Part 76 The Ardaas of the Bandais and the Banda’s Response

The Turks made the circle around the fort tighter.  They didn’t let the Singhs go in or out now.  The Singhs said to each other: “it seems as though the Turks are deceiving us.”  Bhai Baaj Singh ji was one of the leaders of the armies.  The poor Sikhs came to him and said: “why aren’t you saying anything to the Banda?  Has your wisdom deceived you too?  The Turks are trying to deceive us.  Why aren’t you saying the truth to the Banda?  If this continues, we will be killed without a cause.  We won’t be able to fight.  We will be arrested.  The reason he let the Turks close, to take revenge on the Singhs who killed his goats, they aren’t stuck in this trap.  Those Singhs have ran away, understanding the plan of the Turks.  We are poor and unwise who are trapped in the fort.  When the trouble comes upon the Banda, he will run away, riding upon his Birs.  He will fly 50 Kos away.  The Turks won’t be able to catch him.  We will be scattered and in trouble.  We are poor.  You have earned a lot, eating and wearing much.  You were the Governor of Sirhind and collected a lot of taxes.”  Bhai Baaj Singh ji heard this and said: “he is omniscient.  There’s no use of me telling him anything.  What is in their hearts, he knows.  What is in the Banda’s hearts, it’s now use to ask him.  We will give our heads for him.  He is our Guru.  If you insist, I will speak to him.  Come with me and see with your eyes.”  Bhai Baaj Singh ji and the Sikhs went to Baba Banda Singh ji.

The Sikhs stood in front of the Banda with their hands folded.  They did their Ardaas with their hands folded and a Hazooria around their necks.  Baba Banda Singh ji knew what they wanted to say.  He said: “I know why you are here.  You have been manipulated that I would leave you.  These Turks are here to kill us.  You think I don’t know why they are here?  You think I will leave you if the trouble comes with my Birs?  This will not happen.  The Birs are my witness.  Good or bad, I will be with you.  This is true that I will not fly away.”  The Banda had stopped flying from that point.  He died but did not leave his promise of staying with the Sikhs.  He said: “these Turks who have come to kill us, they have deceived us.  It is my time to die now, after all.  Whoever doesn’t wish to die, they can run away.  We will give our heads upon the Turks to make them guilty.  When the time has come, how will I run away?  The Gurus have also given their heads to make the Turks guilty.  I wish to do the same task.  The Turks can’t be destroyed by the sword.  When we give our heads, they will be banished from the highest courts.  It is upon our heads now.  We want to make the Turks guilty.”  Saying such words, the Banda went quiet.  He went to the Chabarra and locked the door.

Part 77 The Turks Attack the Army of the Banda

The Turks noticed that they had the Banda in their control.  They said: “let’s attack and lower their numbers.”  Listen to the deception of the Turks.  They knew what was going on inside.  They took count of all of the supplies.  They knew that the Banda no longer had powers and wasn’t able to make wise decisions.  They didn’t let food go inside.  The Turks knew that there was nothing left in the storage.  They didn’t have any weapons either.  Without food, the people were uneasy.  Without water, the horses would die.  The Banda was not opening his door, on top of that.  If someone called him, the Banda didn’t speak.  Whatever came from outside before, that was stopped.

