6-41 The Gurta Ghaddi to the Panth/ Leaving Chamkaur

The night fell.  It was fierce.  The vultures shrieked.  The 5 Birs with Guru ji, I’ll tell you their names: “Bhai Daya Singh ji, Bhai Dharam Singh ji; third was Bhai Maan Singh ji; Bhai Sangat Singh ji and Bhai Sant Singh ji.  Guru ji had them sit with courage on his own seat.  He was going to give the Gurta Ghaddi to the Panch Singh Khalsa.  They looked radiant.  Satguru ji said: “I will always be within the 5.  Wherever the 5 will be, that is where the Peer of Peers, Guru Nanak Dev ji, will be.  The Maryada of the Guru’s home will be maintained by the 5.  The 5 have first taken the Pahul, giving their heads.  If one becomes a Tankhayeea, the 5 can give them Pahul again and forgive them.  See the glory and greatness of the 5: whatever the 5 do, it will never be fruitless.  Give food and clothes to the 5 to do your Ardaas.  You will get what you ask for.”  After saying the praises of the 5, Guru ji did 3 Parkarmas around them, signifying the transfer of the Gurta Ghaddi.  He gave them his Shasters, Jigha and Kalgi.  He put the Kalgi on the Panth’s head with his own hands.  He put his own Shasters in the Gatras of the 5.  He gave them Kumerkassas and said: “Sri Vahiguru Ji Ka Khalsa.”  The Fateh is of the Vahiguru.  The 5 folded their hands and said: “we have given our heads to your feet.  There are Lakhs of us that you have but only you are the One Jagdeesh (the Master of the World).  You are compassionate who has saved many like Ram Chander ji gave glory to monkeys in the jungle.  In the same way your greatness is too great.  Who else can have all of the qualities?  You are omnipotent.”  Guru ji heard the Khalsa and said: “the Panth was made by the edge of the Khanda.  Kill the sinners.  That’s why you were created.  Get ready to kill the enemy.  Use the arrows in your quiver.  The arrows carried on the mules, rain them on the enemy.  We will stay standing in Morcha in front of the Turks.  The Turks that are in their posts, whichever one you see, kill them.  Destroy the dreams of these Khans.  Two of you, Bhai Sangat Singh ji and Bhai Sant Singh ji, stay here and fight.  I will accept your request and leave with 3 Singhs.  The 3 Singhs will remain with me.  Bhai Daya Singh ji is really wise.  He has many more tasks to do still.  He has to go to other lands.  He has to discolour the Nauranga.  I will send him to kill Aurangzeb the death of a dog.  Bhai Maan Singh ji (Nihang Singh- the brother of Bhai Mani Singh ji) and Bhai Dharam Singh ji will go with me as well.”  Guru ji was happy with this.  The battle signs were scattered far.  Many dead bodies were piled up.  The Turks would yell out loud to keep everyone alert.  Many thousands kept guard.  They walked around and played the Nagaras and Daunsas.  Many thousands were ready to attack.  They had the fort surrounded like stars surrounding the moon.  The moon came out at night, spreading its light. 

Guru ji went to the top and looked around. There were soldiers all around.  The army was like the ocean.  Many Paleetas were lit, looking like fire in the ocean.  The spears looked like eels in the ocean.  The horses looked like crocodiles.  The Ghari looked like the Manaak Parvat.  Satguru ji looked all around.  Who was given the Kalgi?  Listen to my (Kavi Santokh Singh ji) words: Bhai Sant Singh ji was a Kshatriya Sikh who was really wise.  He was really handsome.  He was given the greatness as he looked like Guru Gobind Singh ji.  The Gurta Ghaddi was given to the Panth.  The Kalgi was given to Bhai Sant Singh ji.  He was given the greatness first.  Guru ji gave Bhai Sant Singh ji his Shasters and had him sit in the Atari.  Guru ji said the Fateh to him with joy.  Some people say that the Kalgi was given to Bhai Sangat Singh ji of Bangas Desh.  He was a Bangsi from Bangas.  They say that he was given the greatness of the Gurta Ghaddi by being given the Kalgi; that he was seated in the Atari.  Both Singhs are the Gurmukhs of the Guru.  Who it really was, it doesn’t matter.  It was given to the Panth.  There is no debate on this.  Meditate on both of their feet.  The Panth is the physical embodiment of the Guru.  The old name of Chamkaur Sahib was Tilak Sahib.

Listen to the Katha ahead: the Dhundhabs played all around.  The soldiers were ready for battle.  Guru ji looked at which post was close or far.  The enemy was anxious at night.  They were scared to come close to the Ghari after 10,000 of their men died.  They were afraid of Guru ji’s arrows.  They shouted out: “attention.” 

There’s the showing of miracles and then there’s using miracles.  Guru ji used the miracle because it was necessary.  The world now knows that Guru ji only left the Ghari at the insistence of the Khalsa.  He could have killed the whole army if he wanted to with his powers.

