides this, Congress,
Communists, Socialists and other parties too hold their conferences
on the last day. Special bazaars are held from Shaheedi Bagh to
Anandgarh, from Anandgarh to Kesgarh and from Kesgarh to Sis
Ganj. There is a great hustle and bustle of the visitors to the town.
Kesgarh is the most busy shrine as every one wishes to make
obeisance there.
Now, there are no vulgar songs or mischief. It is all due to
good management by Akalis. Sports competitions are held in the
ground of the Khalsa High School for three days and the final
matches are held on the fourth day. At about 11 A.M., on the final
day, people begin occupying seats on both sides of the Charan
Ganga ground. At about four in the evening, the Nihangs of
Mitthasar come out with their drums and flags. Campfire is held
on one side of the ground. After this a formal procession, under
the management of then S.G.P.C., leaves Anandgarh for Holgarh
via Kesgarh and Damdama Sahib. They carry five blue flags. A
large number of horse riding Sikhs join the procession. The Sikhs
blow trumpets and some Jathas have their own music bands too.
It seems as ifan army is moving towards some front. It is followed
by hundreds of the Sikhs on foot. All of them have blue or dark
grey turbans. Almost every one carries a big sword, a spear, a big
stick, an axe or some other weapon. After crossing Khalsa High
School this procession reaches the site of campfire. Some Sikhs
strike their sticks on fire.
After this the Sikhs proceed to the ground of Charan Ganga.
By this time the Nihangs also reach there. They are usually under
the influence of hemp (it is contrary to Guru Sahib's teachings).
Up to 7 P.M. horse riding, polo, tent pegging, sword wielding,
fencing competitions and exhibitions are held here. Finally, all the
Sikhs begin returning to their places. The music of drum beating
and the Jaikaar as sound throughout the hollow valley. Slowly
the crowds become thinner and thinner".
The above report is still different from the present day
celebrations. Now, the martial aspect of the fair is disappearing
and it is becoming like all otherfairs. Guru Sahib began this fair
as a blending of enjoyment, martial games and sports and
spiritualism. Now spiritualism and martial aspects are disappearing
day by day and it is becoming a gathering of eating, drinking and
anti social activities.
Naina Devi Fair
Naina Devi temple has been built on the top of a hill, about
9 kilometres from Anandpur Sahib. The temple has been dedicated
to a mythical Hindu goddess. Though Naina Devi seems to be a
big village but most of its residents are priests, shopkeepers,
menial workers or beggars.
At the time of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, only a few people
used to live in this village. The Pandits used to boast that this so-
called goddess had miraculous power and when people hold a
Yagya (also written as Yajna), a Hind worship, the goddess
appears and fulfils the wishes of those who perform such a
worship. Guru Sahib told them that all such myths are sheer non-
sense. There is no real goddess in the universe. Every thing
happens as per the wish of the Almighty. When Pandits insisted,
Guru Sahib asked them to get every thing they needed and hold
a Yagya. Guru Sahib provided the Pandits with every thing they
asked for. As nothing was to happen, the Pandits, disappeared
from the village on the last day of the Yagya. Thus, the mythical
propaganda was exposed. After this incident even the Hindus
stopped visiting Naina Devi. Most ofthe Hindus now don't believe
in any mythical power or gods or goddesses because they feel that
never in the living history has any mythical god or goddess shown
any miracle.
A fair is held at Naina Devi temple even now. A Sikh is
forbidden from attending such a fair. Even most of the Hindus
don't attend this fair for any religious reason. They simply enjoy
the fun of going in crowds for their personal reasons.
There is another story associated with this so-called goddess.
Once a Sikh broke the nose of the statue of this mythical goddess.
The Pandits approached Guru Sahib and made a complaint against
the Sikh. Guru Sahib summoned that Sikh in the presence of the
Naina Devi Fair 75
Pandits and asked him as to why had he done so. The Sikh
apologised from Guru Sahib and said, "Guruji I have a doubt in
my mind. I want to ask a question from these Pandits." The Pandits
at once said, "Why not! We shall answer all of your questions,
you just ask us." At this the Sikh said, "I have broken the nose
of the statue. OK! You say that Naina Devi is a very powerful
goddess. Sir, if she is very powerful then why could not she stop
me from breaking her nose?" Pandits could not answer his
question. At this Guru Sahib told him that a Sikh must not hurt
the feelings of the others. Even if we don't believe in these
mythical gods and goddess, we should avoid being in conflict with
the belief of the others."
Usually, no Sikh visits Naina Devi temple. Some Sikhs have
been to Naina Devi village for the purpose of hiking and trekking
or for tourism only but none of them goes inside the temple. A
Sikh worships only the Almighty and makes obeisance before
Guru Granth Sahib only. It is a sin for a Sikh to worship any
mythical god, goddess, idol or statue.
Visakhi of Anandpur Sahib
Though the Hola Mahalia has become more prominent and
major fair of Anandpur Sahib, but it is the (so-called) Visakhi,
which has more historical and religious importance in the history
ofAnandpur Sahib. Hola Mahalia is associated with entertainment,
sports, martial arts etc. but (so-called) Visakhi is the day when
Guru Sahib revealed Khalsa. I have used the tenn "so-called"
Visakhi because Visakhi itself has no religious or spiritual
importance in Sikhism. The first of the Visakh might have any
importance for the Hindus as they believe in the auspiciousness
of the first day of each month ofthe Hindu calendar i.e. Sangrand.
Sangrand is the day when sun enters a new Raashi, (star of
zodiac). Though the Hindus believe in the Raashis (stars) but the
Sikhs don't have faith in such things.
Guru Sahib chose the first ofVisakh to hold the congregation
to reveal Khalsa, not because of the auspiciousness of the
Sangrand of Visakh, but because there were no calendars or
diaries in those days and the common folk had to depend upon
the days on which most popular festivals were held by the local
people. The majority of the population in those days was the
Hindus and the Pandits used to visit the residences of the clients
to collect 'their periodical charities on the days of Sangrand,
Pooranmaasi, Massiya, Panchami etc. Thus, every one could
know the day of the first of Visakh, Diwali, Holi, the first of
Maagh etc. Similarly, it was easy to know the dates of Id,
Muharram. Bakrid etc. as the Maulavis used to calculate these
dates for the Muslims. So, this was the background of holding the
Khalsa revelation on the first of Visakh. Had there been any
calendars, Guru Sahib would never have chosen these dates for
the Sikh congregations,
Had there been any concept of auspiciousness of any such
Visakhi of Anandpur Sahib 77
day in the mind of Guru Sahib, they would have done all their
major activities on such days. Guru Sahib laid the foundation of
Keeratpur on April?, 1624 (11th ofVisakh), foundation ofChakk
Nananki on June 19, 1665 (21 st of Haar), foundation of Anandpur
Sahib on March 30, 1689 (2nd of Visakh). Similarly, Guru
Gobind Singh Sahib did not begin writing of any of his books on
any Hindu auspicious day, nor was any child of Guru Sahib
married on such a day.
As far as holding of the Sikh congregations on the day of
the first of Visakh, Maagh or Diwali day is concerned, it was
started by Guru Amar Das Sahib, with a view of holding four
gatherings every year and these were arranged in such a manner
that there should be one gathering in each of the three seasons
(winter, summer and autumn) every year. No gathering was to be
held during the rainy season.
Now a word about the so-called Visakhi ofAnandpur Sahib.
Hola MahalIa is the major fair of Anandpur Sahib. This event has
a great importance for the Sikhs but it is the revelation of Khalsa
that has brought Anandpur Sahib on the map of the world. Sikhs
must observe this day with great enthusiasm but it should be
observed with spiritual and religious fervour and not as a show
of eating, drinking, dancing, making noise and such like cheap
entertainment activities. It should be such a spiritual performance
that the leaders of the world should wish to imitate it for
celebration of their own holy days.
Only one so-called Visakhi celebration has surpassed the
Hola MahalIa of Anandpur Sahib, i.e. in the year 1999. On this
day, more than 8 million Sikhs (more than one third of their total
population) visited Anandpur Sahib to commemorate the 300th
anniversary of the revelation of Khalsa.
In fact, each and every Sikh should try to visit Anandpur
Sahib as much as possible and this visit should not mean tourism.
A Sikh should spend some days here and pay homage to Guru
Sahib, their families, the Sikh martyrs and Sikh savants who made
contribution to the Sikh Panth. On every 29th of March or any
other day, at the time ofhislher visit to Anandpur Sahib every Sikh
should ask a question from himselflherself: "Am I a Sikh of Guru
Sahib? Am I a son/daughter of Guru Sahib? Am I a Khalsa? Am
I a subject of Anandpur Sahib? Am I a Sikh at all?" It is the duty
78 Anandpur Sahib
of each and every Sikh to keep up hislher commitment made by
the nation on Khalsa revelation day: Every Sikh is a son/daughter
ofGuru Gobind Singh Sahib and Anandpur Sahib is his spiritual
home. /I (There is no auspiciousness or sanctity of any day or date
in Sikhism; hence, a Sikh may visit any shrine on any day).
[There is confusion about the date of the revelation of
Khalsa. Though the first of Visakh month corresponds to April
12 to 14 of the present day Common calendar but it used to be
on March 29 from 1695 to 1699. According to one source Khalsa
was revealed on March 29 in the year 1695. According to some
other sources the date was March 29, 1698/1699. The majority
of the Sikh leaders accept 1699. But, even in 1699, the first of
the Visakh month fell on March 29. It was perhaps Dr. Ganda
Singh who made the mistake of calculation of the date of the first
Visakh 1699 as March 30. Whichever may be the year (1695 or
1698 or 1699), the date remains the 29th of March. As the Sikhs
have nothing to do with the Bikrami calendar then why should
they celebrate the revelation of Khalsa according to Bikrami
calendar and why not as per the Common Era calendar, which
is in common, use now (as Bikrami calendar was in common use
at the time of Guru Sahib). Hence, it should be celebrated every
year on March 29, which would bring an end to confusion of
calculation of dates.]