The Turks made a plan: “let’s attack and decrease their numbers.”  The wise ones decided: “kill them but first, make them suffer.  Give them pain.  Let’s trick them by making them come out.  As they come out to get food, we will kill them.”  The Navaab gave the Singhs hope: “I have brought a Parwana from Delhi; he has made you the king of the Pahari areas.  I had it written myself by the Shah.  I told him that the Banda is filled with powers.  Why don’t you become his friend?  You should send a person to Delhi.  I will get you more lands.  You can go out as you please.  You can buy what you need.”  The Sultanis that came, becoming fake Sikhs, they agreed as well to go out.  They deceived the Sikhs and manipulated them.  The Sikhs followed them.  They came out to get food.  The Turks got their wish.  As the Turks wished, the Sikhs came out of the fort.  The Sikhs gathered food in one time.  The enemy was ready to deceive.  They made a path for the Sikhs.  As the lion comes out and the buffaloes turn to the side; that is how the Turks gave the Singhs way.  If the enemy respects you, there is certainly deception in this; this is politics.  The Turks knew that the Sikhs came out in huge numbers.  The Sikhs went far, for many Kos.  The Turks attacked them.  The Sikhs saw the armies of the Turks come upon them.  Only a few remained in the fort.  The Turks surrounded the Singhs in every direction.  The Sikhs figured out that they were deceived: “they won’t leave us now.  We should fight now and attain Shaheedi.  Let’s give our lives for the Guru now.  It is the battle for the Deen and Religion.  If we run away, we can’t be saved.”  The Sikhs were ready to fight.  They took their bows, rifles and swords and stood in attention; ready to fight.  The Turks attacked and the Singhs fought back.  The swords swung.  The Singhs did not move back.  They had no place to go.  The Singhs had no wish to live.  They were ready to die.  The Sikhs stood and swung their weapons.  They didn’t go back.  They went ahead to fight.  They fired their rifles.  They couldn’t reload their rifles a second time.  The Singhs then took out their swords.  Whoever they hit, they sliced them through.  The archers released arrows.  The ones with spears pierced the enemy with their spears.  The ones with Barchas, they fought with Barchas.  They killed two each.  The Turks used their strength to kill the Singhs.  It became a fierce battle.  The Singhs did not care for their lives.  The Turks fought with fear for their lives.  The Singhs took the weapons on their faces.  The Turks moved back a little but the Singhs did not.  The Singhs had no wish to live.  The Turks kept the hope of life alive.  If one Turk fell, two more came.  If two fell, four more came.  If four died, eight more came.  They were great in numbers.  How would they lose?  The Singhs that fought, they took blows on their foreheads.  Till they had breaths, they yelled: “fight and kill!”  Their bodies fell but did not let go of fighting. The Turks would shoot at the fallen Sikhs.  It was the battle of Deen and religion.  They didn’t ask for mercy.  They had no wish for water.  They left their breaths.  One Sikh was killed by 10 Turks.  How could they run away?  The Singhs slapped the Turks like they were playing games.  The Turks saw the Singhs that were alone and ten would attack them.  When the Singhs attacked a Turk, the Turks showed their backs and ran away.  The Sikhs were few and the Turks were many.  The Sikhs’ hands got tired of killing the Turks.  When they killed one, ten more came.  They couldn’t turn their heads.  From two to four, there were many.  The Sikhs were few and the Turks charged with deceit.  The Singhs died.  The many Turks killed the few Singhs but the Singhs had killed so many.  The Sikhs died that came out of the fort.  One Singh killed at least ten or twenty.  The Majail Singhs were in greater numbers out of the Singhs.  The ones who came out didn’t come back.  The news couldn’t be reached back.  The Turks gained their confidence in this way. 

Part 78 The Turks Attack the Fort

When the Turks killed many of the Singhs, they became proud.  The Turks said to their leaders: “let’s attack the fort.  We can kill them all.”  The Navab had the ladders taken out.  The people of the villages came with their ladders.  Bullets and gunpowder were distributed to the soldiers.  The canons and swivel guns were aimed.  The army asked to have the loot waived: “we won’t take more than a half hour.  The strong army has already been killed.  The ones inside are hungry and already defeated.  The Tatt Khalsa Bhujhangis have already left them.  That’s a good thing for us.  Without them, wherever the Banda has fought, he had to retreat as he couldn’t face them.  Since we killed the Singhs yesterday, the Banda could have saved them with his power.  He doesn’t have any powers now.  We can catch him now.  We can fight and kill now.”  The Turks discussed this and attacked. 