The Nagaras played at night.  Bullets were fired at night once in a while.  The horses moved, the noise could be heard.  Since the 10,000 men died, the army did not advance.  It was night and the men were waiting for morning.  They were waiting in their place with fear.  They wanted to charge hard in the morning.  They knew that most of the Singhs were dead.  They knew there were only a few left with Guru ji.  They were shocked that Lakhs of their people died by a few.  They laid down with fear.  They were resting and praised the Guru’s battle strategy and courage: “he is really courageous and brilliant.” 

Satguru ji and the 5 Singhs fired bullets to keep the enemy away.  If someone came close, the Singhs killed them.  Many fell from their horses.  Guru ji and the Singhs were not satiated from war.  Guru ji was the lover of the battlefield he killed many.  Guru ji had calluses between his fingers.  His hands were hard.  He had fired many arrows for many days, continuously.  He was so strong, pulling thousands of arrows.  The 5 Singhs made a request to Guru ji: “Prabhoo ji, now is the time to leave.  Please leave now.  You have killed many.  Leave your stubbornness and leave.  The rest of the Singhs have died.  The Panth depends on you now.  The Panth can be saved if you are alive.  Wherever you go, you can make thousands.  The Khalsa will live on if you leave.”  The Singhs said this to Guru ji again and again.  They folded their hands and bowed their heads.  Guru ji looked at them with blessings.  He was happy with them.  He laughed and said: “warriors are good to fight and kill or be killed.  Don’t worry about the Panth.  It will never finish.  Akaal is the father and Kalika is the mother.  I have obeyed the Khalsa before and left Anandpur.  I didn’t dely.  I don’t want to obey you this time.  The Singhs gave their lives for me.  I don’t wish to leave but I will obey you.  Both of you should shower arrows.  Sometimes fire bullets so the enemy thinks there are many in the fort.  Move around and fire in every direction.”  Guru ji patted the 2 Singhs on the back.  Both were tall and handsome.  Their faces and beards looked like Guru ji.  They were the same age as Guru ji.  They looked the same from far away.  They bowed to Guru ji with their hands folded, over and over again.  This was their last Fateh.  They sat in the Atari and fired arrows and bullets.

Guru ji and the 3 Singhs jumped off the Atari.  They didn’t go to the main gate.  They went to the small window from where they first came.  It was in the back of the house, towards a small alley.  Guru ji went their slowly.  The window was locked.  Somebody had locked it when coming in.  Bhai Daya Singh ji looked in the dark to see the lock.  They couldn’t see it.  It was the only way out.  He said: “this is locked.  The key is with the Singh who locked it.  He is Shaheed now.”  The chain and lock were big.  It was made of metal.  Bhai Daya Singh ji noticed that they were too big to be broken.  The main gate had too many enemies around it.  Thousands were keeping guard there.  If the wall or door would break, the enemy would know.  Bhai Daya Singh ji said: “what is your order Prabhoo ji?  We will do as you say.”  Sri Satguru ji heard this and kicked the lock with his left foot.  The lock and chain broke.  Guru ji came out and checked.  He pointed up to the sky and whispered to the Singhs: “look at that star.  Go in that direction.  We will separate now and meet later.  I will follow the star.  Keep coming in that direction.  Take its guidance.  Find me where I go.  If we don’t meet at night, we will meet in the morning.  Don’t worry and don’t be scared.  We will throw dust into the enemy’s eyes.  You will be able to see them but they won’t be able to see you.  Your obstacles will be destroyed.  Your problems will cease.  You will be guided by Akaal Purakh.  I will be with you.”  After saying all this, Bhai Dharam Singh ji was signalled to open the shutters of the window.  Prabhoo ji first jumped out.  The 3 other Singhs came out.  They were fearless as they came out.  They looked around and saw the soldiers.  The soldiers kept firing.  Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji was a “Hateela,” stubborn warrior.  Guru ji was known as the Muraila Guru in Rajasthan.  He was also known as the Hateela Guru.  He had his bow.  He took out his sharp arrows.  His quiver was full and tied to his shoulder.  He had his sword and Kataar.  In his Kumerkassa he had a Pech Kabaz and 2 pistols, ready to fire.  He carried 1.25 Maunds of weapons.  His clothes and weapons were really expensive.  His jewellery was worth Lakhs.  The Prabhoo’s way was unique.  The diamonds and gems on his body could be seen from far away. 