The Map of Anandpur Sahib
Anandpur Sahib is at a distance of 97 kilometres from
Chandigarh, 45 kilometres from Ropar, 9 kilometres from
Keeratpur Sahib, 22 kilometres from Nangal and 11 kilometres
from Guru Da Lahore.
Hundreds ofyears ago, the area between present day Nangal
and Ropar, Le. Keeratpur Sahib, Chakk Nanaki, Anandpur Sahib,
Guru Da Lahore and the other villages were, known as Hathaut
(literally: abode of elephants). It was a dense forest with thick
growth of trees and bushes. The jungle-valley was surrounded by
several hill belts, river Satluj, Charan Ganga and several other
rivulets. It was a home of the herds of the elephants, lions,
panthers, jackals, wolves and other beasts. This area, about 50 km
in length and about 15 to 20 km in width, did not have any human
population. By fifteenth century most ofthe beasts had been killed
or had moved to the upper hills but the people were still afraid
of this area and would not usually pass through the zone. There
is another popular local myth about this area. According to this
myth, two giants, named Makho and Mato, used to live here. They
had established the villages of Makhowal and Mataur. Both were
cruel monsters. They used to perpetrate atrocities on innocent
people of the area. As a result most of the residents of this area
left their houses and went to far off places. This seems to be, like
all other myths, a fiction. One thing, however, is certain that the
people did not inhabit this zone. It was Guru Sahib who turned
this land not only into a populated area but also brought it on the
map of the world as a prominent religious and historical place.
Nowadays, only the revenue officials know about the
boundaries of Anandpur Sahib, Chakk Nanaki (in papers it is,
now, known as Chakk only), Sahota, Mataur, Laudipur, Thabbal,
Mataur, Tarapur etc. All these villages have their distinct official
identity.
80
Anandpur Sahib
The total area of the Anandpur Sahib village is 86 hectares,
Chakk Nananki is 78 hectares, Sahota is 146 hectares, Mianpur
is 76 hectares, Laudipur is 537 hectares, Mataur is 208 hectares
and Agampur is 1247 hectares. For an ordinary person all this is
Anandpur Sahib.
The square between the present bus stand and Gurdwara
Kesgarh is the meeting point of the villages of Chakk Nanaki,
Anandpur Sahib and Laudipur. Gurdwara Guru De Mahal,
Damdama Sahib, Thara Sahib, Bhora Sahib, Manji Sahib, all are
a part of the village Chakk Nanaki. Gurdwara Sis Ganj is on the
border of village Sahota and Chakk Nanaki. The bus stand, the
hospital and the Girls' High School are in the territory of Chakk
Nanaki. A part of the Sawmill is in the territory of the village of
Sahota and the rest is iI'! Chakk Nanaki. The milk bar (near the
main square) and the Sarovar (it did not exist at the time of Guru
Sahib) are in the boundary of Laudipur village. The garden
adjacent to the police station is a part of Chakk Nanaki. The
Khalsa High School is in the territory of Sahota. Gurdwara
Shaheedi Bagh is in the territory of Mataur. Kesgarh Sahib and
Damalgarh are in the territory of Anandpur Sahib. Khalsa College
has been built in the territory of Mataur. The bridge of the rivulet
Charan Ganga is in Chakk Nanaki.
The Anandpur Sahib zone has undergone several major
changes in the past 337 years. The river Satluj that used to flow
near Anandpur Sahib has changed its course and now it flows near
Keeratpur Sahib. The Himaiti Naala (the rivulet which saved
Anandpur Sahib from the attack by Rustam Khan on August 19,
1695) has disappeared. It has become a part of cultivated land.
Several other rivulets have also disappeared. A bridge has been
built on the rivulet Charan Ganga. The hill on which Guru Sahib
had set up a tent on the day of revelation of Khalsa (known as
Tambu Wah Pahari) does not exist any more. Even the hill, on
which Kesgarh has been built, is, now, about 10 feet lesser in
height than it was in 1698. Soil erosion by heavy rains has changed
the map of this zone. Now, the area between Kesgarh and
Anandgarh is no more a hill zone. A road has been built to link
both the shrines. A large number of buildings, inns, rest houses
have also been built in this area. The proposed Heritage Complex
will further affect the natural beauty of Anandpur Sahib.
The Map of Anandpur Sahib
81
. Sahib is a tehsil of the Ropar district. Its 240
mclude villages associated with the Sikh history
e.g.. Chakk Nanakl, Agampur, Sahota, Laudipur, Mianpur,
Mataur, Thappal, Tarapur etc. (Anandpur Sahib zone), Keeratpur,
Kalyanpur, Bhatoli, Bhagwal etc. (Keeratpur zone),
Jm?ban, Nurpur Bedi etc. (Nurpur Bedi zone),
BaJrur,. Basalt, etc: (Takhtgarh zone) etc. Nirmohgarh,
!hakkhlan, Shahl Tlbbl, Panwar Vichhora, Sarsa Nangal etc. are
zone. Guru Da Lahore and Taragarh are in Bilaspur zone.
SImilarly, Gurdwaras at Bilaspur, Nahan, Paonta Sahib, Bhangani,
Nadaun, Rawalsar etc are in Himanchal Pradesh. Gurdwaras have
to be built at Malikpur, Jhakkhian, Shahi Tibbi, and
A II, .1 J - __ . __.,;/'
When Guru Sahib left Anandpur Sahib, there were about 500
persons in the city. All ofthem left on the night between December
5 and 6, 1705 and only Bhai Gurbakhsh Das was left behind. After
a few years the families of the descendants of Baba Suraj Mal
began living there.
With the passage of time Anandpur Sahib again became
prominent centre of the Sikhs. At the time of Akali Phula Singh
a couple of thousand Sikhs began living at Anandpur Sahib. Most
of them were the AkalislNihangs. By the middle of the Nineteenth
century the population of Anandpur Sahib had reached about
5000. In 1861, the British government held the census of this
zone. The population of the Anandpur Sahib zone was recorded
as 6869. It included the population of the villages that formed a
part of the Anandpur Sahib municipal committee area. In the first
half of the twentieth century the population of this zone decreased
because of an epidemic, which spread through the town and the
adjoining villages. It took the lives of hundreds of the residents.
Besides, hundreds of people left the city in panic.
In 1947, several Sikh families who had been uprooted from
the West Punjab (which became a part of Pakistan), moved to this
82
Anandpur Sahib
area. After a couple of years the Bhakhra, Nangal and Ganguwal
projects added several hundred people to the population of
Anandpur Sahib. Today, in 2002, the population of the municipal
area of Anandpur Sahib is about 13000 and there is no possibility
of any increase in this number. In spite of announcement of a large
number of projects in the name of the tercentenary of Khalsa,
there is no likelihood of increase in the population of the town.
The city may get a new look due to new buildings but the original
character of the town of Guru Sahib will disappear.
Anandpur Sahib, Chakk Nanaki, Guru Da Lahore, Basali,
Bibhaur, Keeratpur Sahib, Jindbari, Nirmohgarh, Shahi Tibbi,
Jhakkhian, Sarsa Nangal, Malikpur, Kot\a Nihang, Chamkaur,
Machhiwara, all this is the Sikh zone. It is a sacred land because
five Guru Sahib had stayed in this area from 1635 to 1705. During
these 70 years this unknown area of the earth became a land of
L l... oJ.... w.orld Fve.n.nnw
This is Guru Sahib's land not because Guru Sahib had paid for
the land of these villages but also because the very existence of
the zone is associated with Guru Sahib.
Guru Sahib had purchased the land of at least 8 villages
(Keeratpur Sahib, Chanauli, Chakk Nanaki, Anandpur Sahib,
Sahota, Mianpur, Agampur, Tarapur) in this zone. Later, when
Guru Sahib left the city Ajmer Chand occupied it. Since then
several persons have occupied the land or purchased it from those
who had been granted this land by Ajmer Chand. Whatever may
be the situation, all these purchases were illegal. Guru Sahib had
purchased the land for Anandpur Sahib with cash money and the
real owners of this land are Guru Sahib's successors, Le. the Sikh
Panth (through the S.G.P.C.).
It is remarkable to note that the family (of Ajmer Chand of
Bilaspur) which wanted to expel Guru Sahib from this land does
not exist any more. Ajmer Chand's male successors don't exist any
more. Two of the last female descendants, who were still alive
The Map of Anandpur Sahib 83
(in 2002) don't have any child of their own; hence the very name
of the family has vanished. But, on the other hand, the Sikhs,
whom Ajmer Chand wanted to expel, have spread throughout the
world. Ajmer Chand wanted to eliminate Guru Sahib and the
Sikhs but Guru Sahib's name is ever alive. His capital now forms
a part of the lake named after Guru Sahib (as Gobind Sagar). The
State and even the city, which wanted to eliminate Guru Sahib,
has it self ceased to exist. Bilaspur could not uproot Guru Sahib
but itself disappeared from the map of the world. The present
Bilaspur has been built on the hills around the original Bilaspur.
Gurdwaras of Anandpur Sahib
The Greater Anandpur Sahib is a holy city of the Sikhs. Two
Guru Sahib (Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib and Guru Gobind Singh
Sahib) and their families, the families of Guru Hargobind Sahib
and Guru Har Rai Sahib and hundreds of Sikh martyrs spent about
eight decades (1626 to 1705) in this zone. Several Sikhs embraced
martyrdom in this city. Hence, the whole of the town is a spiritual
memorial of Guru Sahib and the martyrs. A visitor, while stepping
on the land of this city must observe a special religious protocol
as the whole of the city is a sacred zone. There are several
historical Gurdwaras in the city that have been built at the sites
where some important events took place. These Gurdwaras
include:
Guru De Mahal
This was the first building ofChakk Nanaki. It was here that
the foundation stone ofChakk Nanaki was laid on June 19, 1665.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, Mata
Nanaki (wife of Guru Hargobind Sahib and mother of Guru Tegh
Bahadur Sahib), Mata Gujari, Mata Jeet Kaur, Mata Sunder Kaur,
Mata Sahib Kaur, four Sahibzadas, Bibi Tara Kaur (wife of
Sahibzada Ajit Singh) used to live here. Gurdwara Bhora Sahib,
Gurdwara Manji Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib are a part of this
complex.