The Sikhs got news of the deceit.  The Sikhs were happy and thankful.  They saw their chance for Shaheedi.  The Singhs said: “let’s attain Shaheedi before the Banda.  Why die with hunger?”  The Singhs picked up their swords, ready to fight.  The doors were opened.  The Turks came with their horses.  They wanted to loot.  The foot soldiers came first.  They said to each other: “the Banda has a lot of wealth.  Whoever goes first can get the best stuff.”  They ran fast in greed of wealth.  Their horses squished and squeezed to get ahead.  They got into fights with each other.  The ones behind stepped on the ones ahead.  There was a lot of dust at the gates.  They entered from every direction.  400,000 Turks came in.  The Singhs were only 4,000.  They were hungry and hadn’t slept.  They were almost dying.  They hadn’t eaten for a long time.  They received a second wind when they heard of the attack.  They got ready to fight.  Nobody understands the way of the Karta.  The Sikhs got up quickly to receive the status of Shaheed.  The Singhs tried to go ahead of each other.  The Singhs grabbed whatever weapon they could find.  The Turks attacked.  The Singhs were ready for them.  The Turks entered the gates.  They yelled: “kill them!  Ali Ali!”  The Sikhs yelled: “Guru Guru!”  The Turks swung their weapons.  The Sikhs stood on their lines.  They filled their rifles with gunpowder.  They put two bullets in their rifles.  The Singhs fired their rifles: “this is the best time to fire!”  They put the barrels on the other’s shoulder to shoot.  They killed two and four each.  The bullets went through many.  It broke the bones.  Whoever came ahead, they were killed by the Singhs.  Many bodies fell.  The horses fell.  Many Turks fell.  The horses ran backwards. 

Part 79 The Turks Attack

The Singhs were not afraid to die.  They didn’t care if they had help.  Whoever came in front of them, they killed the Turks.  What happened outside, I’ll tell you.  The Turks that attacked the fort, they charged and challenged while coming in.  The walls were destroyed by the canons.  The fort walls were raw.  The towers were destroyed.  Many ran to come inside.  Many ladders were set to climb.  Many came inside the fort.  The Singhs were ready for them.  Some said: “call Baba Banda Singh ji.”  Some said: “now is not the time.  It’s time to die.  We can’t run away now.  We may get shot in the back.  We won’t be honoured in the court then.  It’s time to fight and die now.  It’s no time to make pleas now.  When the bad time comes upon the master, it is not manly to ask for help then.  If you die in place of your master, you go to Svarga.  It is time to fight and die now.  There is no time to ask for help.  If we survive, then we can go to him and ask for advice.”  The Sikhs made the effort to kill the Turks that came inside the fort. 