6-42 Machhiwara

After crossing the small moat around the Ghari, the Mighty Satguru stopped and stood there.  He said to the Singhs: “I want to make noise now!  Grab your weapons and be ready.  We will let the whole army know that we are going.  We will go through the whole army and leave.”  The Bhagwan clapped (where Gurduara Taari Sahib is) with his hands and yelled out: “Peer-e-Hind Me Ravad – The Peer of Hind is leaving!  Come out and surround me!  I want the strongest of you all to come.”  Guru ji said this 3 times and made sure it was heard far and wide across the regiments of the army.  The army heard this and went into chaos.  They began running from the left side.  10,000 men kept guard and came running.  Two men led with torches.  The two torch-bearers were seen by Guru Gobind Singh Rai ji.  He took out two Khappra arrows, pulled them to his ear and released them.  The arrows flew like lightening and cut the torches along with their carriers.  It was another special arrow that killed more of the Paharis and Turks.  This caused chaos as there was no light now.  There was a lot of noise in every direction.  The Paharis and Turks thought they were under attack in the dark.  They yelled: “kill them!  Catch them!”  When the horses rode, a lot of dust flew, making for an even more blinding situation.  Chaos erupted where the warriors started to fight among themselves and killed one another.  Many weapons were swung.  Bullets were fired; arrows flew.  Spears were stabbed.  They fought with swords.  Fathers killed their own sons; sons killed their own fathers.  Brothers killed brothers; Chachas killed their own nephews.  Friends killed friends.  Jathedaars killed their own men.  Men killed their own Jathedaar.  Nobody could recognize who it was.  It was like the night of Kyaamat – Judgement Day.  Heads rolled.  Limbs were cut.  The injured yelled out in pain.  What can I say about what happened to the Turks (and Paharis)?  The combination of fear of Guru ji’s miraculous arrows, darkness and an “every man for himself” feeling caused this.  The fools died without being killed by the Singhs.  The bodies piled up on the battlefield.  Horses and men died.  The bodies were on top of each other.  It was like many dolls controlled by the puppeteer just ended up killing each other.  Guru ji orchestrated this chaos of killing among them.  It was though their mothers never gave them birth.  The Pahari army lost many men.  They fought each other for 3 hours.  Metal clashed for that long.  It sounded like a blacksmith forging weapons quickly in the dark.  All you could hear was the clashing of the weapons.  They sounded like many Taksaals – minting presses, working.  In this way, chaos erupted in Chamkaur.  It became a scary scene. 

Satguru ji threw dust into the enemy’s eyes and rode off, moving to one side.  The 3 Singhs rode the other way, separating from the Prabhoo.  The 2 Singhs: Bhai Sant Singh ji and Bhai Sangat Singh ji, in the Ghari kept firing their rifles.  The enemy was afraid and didn’t come near the Ghari till morning.  They couldn’t figure out if Guru ji was in the Ghari or if he actually left.  Many died.  The bodies piled up. 

Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji left the whole army behind, easily.  When he travelled about 4 km, he saw a pond with a Jandh tree (where Gurduara Jandh Sahib is today).  Guru ji sat under the tree.  After a while, two men came looking for their cows.  One of the men was the owner and the other was the cow herder.  They were going around looking for their cows.  The moonlight shined off of Guru ji and one of the men saw and recognized him.  He came and bowed to Guru ji.  Guru ji asked him: “who are you?”  The man said: “we came to look for our cows.”  The owner spoke: “who are you speaking to?  Did you find the cows?  Should I go ahead to look or not?”  The Herder said: “there is no cow here.  Satguru ji is here.  I am speaking to him.”  The owner said: “why would Guru ji be here?  He is surrounded in the Ghari fighting a huge war.  It must be somebody else.  You probably misunderstood.”  The other man said: “he has left the surrounding and came here.”  Guru ji said: “don’t speak so loud.  Come here let me give you something.”  With the wish to obtain something, the other man came to Guru ji.  Guru ji gave him a Khanjar with diamonds and gems.  The owner of the cows was very happy to receive that.  The greedy owner thought to himself: “if I tell the Turks and have the Guru arrested, they will give me a lot of money.”  The omniscient Guru knew that the person was going to make noise.  He said: “come here.  Let me give you some more money.”  When the man came close with greed, Guru ji said: “put the Khanjar here.”  As he put the Khanjar down, Guru ji slapped the person with the backside of his hand, really hard.  Guru ji broke the man’s teeth and crushed his tongue.  He could no longer speak.  His other companion called him and said: “what happened to your tongue?”  When the other met the owner, the owner couldn’t speak.  The Prabhoo got up and continued travelling.  He walked slowly and casually.  He was alone now.  It was like Ram Chander ji without Seeta and Lakshman.  He was the master of great wealth and many warriors.  He was all alone.  He had never walked barefoot.  His shoes were broken and walked on thorns now.  There was a time he rode on elephants and horses like kings.  It was as though Krishan ji, when he was alone after the Yadavs all died.  The curse of the Gayatri (parting from Vedic rituals bringing hard times): separating from the whole family, came to reality today.  Although he was separated, he was in the single state of mind still. 

Guru ji walked many Kos.  It was dark and cold.  Satguru ji got tired and laid down in one place.  He had been fighting for a few days.  He reached the area Machhiwara.  He laid down near a Jhand.  The place still exists today known as Jhaar Sahib.  Guru ji shook his shoes from soil and dust.  He then walked ahead.  It was then Amritvela and time for his Chatterdhaara.  Guru ji thought of the time when his personal attendant, Bhai Aalam Singh ji would bring him the Chatterdhaara that was kept in a golden box.  The Afeem was from a foreign land.  The Singhs were all gone.  The ones that used to wash his feet; the beautiful bed he used to lay on; the golden saddle the Singhs used to saddle up his horse with; the things were all gone and the Singhs were all Shaheed.  He thought of them but was not in any sorrow.  Guru ji was alone.  The laughs and joys of Anandpur were all behind him.  The grandeur of the Anandpur court with the most brilliant scholars, poets, musicians and singers in the world was all gone.  The Shakti had asked for these sacrifices in order to give the full radiance to the Khalsa. 

