Part 36 The Sakhi of Banda – Dadoo Duara Mahant Jait Ram

When Satguru ji arrived in the Dakhan, he came to the Dadoo Duara (Sant Dadoo ji was a Kabeer Panthi Sant).  Guru ji saw a nice place and set up camp.  Guru ji had about 7,000 Singhs with him.  The Nagaras sounded and the Nishans waved in the wind.  The Singhs recited their Banis and didn’t care what others thought.  They recited Chandi Charitar and Chandi Di Vaar.  Some recited Akaal Ustat.  It was like rain coming in the hot month of Jeth.  The frogs ribbiting with joy when the rains come; as the peacocks sing, seeing the black rain clouds; the Sikhs recited Gurbani in the same joy.  Some held Granths and some held other books to read.  Some read Mukh Vaaks.  Some Rababis played the Rabab and did Keertan.  The grandeurs of Guru ji’s court were like the radiance of Inder’s court.  Bells rang.  Mridangs played.  Upangs played.  The Jori played along with the Rababs.  Jal Tarangs and Bheens played.  Sitaars and Tamboors played.  Jachs, Kinnars, Narad, Haha and Hoohoo; that’s how the Sikhs sounded.  Many tunes and instruments played.  The Sikhs played instruments, adding to the court’s radiance.  Inder would look at this court and be embarrassed.  Many came to bow to Satguru ji’s feet.  Many received permission from Guru ji to set up camp.  Incense was lit in the court.  People did the Parkarma of Guru ji; like the stars doing the Parkarma of the Dhruv Star (Polaris).  Some laid like a stick on the ground to bow to Guru ji.  It was like many Devatas bowing to Inder.  The Singhs stood, holding the Chanani, like strong roots of a tree.  It was like the Ranthunba planted into the ground; that is how the Singhs stood in court, beside Guru ji.  Sun or rain, they did not leave Guru ji’s side.  The Sooraj Mukhis looked like the Sun shining.  The fans looked like lightening flashing, embedded with gems.  The canopy over Guru ji’s head was like a cloud.  Singhs stood with canopies in their hands.  Guru ji sat like Inder, holding his bow.  The Chaur waved over his head like peacocks dancing from side to side.

The news spread in the whole city (about Guru ji and the Singhs staying there).  The people lined up to see Guru ji.  Their minds were calm after doing Guru ji’s Darshan.  They were happy seeing him.  They brought gifts for Guru ji.  The Sikhs of the area came.  Everyone saw an amazing thing.  The whole world was surprised.  They had never seen the radiance of Guru ji and the Khalsa before.  The people left Dadoo Duray to come see Guru ji.  The news came to Dadoo Duara to Mahant Jait Ram ji: “the Tenth Nanak ji has come!”  Mahant Jait Ram ji opened up the doors.  Mahant ji came with his students to see Guru ji.  Guru ji respected Mahant ji a lot.  Guru ji carried out the tradition of meeting saints and Sadhoos.  They met each other with joy.  Mahant Jait Ram ji said: “you are the great form of Guru Nanak Dev ji!”  Satguru ji said: “all saints are One!  When water mixes into milk, it lets go of its previous form.”  The Mahant, Jai Ram ji, was a great person.  That’s why he was the Mahant.  He stood in front of Guru ji with his hands folded and said: “our Karma is great that you have come to us.  Have one meal with us.  Please keep the Dharma of the Sadh Sangat.”  Satguru ji laughed and said: “your food won’t be enough for all of us.  I have many people and beings who eat meat.  How will their hunger be satisfied?”  Mahant Jai Ram ji said: “we follow Dadoo ji and are vegetarians.  We will give Juvahar (millet) to all.”

Part 37 The Sakhi of Banda – Dadoo Duara Mahant Jait Ram Part 2

By the radiance of the Sadhoo Sangat, the hawks ate Juvahar (millet).  Satguru ji was happy to see the old home of Dadoo ji.  Mahant ji took Satguru ji to see the old home and the old Dhera of Sant Dadoo ji.  Satguru ji showered the place with flowers and said: “great is the radiance of the saints.  The slanderer of saints are destroyed.  This is in the Sukhmani Sahib.”  The lines that mention the praises of saints, Guru ji stated them.  There was a lot of discussions about Brahm with the saints.  Both sides spoke. 