The ones that came in, I’ll tell you what happened: the ones that climbed the ladders, their hands were cut by the Singhs.  They fell from the top to the bottom.  I’ll tell you what happened to those who were standing outside: they made groups to come towards the gate.  They ran inside to loot the wealth but ran back when they were hit by the Singhs.  The Singhs fired bullets.  Arrows hissed by their heads.  The Singhs stood with unsheathed swords.  The Turks were hit in the head.  The bullets fired from both sides.  They charged in groups.  The smoke flew.  One couldn’t recognize friend or foe.  The Singhs went inside the Turk lines to fight.  The Turks didn’t know who was their own.  They couldn’t recognize anyone.  The ones ahead killed the ones behind them.  They didn’t know if they were Singhs or Turks.  Brothers killed their own brothers as the battle got fierce.  Bodies fell upon bodies.  It was like someone building a wall.  It was like a merchant coming into the storage and piling sacks upon each other.  Horses fell upon horses.  It was like Tarkhans cutting many trees.  The heads were rolling around like melons from a field.  Rivers of blood flowed.  It was like watering a field, with blood.  The earth was red with blood.  It was like Gulaal sprinkled everywhere.  The gate was piled with bodies.  It was like new doors with new hinges.  Wherever the Turks came in from, the Singhs came there to fight.  They wanted to die.  The Turks ran from afar but the Singhs ran ahead to die.  The Turks fought by stepping back.  The Singhs wanted to die for Shaheedi.  The Sikhs were looking for a chance.  The Sikhs didn’t care for their lives.  The Singhs got ready for Shaheedi and wanted to go to the Shaheeds.  They ignored the pain when sliced.  They swung their weapons, accepting death.  The Turks had come to loot the wealth but such was their state, wherever they looked, there were Sikhs standing in front of them.  Ten and 15 fought with one Singh.  The Singhs jumped the walls and came out to fight with eagerness.  They killed the Turks and did not turn back.  The Turks went back to save themselves.  Such was the severe battle.  Bodies fell upon bodies.  It was like sacks upon sacks.  When the Turks suffered a wound, they were carried back to the Dhera by 4 of their comrades.  One would pick up the injured and three would help, trying to avoid the battle.  The Turks got tired and went back.  The Singhs gave them a severe blow.  The Turks accepted half their defeat.  The Navaab thought to himself: “why should I have my soldiers killed?  Let’s make these people starve to death.  They don’t have food or water.  When they will be hungry, they will come and meet us.”  The Turks made the perimeter stricter.  They made the moat deeper around the fort.  The Singhs would come out at night to look for food but now it was difficult to leave.  They would bring bark and leaves to eat.  That was hard to obtain for them.  Such was the state of the Singhs.  Hunger hit them hard, everyday.  They couldn’t eat.  Forget a pound, there was not a gram of food.  They had no bark nor grass.  Not even the roots.  There was nothing to eat.  They ate soil for many days.  The Sikhs went to Baba Banda Singh ji, where he was sitting in the Chabarra.  They said to him: “you are omniscient.  You know everything.  You set everyone’s fate.  Look at our state, once.  Hunger has burnt us.  You should go and fly to another place.  If we survive, we will come find you.”  Baba Banda Singh ji said: “you want me to fly like a coward?  You want me to lose my word?  For what reason should I keep my life?  This world?  You didn’t want me to fly away before now you want me to lie?  The words of Sadhoos, Satis, warriors and Gianis are like the tusks of an elephant.  Once they are gone, they never return.  Many Yugas can pass but they never come back.  The snakes sacrificed themselves into the Havan.  They promised to do so if the Garud Mantra was recited.  How can a call myself a man if I go back on my word?  Raja Bal lost his kingdom upon his word.  The Master gave his word and stood at the gate of Raja Bals abode in the Pataals.  Hari Chand gave his word.  He was sold to a Chandaal and went to his home.  The Pandavs lost their woman due to their word.  They wandered the jungles because of their word.  Men give their heads for their word.  One endures pain for their word.  The woman dies on the pyre by her word.  She does not fear death.  Servants die for their master upon the word.  For flour, they die for their master.  By the word of the father, the daughter goes to an unfamiliar home after being wed.  She does not dishonour her own family.  Guru Tegh Bahadhur ji gave his word and gave his head in Delhi for the Brahmins.  Guru Nanak Dev ji said in his Bani: “70 is without wisdom and 80 does not understand the states.”  To keep his word, he left his body at 69.  He would not be without his wisdom.  He kept his own words.”  The Sikhs then asked Baba Banda Singh ji: “which word did Guru Nanak Dev ji protect that he had to leave his body?”  Baba Banda Singh ji said: “within the Guru Granth Sahib ji, in Maajh ki Vaar, he said that at 70 one is without wisdom.  He thought to himself: “if I live to 70, I will be known as without wisdom.  These words would come upon me.  I will be embarrassed then.”  In order to avoid this allegation, he left his body.  I will leave my body for my word as well.  I will live by his example of following his word.  If he had lived till 70 himself, his own words would become false in the Guru Granth Sahib ji.  I had already promised you that I will not fly away.  I said it out loud to all.  If I survive and leave you all to die, how will I be accepted into the Grand Court?”