Bhora Sahib
At the time of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib it was an eight
feet deep Bhora (basement). Here, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib used
to sit in meditation. Here, he composed some of his hymns also.
Later, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib also used this basement for
meditation and solitude.
Takht Damdama Sahib
Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib used to hold his court here. It was
here that Guru Sahib used to perform the activities of Akal Takht
Sahib (hence it is known as Takht Damdama Sahib). It was the
Diwan-e-Khas of Guru Sahib, where Guru Sahib used to receive
the representatives of different States, diplomats and the other
important guests. Here, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib was installed
as the Tenth Nanak, on July 8,1675. In March 1698, when Guru
Sahib summoned all the Masands to verify their credentials, they
were tried here. An old well of the time of Guru Sahib still exists.
The guilty Masands were punished near this well.
Manji Sahib
This was the general congregation hall i.e. Diwan-e-Aam.
Here, Guru Sahib used to address the common people. It was here
that 16 Brahmins from Kashmir, escorted by Bhai Kirpa Ram
Dutt, made a petition to Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, on May 25,
1675 requesting him to help stopping forcible conversion of the
Hindus by the then newly appointed Moghul Governor of
Kashmir.
Sis Ganj
Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib embraced martyrdom at Delhi,
on November 11, 1675. Bhai Jaita, Bhai Nanu and Bhai Uda
brought his head from Delhi to Chakk Nanaki. The head was
cremated on November 17, 1675 at this site. At that time this site
was out of the boundary of village ofChakk Nanaki. It was a part
of the territory of village Sahota. Later, on December 5, 1705,
when Guru Gobind Singh Sahib left Anandpur Sahib forever, he
came here and appointed Bhai Gurbakhsh Das as the caretaker
of the shrines of the Greater Anandpur Sahib. It is believed that
this shrine is the oldest structure of Anandpur Sahib.
Akal Bunga
This Gurdwara is situated exactly opposite to Gurdwara Sis
Ganj. After the cremation of the head of Guru Tegh Bahadur
Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib addressed the Sikhs here and
86 Anandpur Sahib
asked them to bow before the Will of the Almighty. He also told
them to be ready to launch a long struggle to bring an end to
injustice and tyranny.
Manji SahiblDamalgarh Sahib
This Gurdwara is in the boundary of Anandpur village. At
the time ofGuru Gobind Singh Sahib, there was a big bunyan tree.
After laying the foundation of the town of Anandpur Sahib, in
1689, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib used to hold congregations at this
place, hence it was the new Diwan-e-Aam. Here, Guru Sahib also
used to hold wrestling competitions. The four Sahibzadas used to
learn art of warfare under this bunyan tree. It was here that
Zorawar Singh Lota (known as Paalit), once, defeated Sahibzada
Zorawar Singh in a wrestling competition and Guru Sahib
proclaimed: "This Zorawar Singh too is my son."
This site has another significance in the Sikh history. On
January 16, 1704, Ajmer Chand, the ruler of Bilaspur attacked
Anandpur Sahib. A fierce battle was fought at Tarapur village. In
this battle the Sikhs fought against the hill soldiers under the
command of Bhai Maan Singh (known as Nishanchi). During this
battle, Bhai Maan Singh was seriously wounded. When he fell
down, the blue Khalsa flag also fell from his left hand. The battle,
however, continued till the hill army retreated on the excuse of
darkness. After some time, a soldier informed Guru Sahib (who
was sitting under the bunyan tree, at the present site of Damalgarh
Sahib Gurdwara) about the falling of the blue Khalsa flag. At this,
Guru Sahib said, "The Blue flag of the Khalsa shall never get
lowered in any situation and in any form." Guru Sahib tore a Farra
(stripe) from his Keski (the under turban) and hung it on the left
side of his Dastaar (turban) as a hanging flag. Guru Sahib
declared that in future the leaders ofthe Khalsa army shall always
carry a Farra Nishan Sahib (Khalsa hanging flag) in their turbans
and it shall always furl high up in the sky." Some prominent Sikhs
like Bhai Udey Singh, Bhai Aalam Singh, Bhai Himmat Singh,
Bhai Sahib Singh and Bhai Muhkam Singh, who were sitting by
the side of Guru Sahib, also tore a stripe each from their blue
Keskis and hung the same on the left side of their Dastaars
(turbans). Sahibzada Fateh Singh, who was just six years old at
that time, too hung a blue stripe on the left side of his Dastaar
(turban).
[This was the beginning ofthe Khalsa Farraflag, which is,
by some writers. attributed to Bhai Man Singh or Sahibzada Fateh
Singh. Khalsa's blue Farra national flag is a must for the leader
ofeach and every Jatha. This custom has been forgotten by most
ofthe Sikhs, only the Nihangs have preserved it. But. on the other
hand, most ofthe Nihangs have not preserved any other thing of
the Khalsa army].
Farra is also known as Damala, hence the name of the
Gurdwara Damalgarh Sahib.
Gurdwara Sbabeedi Bagb
This Gurdwara on the road between Kesgarh Sahib and
Anandgarh Sahib is associated with the memory of the martyrs
of the battles of Anandpur Sahib. At this site several Sikhs
embraced martyrdom. During the time of Guru Sahib, there was
a garden where two battles were fought between the Sikhs and
the hill armies. This Gurdwara is under the management of a
Nihang organisation and is not a part ofthe S.G.P.c. administration.
The management has, however, preserved the original colour of
the Khalsa flag. At the time of Guru Sahib, the Khalsa flag was
of the blue colour. It was only during the time of Ranjit Singh
and the Mahants that the colour of the Sikh flag got changed from
the blue to white, then saffron and even yellow. This ignorance
is still continuing.
Gurdwara Mata Jeet Kaur Ji
This Gurdwara has been built in the memory of Mata Jeet
Kaur, the first wife of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. Mata Jeet Kaur
died on December 5, 1700. She was cremated here on December
6. This place is a part of Agamgarh village. During the time of
Guru Sahib all the dead were cremated here. Diwan Dargah Mall
and several other Sikhs too had been cremated at this site.
Gurdwara Holgarh Sahib (at the site ofthe Holgarh fort) too stands
nearby.
88 Anandpur Sahib
Kesgarh Sahib
Takht Kesgarh Sahib has been built on a mound. It was in
a big hill at the time of Guru Sahib. Heavy rains have eroded a
substantial part of this hill. It was the main congregation site
during the time of Guru Sahib. Thousands of Sikhs could sit in
between these hills. After the establishment of the town of
Anandpur Sahib, Guru Sahib used to hold all the congregations
here. The revelation of Khalsa also took place here. During those
days there was another high hill near the present site of the main
shrine of Kesgarh Sahib. It was known as Tambu Wah Pahari
(literally: the hill where a tent was pitched). According to most
of the sources, it was on this Tambu Wah Pahari that Guru Sahib
had got pitched a tent in which five goats had been kept as a part
of the ceremony of selecting the five Marjiwras (the living
martyrs), who were later granted the title of Punj Piarey. This hill
does not exist any more. Even the main hill on which Kesgarh
Sahib Gurdwara has been built is now 10-15 feet lesser than it
was in the sixteenth century. In those days there was a long range
ofthe hills around Kesgarh Sahib. In 1973, a road was constructed
linking Kesgarh Sahib with Anandgarh Sahib. As a result some
hilltops had to be levelled, hence damaging the original landscape
ofAnandpur Sahib. (In 1998, the construction of another building,
the Sikh Heritage Complex, was begun, which, when completed,
will give a further blow to the heritage of Anandpur Sahib). On
the day of the revelation of Khalsa, several thousand Sikhs visited
the city. So one can imagine how much was the space around
Gurdwara Kesgarh Sahib.
Kesgarh Sahib was built on the top of a hill like the
Anandgarh Sahib fort, hence it was safe from the attacks by the
armies. The hill army attacked all of the rest ofthe forts (Taragarh,
Fatehgarh, Holgarh and Lohgarh) but Kesgarh and Anandgarh
remained safe. It was only after the 7 month long siege of the
Greater Anandpur Sahib that the Sikhs had to leave the city and
these two forts also fell into the hands of the hill army. The hill
army entered these forts on December 6, 1705 and dismantled
them.
The building of Kesgarh Sahib has undergone several
changes. After 1705, there was simply a one-room structure. In
the last decade of eighteenth century Baba Baghel Singh, of
Karorsinghia Misl (who had built the Gurdwaras at Delhi) visited
Anandpur Sahib. He began construction of the building of
Kesgarh. Later, the ruler of Patiala also made additions to it. He
also built a Bunga (hostel) for the visitors. Even after this, several
alterations, additions and renovation were made. The S.G.P.c.
built a number of Sarans (hostels) around Kesgarh Sahib. In
1997-98, the new building of the Langar was also built. Earlier,
the Langar used to be served in the middle floor of the Gurdwara.
In 1998, the lower courtyard of the main congregation floor, too,
was widened. It is, now, almost double of the previous structure.
Kesgarh Sahib had been abandoned on the night between
December 5 and 6 of 1705. For a number of years the place
remained deserted. In the second half of the eighteenth century,
Baba Sher Singh and Jalmast Singh stayed in this city and
performed services in the Gurdwara. In 1760s Baba Gurbakhsh
Singh Leel too served here for a couple of years. (He embraced
martyrdom at Akal Takht Sahib on December 1, 1764). After Baba
Gurbakhsh Singh, Bhai Sukkha Singh served as caretaker of
Kesgarh Sahib. (He wrote Gurbilas Patsahi Dasvin). In 1814,
Akali Phula Singh too spent some time here. From 1815 to 1900,
Bhai Karam Singh, Baba Kharak Singh, Bhai Budh Singh, Baba
Puran Singh and Bhai Amrik Singh served the Gurdwara. In the
beginning of the twentieth century, Vaid Sampuran Singh moved
to the city and began serving here. He was a good physician also;
hence he rendered medical services as well. Bhai Amar Singh
(died in 1948) and Bhai Bakhshish Singh too served here for
several years. Bhai Bakhshish Singh was also one of the first
members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee,
which was selected at Akal Takht Sahib, on November IS, 1920.