The Mahant said a new thing: “how I went once, I met a saint named “Narayan Das,” (born as Lakshman Dev in Rajouri, Kashmir.  Sant Janki Prashaad ji took him on as a student and named him Madho Das; Augan Nath named him Narayan Das).  He is a Bairagi.  He has made a bed in his Dhera near the shores of the Godavari.  He made me sit on his bed.  I thought he was giving me respect but he was filled with mischief, that corrupt person.  As a sit down, he flipped the bed with his powers.  He made fun of me and laughed out loud.  He rolled on the ground as he laughed.  Of the Khat Darshanis (6 types of ideologies), he makes fun of them all.  He is not afraid of any Guru or Peer.  He calls himself a Guru Peer.  He slanders saints.  He is without a Guru or Peer.  Please don’t go to him, Guru ji.  Stay away from him.  Stay far from him.”  Satguru ji said: “whatever the Satguru wishes, that will happen.  The Satguru wishes for me to go.  I will have to go.  Tell me how to go there.  Tell me the name of the place and village.  I will go there and see what Siddhis he has.  Who is his Guru from whom he received this greatness?  If he fights with me, he will lose his Siddhis.  If he meets me greatly, I will show him the righteous path.  By the greatness of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, I will surely make this person a servant.  I will make him my special Sikh.”  Mahant Jait Ram ji said: “by the shores of the Godavari, in the village of Nanded, that his where his home is.  It is the greatest place in the Dakhan.  It is radiant.  He used to have nothing before.  He was a wanderer.  He wandered with saints.  He wandered and travelled a lot.  He met a Sidh who had a lot of Mantras.  He served him a lot.  In turn, the Sidh gave him a lot of Vidya.  The Sidh gave him a Pothi of Mantras.  He gave him all his secrets.  He made him equal to himself.  He gave him the Pothi of powers written and said: “don’t show these powers to the world.  That is not their purpose.  If you keep them hidden, they will stay with you.  If you show them, they will take your life along with them.  Forts, women, wealth, horses, weapons, Paras, Sidhs, medicines, Mantras and Tantras; Rajas love to take these away from people.  Shahukaars and kings never leave these things.  They would kill to acquire these things and kill their worries.  They would believe that if others had these things, their kingdoms would be in danger.  The ones who had powers, the Rajas feared them.  They thought the powerful people could kill them, while sitting in their homes.  They would want to kill us in our homes, fearing the loss of their kingdom.  They wanted to take everything from the people; just as relatives kill for land.  Listen to the name of the Pothi: the Anooniya Sidh had written many Mantras in the Pothi.  He was the special student of Gorakh Nath.  All of the best Mantras were written in the Pothi along with all of the Vidya that was rare to find in the world.  The Mantras, Tantras and Jantras; Mahoorat days; how to find the Paras; how to make Rasayans; controlling venomous snakes; controlling Rudra; controlling Inder; interesting plays of Odissa (magic); to go into or walk on water; to fly in the sky; to see what’s in space; to blow out or start a fire; to stand in the fire and eat it; the chants for Vaak Sidhi (words becoming reality); milk, sons, wealth, coming to anyone he wishes; to see anything buried in the ground; to find anything that is hidden; calling and speaking to plants and herbs in the jungle; to find the Paras and how to make it; to make a man out of a woman; to make a woman out of a man; to know the secrets of the hearts; to attract anyone; to possess someone; to break friendships; to call someone by possessing them; to kill the enemies and saving your followers; to break the stars from space and calling them; to break forts that can’t be won; to win a war on the field; to make the wind blow; to make it rain; calling it from anywhere and throwing anywhere; to make it lightening; to make it hail; curses and boons are fulfilled; bhoot, prayts, Yoginis, Ganns, Devatas, Sidhs, Birs, Jachs, Rakshishes, Kinnars, possessing them and calling them; to make anyone become victorious; make anyone lose; lions, snakes, scorpions, insects, bees, to control their poisons; joy in the land from the Raja; thieves, robbers and snakes becoming calm; to travel to the one bitten by a snake; to resurrect someone killed by a snake; rabid dogs that bite, the person can be saved; lion, panthers or other animals that attack, possessing them; to make trees grow from the earth; to take their essence out; overdose from Afeem, alcohol or cannabis, to relieve them; to cure consumed poison; the 8 Siddhis (Anima – to make oneself small; Mahima – to spread; Garuma – to become heavy; Laghima – to become light in weight; Prapti – to obtain anything; Kamih – to obtain what is desired; Vasikaran – to posses; Ishat – to become omnipotent); to know past, present and future; all of these things are in that Pothi.”  This Granth would become huge if I write everything in the Pothi.  The Pothi also has how to do the Darshan of Bhagvaan and to receive Mukti.  The Banda had this Pothi but couldn’t keep it hidden.  He showed the powers to the people.  He would test other saints to see how powerful they were.  He slandered other saints.  Please don’t go to him.”  The Mahant said this to Guru ji, many times.  Satguru ji said: “I won’t turn back now.  I will surely see him.  Just as you fed my hawks your Juvahar; you will see the miracle again.  You came back from him, defeated.  Send one of your students with me.  He can see our meeting.  The power of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji is really big.  I will join this Sadhoo to my feet.”  Satguru ji said this and set off.

