Sakhi Series :- 261 ( Bhai Malla and Bhai Lahoura Singh)

Gooroo and Peer assist only to that man who does not procure his livelihood by unlawful means.

(Source : Sakhi Book Guru Gobind Singh ji by Sardar Attar Singh)

​Once in the month of Bhado, the raining season, when it was night, the Gooroo went on the top of his house to sleep. There was a certain servant of the Gooroo called
Bhai Lahoura Singh, who owed a certain sum of money to a banker called Malla Singh, who was now in reduced circumstances, but was possessed of modesty, Malla Singh asked every day for the payment of debt due by Lahoura Singh, but Lahoura Singh took no notice of it and evaded him. One night Malla Singh was induced by his wife and being much vexed, went to Lahoura Singh's house and quarrelled with him, Lahoura Singh said, it is not a matter of anxiety, if a Sikh has consumed another Sikh's property.

Gooroo has allowed every one to eat, drink, and be merry, and every one gets as is allotted to him by God. Hearing this Malla Singh said to not become violent, those who act falsely will be punished in the next world, and will be beaten before the Yama (the Judge of the deceased ones). They will then weep and repent. The debtor then said no one will call for account when the Gooroo will forgive.

The Gooroo, as he was lying down in bed on the top of his house, heard this conversation (for that house of Lahoura Singh was closed to Gooroo's house) and thought himself that my Skh has made himself positive on wrong points and has thrown his burden upon the Gooroo. He has learnt the verse, but has acted very little upon it. The Gooroo then spoke out and gave the following three answers to Lahoura Singh's remarks.

1. A man eating out of his brother's pocket should not become his enemy, but should remain under the command of his brother.

2. The Gooroo makes a man reap according to his own acts.

3. Baba Nanak has said that another man's due is like cow-flesh to Hindoos and like hog-flesh to Mahammedan.

Gooroo and Peer assist only to that man who does not procure his livelihood by unlawful means. Lahoura Singh hearing this, was pressed, and paid off his debt on the following morning, after which he went to the Gooroo and having made a bow before him said, Gooroo the forgiver please take me back. Gooroo Ji we are sinners who dont walk on the path of Truth. We have families and forget that this world is false" 

Gooroo Ji with a laugh said, "Dont do any wrong to anyone," always follow the teachings of the Gooroo. Then Gooroo Ji had him sit with him to teach and all the Sikhs sitting there were also listening.

Sakhi Series :- 260 ( Ideal Granthi - Bhai Mansha Singh)

Ideal Granthi - Bhai Mansha Singh

Bhai Mansha Singh jee was one of the best kirtaniya in Siri Harmandir Sahib jee during the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. At that time Giani Sant Singh jee was the Head Granthi of Siri Harmandir Sahib and at the same time he was the top administrator of Siri Amritsar Sahib.

Once Raja Ranjit Singh jee came to Siri Amritsar Sahib and after darshan of Siri Darbar Sahib, he went to see Giani Sant Singh jee. As they were talking casually, Raja Ranjit Singh asked Giani jee if everything was okay at Siri Amritsar Sahib.

At this Giani jee thought of Bhai Mansha Singh jee who was very poor financially. Bhai Sahib jee was a singh of high spiritual state and stayed intoxicated in Naam and Gurbani. He did not care about making money. He did not accept salary for his services at Siri Harmandir Sahib. He used to accept a very minimal amount for food and clothing. Overall, worldly way, he was considered a poor person.

Giani jee spoke to Raja jee about how Bhai Mansha Singh was a very good kirtaniya and how he was very poor. Raja Ranjit Singh felt sorry for him and immediately ordered 100,000 mohars (Gold coins) from his treasurer and asked him to arrange that as soon as possible. Raja jee said that he wanted to payoff the debt of Bhai Mansha Singh.

The next day, Raja jee ordered one of his officers to request Bhai Mansha Singh jee to come and see him. Raja jee also asked his minister to take along a paalki to bring Bhai Mansha Singh and that he be treated with full respect and dignity.

