Mahant Kirpal Daas
(source: www.sikhiwiki.org)
In October 1686 the hill chieftains collected a force of 30,000 men and under the leadership of Raja Bhim Chand and Fateh Shah they rode towards Paonta Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh Ji's army consisted of around 4,000 Sikhs only besides a number of Udasis and Pathans.
KIRPAL DAS, MAHANT, was a leader of the Udasi's. As his followers, not use to fighting ways, fled, Mahant Kirpal Das stayed back and joined action, flourishing his heavy stick called a Kutka. He was totally inexperienced in the art of war. Yet by Guru ji's grace he engaged the Pathan chief, Hayat Khan(the chief of the Pathans who had recently deserted Guru Gobind Singh ji's forces), who dealt out a heavy blow with his sword. Kirpal Das received it on his club. Then rising in his stirrups and shouting vociferously "Sat Sri Akaal", he struck Hayat Khan`s head with his wooden truncheon so mightily that his skull was crushed.
The scene is described by Guru Gobind Singh in the Bachitra Natak in an eloquent smile. He wrote:
"Mahant Kirpal, raging, lifted his club and struck the fierce Hayat Khan on the head, upon which his brains spilt forth as butter flowed from the Gopi`s pitcher broken by Damodara."
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