Satguru ji had found out the way to the Banda’s place.  Satguru ji arrived at the place of the Banda and set up his Dhera.  He came to his Ashram.  The waterwheels spun without bulls.  It was an amazing thing to see.  The place was very beautiful with many plants.  It was nice to see.  The mind was attracted to it.  There was a bed laid out inside.  There was a pillow there.  The bed floated 1.25 yards in the air.  Narayan Das would sit on that bed.  If anyone else sat on it, they would be flipped over.  This is the drama he had created.

Part 38 Meeting the Banda

When Satguru ji arrived, the Banda was not there.  The bed was decorated.  Guru ji saw it and sat on the bed.  There were goats in the Ashram, which the Singhs began to slaughter.  They cut them up and began to cook the meat.  The students of Narayan Das ran to him to tell him.  They were angry to see the men.  They were angry to see Satguru ji sitting on Narayan Das’s bed.  Narayan Das saw this with his power.  He commanded his Birs to pick up the bed.  The Birs picked up the bed but Guru ji pressed the bed down with his arrow.  The Birs used more of their strength.  The bed did not come up, not even a finger.  The Sadhoo became really angry seeing this.  He was burnt like a charred coal.  He spoke to his Birs with anger: “go and kill him!  Why are you taking so long?”  The Birs said: “we don’t have that much power.  Whatever pain we give him, comes upon us.  If we tried to give him pain, that pain came upon us, many times over.  When we went close to him, we were burnt by the fire of his radiance.  We lost in front of him.  When we go close to him, we burn with our own anger.  We are released only when we bow our heads in front of him.  Only then are we cool and peaceful again.”  The Banda heard his Birs’ words and became surprised.  Fear came into his heart.  When he saw Satguru ji with his own eyes, he noticed that Guru ji had more powers than him.  He used his Birs on the Sikhs who killed his goats.  The Birs came to the Singhs as soon as they were commanded.  When they came close to the Singhs, the arrows of Guru ji surrounded the Singhs like the Sudarshan Chakra.  The Birs moved around the Sikhs and couldn’t do anything.  Narayan Das said: “this is the complete Satguru.  I am not equal to his Sikhs.”  Narayan Das became humble and fell to Satguru ji’s feet.  Satguru ji said to him: “which Panth do you follow?  Who is your Guru?  You make fun of saints.  Is there no one equal to you in this world?  Do you think that only you have powers?  Whoever makes fun of saints, they fall and destroy their life.  The actors, singers and performers; they do these façades.”  Narayan Das said: “I am your “Banda.”  I am your man.  I am your Singh and you are my Guru.  Please forgive my past.  If I make a mistake from now on, you can do as you wish.  I am your servant now.  Whatever is your command, I shall carry it out.  Make me your servant.  See me as your own and keep me with you.”