As Guru ji walked on, he saw an Ak plant.  He broke a green leaf from the plant that had a few drops of Ak milk on it.  Guru ji drank some of the drops.  This warmed up his body.  Guru ji then walked ahead.  He then saw a garden in Machhiwara.  The Maharaja Prabhoo, the destroyer of poverty, laid down in the garden.  The milk of the Ak took its effect.  He was tired as well.  He had fought for 2 days continuously.  He hadn’t rested for 2 days.  His hands were swollen from firing arrows.  He hadn’t slept nor eaten.  He laid down and rested, doing the drama of a human being.  His feet were bleeding with thorns.  They looked like rubies; like pearls on the lotus.  He couldn’t go on any further.  Sleep overtook his better.  He had an expensive shawl on his shoulder.  He opened up a cup from the well and covered it with his shawl.  He made that into a pillow to rest his head on.  On the ground he laid down.  He left his Kumerkassa and Shasters still tied up.  He was always ready for battle.  Fatigue and the effect of the Ak milk put him to sleep.  The east wind blew.  His eyes closed forcefully.  He slept with his bow in his hand.  The pistols were loaded in his Kumerkassa.  His quiver was tied to his shoulder.  It was like Sri Ram Chander ji leaving his kingdom, elephants, and chariots to live in the jungle.  Guru ji left his beloved Singhs, friends, golden home with golden Ataaris, golden beds with Mulmul white sheets and came to the jungle all alone.  The Guru Bhagwan was in the jungle.  He used to have many great warriors standing around him.  He had many poets around him, making compositions with Guru ji in difficult Chands and Svaiyas.  The scholars had deep discussions with Guru ji and wrote many Granths.  Musicians played with Guru ji and sung new compositions in intricate Raags.  Guru ji composed many compositions in Raags the world was unfamiliar to.  His strong warrior Singhs would serve him, day and night.  They practiced Shaster Vidya with him.  Guru ji showed them how to use weapons and strategize different battle formations.  The Singhs would seek his spiritual Gyaan.  They laughed and played with him.  They ate with him.  They hunted with him.  They stood around his bed with rifles as he slept.  He once had thousands of servants; Raagis who sang Shabads in Raags.  He had Zarri Chandoas with diamonds and jewels; colourful carpets.  The Powerful Guru was sleeping without any sheets, on the bare ground.  Dhan is the Satguru who saw joy and pain in the same way.  Happiness and sorrow did not touch him.  He had no attachment; no hatred.

Just as his eyes were closing, the mighty Guru had a conversation with Akaal Purakh:

Khiaal Patshahi 10..

Oh beloved friend, convey the condition to the Prabhoo of his Mureed:

Without you, the cover of quilted comforters is felt as a disease; living in (beautiful and comforting) homes (without thinking of you) is like living with serpents..

(Without you) the flask is like a spike and the cup feels like a dagger; it is like enduring the knife of the butcher..

The patience given to me by you, my friend, the laying on the bare earth is most pleasing.  The pleasures of this earth (without you/ thinking of you) feel like as though living in a kiln..1..6..

(SDGGS 709)

There was nothing more Guru ji preferred than the Simran of his beloved, the Akaal Purakh.  He was happy with his wounds, a hard pillow and an earthly bed; as long as he had the Simran of Akaal Purakh in his heart.  Without the Simran of Akaal Purakh, everything felt painful.