Besides these savants, Giani Resham Singh, Giani Partap Singh
Mallewal, Jathedar Bir Singh, Master Ajit Singh Ambalvi, Giani
Fauja Singh, Giani Bachitar Singh, Giani Sadhu Singh Bhaura,
Giani Sharam Singh, Giani Maghar Singh, Jathedar Gurdial Singh
Ajnoha, Jathedar Harcharan Singh Mahalon, Bhai Shawinder
Singh, Bhai Balbir Singh and Manjit Singh served as the chief
priests of Kesgarh Sahib. The services of Harcharan Singh
Mahalon and Shawinder Singh were terminated during their
tenure and Manjit Singh was accused of several sins (and perhaps
90 Anandpur Sahib
crimes). These three have remained the most controversial
Gran/his of this Gurdwara. The services at this Gurdwara used to
be performed by a Gran/hi but after 1926 and especially after
1947, as it happened at Akal Takht Sahib in 1920, the main priest
of Kesgarh too came to be known as Jathedar (which is not a
proper term).
Relics at Kesgarh Sahib
Kesgarh Sahib is the main Gurdwara of the city. Several
reiics associated with Guru Sahib have been preserved here. The
total number of these relics is 12. Out of these 12, six had been
brought by Bhai Gurbakhsh Singh (a descendant of Baba Buddha
who remained with Guru Sahib till his martyrdom) from Nander
and the rest six relics were returned by the British authorities in
1966. These relics are:
Khanda (double-edged sword)
This is the Khanda with which Guru Sahib initiated the first
five Khalsa on the day of the revelation of Khalsa. The length of
this Khanda is 3 feet and three and a half inches (about 1.20
metres). The blade of this Khanda is about 2 feet and three inches
(about 68 em) long. This Khanda remained in the possession of
the Sodhi family of Anandpur Sahib for several years. Later, they
presented it at Kesgarh Sahib. This Khanda has never been used
since the time of Guru Sahib; except in 1942 when it was taken
to Akal Takht Sahib for performance of initiation ceremony. After
1942, this Khanda has not been used even for initiation. Due to
its importance this historic Khanda it has been preserved n the
treasury of Kesgarh Sahib.
Kataar
This dagger belonged to Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. He used
to keep it always on his person. A Kataar is a very useful weapon
during hand to hand fight. Though small, it is, sometimes, more
fatal than a sword.
Saif
Gurdwaras 01 Anandpur Sahib 91
This is a sort of double-edged sword. According to one
source it was presented to Guru Sahib by the Moghul emperor
Bahadur Shah. This source asserts that this Saifbelonged to Hazrat
Ali (son in lawof Muslim Prophet Mohammed) and had been used
by Hassan and Hussain, the sons of Hazrat Ali, during their battles.
According to this tradition this Saif remained with the successors
of Hazrat Ali who presented it to Aurangzeb for his services to
Islam. After the death of Aurangzeb it came into the possession
ofBai.adur Shah who presented it to Guru Sahib. This theory does
not stand water as Bahadur Shah could not have presented this
historic Saif(which is surely of great religious importance to the
Muslims) to Guru Sahib, as he (Guru Sahib) had not made any
contribution to Islam. Even the wording written on this Saifproves
that it did not belong to the Islamic leaders. According to Bhai
Kahan Singh Nabha, this Saif was resented by Syed Pir Budhu
Shah to Guru Sahib. The length of this Saif is 4 feet and three
inches (about 1.29 metre).
Gun
This gun was presented by a Sikh (from Lahore) to Guru
Sahib. Guru Sahib had issued a Hukamnama to the Sikhs to bring
good horses, weapons and books to him. In response to this
Hukamnama the Sikhs used to bring such gifts to Guru Sahib. This
gun was brought to the Kesgarh Sahib after 1930 because it has
not been referred to by Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha in his Mahan
Kosh.
Naagani Barchha (she-serpent shaped spear)
This spear belonged to Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. It is
known as Nagani Barchha because its blade is like the shape of
a female snake. It is the same spear with which Bhai Bachitar
Singh had wounded the drunken elephant sent by the hill army
to break open the gate of Lohgarh fort on September 1, 1700. The
length of the spear is about 8 feet and nine inches (about 2.62
metres).
92 Anandpur Sahib
Karpa Barchha (palm shaped spear)
This too was a personal spear of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.
According to a source, when Guru Sahib got married at Guru Da
Lahore (near Anandpur Sahib) in 1677, there was acute shortage
of water in that area. According to this story Guru Sahib hit the
earth with this spear which resulted into emergence of three
springs of water (A Sarovar has been built on these three springs).
A very important historic incident is associated with this spear.
On September 1, 1700, Guru Sahib gave this spear to Bhai Udey
Singh Parmar who went to the fort of Lohgarh to fight against the
hill army. He severed the head of Raja Kesri Chand with his
sword, hung it on this spear and presented it to Guru Sahib at
Anandgarh fort. There are several marks of arrows on this spear.
These signs remind the volley of arrows showered towards Bhai
Udey Singh by the hill army in order to stop him while he was
rushing towards Anandgarh fort with the severed head of Raja
Kesri Chand. The length of this spear is 7 feet and eleven and a
half inches (about 2.42 metres).
Relics received from England
1. A large Spear
2. A Small Spear
3. A Shamsheer-i-Tegh (a sword)
4. A Dah-i-Ahni (literally: fire-like killer sword)
5. A golden Quoit
6. A shield made of the skin of a rhinoceros.
(These six relics belonged to Guru Gobind Singh Sahib and
had been taken to England by the British during their reign in the
Punjab, 1849-1947).
Property and income of the Gurdwaras
Several Sikh rulers and others had fixed regular income for
different Gurdwaras of Anandpur Sahib. All these figures are of
1925. The value of rupee at that time was several times higher
than the present day value. For the Anandgarh Fort Gurdwara:
1600 rupees (The revenue of the villages of Chandpur, Burj,
Chikuna, Mahendari. All these villages are near the city of
Anandpur Sahib). Rupees 37.25 per annuam were paid by the
Kalsia State. About 62.5-acre land was also attached to this
Gurdwara. Gurdwara Sis Ganj had an income of rupees 900 (per
annuam) from the revenue of the villages of Saddu and Chakk
Mukhera, rupees 37.25 from the Kalsia State, rupees 60 from the
Patiala State and rupees 70 from the Nabha State. Kesgarh
Gurdwara had an income of rupees 1150 (Half of the revenue of
village Baddon, district Hoshiarpur) granted by Baba Baghel
Singh, rupees 400 (from the revenue of village Geeganwal)
granted by Sirdar Mit Singh, rupees 1100 (from the revenue of
village Mannepur, near Anandpur Sahib) granted by Sirdar Charat
Singh Dallewalia, rupees 75 (the revenue of village Mahen)
granted by the Bilaspur State, rupees 375 by the Patiala State,
rupees 1693.50 by the Nabha State, rupees 37.25 by the Kalsia
State. Besides, 16.5 acre land was also attached to this Gurdwara.
Gurdwara Manji Sahib (Damalgarh) had an income of rupees 80
(the revenue of village Surewal, near Anandpur Sahib) granted
by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, rupees 25 from the Patiala State and
rupees 18.50 from the Kalsia State.
The Forts of the
Greater Anandpur Sahib
Besides these Gurdwaras, there were five forts in the Greater
Anandpur Sahib. These were: Anandgarh Sahib, Lohgarh Sahib,
Fatehgarh Sahib, Taragarh Sahib and Holgarh Sahib. These forts
were built by Guru Sahib during the period 1689 and 1700.
Anandgarh Sahib Fort
This was the first fort of the Greater Anandpur Sahib. The
foundation of this fort was laid by Guru Sahib on march 31, 1689.
Guru Sahib spent about 16 years in this fort. Though the family
of Guru Sahib continued living at Guru De Mahal (village Chakk
Nanaki), Guru Sahib, himself used to spend most of his time in
this fort. This was the headquarters of Guru Sahib and the Sikh
army. Most of the arms and ammunition of the Sikhs were
preserved here. When Guru Sahib left Anandpur Sahib he began
his final journey from this point. After the departure of Guru
Sahib, the hill army occupied it on December 6-7, 1705. The hill
army did not stay here but they demolished most the fort. It
remained deserted for several decades. It was only at the time of
Jathedar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia that Sikhs stayed here for some
time. This too was not a very safe place for the Sikhs in those
days. When it became a bit safer to stay here Jathedar Jassa Singh
appointed some of his soldiers to take care of this fort. He also
built a Baoli (a deep well with stair descending to water level) to
solve the problem of water.
When Baba Baghel Singh visited Anandpur Sahib he spent
a lot of money for the building of this Gurdwara. Later, in 1980s
the Kaar Sewa Wale (voluntary service group) built most the
present structure of the Gurdwara. The ignorant leaders of this
The Forts of the Greater Anandpur Sahib 95
renovation group demolished all the signs of the old fort and its
walls, which were still present at some places, even after a period
of about 300 years.
Lohgarh Fort Gurdwara
Lohgarh Fort Gurdwara has been built at the site of the
erstwhile fort of the same name. It was the strongest fort of the
Sikhs. The gate of this fort was so strong that it was not possible
to break it open. Here, Guru Sahib had set up a factory for
manufacture of arms. Bhai Ram Singh Sikligar was the in charge
of this factory.
The hill army attacked this fort on September 1, 1700. The
invading army brought a drunken elephant with iron plates and
sharp iron bars tied on its forehead in order to break open the main
gate of this fort. When this elephant reached near the gate of the
fort, Bhai Bachitar Singh struck it with the historic Nagani spear.