Part 39 Blessing the Banda

When the Banda said this while folding his hands and bowing his head, Satguru ji was happy and joined him to the service of his feet.  Satguru ji said: “it is hard to be a Sikh.  You must place your mind, body and wealth at the feet of the Guru without having any doubts.  One becomes a Sikh when the doubt is gone.  To be a Sikh is really hard.  The Sikh is one who loses his sense of self-identity.  You must renounce your family and join the family of the Guru.  Just as the Bhringi insect leaves its own identity and takes on the identity of its kidnapper; that is how you must be.  The tradition of Sikhi is finer than a hair and sharper than the edge of a sword.  If one does something else besides serving the Guru, fear comes to them.”  Whatever Guru ji said, Narayan Das accepted.  He was named “Banda” which he accepted.  Baba Banda bowed to Guru ji’s feet many times.  Guru ji placed his hand on top of his head.  The Banda said: “command me.  How can I serve you?”  Satguru ji said: “I have a task for you.  Go and kill the murderers of the Sahibzadas.  Destroy Sirhind and then the Pahari areas.”  Satguru ji gave him this task.  He was to protect the Sikhs and destroy the non-Sikhs.  “Whoever is the servant, save them.  Pass Delhi and then start your war.  Destroy Punjab and the Pahari areas to dust.  Just as the strangler fig constricts a tree; become my strangler fig and constrict the emperor and kings.”  Whatever the Satguru ji said, the Banda accepted. 

It became known in the world: “the Banda has been prepared and filled by the Guru.”  Satguru ji gave a Khanda to the Banda, which he wore, but the Khalsa saw this and got angry.  The Khalsa took the Khanda away from him.  The Banda told Satguru ji what happened to him.  Satguru ji laughed out loud and thought to himself: “they took what belonged to them.  The Khalsa has powers and strength.”  Guru ji gave the Banda 5 arrows and said: “these are 5 Birs.  When you need them, use one of them.  The wind will blow and the dust will fly; the enemy will become blind.  The wind will be the army of the Shaheeds who will kill the enemy.  You will win the war then.  Whichever Sikhs come to meet you, give them respect and have them join you.  Have them fight with you.  Call the Singhs of Majha.  Put them at the front.  They are great warriors who are stubborn and brave.  The Turks will run away from them.  They are strong warriors.  The Satguru is happy with them.  They are complete on their determination.  They are warriors of warriors.  They are the Bhagats of the Guru.  My power is inside them.  I have given the Khalsa the Guruship.  They have kept it well.  There is no difference between them and me.  They are in me and I am in then.”  The Banda was given this instruction.  The Banda wanted to do this well.  When Satguru ji gave the command to the Banda to go to Punjab: “kill the murderers of the Sahibzadas,” the Banda got ready.  Whatever command was given, the Banda wrote all of them on a piece of paper.  He said: “send some Singhs with me.  They can teach me Sikhi.”  The Singhs of Majha were sent with the Banda: Baba Binod Singh ji and Baba Kaan Singh ji (the descendants of Guru Angad Dev ji); Bhai Daya Singh ji, Bhai Oran Singh ji; the Hazoori Bhujhangis were sent with the Banda.  Bhai Baaj Singh ji of Mirpur Patti and his four brothers were sent.  Many other courageous Singhs were sent who stayed in the company of Guru ji.  They were his most beloved.  Letters were sent to the Singhs of Majha: “when you read this letter, come to the Banda.  The enemies of the Khalsa; the ones who murdered the Sahibzadas; the Paharis Rajas who deceived us; loot them and destroy them.  Kill Wajeeda (Wazeer Khan) first.  Drag his dead body around.

Part 40 Sending the Banda with the Khalsa

The Khalsa did their Ardaas to Satguru ji by folding their hands: “Sire, you gave the Patshahi to the Khalsa.  You blessed them from your mouth, many times.  By your strength, the Khalsa killed the Turks.  We know that the Turks have been exiled from the court of Akaal Purakh.  If the Banda wishes for the Patshahi, then we won’t go with him.  Satguru ji heard this and was happy.  He said to the Banda: “if you don’t listen to the Khalsa, then you will lose.  If you keep the Singhs happy, you will be in joy.  If you give pain to the Singhs then you will be in pain.”  The Banda accepted this.  He left with the Khalsa then.  Guru ji wrote many Hukamnamas and sent them to the Singhs in Punjab: “whoever meets with the Khalsa, they will be in joy.  The ones who do not join the Khalsa, they will live as subjects.”  The Banda folded his hands and said: “I will obey the Singhs.  If I am in trouble, please come and help me.  Give me some Ridhis and Siddhis so people have faith in me.  If I revolt against the Singhs, you can take all of my powers away, even the ones I had before.”  Guru ji said: “I have given everything to the Khalsa.  I have admitted you into the Khalsa.  You will receive what the Khalsa has.  The 5 Singhs that will be with you, if you need anything, do an Ardaas to them.  Your wish will be fulfilled.”  Baba Banda Singh ji heard this and set off with the Singhs.  They headed towards Sirhind.