6-43 Bhai Sant Singh ji and Bhai Sangat Singh Shaheedi in Chamkaur

Bhai Sant Singh was courageous.  He had the heart of the warrior of warriors.  He was the supreme at that time as he was given the Kalgi of Guru ji.  The Gurta Ghaddi that was given to the Khalsa; he had the supremacy of it.  The Jigha and Kalgi were radiant.  He was the idol of Bir Rass.  He held a fierce bow.  He fired arrows.  He wanted to go to battle with a sword and shield.  The other, Bhai Sangat Singh ji, was known as the Bangsi.  He was from Bangas.  He fired many bullets.  They moved around in every direction and fired, while running around to make it look like there were many Singhs in the Ghari.  The rifles fired continuously, loud.  They pierced many enemies.  Both fired bullets that sounded like lightening.  The vultures shrieked all night.  The Singhs blasted many heads of the Turks.  They gave fear to whoever came forward.  They shot many sharp arrows.  They stood in the Ghari with patience and courage.  They didn’t get tired.  They fought continuously.  They spent the whole night like this, showering arrows and bullets.  It was the morning of Poh the 9^th.  The bullets kept firing.  The Soobas saw the Lakhs of Turks and Paharis that were killed.  The Bhoots and Prayts could be heard making laughing sounds all night.  They Turks all heard the scary noises.  The vultures shrieked, eating the flesh.  The enemy began to move closer.  The sun began to rise and the darkness dispelled.  The Turks figured out that there were only a few Singhs left.  The bullets were slower.  They checked to analyse this.  The enemy left their fear and began to attack the Ghari.  They held swords and shields.  They climbed the ladders.  Thousands came yelling: “kill them!”  There were too many to handle.  They climbed the ladders.  Bhai Sant Singh ji and Bhai Sangat Singh ji chopped many heads as the enemy came up.  There were too many though.  The arrows finished.  They fired them all night.  The bullets were done.  The Singhs took out their swords.  They looked like two injured lions.  They were scary to look at.  Their eyes and faces were red.  Their moustaches were up.  They enemy saw the Singhs as the form of death.  The ones that came up, their hands were cut off.  The Turks wanted to win.  They came eagerly.  Many jumped the walls to come in to the Ghari.  They had no fear anymore.  The two Singhs fought with their swords.  They cut many.  They were wounded with bullets and arrows.  The blood flowed from their bodies.  They still roared and fought like lions.  They took many blows and cuts on their bodies.  No space was without a cut.  They kept yelling: “kill them!”  The enemy try to finish them.  The blood flowed from their bodies.  The Singhs killed many Turks in the Ghari.  They killed hundreds and many were wounded.  The enemy surrounded the Singhs like the stars surrounding the moon.  The Singhs only moved forward.  They didn’t move back.  When they had little energy left, the Turks cut the Singhs.  Their arms and limbs were cut.  The Singhs killed hundreds in the Ghari.  They kept swinging their swords.  This was the sign of the Guru.  The Turks were overjoyed thinking they got the Guru: “the Guru who killed many of our men, we killed him today!” 

Khwaja Mardood, standing outside the Ghari in fear, was given the news: “the Guru has been killed.”  The Khwaja was happy to hear this.  He came inside the Ghari with joy.  The Umraavs came with joy, thinking the Guru was dead.  The Soobas and the Pahari Rajas played the Nagaras of victory.  They came inside with joy.  They saw the handsome face with the Kalgi and kept staring at his face.  Bhai Sant Singh ji looked like Guru ji.  Thousands surrounded the bodies of the two Singhs.  They wanted to cut the heads off.  Khwaja Mardood kept yelling in anger: “cut both of their heads!  Leave the bodies for the birds to eat!  Call the camel riders so they can travel night and day to get to the Badshah quickly.  Take the head of the Guru to the Shah.  Tell him how strong the Guru was and say that we had to surround him and fight him to kill him.  The Guru killed Lakhs of our men.”  The cowards cut the heads of the Singhs.  They were taken to the Badshah.  They travelled on camels to go to the Badshah’s court.  They said: “take them quickly!  Make the camels run!  Don’t stop!  Tell everyone that the Shah has won.  Congratulate the Badshah for his win.”  The heads were put in a box and given to the camel riders.

There were dead bodies all around.  The scavengers ate the flesh everywhere.  There were too many bodies.  The vultures, crows and dogs were happy eating the flesh.  The ground was red with blood.  Many dead bodies were scattered for miles.  The warriors’ body were there.  They fought for their master.  That was their Dharma.  The Umraavs were upset and depressed.  Their huge armies were annihilated in just one day: “these few Singhs fought a huge war.  They fired many bullets and arrows, pulling them to their ears.  They destroyed many of our armies.  Now we killed the Guru.  He caused us a lot of damage.  Even after death, the sword is still in his hand.  He was fearless.  We charged on but he never moved back.  We have been fighting him for over 30 years.”  The Turks were shocked, thinking Bhai Sant Singh ji was Guru ji.  They looked at their own dead.  They counted which generals were killed and came back to their Dheras.

The officers and Soobas all got together and discussed: “is it really the Guru’s head we have?”  Only some of them knew who Guru ji was.  One person who had seen Guru ji said: “this is not Guru ji’s head.  You sent the wrong head and are being happy over nothing.  Lightening can’t be held; mercury can’t be pressed.  This person looks like him but it is not him.  The Guru is not killed.  Remove this doubt from your minds.”  When the news spread, it caused chaos.  The men mounted their horses to raid the nearby villages.  They set up a strict watch in all the areas and all the roads.  The soldiers went to the villages.  They knew that Guru ji had left the Ghari.  The clap and shouting of: “Peer-e-Hind Me Ravad,” was real.  Only some knew Guru ji.  Everyone heard the news.  The happiness of a few minutes was gone.  They were all upset again.  The Umraavs had meetings and made strategies: “where did the Guru go?  We need to find him now!  Make the army spread out wide.  Go to the Dheras of Peers and Fakirs that are known.  Look in the villages.  Take all of the good officers to check.  Don’t leave any gaps.  Make sure the Guru doesn’t disguise himself to leave.  Check to see if anyone looks suspicious.  Make sure everyone has a reference within the villages to make sure they are who they say they are.  Only let them go once you have their reference from the leaders of the village.  Go to all of the villages around this area.  Follow our orders and don’t delay!  Spread the army out.”  They made groups of 100 or 200 and sent out to look for Guru ji.  The Soobas and Rajas made plans to check every house in every village.  They were shocked to see how many of their men had died.  The bodies were spread out in miles.  They took a tally and counted more than 100,000 dead men.  They said: “there are more than a Lakh of our men dead.  There is no more wish to fight within the remaining men after seeing their own comrades dead.  We gathered the bodies of the Singhs.  There are only 30 or 32 of them.”  The Turks held their heads in shock.  They were going crazy at how so many of their men had died.  32 Singhs killed more than 100,000 of their men.  There were only dead bodies of Turks wherever they looked.  The Kavi, Santokh Singh, writes the Katha: Dhan Dhan Guru Gobind Singh ji.