The elephant was grievously hurt. It ran back to save its life. In
doing so, the elephant killed several and wounded hundreds of
the soldiers of the hill army. After this, the hill army did not dare
attack this fort. Guru Sahib left Anandpur Sahib on the night of
December 5 and 6, 1705. When the hill rulers came to know about
the departure of the Sikhs, they occupied this fort on December
6 and 7. With in a few days they dismantled most ofthe fort. From
1705 to the middle of the nineteenth century this fort remained
deserted. Later, the flow of the river damaged the outer wall of
the remaining portions of the fort. Though the Sikhs had begun
living at Anandpur Sahib, in the nineteenth century, but no one
bothered for this fort. With in a few decades only a few portions
of the outer wall remained in existence. These too were removed
by the officials who, in the name of renovation, eliminated all the
remaining signs of the fort.
Agamgarh/Holgarh Fort
The third major fort of the Greater Anandpur Sahib was
Holgarh Fort. It was also known as Agamgarh Fort because it was
in the territory of Agamgarh village, on the other side of Charan
Ganga rivulet. This fort was built in order to protect the Greater
Anandpur from the attacks of the Moghul army proceeding
96 Anandpur Sahib
towards Anandpur Sahib from Hoshiarpur and Nurpur side. This
fort too came under the attack ofthe hill army on August 31, 1700.
During those days there was a lot of open space between this fort
and Charan Ganga rivulet. The dead bodies of the residents of the
Greater Anandpur Sahib were cremated in this open space.
Holgarh is also famous for another event. The Sikhs used
to observe Hola Mahalla in front of this fort. On this day, Guru
Sahib held sports competition and martial arts exhibitions and
other such competitions in this ground. The procession from
Anandgarh fort, on the Hola Mahalia day, used to end in front
of this fort. After the procession martial games and other sports
activities were performed.
Fatehgarh Fort
Fatehgarh Fort had been built in the territory of the village
Sahota. When construction of this fort was started Sahibzada
Fateh Singh was born to Mata leet Kaur, hence the name of the
fort. This fort too came under the attack of the hill army on August
30, 1700. At that time only three fourth of the fort was ready and
only a few Sikhs were present in this fort, still the Sikhs fought
bravely and defeated the invading hill soldiers.
Taragarh Fort
Taragarh Fort had been built in the territory of the village
of Tarapur, on the border of the present Himanchal Pradesh and
the Punjab. During the time of Guru Sahib, this was the border
between the Sikh State ofAnandpur Sahib and the Bilaspur State.
This fort was built to defend the city from the attacks by the hill
armies. From here the Sikhs could watch the activities of the hill
soldiers and the other intruders. Ajmer Chand, the ruler of
Bilaspur, wanted to occupy this fort. He made an attack on this
fort on August 29, 1700 but was defeated badly. A large number
of hill soldiers lost their lives. When Guru Sahib left Anandpur
Sahib, this fort, too, was deserted. There was no Gurdwara till
1985, when the present building was built here.
Guru Da Lahore
The village Guru Da Lahore is situated in the hills, at a
distance of about II km from Anandpur Sahib and about 8 km
from GanguwaI. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib established this village
in order to literally fulfil the wish ofBhai Harijas Subhikhi (father
ofMata Jeeto Ji) who wished to get his daughter married at Lahore
but it was not safe for Guru Sahib to visit Lahore in those days.
The marriage of Guru Sahib and (Mata) Jeeto (leet Kaur after
initiation) was performed here on June 21, 1677. There are four
Gurdwaras at Guru Da Lahore. All these four are associated with
the memory of the event of the marriage of Guru Gobind Singh
Sahib.
Gurdwara Tirbaini Sahib
It was the site of three small springs of water. According to
a tradition Guru Gobind Singh Sahib struck his Karpa spear here
in the earth resulting into creation of three springs (hence
Tirbaini). Later, a Sarovar was built at the site. Now a fine
Gurdwara has been built near the Sarovar.
Gurdwara Paur Sahib
This too was the site of a spring of water. According to a
tradition this spring was created by the stamping of the Paur
(hoof) of the horse of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. A Gurdwara has
been built by the side of this spring.
In fact these springs already existed here. Guru Sahib had
selected this site because enough water was availablefor all those
who would be attending his marriage. The stories ofcreation of
springs by striking a spear or stamping a hoof were created by
the writers later on.
98 Anandpur Sahib
Gurdwara Anand Kaaraj Sahib
This Gurdwara has been built at the site where the marriage
rites (Anand Kaaraj) of Guru Sahib was actually performed, hence
the name of the Gurdwara. The present building was built in 1960.
Gurdwara Sehra Sahib
This Gurdwara has been built at village Bassi, about one kIn
before Guru Da Lahore. According to one source, here, Guru
Sahib tied Sehra (nuptial garland) on his turban before finally
proceeding towards Guru Da Lahore. But, this seems to be an after
thought. Guru Sahib had rejected the ceremony of tying nuptial
garlands. In fact, it is the place where the marriage party of Guru
Sahib rested for some time before finally proceeding towards the
marriage site.
Some Gurdwaras associated with
Guru Sahib's stay at Anandpur Sahib
Gurdwara Nirmohgarh
When Ajmer Chand, after his four successive defeats,
begged mercy of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib and asked him (Guru
Sahib) to vacate Anandpur Sahib for a few days so that he might
save his face, Guru Sahib moved to this hill. The villages Hardo
and Nirmoh are situated at a short distance from Keeratpur Sahib.
Guru Sahib spent 10 days on this hill. On October 4, 1700, Guru
Sahib, along with hundreds of Sikhs reached village Nirmoh. It
was a journey of about 10 kilometres. Guru Sahib asked the Sikhs
to pitch their tents at the top of the hill. This hill was safe from
defence point of view because there was only one way to climb
up the hill and on the other sides there were ditches, gorges and
a rivulet. (the place was called Nirmohgarh because it was used
by the Sikhs as a Garh, a small fort).
When Ajmer Chand came to know about the departure of
Guru Sahib from Anandpur Sahib, he ordered his army to be ready
to attack Guru Sahib at village Nirmoh. On October 8, 1700,
Ajmer Chand led a big army to village Nirmoh and attacked Guru
Sahib. When Guru Sahib saw the hill army he asked the Sikhs that
he nad t o ~ J them the truth about the hill rulers that they won't keep
their vows. At this the Sikhs said, "Let these ungrateful people
come near us, we shall teach them a lesson." Within a short time
the hill soldiers reached near the hill. The Sikhs, though much less
in number, gave a befitting reply to the hill soldiers. The Sikhs
repulsed the attack and killed a very large number of soldiers of
the invading army. But they too lost some brave soldiers,
including Bhai Sahib Singh Diwan (religious minister) son of
Shaheed Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Mathura Singh son of Shaheed Bhai
100 Anandpur Sahib
Dial Das, Bhai Surat Singh, Bhai Deva Singh, Bhai Anup Singh
Dhaliwal and Bhai Sarup Singh Dhaliwal.
This time Ajmer Chand had not expected a defeat. Now he
decided to use other tactics. He sent his minister Panna Nand to
the Governor of Sirhind requesting him to attack Guru Sahib. He
sent some money as his contribution towards the expenses of the
attack. He assured the Governor of Sirhind that Guru Sahib was
stationed at a very insecure place with not many soldiers and a
small quantity of anns and ammunition, hence in a much inferior
military position. Ajmer Chand's proposals convinced the Governor
of Sirhind and he agreed to attack Guru Sahib. He sent a large
battalion under the command of Rustam Khan and his brother
Nahar Khan to attack the Sikhs.
When Bhai Bachitar Singh and Chitar Singh (sons of Bhai
Mani Singh) came to know about the movement of Rustam Khan
towards Ninnohgarh, they took a vow to punish Rustam Khan in
an exemplary manner. The other Sikh soldiers too expressed such
a detennination. On October 13, 1700, the anny led by Khan
brothers reached near Ninnoh village. They occupied a hill from
where they could shoot arrows or make shelling with cannons at
Guru Sahib's camp. They began their attack by shooting a ball
from their cannon. The ball hit Bhai Ram Singh Kashmiri, a
personal attendant of Guru Sahib. He was killed at the spot. It
meant that the cannon ball could have hit Guru Sahib too. Guru
Sahib immediately shot an arrow, which killed Rustam Khan, the
chief of the invading anny. Bhai Udey Singh also shot an arrow,
which killed Nahar Khan. Though both the brothers had been
killed, still the Pathan soldiers continued fighting against the
Sikhs. The fighting continued till it was dark. In the evening the
Moghul anny beat a retreat. Though the Sikhs were victorious,
they too suffered some losses including Bhai Ram Singh
Kashmiri, Bhai Mohar Singh, Bhai Himmat Singh and Bhai Ram
Singh.
The next day Ajmer Chand attacked again. This time he had
a much bigger anny. Guru Sahib divided the Sikhs in different
units so that they could fight on different fronts. This led to heavy
losses for the hill soldiers. By the evening dozens of hill soldiers
had been killed. Two Sikhs, Bhai Jeeta Singh and Bhai Neta Singh
also embraced martyrdom.
Some Gurdwaras associated with Guru Sahib's stay at Anandpur Sahib lOl
Basali, in those days, was a small State. It was ruled by Raja
Salahi Chand, whose wife Heera Devi was the sister of Rani
Champa (who had been one of the greatest devoted Sikhs of the
history). Heera Devi, too, was an admirer of Guru Sahib. Both the
sisters were the daughters of the ruler of Mandi State. Basali is
at a distance of about 13-14 kilometres from Keeratpur as well
as Nirmoh village. When he came to know that Ajmer Chand had
taken a vow by the name of cow but had still deceived Guru Sahib,
he led a small army towards Nirmoh village. When he reached
near Sarsa stream, he sent his minister towards Nirmoh to ask
Guru Sahib to leave the hill and accompany him to Basali. When
Guru Sahib received Raja Salahi Chand's invitation, he gave his
consent and asked the Sikhs to march towards Sarsa stream. When
Guru Sahib and the Sikhs were moving towards Sarsa stream, the
hill army again attacked them. The Sikhs went on fighting as well
as advancing towards the direction ofthe stream. Bhai Udey Singh
and his associates stopped the movement of the hill soldiers with
their arrows. Within a short time Guru Sahib and most ofthe Sikhs
crossed the stream. Rest of the Sikhs also crossed very soon.