Part 80 Pleasing the Devi

The Banda said another thing: “I was to sacrifice 125,000 for my new Panth.  I couldn’t complete that.  I killed many in battle but I still fall short of that number.  The Satguru had promised 1.25 Kot sacrifices (to the Power of Chandi).  That will be paid off by the Panth (this is Baba Banda Singh ji’s opinion.  According to Sooraj Prakash, Guru Gobind Singh ji did offer his beloved Singhs for the radiance of the Khalsa and succeeded).  Many died by the weapons; that is how the Kali gets her food.  The Raja of Bikaner had 25 Lakhs Rajputs sacrificed for his kingdom.  The Kali was not satiated by his sacrifice so she ate him.  To make his Deen awaken, Mohammed gave his children to Kali but she was not satiated.  Whoever awakens her, she is never satiated.  She does not leave them either.  Whoever awakens her, must satiate her.  It becomes a responsibility.  Their family and lineage live in joy then. 

In Satyuga, the Devatas awakened the Chandi and satiated her.  In Treta, Ram ji satiated her by killing Lakhs of Rakshishes.  He satiated her Joganis as well.  In Dwapur, the Pandavs satiated the Kali including her family.  It is not good to awaken the Kali but the task is never fulfilled unless she is awakened.  Whoever satiates her, he becomes a Chakravarti Raja.  Whover awoke her in Kaliyuga, she was not satiated and they were eaten up (this is Baba Banda Singh ji’s opinion.  Guru Gobind Singh ji did succeed as the Devi saw him as her son).  I wanted to sacrifice the Singhs but they (the Tatt Khalsa) were saved and it came upon my followers.  Do this for me: whatever I gave, I gave, the remaining of the 1.25 Lakh, take it upon your heads.”  His Sikhs agreed.  They followed him with faith.  They had faith that he was their Guru.  They got up and killed their horses.  They killed dogs and cats.  The scavengers that came to eat the dead bodies, the Sikhs killed them all.  They were still short.  They counted them and saw that they were short.  The Banda then said to them: “kill insects and flies to make 1.25 Lakhs.”  Then many thought: “the Banda has become a Divana.  He has lost his senses and gone crazy.”  They heard this surprising thing and ran away.  The Sikhs devoted to the Banda had faith.  They said: “we will die in his presence.  If we see him as our Guru, then how can we leave him?”  Some who called themselves wise, they didn’t tell anyone before running away.

Part 81 The State of the Surrounding in Gurdaspur

Only the faithful Sikhs stayed.  They thought to themselves: “nothing is better than death with him now.”  Their bodies dried up from hunger.  Their breaths were drying up.  The Turks stayed there.  They saw that the Sikhs had no strength.  They surrounded them.  They came close to the walls.  Listen to the story of hunger as it happened to the Sikhs in Gurdaspur.  If a piece of food was dropped from outside, the Singhs surrounded that piece.  Hygiene of purity and impurity was no longer regarded.  They didn’t care of low caste or high caste.  The Turks threw melon skins into the fort.  Ten Singhs would come upon the shell.  The Turks would show food to the Singhs.  The Singhs fell from the walls, seeing the food.  They would see the moon as a Roti.  They would lift their hands and try to grab the moon.  Nothing would come into their hands.  The hunger that happened, I couldn’t write it all here.  The Turks were still afraid though.  They didn’t step foot inside, fearing the Banda.  They said: “he can still deceive us and become lions from cats.”  They didn’t go close to the Banda.  They thought he was hungry and would eat them.  The Turks feared the Banda: “a dead lion is still scary.”  They feared the Banda.  They were afraid of the Singhs.  They said: “the Banda has made a pool inside.  The Singhs are dying by snakes.  The ones who give them money, if they come, we won’t be able to catch him.  It will be like a thirsty person getting water.  Frogs are lazy in the Jeth summer but are alive when it rains again.”  The Turks made many stories and had fears: “the Khalsa can come anytime to fight along their side.  Let’s make them less.  Let’s beat them and take them out.  When they will be few, we can catch the Banda and send him to Delhi.”  The Turks decided: “let’s give them one path.”  They said: “we have given you way.  Go now.”  Many put their weapons down and left.  Many were surprised because of hunger.  Only a few faithful remained.  They put their weapons down as well.  If someone wanted to bother them, they would swear back at them saying 10 things.  The Majhails were stubborn. They weren’t afraid of fighting and dying.  The rope burnt but the twist was not gone.  Their strength was gone but not their pride.  They lost their weapons but not their strength.  Such were the young men of Majha.  They did not fear death.  They were already at the brink of dying.  The Turks didn’t want to leave them.  They were afraid to look at the Singhs, who looked scary.  They looked like walking skeletons, running from a grave.  They had no skin on top.  They looked dead breathing.  It was like dead walking.  They were like Bhanmati’s magic men.  The bones could be seen.  They looked like they could be blown away.  They looked like paper dolls.  They would fly by the wind.  Some said: “they have no breaths.  I have seen them.  Such is their state.  They are alive after being dead.”  I couldn’t write anymore.  My heart trembles when I hear their story.  Nobody understood the Banda, when he ate or drink.  If someone asked him, he would say: “I am fasting.”  The people that saw him, never saw him eating anything.  Some said: “the Birs must give him food.”  Some said: “he is a Tapasvi.”  Some said: “he has eaten herbs so his hunger has left him.” 