Bhai Mansha Singh had just arrived back from Siri Harmandir Sahib when Raja jee's officer met him at his home. The officer very humbly requested Bhai Sahib to accompany him to see Raja Ranjit Singh and have his lunch there.

Bhai Mansha Singh humbly replied, "I would have come but now I have already arranged for lunch at home. Please convey my thanks to Maharaja jee for inviting me".

"It would have been good if you had come Bhai Sahib jee, " the officer requested again.

"It would be good too, if I don't go. Please let Maharaja know that Mansha Singh eats food only at home". 

The officer came back empty handed. Maharaja was waiting and was taken aback when he heard Bhai Sahib's answer. He did not expect Bhai Sahib to refuse to see him. After all, who would think of refusing to see a king.

He started thinking what to do next. He found out that he had made a mistake by not going to see him personally, instead of having him to see him. He immediately ordered an elephant to ride there. By then someone told Bhai Sahib too that Raja Ranjit Singh was coming to see him and offer him 100,000 Mohars.

Bhai Sahib went in his house and locked his door. Maharaja arrived at Bhai Sahib's house and saw the door locked. He asked his officer to open the door but Bhai Sahib did not open it.

"Bhai Mansha jee, please open the door. Maharaja jee has come to see you".

"Why has he come to see me", Bhai Sahib replied from inside.

"First please open the door, then I will let you know why I have come", requested Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who by now had arrived at the door himself.

"I don't want to meet the shareek of Guru Parmeshar", replied Bhai Mansha Singh.

Maharaja said, "What have I done that makes you think that I am acting as a shareek of Guru Parmeshar"?

"Why have you brought one lakh mohars for me".

"I have brought them for you Bhai Sahib jee", said Maharaja defensively.

"But did I ask for the mohars?"

"No"

"Then why did you bring them?"

"I have brought them as a bheta (offering) for kirtan you sing. You are kirtaniya of Guru ghar".

"Offering for kirtan should be taken to Siri Harmandir Sahib. Please take it there".

"But Bhai Sahib jee, at least let me have your darshan", pleaded Maharaja.

"No! You have come to me thinking I am poor. I had been informed by someone before your arrival. You tell me, doesn't Guru Sahib know about my financial situation? Does he not have the power to take away my poverty? You consider yourself equal to him?"

"I have come here, probably inspired by that Guru that you believe in. And what can we say about our Guru Sahib. He takes care about everyone", said Raja Ranjit Singh.

"If you believe that Guru Sahib takes care of everyone, then why are you trying to take that role? Is this not acting like a shareek of Guru Sahib?"

"Then how will you let me have your darshan", pleaded Raja Ranjit Singh.

"For the reason you came here, I will not see you. Just think. Does not Guru know about my situation? If he is there to worry about me, why should I accept anything from you?

In the end, Maharaja had to come back empty-handed and could not donate mohars to Bhai Mansha Singh. On his way back he gave all the one lakh mohars to Giani Sant Singh and asked him to offer these at Siri Harmandir Sahib. 

Eventually, Bhai Mansha Singh and Raja Ranjit Singh did meet but at Harmandir Sahib where Bhai Sahib used to do kirtan. All life, Bhai Sahib led a very contented life and spent all his life in sewa and simran. He was a great gursikh.

Banda Singh Bahadur

Banda Singh Bahadur : 

In the prominent royal Mogul court of Delhi 
King's sleep will break-up hundred times daily 
There was such a dreadful fright in his heart 
In his consciousness painful sighs were brought 

What fire scorched his heart no one knows 
All of a sudden he was jumping in fiery blows 
It appeared like red hot sky from the Delhi court 
King's heart shaking, seeking Godly support 

Rivers of blood were flowing on the five rivers' land 
Sikhs were facing persecutions for some ideal ground 
Smeared in blood, they were saying thanks in gratitude 
Patiently, regardless of comforts, they were in solitude 

They crossed their way with the Moguls might 
With faithful heart they remembered God in sight 
Maiden decorated with mark of blood, their foreheads 
What sort of people are Sikhs, with such eagerness 