During this battle too a few Sikhs were killed. Those who
embraced martyrdom included Bhai Kesra Singh and Bhai Gokal
Singh.
Gurdwara Basali
Basali is a small hill village, about 6 krn from Nurpur Bedi.
At the time of Guru Sahib it was the capital of the small State
of Basali, ruled by Raja Salahi Chand. Guru Sahib spent 15 days
at Basali (October 15 to October 30, 1700). Guru Sahib had stayed
in the palace of Raja Salahi Chand. Later, the Sikhs built a
Gurdwara at the site of the stay of Guru Sahib. This Gurdwara
was, later, occupied by some local residents who converted it into
a residence. This site is at the top ofthe hill. Now only the remains
of a Samadh (mausoleum) of Raja Salahi Chand can be seen
outside the building, which, earlier, was a Gurdwara. There have
been some attempts to recover the original building of the
Gurdwara. The Sikhs have built another Gurdwara at the foot of
the hill village of Basali at the site where the Sikh soldiers had
pitched their tents in October 1700.
102
Gurdwara Kalmot
Anandpur Sahib
Kalmot is a small hill village. It is also known as Khera-
Kalmot because the only passage to this hill village is via village
Khera. It is about 14 km from Anandpur Sahib and about 25 km
from Basali.
During his stay at Basali, Guru Sahib planned a tour of the
hill areas for hunting. In the chase of animals, the Sikhs had to
go into deep hill forests. After a long chase they came across a
jackal. A Sikh shot at it. Though it was seriously wounded but
it still continued running. The Sikhs chased it. When they reached
near the village of Kalmot, the local residents, who were hostile
to the Sikhs, came out of their houses and began quarrelling with
the Sikhs. One of them shot at the Sikhs. Bhai Jeewan Singh was
killed by this shot. This resulted into a battle between the Sikhs
and the residents of the village. Several villagers were killed in
this battle. Later, they apologised and the Sikhs returned to Basali.
The Gurdwara at Kalmot was built in the nineteenth century.
Then it was a small room. Later, the Sikhs built a big building.
But, as many Sikhs do not know it, only a few of them visit the
Gurdwara. Only a single Sikhs attends the Gurdwara.
Gurdwara Bajrur
Bajrur is a village, about 9 km from Nurpur Bedi and about
15 km from Anandpur Sahib. A Gurdwara has been built in the
memory of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. But, Guru Sahib had never
visited this village. At the time of Guru Sahib, only Gujjar and
Ranghar Muslims used to live here.
On March 15, 1701, the Sikhs of Darap area (area between
the rivers Ravi and Chenab) visited Anandpur Sahib to make
obeisance to Guru Sahib. On their way to Anandpur Sahib, they
were attacked and robbed by the terrorist residents of this village.
Chittu and Mittu, the ringleaders of the Ranghar and Gujjar gangs,
not only robbed the Sikhs, but also challenged them to seek the
help of Guru Sahib. When these Sikhs appeared in the court of
Guru Sahib they reported the whole incident. Guru Sahib told
them that had all of them taken Khandey Di Pahul and wearing
Kirpaans, such a situation would not have arisen. He told them
that they must always have some weapons for hislher defence.
Some Gurdwaras associated with Guru Sahib's stay at Anandpur Sahib 103
After this Guru Sahib asked Sahibzada Ajit Singh and Bhai Udey
Singh to lead a batch of 100 Sikhs and punish the terrorist robbers.
On March 17, 1701, the Sikh soldiers went to Bajrur and punished
the robbers and their collaborators. Chittu and Mittu were killed
in the battle. After this, no one ever tired to attack the Sikhs
visiting Anandpur Sahib.
Gurdwara Bassi Kalan
Bassi Kalan is at a distance ofabout 12 Ian from Hoshiarpur.
A Gurdwara has been built here in the memory of a historic event
from the life of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.
In March 1703, Devki Das, a Brahmin, visited Anandpur
Sahib and told Guru Sahib that Jabar Jang Khan, the chief of an
area in Doaba, had forcibly taken his wife. He requested Guru
Sahib to help him in getting his wife back from the Khan. Guru
Sahib at once ordered a band of 100 Sikhs under the command
ofBhai Udey Singh and Sahibzada Ajit Singh to go to Bassi Kalan
to get Brahmin's wife restored to him.
The next day this band reached Bassi Kalan and sent a
message to the Khan to return the wife of the Brahmin. But, the
Khan, instead of returning the wife of the Brahmin, ordered his
men to attack the Sikhs. Soon a fierce battle began. All the hired
soldiers of Khan were either killed or captured. Jabar Jang Khan
too was killed. The Sikhs escorted the wife of the Brahmin to her
residence. When this news reached the people of the area, they
praised Guru Sahib and the Sikhs. Most of the residents of the
area, including this Brahmin and his wife, embraced Sikhism. On
the other hand, jealous Ajmer Chand became more inimical to the
Sikhs.
Gurdwara Bibhaur Sahib
Gurdwara Bibhaur Sahib is situated on the bank pfthe River
Satluj. It is at a distance of about one and a half Ian from Nanga!.
Bibhaur was a small hill State in the seventeenth century. Guru
Gobind Singh Sahib visited this place in April-May 1692, on his
way from Rivalsar, Mandi, Purmandal, Jammu, Pathankot, and
Hoshiarpur to Anandpur Sahib. The ruler of Bibhaur gave a royal
welcome to Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib spent a few days in the palace
104 Anandpur Sahib
of the king. According to a tradition Guru Sahib had recited
Chaupai hymn at this place. Earlier it was a small Gurdwara, now
it is very impressive complex comprising of a big Gurdwara,
Langar and a Saran (hostel). This Gurdwara has a beautiful
panoramic view. It is surrounded by river on two sides and hills
on one side.
Gurdwara Damdama Sahib (Katta Sabur)
This Gurdwara has been built in the village of Katta Sabur,
about one km from the Nurpur Bedi-Balachaur road. According
to a tradition Guru Gobind Singh Sahib visited this place during
his stay at Basali (October 15 to 30,1700). This Gurdwara is also
known as Katar Sahib.
Gurdwara Gur Palah
This Gurdwara is situated on the bank of the rivulet Suhan,
on the border of Punjab and Himanchal Pradesh. It is at a distance
of about 10 km from Nangal as well as Khera Kalmot. It was here
that Baba Kaladhari (a descendant of Guru Nanak Sahib's younger
son Lakhmi Das) met Guru Gobind Singh. By this time, none of
the members of this family had joined Sikh faith. Baba Kaladhari
requested Guru Sahib to initiate his family into Sikh faith. Guru
Gobind Singh Sahib initiated Ajit Ram (son of Baba Kaladhari)
and named him Ajit Singh. Later, some writer concocted a story
that Baba Kaladhari had requested Guru Sahib, "I do not have any
grandson, please, bless'me with a son." Guru Sahib told him, "Get
initiation into Khalsa and then you shall be blessed with a
grandson." Several such-like hagiographic stories have been
concocted by vested interests about Guru Sahib. Sikhism does not
support miracles and such like blessings or curses. Birth and death
are in the hands of Almighty only, hence this story is not in
consonance with Sikhism.
Here, Guru Sahib had rested under a small Palah tree, hence
the name of the Gurdwara. Even the village is, now, known as
Gur Palah.
Gurdwara Baan Garh, Nurpur Bedi
Once the Moghuls led an expedition against Guru Gobind
Singh Sahib. According to a tradition Guru Sahib shot an arrow
towards the Moghul General (the Governor of Lahore/Sirhind).
The arrow struck into the bedstead (they were sitting on). The
Moghuls thought that that was a miracle of Guru Sahib. At this
Guru Sahib shot another arrow. This arrow bore a letter also,
which said, "It is not a miracle, it is just the art of arrow shooting."
This story too seems to be an after thought or a concoction. It is
not possible to shoot an arrow from Anandpur Sahib up to this
place. This distance is not less than 10 km. There is no doubt that
Guru Sahib was an expert of arrow shooting. This story might
have been added to narrate Guru Sahib's prowess.
Gurdwara Bilaspur
Bilaspur is about 60 km from Keeratpur Sahib. It was the
capital of the erstwhile Bilaspur (also known as Kehlur) State.
Relationship between the Sikhs and the Bilaspur State began in
1613 when Guru Hargobind Sahib was imprisoned in the Gwalior
Fort Prison. At that time more than 100 royal prisoners, including
the rulers ofBilaspur and Handur, were inside this jail. They were
released from the prison with the help of Guru Hargobind Sahib,
on October 26, 1619. The rulers ofBiiaspur remained grateful and
loyal to Guru Sahib (till 1692) but after the installation of Ajmer
Chand, the relationship between Bilaspur and the Sikhs came to
an end. During the period of friendship of about seven decades,
Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib and Gur Gobind Singh Sahib visited
Bilaspur several times. It seems that Guru Hargobind Sahib and
Guru Har Rai Sahib too might have visited the town. It was in
the territory of the Bilaspur State that Guru Hargobind Sahib
purchased the land of Keeratpur Sahib and established the new
Sikh City State. Later, Guru Har Rai Sahib purchased the land
of village Chanauli; Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib purchased the land
of the village of Chakk Nanaki and Guru Gobind Singh Sahib
purchased the land of the villages of Makhowal (present
Anandpur Sahib), Sahota, Mianpur, Laudipur, Agampur, TarapuT.
From 1635 to 1705 (excepting the period from 1685 to
1688), this zone remained the major centre of the Sikh nation.
106 Anandpur Sahib
During this period all the rulers of Bilaspur State used to visit
Keeratpur Sahib, Chakk Nanaki and Anandpur Sahib to make
obeisance to Guru Sahib.