Part 82 The Banda Captured and sent to Delhi

The Banda called all of the Sikhs and said to them: “we will now give our heads to the Turks.  Let go of your weapons now.”  The Sikhs accepted this.  Nobody objected.  Whoever came to the Banda, who had strength, they placed their weapons in front of Baba Banda Singh ji.  The main gates were opened.  They yelled: “come and kill us!”  Some threw their weapons in front of the Turks.  Some busted their weapons.  The Navaab heard Baba Banda Singh ji’s declaration.  He was really happy.  Ego came to him.  The Navaab heard of the weapons that the Singhs threw down.  He was filled with pride.  His body couldn’t contain his ego.  He called his men and sent them to the Banda, saying: “arrest the Banda.  Don’t delay.”  The Navaab called his Faujdars and said: “the Banda has laid down his weapons.  Don’t kill him now.”  The Faujdars came ran inside.  They wanted to loot the treasures.  They came inside and saw the Sikhs, who were half awake, hungry and sleep-deprived.  The Faujdars surrounded the chabarra.  They killed about 300 Singhs, even after they were told not to.  Baba Banda Singh ji was still moving about like a lion.  The Turks didn’t come close to him out of fear.  They had doubt that they would be killed.  They were around the Chabarra but nobody wanted to go in.  They saw the Banda quiet.  They slowly came inside and held his arm.  They brought Baba Banda Singh ji outside.  They locked him up in an iron cage.  They chained the cage up with 4 chains.  They put chains around his feet and handcuffs in his wrists.  The locked the Banda up in this way.  Two Mughals were standing guard and were chained to the cage saying: “we hope he doesn’t fly away.”  The cage was tied to a cart.  The cart was sent off towards Delhi. 

Carts were filled with the cut heads of the Singhs.  The other Singhs were chained and taken.  Around 800.  Two feet of two Singhs were tied by one chain.  One hand was free, the other was tied to another Singh’s hand.  The empty hand was for doing any bodily functions.  The Banda and the Singhs were given food on the carts.  They were given raw grains to cook themselves.  Everyone was there.  They recited Gurbani in a loud voice.  They had no fear.  Some had Rababs and played it with one hand.  Some had weapons.  They couldn’t pick them up.  They recited Bani that talked about death; the ones that said that “life was false, sing the Shabad; Sadhoos, this is the village of the dead (the world).  Nobody stays here forever.  Whoever is content and has patience, that is the real earning.”  They saw joy in pain in this way.  They rejected the wish to live.  They accepted death.  They recited the Shabads and did the Ardaas: “may these corrupt Turks be destroyed.  Wherever the Khalsa goes, may they be radiant.  May the Khalsa fulfill Sikhi with Kes and breaths.”  The Turks heard this and got angry.  The Singhs wanted to die.  They weren’t afraid of anger from the Turks.  They had earned their patience.  They feared no one.  They only desired the One Parmeshwar. 