They move like moth, looking at burning all around 
Without delay they line up ready to fight duty bound 
They play jokes with death, and like lions they roar 
Wherever they stare and rebuke, enemy is no more 

Brave warriors jumped in fray with hand to hand attack 
They quickly hawk assaulting caught the deadly foe 
Like flying hawk assaulting a deadly poisonous snake 
Squeezing them in his claws from tip to toe 

Innumerable was the enemy army, Sikhs were very few 
They were surrounded in chains and were put in queue 
Clothes soaked in blood, bodies full of wounds and bruises 
Intestines fall in tummy but they had faith and confidence 

The enemy was battered by the dashing Banda Singh sage 
Moguls fought back and tied him like brave lion in cage 
Surrounded him from all the sides and imprisoned the hero chum 
Then they moved towards Delhi, on the beat of kettle-drum 

The Mogul army departed towards the Capital of Delhi city 
They moved like hurricane, without stopping or any pity 
Seven hundred Sikhs were imprisoned and curled-up in chains 
It was a disgusting sight, an extraordinary incident, full of pains 

On every pointed spear, the head of Sikh was hanging 
Streams of blood dripping, the sight will give a panging 
Sikh prisoners shackled in chains, shouted this voice of cry 
O! our true saviour preserve thy honour, don't let panth shy 

Spectators gathered in the heart of Delhi's Chandni Chowk 
This caravan of Sikhs was quite out of strength and in shock 
Outside they were dull and defeated, inside enjoying thrill 
Greeting loudly the victory of Guru and obedient to His will 

The onlookers revealed an extraordinary and peculiar tale 
The prisoners started argument as no body wanted to fail 
Everybody wanted to be first in their turn to meet the fate 
All wanted to meet the Beloved, Gobind through life's gate 

The wheel of death started, the murderers were on assault 
An applause was echoed, whenever the sword was at fault 
The Sikhs were being butchered, going forward for sacrifice 
It was game of seven days for seven hundred heroes nice 

Chief Banda Singh was in the clutches of destiny or fate 
Next they brought forward to kill his little son ever so great 
The Kazi passed on to banda Singh the killer sword grand 
He ordered to cut his son's head as it was royal command 

Sons are symbols of worldliness for formality in social affairs 
If someone rebukes them one feels like to pull his hairs 
What sort of test in life, to kill one's own son, was shaping 
The thing one can't even imagine, the same was happening 

Banda first picked his son and loved and caressed him 
Then he tried to explain the role and character of Sikhism 
Prince Fateh and Jujhar Singh were also children like you 
Now in the test time and what they achieved you can also do 

Greeting the victory loudly, the little son was revitalized 
If life goes, the custom of Sikhism is, let it be sacrificed 
For holder of righteousness definite victory will be at last 
His love won't be wasted, he meets the Beleoved very fast 

The Kazi became angry as he could not bear the splendour 
The executioner attacked the child and he started to flutter 
Even then this strange trick of destiny could not succeed 
Plump intestines jumping softly, the earth was red indeed 

It is written in the history that Banda remaned unmoved 
In his mouth soft plump heart of slayed child was forced 
In this hard probation Banda remained unshaken, steady 
The history will cry when going through its own study 

It was such a dreadful scene that onlookers could not spy 
Snatching with pincers first they took out his both eyes 
Iron bars were made red hot to burn his body limbs ready 
The Sikh greeted the victory loudly and soul left the body 

The Sky echoed with kettle-drum beat, banner flying like kite 
Once a hero takes a battlefield, he is eager to show his might 
A true warrior is one, who fights for sake of humble and meek 
He might cut into the pieces, but to leave battlefield will never seek

- An English translation of "Bandadir"(The Chained Hero) written by Rabindranath Tagore. (This poem was originally written in Bengali. )

Book : The Sikh Generals (pdf)

The Sikh Generals 

Download (pdf) :  https://archive.org/details/TheSikhGenerals

From Banda Singh Bahadur to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the brave Khalsa generals who contributed to the formation of the Khalsa Raj !  