6-44 Meeting the 3 Singhs/ Dhera in the Garden of Gulaba Masand

The Turk and Pahari armies moved quick to find Guru ji.  Bheem Chand was injured as so the Rajas and the Pahari army moved back.  Thousands were dead and even more were injured.  The Paharis all went back to the mountain ranges, back home.  Zerdast Khan was also injured.  He couldn’t fight anymore.  His servants took him back to Lahore in a palanquin.  Wazir Khan went towards east, Sirhind.  Lakhs that came from the south, they went to find Guru ji.  They said: “we will find the Guru.”  They looked around for miles around.  Khwaja Mardoo (Mohammed or Mehmood) quickly mounted his horse and went to go see the Badshah.  When Bheem Chand went home to Kahloor, Bilaspur, he succumbed to his injuries and died.  The whole Pahari range fell into mourning for the death of their dead soldiers and Raja Bheem Chand.  More than half the army had died.  Almost every home lost a member. 

Now listen to Satguru ji’s Katha which destroys the sins of many lives.  Guru ji had slept near a well in Machhiwara.  He slept till sunrise as he was really tired.  When the 3 Singhs: Bhai Daya Singh ji, Bhai Dharam Singh ji and Bhai Maan Singh ji Nihang left the Ghari, they came 2 Kos.  They came to Machhiwara and discussed: “we have been separated from Guru ji for a long time.  We should be in his presence, serving him.  What should be our duty now?  How should we find him?  Where could he have gone?”  Bhai Daya Singh ji thought of Guru ji’s words: “when we left, Guru ji said to us: “follow this star.”  Let’s keep following the star.”  Bhai Maan Singh ji Nihang Singh said: “the star seems to be taking us to Machhiwara.  Let’s keep following the star.  We will look in the village and find Guru ji there.”  Bhai Dharam Singh ji, the wise, said: “let’s look around for him on the way.  Keep your eyes out for him.”  The 3 Singhs were fearless.  They travelled and looked around the area for Guru ji on the way.  They looked for Sri Satguru ji and spent the night in this way. 