Part 41 The Determination of the Banda

Baba Banda Singh ji thought to himself: “the words of Guru ji, I wish to test them.”  He held a Divaan and called the Singhs there.  He stood in the middle to test the words of the Satguru.  He called 5 Sikhs and stood in front of them with his hands folded.  The Khalsa stilled their minds and stood with the 5.  They did their Ardaas: “we have no money to spend.  May the money come.”  They did this Ardaas.  As they did the Ardaas, a line of Lubana Sikhs came.  They were merchants how had thousands of Dasvand they had put aside.  They gave all of their Dasvands in the thousands.  The money was placed in front of Baba Banda Singh ji.  The Sikhs did the Ardaas and gave the money to Baba Banda Singh ji.  The Banda’s love for the Khalsa grew along with the respect.  Baba Banda Singh ji’s faith got deeper for Guru ji and the Khalsa. 

Baba Banda Singh ji held Divaan with the Khalsa often.  He had Akaal Ustat and Chandi Di Vaar recited.  He had the “Akaal Akaal,” Jaap done.  They sang “Vahiguru Vahiguru,” all the time.  The Banda headed towards Punjab, taking the Khalsa with him.  To take the revenge for the sons of the Guru, many Sikhs joined in on the campaign.  Where the Banda stood for a blink of an eye, many Ridhis and Sikhs came there.  The Birs that were with the Banda, they would come for his help, hearing the Ardaas of the Sikhs.  The faith grew deeper of Baba Banda Singh ji.  He was worry-free then.  Whoever came to ask for a son, the Banda had the Ardaas done by the Singhs and the wish would be fulfilled.  Whoever asked for milk or other items, their Ardaas were fulfilled.  If a person with pain came, they would do an Ardaas and destroy his/her pain.  They made everyone do the Simran of Vahiguru.  Everyone’s wishes were fulfilled.  The news of the Banda spread of wish fulfillment and their campaign of revenge.  Kings and paupers came to meet them.  The slanderers that came from afar, when they came close, they fell to Baba Banda Singh ji’s feet.  Where the Banda set up a Dhera, he would be able to pull out gold coins from his seat.  The Diva lighters would put oil in the Divas at night.  They would be paid a golden coin.  If a potter brought a pot or pan, Baba Banda Singh ji would give them golden coins from his wallet.  The wood that was brought by people, they were given golden coins as well.  Nobody left empty-handed.  Everyone was given a golden coin, even if they brought a pot of water.  Whoever came, they joined the army of Baba Banda Singh ji.

Part 42 Battle with the Officer of Kaithal

News spread that the Banda had a lot of money.  Some robbers would come to loot the Singhs but would instead get looted themselves by the Singhs.  The night before the thieves would come, Baba Banda Singh ji would tell the Khalsa by his powers.  The Khalsa would get ready to kill the robbers.  In this way, the love between Baba Banda Singh ji and the Khalsa grew.  Baba ji would listen to Gurbani from the Singhs with love.  Baba ji then said: “now, Wajeeda will be killed.  Everyone will see this.”  He said to the Khalsa: “call the Singhs who are behind.  Tell them to come and complete the task of Guru ji.  They can take over the land to rule.” 