No one is my enemy

No one is a foreigner

With all I am at peace

God within us renders us

Incapable of hate and prejudice-  Guru Nanak Dev ji ( Guru Granth Sahib) 

One Granth, One Panth, One Sikh Rehat Maryada

Sakhi Series :- 259 ( Akaali Baba Hanuman Singh Ji )

Akaali Baba Hanuman Singh Ji

(Source: https://sikhunity.wordpress.com) 

 

Akaali Baba Hanuman Singh Ji, The 7th leader of the Budha Dal, was born to Baba Garja Singh Ji and Mata Harnam Kaur Ji in November 1755. Baba Ji fought in many great battles under the leadership of Akaali Baba Naina Singh Ji and Akaali Baba Phula Singh Ji (the 5th and 6th Jathedars of Budha Dal).

After the Shaheedi of Akaali Phula Singh Ji at Naushera in 1823, Baba Hanuman Singh Ji became the leader of the Akaali Nihangs, as well as the Jathedar of Akaal Takht Sahib at the age of 68 years old.

Akaali Baba Hanuman Singh Ji's tenure as Jathedar of the Sikh nation came as the Panth was experiencing a very critical time. The Maharaja of the Punjab, Ranjit Singh died from stroke complications, his successors were murdered, the treacherous Dogra's sold out the Lahore Darbar to the British, and the British were planning on annexing the Punjab.

Trusted Sikh general Sardar Sham Singh Attari came to the city of Amritsar and approached Jathedar Hanuman Singh for assistance against the British.

Meeting at the Akaal Takht, Sham Singh said to Baba Hanuman Singh "Baba Ji, I wish to fight against the British, but have no army. I have no more then myself and my sons."

Baba Ji replied "Oh Singh Ji, who does this Akaali fauj belong to, if not to the Sikh nation."

During the battle of Sabroan, Sardar Sham Singh Ji and many Sikh warriors received martyrdom fighting the British soldiers, inflicting huge losses to the invaders.

Baba Hanuman Singh Ji and the remaining Singhs went to camp out in the Sikh Princely state of Patiala. The King of Patiala, Maharaja Karam Singh upon receiving word that the knights of the Guru were camped out in his state, out of fear of retribution for his support to the British, Karam Singh informed the British of the whereabouts of the Jathedar and Sikh army.

Baba Ji and the Sikh soldiers were surrounded by the British and their Sikh cohorts, the Princes' of Patiala, Jind, Faridkot and other traitors.

The British army and their Sikh stooges opened up cannon fire on the Sikhs. 15,000 Sikhs attained martyrdom at the spot where Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran now stands in the district of Patiala. Budha Dal oral tradition states that 32,000 Singhs became shaheed during this battle.

Leader of the Sikh army, Jathedar Baba Hanuman Singh Ji and around 500 Nihang warriors survived this attack, and continued to fight the heavy cannon fire of the British, with swords, bows and arrows, axes and matchlock fire.

Finally after running out of gun powder and watching thousands of Sikh warriors achieve shaheedi, the brave Jathedar of the Guru's beloved Khalsa, Akaali Baba Hanuman Singh Ji died fighting for the freedom of the people of Punjab at the age of 90.

After the martyrdom of Baba Hanuman Singh, Akaali Baba Prehlada Singh Ji became the 8th leader of the Akaali Nihang Singh Khalsa. The British implemented a shoot to kill order on the Nihang Singhs, and Baba Prehlada Singh left for the holy Takht Sahib at Nander to regroup the Akaali army. The few remaining Nihang Singhs, left with Baba Ji towards Hazoor Sahib, or moved camp to the jungles of Punjab and Rajputana to preserve the heritage of the Guru's army.

Gurdwara Sohana Sahib Ji located in the Mohali district of Punjab, was built on the shaheedi asthan (place of martrydom) of Baba Hanuman Singh Ji, in memory of a brave leader of the Sikh nation.