As the sun came up, the moonlight dimmed.  From the east, the red from Aruna came up as the sun was to follow.  It was like the death of the Turks.  The darkness thinned out.  The sun ate the darkness.  There was some light.  The Singhs eventually reached the place where the Master of the Universe was laying on the ground, sleeping.  Guru ji had removed a lot of his golden jewellery.  His head was resting on a clay cup from the well.  His jewelry was in the clay cup.  On his left hand, he wore a Gulastraan (archer’s bracer).  He didn’t take it off because he wanted to be ready for any attack.  The Gulastraan was worth 11,000 Rajitpun in that time.  When he used his bow, he used that Gulastraan to fire arrows.  It protected his thumb when he released arrows.  Because Guru ji may have needed to use it, he didn’t take it off.  It was on his left hand.  He had that hand tucked under his head.  The Gulastraan had an expensive diamond embedded in it.  The red of the sun shined on the diamond.  It could be seen from afar.  It was like a red beacon shining.  Bhai Dharam Singh ji caught sight of the red reflection.  He stopped and held Bhai Daya Singh ji’s arm.  He said: “look over there!  That must be Satguru ji’s jewellery.  It’s a really bright red that’s shinning.  Say Vahiguru and head in that direction.  Prabhoo ji will be in this direction.”  Bhai Maan Singh ji went close and saw the Love of the Singhs laying on the bare earth.  He was sleeping from the fatigue of many days.  His body was sleeping, totally unaware.  He fell asleep on the ground.  Bhai Maan Singh ji stopped and called the other 2 Singhs to him.  He pointed to Guru ji.  The all ran to Guru ji and stopped.  The 3 of them saw Guru ji in the state he was in.  They bowed to Guru ji’s lotus feet.  They needed to wake Guru ji up as the enemy army was looking for them.  They decided among themselves to wake Guru ji up.  Bhai Dharam Singh ji touched Guru ji’s feet.  He sat near Guru ji’s feet and massaged Guru ji’s feet.  Guru ji was holding an arrow.  His bow was under his elbow.  His Kammarkassa was still tied.  The Singhs were dressed in chainmail which clanked as they moved.  After massaging Guru ji’s feet, Guru ji woke up and opened his lotus-petal eyes.  He quickly picked up his bow and got up.  When he saw his Singhs he said: “you’re here!”  Bhai Daya Singh ji folded his hands and said: “Sri Guru Maharaj, oh treasure of power, you are sleeping here without any worry.  Look, the night has ended.  The sun is up.  The army has spread out and is looking for us.  By whose trust were you laying down and sleeping?  We have no fort, no army and no weapons to face the enemy.  We need to do something, quickly.  Otherwise, the enemy will come looking for us.  We will be helpless then.  We will need to kill or be killed.”  When Guru ji heard this, he said to his Singhs: “there is nothing to do now.  My feet have many cuts.  I can’t walk now.  This garden you see, let’s go there and see what we can do.  If we meet the enemy, we will fight them here.  The garden will be our fort and we will fight the enemy with courage.  We will take the enemy on.  We will take support of the garden.  We can kill thousands here.”  When the sun came up fully, the Singhs saw the cuts on Guru ji’s feet.  They looked like pearls on the red lotus flower.  Both feet were cut and bruised.  It liked like diamonds and pearls.  When the Singhs heard Guru ji’s words of helplessness, they understood his will and stayed quiet.  When the Master got up to walk to the garden, he stopped.  He couldn’t walk because of the cuts.  Bhai Maan Singh ji gave a shoulder to Guru ji and they all went to the garden.  There were many trees with dense green leaves.  There were many plants there.  There was a well with a waterwheel there.  Guru ji wanted Bhai Maan Singh ji to take him near the waterwheel.  The caretaker of the garden saw Guru ji.  He thought to himself: “this looks like my boss’s Guru, Guru Gobind Singh ji.”  The Masand of Machhiwara was Gulaba Masand.  This was his garden.  Gulaba always spoke to his employees about Guru ji.  The gardener knew about the symbols of the Khalsa.  He had heard him say: “he has created a Panth that wears the Kachera and unshorn hair.”  The gardener thinking about this, made a guess that it must be Guru ji: “I should go and tell my master.  This must be his Guru or his Sikhs.”  When he saw Guru ji sit near the well, he left the waterwheel and went to Masand Gulaba ji’s home.  He met his master and told him everything: “your Sri Guru ji or his Sikhs are here in the garden.  They came in the morning.  As you have described them: with Kesh and Kacheras, the 3 of them have these symbols.  Get up and meet them.  See who they are.  Recognize them for yourself.”  Gulaba Masand ji heard this and was confused.  He knew Guru ji was in battle, surrounded in the fort.  He wondered how Guru ji came to his area.  He quickly got up and went towards the garden.

When Gulaba Masand ji came to the garden, he saw the mighty Satguru Gobind Singh ji.  The Masand bowed to Guru ji’s feet.  He asked Guru ji: “please tell me how may I serve you.  I will bring you what you wish for.”  Sri Guru ji said: “bring Sukha and black peppers.  I have been without these substances for a long time.  After drinking that, my body will be better.”  Bhai Gulaba ji heard this and quickly went to the market to buy these things.  When Guru ji came to the garden, Kama, the gardener, went to the village.  The night before, Guru ji drank the drops of Ak milk.  This caused dryness in his body.  The Ak milk was like poison and worked to numb the body from its pain.  Guru ji knew Ayurveda so he used the Ak milk to make his body warm and numb.  Guru ji needed the Sukha and black pepper to antidote the Ak milk.  Guru ji asked the 3 Singhs: “is there Sukha with anyone or not?”  Bhai Maan Singh ji had some Sukha in his Kumerkassa.  He heard this and took it out.  It was really less of an amount as the Singhs had consumed most of it during battle.  The Singhs grinded the little amount with water and gave it to Guru ji.  This quenched Guru ji’s thirst and gave his body a renewed invigoration.  Guru ji became really happy with Bhai Maan Singh ji and said: “there will be Singhs like you in the Panth Khalsa.  They will be dressed like you and have the same nature as you.  They will be called “Nihangs” and will be “Akaalis.”  There will be many of them.”  Guru ji spent a half hour at the well.  He still wanted more Sukha.  The little bit helped though.  The Singhs washed at the well with Panj Ishnaan.  They washed up and gargled.  They drank water.  Guru ji was waiting for Gulaba Masand.  He said: “we will quench our thirst and go an ahead.” 