Baba Banda Singh ji came to the Bhangar Desh (Kaithal and area).  There was a situation stuck in one of the areas.  A group of robbers came to loot a village.  Baba Banda Singh ji heard of this that the village was about to be ruined by robbers.  Baba Banda Singh ji gave the villagers hope, as he saw them getting ready to leave.  The villagers were not courageous and saw Baba Banda Singh ji as a Fakir.  The women and men of the village left the village and hid in the jungles.  Baba Banda Singh ji and the Singhs remained.  The villagers did not believe Baba Banda Singh ji.  Baba Banda Singh ji thought: “we should save them.”  He grabbed the Panchs (elders) of the villages and held them on a roof top.  The group of robbers came into the village.  They looked towards Baba Banda Singh ji.  Baba Banda Singh ji got up and said to the Singhs: “attack them!  They came to kill.  Kil them!”  The Singhs heard this and attacked.  They arrested the leader of the robbers.  The others would come to rescue him but would get caught themselves.  They had Sailas, swords and spears.  The Singhs fought with bricks and stones.  Such a miracle was seen, the Singhs were not hit with one weapon but the Singhs won the battle with rocks, stones and bricks.  The Banda had such prosperity (of the blessings of the Guru).  The Singhs and villagers saw the power of the Banda.  The villagers came back and picked up whatever weapons they had.  They then attacked the robbers to save their own village.  The Panchs that were jailed, they were released.  They were grabbed by the villagers.  Some of the robbers were killed; some were arrested and some ran away.  The Banda then said: “go and kill the ones that ran away.”  The Singhs went and ran with the villagers to kill the robbers.  They left the village to kill them.  The Singhs looted the village of the robbers.  The fear and radiance of the Banda spread in the land.  The arrested were all released.  He had compassion over them.  The Banda gave them money and returned their looted items.  Silver and gold were kept but the other items looted from the village was given back. 

The Banda sat on a brick wall.  He whipped his foot as though striking a horse and said: “I see horses coming.  Plant rods and sticks to tie them up.  Get ready!  Plant rods and prepare the ropes.  The horses will come themselves right now.  Don’t be lazy.  Just grab them when they come.”  When Baba Banda Singh ji said this, the Khalsa did what he said.  People were sent in every direction to call the Panchs of all the nearby villages.  He said: “tell them to bring milk, ghee and food to us.  If you meet with us, we won’t take anything from you.  The whole land will be yours.  Join us and become the Khalsa.”  Who would come without destiny?  They began to go to the authorities to complain.  They went to the officer of Kaithal and had him bring his army.  The officer was a Khatri who collected money from the people.  The villagers complained: “a Fakir has come to beat us.”  The people complained: “the Banda has stopped your taxes and told us to give it to him.”  The officer took his army and said: “arrest him and loot him.”  He said to the people: “loot him.  You have no rules now.”  The officer set off with his army. 

They soon came to the Banda.  Baba Banda Singh ji used the walls for cover.  Nobody was to run away.  The set up was explained to the Khalsa: “use the walls to hide and fight from your posts.  400 will come with horses.  They are coming to loot us, these men of Bhangar.”  Where Baba Banda Singh ji was taking cover, the army came there.  The officer spoke bad words.  The Khalsa stayed quiet first.  They couldn’t be seen.  As the army came inside and were surrounded, Baba Banda Singh ji gave the signal to take the horses.  The Singhs attacked like hawks.  The Singhs grabbed the reins of the horses.  The men couldn’t make the horses run as they were held.  They tried to swing their weapons but couldn’t reach the Singhs.  The Singhs hit the men with the sticks and rocks they had.  This would hurt the soldiers.  If they wanted to run, they Singhs wouldn’t let them leave.  They would rub them against the walls.  The leader was arrested and taken off his horse.  As much as he had sworn before, the Singhs beat him up that much.  They broke his face.  The leader asked for mercy.  Baba Banda Singh ji let him go and gave all his men back.  Such a miracle happened.  The Singhs took the money from the men.  The men left without their horses.  The news and fear of the Banda spread.  The taxes of the area were given to Baba Banda Singh ji.  The soldiers of the Kathal army left and came to join Baba Banda Singh ji’s army.  They began to collect taxes for Baba Banda Singh ji.