According to available historical sources, Guru Tegh
Bahadur Sahib visited Bilaspur twice (1665 and 1672) and Guru
Gobind Singh Sahib visited it at least four times (1672, 1688,
1691, . 1692). Though the relationship between the Sikhs and
Anandpur Sahib came to an end in 1692 but, later, during the time
of the Sikh rulers, the Bilaspur State became a protectorate of the
Sikh rulers. As a result, the rulers of Bilaspur built a Gurdwara
in the palace of the king, in the memory of the visit of Guru Sahib.
The Sikhs used to visit this Gurdwara frequently. After the
annexation of the Punjab by the British, the royal family of
Bilaspur banned the entry of the Sikhs In this Gurdwara. They,
however, did not close the Gurdwara. In 1950s when the city of
Bilaspur became a part of Gobind Sagar lake, the Gurdwara too
had to be abandoned. Now a new Bilaspur city has been
established around the old town and the Sikhs too have built a new
Gurdwara.
Gurdwaras at Nahan, Paonta, Bhangani
Guru Gobind Singh Sahib visited Nahan on April 14, 1685
and spent a few days in the palace of the ruler of the State. Two
Gurdwaras have been built in the town in the memory of the visit
of Guru Sahib. Here too, some of the local Hindus hate the Sikhs
and they always find excuses and opportunities to commit the acts
of sacrilege of the Gurdwaras. Several incidents of attacks on the
Sikh visitors to the Gurdwaras have been reported but the police
have always remained silent observer to such crimes.
Guru Gobind Singh Sahib founded the town ofPaonta Sahib
in April 1685. From April 29, 1685 to October 27, 1688, he stayed
in this town. There are several Gurdwaras associated with the stay
of Guru Sahib in this town. It was here that Ram Rai (who had
been excommunicated by Guru Har Rai Sahib) visited Guru Sahib
and apologised.
During Guru Sahib's stayed at Paonta, Fateh Shah, the ruler
of Garhwal State attacked the town on September 18, 1688. A
battle was fought at Bhangani. At Bhangani too two Gurdwaras
have been built in the memory of the battle and the martyrdom
of the four Sikhs.
Gurdwara Nadaun
Nadaun is a town, about 12 km from lawalamukhi and about
32 km from Kangra. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib had visited this
town in 1691.
During those days, Dowager Rani Champa was the queen
of Bilaspur State and Bhim Chand was the crowned prince. Both
of them were loyal to Guru Sahib. In March 1691, the Governor
of Lahore sent a battalion of the Moghul army, under the
command of Alif Khan, to collect revenue and tribute from the
hill States. Before his arrival Alif Khan had sent letters to the hill
States to pay heavy amounts as taxes. When Bhim Chand received
this letter, he sent his minister to Guru Sahib to save him from
the attack of the Moghul army. Rulers of some other Hill States
also sent similar requests. Guru Sahib assured them full help and
asked the Sikhs to be ready for a fight against the invading Moghul
army. .
On March 19, 1691, the Sikh soldiers, under the command
of Guru Sahib, reached the city of Nadaun, near Kangra (on the
bank of river Beas). Guru Sahib divided the Sikh army in different
units under the command ofBhai Nand Chand Sangha, Bhai Mani
Ram, Bhai Aalam Chand Nachanna, Bhai Dharm Chand Chhibber,
Bhai Udey Ram, Bhai Bachitar Ram etc. The next day AlifKhan's
army attacked them. The Sikhs fought bravely and killed several
soldiers of the invading army. The Sikhs had been waiting for an
opportunity to fight for the past two and a half years (since the
battle of Bhangani). The enthusiasm of the Sikh soldiers
compelled Alif Khan to flee the battlefield. In this battle a large
number of Moghul soldiers were killed. On the Sikh side, Bhai
Sohan Chand (brother of Bhai Mani Ram), Mool Chand (son of
Bhai Raghupati Rai Kamboj of Khemkaran) etc. embraced
martyrdom. After the victory, Guru Sahib spent seven days in the
palace of the ruler of Nadaun and then left for Anandpur Sahib.
A Gurdwara was built in memory ofthe visit of Guru Sahib inside
the palace of the king of Nadaun. The first building was a small
one. Now a big building has been constructed.
108
Gurdwara Rivalsar
Anandpur Sahib
Rivalsar is a small town in the Shivalik range. One can reach
Rivalsar via Mandi. Hundreds of years ago it was a great centre
of the Buddhist religion. The signs of the Buddha shrines can still
found there. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib visited this village in 1692.
Guru Gobind Singh Sahib had helped the hill rulers against
the attack of Alif Khan, in March 1691 and the Moghuls made
no further attack for several months, yet, the hill rulers were afraid
of the Moghul anny. They expressed their fears to Bhim Chand
(the king of Bilaspur State). Bhim Chand conveyed the feelings
of the hill rulers to Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib sent a message to
Bhim Chand to call a conference of the hill rulers. Bhim Chand
invited all the hill rulers at Rivalsar on March 29, 1692. Guru
Sahib presided over this conference. The hill rulers requested
Guru Sahib to grant them protection from the invasions of the
Moghul rulers. Guru Sahib agreed to help them subject to the
condition that they shall remain united and would never accept
subordination of the Moghuls in any manner. When hill rulers
accepted this, Guru Sahib agreed to patronise them. A Gurdwara
has been built in the memory of the visit of Guru Sahib. Some
of the local Hindus are hostile to the Sikhs and they have attacked
the Sikhs in this town several times.
Gurdwara Bhattha Sahib
Gurdwara Bhattha Sahib has been built in the village of
Kotla Nihang, about one km from Ropar. This place was the
territory ofa Pathan chiefShamas Khan (and later his successors).
He had a small fort in the village. Guru Hargobind Sahib visited
this place in 1635. He stayed at the residence of Bhai Shamas
Khan. Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib and Guru Gobind Singh Sahib
too visited the Khan family several times. There was a brick kiln
belonging to the Khan family. According to a hagiographic
narration the brick kiln became cold when Guru Sahib's horse
stepped on it.
A fine Gurdwara has been built, on the ruins of kiln, in the
memory of the visit of Guru Sahib. Another Gurdwara has been
built by the side of the old fort (belonging to Bhai Nihang Khan)
in the memory of Bhai Bachitar Singh who breathed his last,
Some Gurdwaras associaled with Guru Sahib's slay al Anandpur Sahib 109
inside this fort, on December 8, 1705. Though Guru Hargobind
Sahib and Guru Gobind Singh Sahib too had stayed in this fort
but the Gurdwara in the memory of their visit has been built on
the ruins of the brick kiln only. At present, the fort is in the
possession of some private owner. In the main Gurdwara, a sword
and a Kataar (presented by Guru Sahib to Bhai Nihang Khan)
have been preserved. In the other Gurdwara, built in the memory
ofBhai Bachitar Singh, a shield (believed to be belonging to Guru
Sahib) has been preserved.
Gurdwara Bari Sahib
Gurdwara Bari Sahib has been built in the memory of Bibi
Mumtaj, in village Bari (about 20 km from Kotla Nihang). In this
village a tomb of (Mata) Mumtaj too exists on another hill.
Mumtaj was the daughter of Bhai Nihang Khan. When Moghuls
visited his fort in search of the Sikhs, Bhai Bachitar Singh, who
had been seriously wounded, was still inside his fort. The Khan
lied to the soldiers that he (Bhai Bachitar Singh) was his son in
law. Bibi Mumtaj took this lie as a command from the Almighty
and accepted Bachitar Singh as her husband. After the death of
Bachitar Singh, Mumtaj did not marry and spent her life as a saint.
She spent the last years of her life in village Bari.
Gurdwaras at Keeratpur Sahib
Keeratpur Sahib was established by Baba Gurditta (son of
Guru Hargobind Sahib) in 1624. Guru Hargobind Sahib had
bought the land for this village from Raja Kalyan Chand when
he (the Raja) visited Guru Sahib at Chakk Ram Das (Amritsar)
in 1621. Keeratpur Sahib was carved out of the territory of the
villages of Kalyanpur, Jiowal, Bhagwala and Bhatauli. All these
four villages still have their separate identity. Though the territory
of all these villages is known as Keeratpur but officially all the
five villages have distinct entity.
Though Baba Gurditta had established this village but Guru
Hargobind Sahib did not stay here. Guru Sahib moved to this
village in May 1635. From May 1635 to 1664, Keeratpur Sahib
remained the headquarters of Guru Sahib. Guru Har Rai Sahib and
Guru Harkrishan Sahib were born here. Installation of Guru Har
Rai Sahib and Guru Harkrishan Sahib was performed here. Guru
Hargobind Sahib and Guru Har Rai Sahib breathed their last in
this village. Keeratpur Sahib was the seat of the court of Akal
Takht Sahib from 1635 to 1664. There are several Gurdwaras at
Keeratpur Sahib:
Gurdwara Charan KanwallKamal
This Gurdwara bas been built in the memory of the visit of
Guru Nanak Sahib and Bhai Mardana Ji. Guru Nanak Sahib
visited this place during one of his missionary journeys. At the
time of the visit of Guru Sahib the present village of Keeratpur
Sahib did not exist. Only a few people lived in this area. A Muslim
saint Bhai Buddan Shah used to live here, on a nearby hill. When
he came to know about the visit of Guru Nanak Sahib her came
to see him. He served Guru Sahib with goat milk and had a
discourse with him (Guru Sahib). The tomb ofBhai Buddan Shah
Gurdwaras at Keeratpur Sahib III
still exists at the top of a hill nearby. The managers of this tomb
have propagated that if a Sikh visitor to Keeratpur Sahib does not
visit the tomb of Buddan Shah his pilgrimage remains futile. It
is utterly wrong. Firstly, there is no concept of pilgrimage of
Gurdwaras in Sikhism. A Sikh visits a Gurdwara to remember the
history associated with that place and not for the purpose of
pilgrimage. Secondly, a Sikh must not bow hefore any tomb or
any other non-Sikh shrine. It is a sin for a Sikh to bow before
such places. A Sikh should respect the feelings of others but must
not worship in the shrines of the other religions. If a Sikh visits
the tomb of Bhai Buddan Shah just for tourism purposes or for
historical curiosity sake, then it is not wrong, but, to make
offerings there is a sin for a Sikh.