When the Singhs reached Sirhind, they were paraded through the streets.  Whoever had their houses looted by the Singhs, they had their shops again.  They swore at the Singhs, as they passed through.  The Singhs recited Shabads as they travelled through the markets.  People saw them and swore at them.  Bhai Baaj Singh ji, who ruled Sirhind was there as well.  When many came close, the Singhs did not lose their personalities.  They were ready to fight back and swore back at them.  They swore back 100 times more.  The people picked up bricks and threw them at the Singhs, saying: “you looted our homes!”  The Singhs said: “we would do it again if are released!”  Some fell off the carts and picked up a rock to throw back.  They accepted death but never denounced their wish to fight.  War is the caste of the Singhs; war is their existence and in their blood.  Without war, how can Singhs survive?  That is a Singh who fights wars.  Lions, panthers and hawks; they are never without war.  They can’t live without war. 

Where there was a shop of sweets, the Singhs jumped and came to the sweets.  People beat them and swore at them.  The soldiers came and hit them with sticks.  Some Singhs died there.  They came to another city and set up a Dhera.  They came to Delhi in this way.

Farrukhsiyar thought to himself: “this Banda is a bad thing.  I hope he doesn’t show his power here.”  The Shah made a hut in the middle of the Jamuna.  Till the Banda was not killed, the Shah did not sleep in his own home, out of fear.  He had a lot of Qurans recited around him.  They recited the Darood Faitas.

Part 83 The Banda Killed

When they reached Naliyar, the Shah got scared.  He said: “don’t bring him to Delhi, he is bad.”  The Shah stayed in the Jamuna.  The Banda was kept on the other side of the Jamuna.  The Shah had Baba Banda Singh ji blinded by taking his eyes out.  Then he was taken past Naliyar.  Farrukhsiyar then thought: “without the Banda dying, I cannot live in peace.”  The Shah sent his men to Baba Banda Singh ji.  They said to him: “what you wish to eat, we will bring it for you.  Tell us how you wish to die?  We will kill you as you wish to die.”  Baba Banda Singh ji said: “as you wish to die, kill me in that way!”  Baba Banda Singh ji went quiet then.  The men came back and told the Shah.  The Shah heard it.  Listen to how both of them died.  Baba Banda Singh ji was blinded and kept for many days by Farrukhsiyar. 

I did research about how the both of them died.  Listen to what I found: Farrukhsiyar had a Qazi who was Wajeer Khan Sirhind’s brother.  The Banda killed Wajeera by dragging him, tied to bulls.  His brother wanted to take revenge.  The Qazi instigated Farrukhsiyar.  He said: “if you don’t kill him, you will regret it later.  If his Sikhs remain in the world, if the Banda lives, he will make more like him.  He knows how to fly which he taught to his followers.  He has sons like him too.  They will inspire others.  If we kill the Banda, they will all go into hiding.  The Banda has many well-wishers.  They will make many excuses.”  Farrukhsiyar called his Qazis and said: “find some law to convict them.”  The Qazi said: “kill him like he killed my brother.  Drag him, tied to horses.  Take him around the city.  After dragging him around the city, then throw him.  Make announcements of his example.  Show people what happens to rebels: “this is what will happen to you if you rebel.”  The Shah did as the Qazi said.  Baba Banda ji was dragged, tied to horses.  The Shah said: “if someone does what the Banda did, this is what will happen to you.”  In this way, Baba Banda Singh ji was killed.  I wrote it as I heard it.

Some said: “the Banda did not die.  He did not have a grave.  He flew away.”  I couldn’t believe this.  If he was alive, someone must have seen him.  The Singhs with Baba Banda Singh ji were all killed.  Some were dragged and some were beaten.  Baba Baaj Singh ji supported Baba Banda Singh ji, all the way.  Baba Baaj Singh ji had 4 brothers, who were all killed.  Bhai Aali Singh ji of Salaudi and his brother were killed as well.  Whatever I, Rattan Singh, heard, I have stated it.  In 1778 Vikram, Baba Banda Singh ji Bahadhur was Shaheed.