Baba Ji lived the life of a true Khalsa, and embodied the teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. In the immortal words of Bhagat Kabir Ji:

ਗਗਨ ਦਮਾਮਾ ਬਾਜਿਓ ਪਰਿਓ ਨੀਸਾਨੈ ਘਾਉ ॥ The battle-drum beats in the sky of the mind; aim is taken, and the wound is inflicted.

ਖੇਤੁ ਜੁ ਮਾਂਡਿਓ ਸੂਰਮਾ ਅਬ ਜੂਝਨ ਕੋ ਦਾਉ ॥੧॥ The spiritual warriors enter the field of battle; now is the time to fight!

ਸੂਰਾ ਸੋ ਪਹਿਚਾਨੀਐ ਜੁ ਲਰੈ ਦੀਨ ਕੇ ਹੇਤ ॥ He alone is known as a spiritual hero, who fights in defense of religion.

ਪੁਰਜਾ ਪੁਰਜਾ ਕਟਿ ਮਰੈ ਕਬਹੂ ਨ ਛਾਡੈ ਖੇਤੁ ॥੨॥੨॥ He may be cut apart, piece by piece, but he never leaves the field of battle

Sakhi Series :- 258 ( Waheguru's mauj and dharshan)

Lord Narayana's Love For His Devotee

It so happened that once sage Narada upon his tour around the world in spreading God's Glory happened to meet a devotee of the Lord sitting under a huge banyan tree. Upon seeing the great sage, the devotee prostrated before him and said, "Oh great one, when will you be going to Vaikuntha to meet the Lord?" Narada replied, "After my trip around the world spreading the message of the Lord I will surely go to Vaikuntha." The devotee then put forward his prayer. "I have been meditating for so many years. Please ask the Lord when He will give me His Darshan?"

And so the sage consented to put forward the prayer of this devotee and proceeded to Vaikuntha. There Lord Narayana asked him, "Narada, what is your news?" Narada then put forward the prayer that the devotee had made and Lord Narayana said, "Tell the devotee that I will give him Darshan only after a number of births, a number equal to the number of leaves on the tree under which he is meditating.

Narada was dejected, but he was only a messenger and so he went to the devotee but was bit apprehensive to deliver the message. When the devotee saw narada he didn't inquire about his question, but he started doing service to him: he gave him a good seat to sit on, and he served him tea, and he made everything for him. After drinking tea, he finally had to give the message; he prepared himself to run if he began to beat him, and at the same time he said, "The Lord will surely come to give you Darshan but it will be after a number of births, equal to the number of leaves on the tree under which you are meditating." 

Hearing that, instead of becoming displeased, that meditator became very happy, and started dancing in that joy, and said, "Blessed are you -thankyou very much- that you have brought me this reply from my Lord God. At last He has promised me that He will meet me. No matter how many years it takes, now I am sure that I will reach Him!" And he started thanking God and thanking Narada, and he was dancing with joy. So in that happiness, and that thankfulness, he was intoxicated so much that his inner vision was opened, and the Lord God appeared on the scene. As Narada stood there, fuming and fretting, the Lord and the devotee met. It was like a calf running to meet its mother, or a river surging to meet the ocean.

After the union, the Lord came to Narada and said, "Narada why do you look so upset?" Then Narada said, "Lord, you said one thing and did something so contrary to it. Please explain."

Lord said, Narada, look at the tree and when Narada looked at the tree there were no leaves left on the tree !!! Then Lord God went on to explain: "It is the Faith the devotee had. He had Faith – complete Faith. I had given my assurance. It does not matter how long it will take, but I had given my word, and that Faith gave him all the joy that I am going to give him Darshan, and so I had to appear in front of him."

Thus it is said in gurmat there is no fixed time; it depends on our love, our devotion, and our effort.

In this domain of God there is no question of "if" and "but." Every "if" and "but" is "cut"! It's a question of 100% Faith or no Faith at all.

But the plight of man is so miserable that we are ready to believe in anything and everything except our own inner voice. Every time we get into a bus we place our life in the hands of the driver, a mortal like us. But when the Jagad Guru comes and says, "My child, give me your heart and I will ferry you across the ocean of life," we are not interested.

Waheguru ..