Gurdwara Sheesh Mahal
After the laying of the foundation of Keeratpur Sahib the
first building to come up in the village was the residence of Baba
Gurditta. Sheesh Mahal has been built at the site of the residence
of Baba Gurditta. Guru Hargobind Sahib, Guru Har Rai Sahib and
Guru Harkrishan Sahib too stayed here. Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib
and Guru Gobind Singh Sahib also visited this place. This was
the residence of Guru Sahib from 1635 to 1664. Later, the family
of Baba Suraj Mall continued living here.
Gurdwara Takht Sahib
In May 1635, Guru Hargobind Sahib moved to Keeratpur
Sahib. He built a throne at the site of the present Gurdwara Takht
Kot Sahib in order to hold his court here. He performed the
functions of Akal Takht Sahib at this place. Hence, it was the seat
of Akal Takht Sahib from 1635 to 1664. (After this Hakala
remained the seat of the Takht, followed by Patna, Bakala again,
Chakk Nanaki, Patna, Chakk Nanaki again, Paonta, Chakk Nanaki
again, Anandpur Sahib, Talwandi Sabo and Nander).
As it was the Takht, the ceremonies of installation of Guru
Har Rai Sahib and Guru Harkrishan Sahib were performed here.
Guru Har Rai Sahib got this Takht building fortified, hence it was
also known as Takht Kot Sahib also. In some sources it has also
been referred to as Kot Guru Har Rai Sahib.
112 Anandpur Sahib
Gurdwara Damdama Sahib
Here, Guru Sahib used to hold congregations. It was also
known as Diwan-i-Aam. Guru Hargobind Sahib, Guru Har Rai
Sahib and Guru Harkrishan Sahib used to hold congregations at
this site.
Gurdwara Harimandir Sahib
Guru Har Rai Sahib had set up a big garden in this area.
There were several fountains in this garden. This garden was rich
with several plants of fruits, herbs and vegetables. According to
a tradition Dara Shikoh (brother of Aurangzeb) once visited Guru
Har Rai Sahib here. Guru Sahib gave him a herb that gave him
relief from a chronic disease.
Gurdwara Chubachcha Sahib
Though it is a small building now, at the time of Guru Har
Rai Sahib it was the store house offodder for the horses, elephants
and the other pets kept by Guru Sahib. According to different
sources, Guru Sahib had 2200 horses, a couple ofelephants, goats,
buffaloes and cows etc.
Gurdwara Chubachcha Sahib (2)
The major stable of Guru Sahib's horses was, however, at
village Chanauli (also known as Chamauli). Chanauli is at a
distance of about 4 km from Keeratpur Sahib. This village was
purchased by Guru Sahib from the ruler of Bilaspur in 1660-61.
At Chanauli also there is a Gurdwara, also known as Chubachcha
Sahib.
Gurdwara Tir Sahib
According to a tradition, once Guru Hargobind Sahib shot
an arrow from this place. This arrow fell near the present site of
Gurdwara Patalpuri. This Gurdwara has been built near Gurdwara
Baba Gurditta.
Gurdwaras at Keeratpur Sahib 113
Gurdwara Patalpuri
Guru Hargobind Sahib and Guru Har Rai Sahib were
cremated here. During the time of Guru Sahib the dead bodies of
al1 the residents of Keeratpur Sahib were cremated here. Even
Baba Suraj Mal1 and Ani Rai (both, sons of Guru Hargobind
Sahib), Bibi Rup Kaur (daughter of Guru Har Rai Sahib) etc. were
cremated here. This Gurdwara was built in the beginning of the
twentieth century. Nowadays a large number ofSikhs immerse the
ashes of their dead relatives in the water, on the backside of the
Gurdwara. This is not a good practice. According to Sikhism, the
ashes of the dead should be immersed in flowing water and
there is no sanctity of any particular site. Moreover, the flow of
water near this Gurdwara is not much, hence most of the ashes
remain lying in the shallow waters. It is becoming a health hazard
also.
Gurdwara Bibangarh
Bhai Jaita (Jiwan Singh after initiation), Bhai Uda Rathore
and Bhai Nanu Ram (Nanu Singh after initiation) Dilwali, while
carrying the head of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib from Delhi to
Anandpur Sahib, rested here (on November 16, 1675). From here,
they placed the head in a palanquin and went to Chakk Nanaki
to present it to Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.
Gurdwara Baba Gurditta
This Gurdwara has been built on the top of a hill on the
border of Keeratpur Sahib and Kalyanpur. Baba Gurditta (son of
Guru Hargobind Sahib) used to live here. He was cremated at this
place. This Gurdwara is near Gurdwara Tir Sahib.
Gurdwara Baoli Sahib
This Gurdwara has been built near a Baoli (deep well), on
the foot of the hill of Gurdwara Tir Sahib and Gurdwara Baba
Gurditta. There is another Baoli near Gurdwara Harimandir Sahib.
Baba Gurditta built this Baoli in 1624. Baba Sri Chand began the
digging of this Baoli.
114 Anandpur Sahib
Gurdwara Manji Sahib
This was the residence of Bibi Rup Kaur (daughter of Guru
Har Rai Sahib). Bibi Rup Kaur was married to Bhai Khem Karan
of Pasrur (district Sialkot) on November 4, 1662. She stayed at
Pasrur for only three days and then moved to village Kalyanpur
(adjacent to Keeratpur Sahib). Later, she moved to this house and
spent the rest of her life here. Four relics belonging to Bibi Rup
Kaur have been preserved here. These are: a hand fan made by
the Bibi, a handkerchief embroidered by the Bibi herself, a Seli-
Topi (a sort of cap) belonging toBaba Sri Chand (which he had
presented to Baba Gurditta, the grandfather ofBibi Rup Kaur) and
a volume of hymns from seventeenth century belonging to Bibi
Rup Kaur. The old building of this Gurdwara was replaced by
a new building in 2002-03.
o
Other Gurdwaras in this Zone
Gurdwara Mitthasar
Mitthasar is a village, near Kotla, about 3 km from Keeratpur
Sahib and about 6 km from Anandpur Sahib. According to a
tradition Guru Hargobind Sahib visited this village more than
once. At the time of Guru Sahib, the water of all the wells in this
village was brackish. Guru Sahib got built this well. The water
of this well only is worth drinking.
Gurdwara Jindabri
This Gurdwara has been built in the north of the village of
JindbarilJandbari. Jindbari is at a distance of abou: 8 km from
Anandpur Sahib, about 2 km on the left side on Anandpur Sahib-
Nangal road. Baba Gurditta (son of Guru Hargobind Sahib) spent
some days in this village. Some vested propagandists have
concocted a hagiographic story about Baba Gurditta giving life to
a dead cow. Sikhism does not believe in such miracles. (Such like
fiction has been propagated about Baba Atal also).
Guru Gobind Singh Sahib too visited Jindbari once on his
way to Anandpur Sahib.
Gurdwara Barota Sahib
Gurdwara Barota Sahib has been built in the memory of the
visit ofGuru Har Rai Sahib. According to a tradition, Guru Har Rai
Sahib used to tie one of his elephants to a Barota (a small bunyan
tree) here, hence the name. Gurdwara Barota Sahib is situated in the
v'illage of Bhakola, about 2 km from Keeratpur Sahib.
Gurdwara Bhogpura
Bhogpura village is at a distance of about 4 km from
116 Anandpur Sahib
Anandpur Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib visited this village
once. A Gurdwara has been built to commemorate his visit to the
village.
Gurdwara Attari Sahib
Attari is a small village in between Anandpur Sahib and
Keeratpur Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib visiied this village at
least twice. A Gurdwara has been built to preserve the memory
of the visit of Guru Sahib.
Gurdwaras yet to be built
The above Gurdwaras are associated with the memory of the
stay of Guru Sahib (Sixth Nanak to Tenth Nanak) in this zone.
Besides, there are Gurdwaras at Chamkaur, Machhiwara and on
route to Talwandi Sabo (Guru Gobind Singh Sahib's last journey).
But, still, there are some places where Gurdwaras have yet to be
built. A Gurdwara has been built at Malakpur (6 km from Ropar)
in the memory of Bhai Bachitar Singh (who was wounded here
in a battle on December 6, 1705). But, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib
had also visited this village at least twice. He was arrested from
this village on July 12, 1675. No Gurdwara has been built in his
memory. Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib spent about three months in
the Bassi Pathanan Fort prison. A Gurdwara has yet to be built
there also. There is no Gurdwara at Purmandal, Jammu,
Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Ajner (district Ludhiana). Gurdwara at
Nirmohgarh too has not yet been completed. A Gurdwara in the
memory of the martyrs of village Jhakkhian (December 6, 1705)
too has yet to be built.
Message oj Anandpur Sahib:
Live and let live.
Goal of Anandpur Sahib:
Right of self-determination to every one.
Slogan of Anandpur Sahib:
Neither fear nor frighten anyone.
Commitment of Anandpur Sahib:
Protection of the week and oppressed and
annihilation of injustice, cruelty and inhumanism.
Anandpur Sahib in the Map of Punjab
Demarcation of the Villages of Anandpur
Bajrur
(Thick lines connote Sutlej River and other rainy rivulets)
\
According to Government record, the village Chakk Nanaki bears the number 361,
Anandpur Sahib 321, Aganmpur 360, Lodipur 362, Mianpur J 19, Sahota 320,
Thappal 322, Tarapur 323 and Mataur bears the number 364. All these are separate
villages.
Kiratpur Sahib bears the number 373, Bhagwala 371, Bhatauli 372, Jiowal 345,
Kalianpur 346 and ChanauIi 408.
A Map of Anandpur Sahib
in 1925 A.D.
Connotes Gurdwara
North
From Una to Machhiwara
(The map of different Gurdwaras, situated within the Anandpur Zone)
Una
Kalmot
Babhor Sahib
Lohgarh Sahib
Q
iii"
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Anandgarh Sahib ~

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