Part 43 Letter to the Singhs of Sihar Khanday/ The Majhails stop in Ropar

Baba Banda Singh ji came to Sihar Khanday Village in Bhangar.  They wrote letters to Singhs in Punjab, addressing them by their names.  The Banda wrote: “to take the Desh, the Guru has sent me.  I have been sent to uproot Sirhind and destroy the Paharis.  I am the servant of that Purakh who created the Khalsa.  The ones who became the enemies of the Guru, I have come to take revenge.  I will kill them all, only then will I be called the Banda of the Sri Guru.”  He wrote these letters to the Singhs.  The special Singhs with him signed the letters.  Baba Binod Singh ji had the Nishaan and Nagara as the Jathedaar.  He was the 9^th descendent of Guru Angad Dev ji.  He took the letters and said: “we need to avenge the deaths of the Sahibzadas.  Come and help the Banda!  The Sikhs of the Guru are all brothers.  The Banda is our brother.  The one who joins the Khalsa, they will be greater than kings.  The one who doesn’t join the Khalsa, they will regret it.”  The letters were sent to Kabul, Kandahar, Thattha and Bhukher.  They were sent to east, south and north Punjab.  The Singhs signed it: Bhai Binod Singh ji, Bhai Ram Singh ji, Bhai Kaan Singh, Bhai Baaj Singh ji and Bhai Ran Singh ji.  They wrote: “whoever is the complete Sikh of the Guru, they need to take revenge for the Sahibzadas on the Syeds.  Whoever stays alive, they will rule.  Whoever dies, they will be Mukat.”  They wrote these Ardaas to all and sent them to the Khalsa, from the Khalsa.  The Khalsa read the letters and accepted them, putting them on their heads.  They quickly got ready.  The Sikhs who had no money to spend, they asked money from others.  They shared.  The non-Sikhs did not give money to the Sikhs.  They said: “you will die there.  Who will give us our money back?”  The Sikhs bowed to their feet to get the money.  If they still didn’t listen, the Singhs fought them and took the money.  They then said: “if we stay alive, we will return you the money, double.  If we die, we will give it you in the next life.  Some Sikhs gave openly for a good cause for the Guru.  They presented their body, mind and wealth for the service of the Guru. 

The Singhs of Majha got ready at Chabaal (with Baba Deep Singh ji).  They said: “if we go straight, the Turks won’t let us cross the Sutlej if we make it across the Beas.”  The Banjara Singhs first joined Baba Banda Singh ji, who were merchants.  They grabbed their spears and loaded their carts.  They were in Malva which was close to Delhi.  Sihar Khanda was about 30 Kos from Delhi.  They met the Banda first in Sihar Khanda.  The Majhail Punjabis had a hard time with the Turks.  They took the route through the mountains.  They travelled though the jungle in separate Jathas, with few men in each group.  They wanted to avoid attention.  They came to Kiratpur from the mountains.  They couldn’t cross Ropar.  Khwaja Mardood (Mehmood) Ali stopped them (the younger brother of Sher Mohammed Khan of Maler Kotla) with thousands of men.  The Singhs (including Baba Deep Singh ji) set up camp there and sent news to Baba Banda Singh ji: “we have set up camp close by.”  Baba Banda Singh ji wrote back: “stay there.  When we come close, then join us.”  The Khalsa accepted.  The Singhs came from Amritsar along with Baba Deep Singh ji.  They stayed there for many days.  From Amritsar to the mountains, the Singhs came.  Bhai Pashaura Singh Arora was rich.  He sent money for the 4,000 Singhs in Kiratpur.

Part 44 Aali Singh Maali Singh meet the Banda

Near Sirhind, there was a village named Silodi with many homes of Sikhs.  One home had two brothers: Bhai Aali Singh ji and Bhai Maali Singh ji, who worked for the Sooba Sirhind.  They worked there to get news of the Turks.  The Navaab of Sirhind called for them, hearing about the Banda coming.  He called them and spoke with ego: “you have a new Guru coming this way!  You should go to him.  Go and bring him here.  When he comes here, I will destroy him.  He will join the sons of the Guru.”  The Singhs said: “if our Guru is complete, he will come here himself.  You won’t need to call for him.”  The Navaab said: “what if I arrest you?  He can release you when he comes.  If he doesn’t come, I will kill both of you.”  The Navaab called for chains but the chains didn’t fit their feet or hands.

One of the Birs came to visit the Singhs, invisible to the Turks.  The Bir said: “go towards the Banda.”  The Singhs had faith as they knew the greater powers of the Birs were with them.  They asked for their final pay calculations with the Navaab.  The Navaab said: “I was just joking with you!  I wasn’t going to arrest you.”  The Singhs did not want to stay there anymore, seeing the chains.  They said: “you think Singhs are afraid to die?  We will be better off with the Banda now.  If we meet again, we will be with the Guru.”  They said the Guru Fateh with their hands on their heads. 