Part 84 The Stories of the Banda Disappearing

I will tell you what other stories I have heard from people.  I will tell you how he died and was alive again.  He stayed in hiding after.  I will write this now.  I had to research this.  In Jaswal, lived the descendants of the Banda who were Sodhi Bawas named Fateh Singh and Bhaag Singh.  I will tell the interesting story that was never heard before.  Nobody has ever been alive after dying but the Banda was believed to be alive after having his head cut.  The Hindus of Delhi said: “the Banda didn’t die.  He flew away.  He had powers and did as he pleased.  He left alive and flew away.”  I found out where he went.  I met his grandsons: Fateh Singh and Bhaag Singh.  I spoke to them in Amritsar.  I was really worried about this story.  I met Bhaag Singh and cleared up the story.  What he told me, I listened.  In the city, the Banda gave his head to the Turks.  The Turks decapitated him and cut his body to pieces (after severely torturing him).  His body pieces were to be spread throughout the land.  His limbs were cut to many pieces.  The whole country was afraid of the Banda.  The Turks sent his body parts to places of more fear or rebellion.  Farrukhsiyar commanded this.  Police officers were assigned to guard the body parts.  They were to take the parts to different lands.  During the night, the Banda spoke to them: “these trunks will open up.  When they open, make my body again.  If you don’t do this, you will go blind.  You will die in pain.”  The officers refused.  They went blind then.  They regretted this and asked the Banda to give them back their sight.  They didn’t want to be seen by anyone doing this.  The Banda accepted their terms.  The officers had faith on the Banda then.  As the Banda directed, the officers obeyed.  In the dark, they attached his parts crocked and switched his hands.  The Banda then thought: “if I fixed my body, people will call me a hypocrite.”  With the crocked and switched body parts that were joined, he went to Mandi and showed himself.  He did as he wished.  He thought to himself: “as the Satguru commanded me, I have completed his tasks.  I will now go to my birth place of Jammu.”  He went to Jammu Kashmir and showed himself.  He flew to Jammu.  The place was nice.  He settled there.  He stayed hidden for a while.  He called his closest friends.  They had promised to meet him.  He fulfilled their wishes.  He showed his powers.  He made many people happy.  Some were with Guru Gobind Singh ji that came.  Their wishes were fulfilled as well.  Sometimes the Banda proclaimed to be Guru Gobind Singh ji and sometimes he proclaimed to be Baba Zorawar Singh ji.  The histories of the Gurus, he would say them to the people.  Some he made up.  The deepest concepts of the Veds and Shastras, he would say them to the people.  He showed a lot of his powers in Jammu.  He had himself called the Guru.

Part 85 The Stories of the Banda Continue

Listen ahead to his stories as he married another person.  The two sons he had, they called themselves Sodhis.  Where the Banda’s Dhera was, there was a village there.  The Banda went to the village when he got a chance.  There was a person from a good family there.  The person had a daughter.  The Banda called the girl’s parents and said: “give me your daughter.”  The parents got angry hearing this.  They said: “how can we give our daughter to a Fakir?”  The Banda said: “if you refuse, you will go blind.  You won’t get your sight back till you give me your daughter.”  The whole family went blind.  They then accepted the proposal.  The Banda said: “bring the Dhola to my home.”  From that day on, he remained there, settled.  His children and generations also have Dholas come to their home.  The children that the Banda had, they called themselves Sodhis.  They say: “we are from the family of Guru Gobind Singh ji.”  In this way, they called themselves Sodhis.  The Banda had a son with the maid of his wife as well.  The maid’s son came to the Banda.  The Banda said to him: “go and play with your brothers.”  The maid heard this and said: “listen, oh Sangat, the master has said to my son to play with his brothers.  Don’t doubt this.”  The Banda confirmed this.  The Sangat had faith on this.  The maid’s son was given the same greatness.  Whatever I have heard, I have written down.  Some I heard from the others and some I did research on my own.  Some I heard from my elders.