The Singhs asked the way to Sihar Khanday which was in Khakhrod.  It was about 30 Kos away from the Delhi.  The Singhs set off to that direction.  They wanted to test the Banda: “will he be able to kill Wajeera?  If he says our name when he sees us, then we will believe that he will do the Guru’s work.”  Ten other Bhujhangis left with the Singhs.  They saw the Banda from far away, putting their hands on their foreheads.  They said the Fathe of the Vahiguru and shouted Akaal!  Baba Banda Singh ji said: “Aali Maali Singh Bhasauris!  You have come to test my powers?  The powers belong to the Satguru.  He sent me and kept his own honour.”  He said their names and the Singhs were convinced that the Banda was powerful.  The Singhs said: “there is no difference between you and the Guru.  Why are you waiting here for?  Let’s do what we are here to do.”  Baba Banda ji said: “we are waiting for the other Singhs to come and join us.  They need to join us.  That’s why we are waiting.  We sent letters.  The ones far away are still on their way.  I have sensed what they are thinking.  They want to win over Sirhind, waiting for revenge.  They are coming from south, east, west and the Pahari areas.” 

The Khalsa of Malva had just arrived, led by Bhai Fateh Singh ji Bhai ke (the family of Bhai Bhagtoo ji).  Bhai Karam Singh Bhai Dharam Singh ji of Bhai Roopa ji’s family came, who were the beloveds of the Guru; they came as well.  Bhai Ram Singh (father of Baba Ala Singh of Patiala) and Bhai Trilok Singh ji (father of Raja Sukhchain Singh Nabha and Raja Gurdit Singh Jind) of the Phool family did not come but sent a lot of money and 2,000 men.  The Koras of Mahraj came to loot.  They received money from the Phool family.  None of the Kot Kapooris came (the sons of Kapoora).  They remained empty afterwards. 

Part 45 Destroying Samana/ Wazeer Khan getting news that the Banda is coming

The Banda charged fast and destroyed Samana.  Kaithal was destroyed first.  Jallaludeen, the executioner of Guru Tegh Bahadhur Sahib ji; the Beg brothers who executed the Sahibzadas, they all lived in Samana.  Bhai Fateh Singh ji won the battle.  The Banda made him the Faujdaar.  When Samana was destroyed, the Turks were in shambles.  10,000 Turks were killed.  The Singhs only left the ones with Bhodis (locks of hair) on their heads.  The heads of the Turks were blown like melons.  The people of Samana were with Wajeeda when he killed the Sahibzadas.  22 palanquins would leave from Samana along with the armies.  When Samana was destroyed, the Singhs were no longer poor.  They looted a lot of money, horses, canons and weapons.  Baba Banda ji thought: “let’s loot Wajeeda when we have a bigger army.”

Wajeeda sent out a lot of spies.  Baba Banda ji sensed it.  He said to the Singhs: “the messengers are here.  One does not have an eye and one does not have a hand.  Find them and get them.”  Where he told the Singhs they were, the Singhs went and caught the spies of Wajeeda.  The Singhs slapped shoes in their heads and made them bald.  They said Wajeeda’s name while hitting them.  They sent a letter for Wajeeda, saying: “we are coming!”  When Wazeer Khan got the letter, he got worried.  He thought to himself: “the Banda won’t leave me.”  The whole city was worried.  Every home talked about the Banda: “the Banda is coming!  He wishes to destroy many cities.  Wajeera has done a terrible thing which the whole city has to suffer for.  The pain that the Guru cursed upon us, the bricks will be smashed and thrown into the river, that time has come now.  The Satguru’s words are never empty.  We will have to suffer.”  The people of the city said this. 

There were 1,400 homes of Sikhs in Sirhind.  The Sikhs were worried because Sulakhana Masand hid in his home when the Sahibzadas were on trial.  The Sikhs said to the Masand: “if you would have asked us, we would have died with the Guru’s sons.  We wouldn’t have had to suffer like this now.  You could have gathered a lot of money from us.  We would have weighed the Sahibzadas in gold and pearls to have them released.  Now, that wealth will be looted by looters.  We will lose our lives as well.