6-45 Machhiwara Mahi

Bhai Gulaba ji prepared the Sukha and black peppers and brought it to Guru ji.  He filled a bowl with it and placed it before Guru ji to quench his thirst, as the Ak milk had made his body really dry.  The cold and dryness were gone.  The effect of the poisonous Ark milk was dispelled.  He felt better after drinking the mixture.  Happily, he said to Bhai Maan Singh ji: “let’s go now.”  As Guru ji got up, the cuts on his feet made it difficult for him to walk.  The strong Bhai Maan Singh ji (who was more than 6 and a half feet tall and really wide) picked up Guru ji on his shoulders, like Guru ji riding a horse.  They went to a small stream nearby so Guru ji could bathe.  The jungle was lush.  It was dense.  Guru ji went to relieve his bodily waste among really high grass and pateras.  He went to the middle of the dense growth to relieve himself.  He then tied his Kumerkassa and came back to the garden.  As Guru ji walked back, a foolish Mahi (cow tender) was tending some cows.  The Mahi saw Guru ji come out from the dense grass growth and was surprised.  He thought to himself: “he looks like a Singh (dressed in weapons) leaving the battle.  I will make some noise so people will catch him.”  After deciding this, he yelled out loud: “there are Singhs running around here!”  Sri Guru ji said: “Dharam Singh, make sure he doesn’t get away!  Catch this fool!  Stop him from yelling!”  Bhai Dharam Singh ji ran like a lion and grabbed the Mahi.  He dragged him to Guru ji.  When the Mahi saw Satguru ji, he got really scared.  Guru ji said: “you fool!  Why did you yell?  What will you get by shouting out loud?  If I take revenge on you, you would be killed with my one slap.”  The Mahi got scared and folded his hands.  He changed the tone of his words to sound sweet and said: “I didn’t know it was you Guru ji.  You are great.  I thought it was just Singhs passing by.  Please forgive me.  I won’t yell again.”  Guru ji gave the Mahi an expensive khanjar from his Kumerkassa.  There were diamonds and gems in the hilt of the khanjar.  Guru ji said: “this is really expensive.  Your sons and grandsons can eat with this.  You can sell this for many thousands of moneys.  Don’t speak now.  Go home.  I’m letting you go.”  The Mahi was happy.  He bowed and stayed quiet. 

Guru ji came back to the garden and spent the whole day of Poh the 9^th there.  This is where Gurduara Machhiwara Sahib is.  “Gulabay da Khoo” is still there.  It was soon evening as the sun set early during the winter months.  Bhai Gulaba ji came to get Guru ji to take him to his home.  He didn’t want anyone seeing Guru ji during the day.  He had newly constructed a Chabarra in his home and so he prepared the room for Guru ji.  He had promised himself that he would make Satguru ji step foot in the chabarra first and live there after Guru ji’s blessing: “I would like Guru ji to step foot in this chabarra first.  I will live in the chabarra afterwards.”  This was his wish that Guru ji had filled, given the circumstances.  Bhai Gulaba ji had thought about this 9 months ago.  It was the kingdom of the Turks and Guru ji was surrounded.  He had been waiting this whole time for Guru ji.  He had a brother named Bhai Punjaba ji.  Both brothers felt scared.  Guru ji came but there was no celebration as he came.  Bhai Gulaba couldn’t celebrate the coming of Guru ji.  He had laid out a beautiful bed for Guru ji.  He had Satguru ji sit on the bed.  The amazing Guru sat there.  Bhai Gulaba ji brought food for Guru ji.  Guru ji ate and then went to sleep.

Guru ji woke up at Amritvela and called for water for his morning cleansing routines.  Guru ji used the meshwak to clean his teeth and mouth.  He bathed on a stool.  He removed his Kachera to put on a new one.  The tight battle Kumerkassa under his Kachera was stuck into his flesh.  This had been tied for the last 5 days.  Guru ji pulled hard but it was too stuck into the flesh.  There was blood seeping for it.  Guru ji said to Bhai Gulaba ji: “pull this so it comes out.”  Bhai Gulaba ji was shy as Guru ji was naked.  He kept his sight away from Guru ji and pulled on the battle-Kumerkassa slowly but firmly.  Guru ji said: “don’t be in doubt.  Look at the Kumerkassa and pull it so you can see what you’re doing.  A father’s and son’s nakedness does not produce any guilt.  There is no fault in this.  Don’t doubt this.”  Bhai Gulaba ji was still doubtful.  He wet the Kumerkassa and pulled.  He pulled the cloth over the thighs.  He wet both of Guru ji’s thighs to pull the cloth.  Both of Guru ji’s thighs were huge from many years of leg training.  Guru ji’s body was chiselled and thick like a bodybuilder’s body.  Bhai Gulaba ji had a hard time taking the cloth off but eventually succeeded.  Guru ji then wore a new Kachera and put his Chola on.  He fastened his weapons and tied his Dumalla.

The women of the house prepared breakfast for Guru ji.  Guru ji ate and spent the whole day there.  When it was afternoon, Bhai Gulaba ji said to Guru ji: “Maharaj, what shall I prepare for dinner?  What you wish to eat, I will have that made.”  To test them all Guru ji commanded: “go and get a goat.  I will Jhatka it with my hands.”  Bhai Gulaba ji went looking for a goat.  He found one and bought it.  He brought the goat to Guru ji.  Guru ji shot the goat in the ear with his gun.  This made a really loud noise.  Bhai Gulaba ji got scared of the really loud noise.  He was afraid that people would hear the gunshot and come to see what happened.  There was a Brahmin that lived on the left side of Bhai Gulaba ji.  On the other side of his home, lived a Syed.  The Brahmin looked over from the balcony of his home and recognized Guru ji.  He had been to Anandpur to do Guru ji’s Darshan.  The Brahmin put Patashas in a plate along with a Janyow.  He suddenly came to Bhai Gulaba ji’s home and nobody stopped him.  He placed the plate in front of Guru ji and said a blessing.  He then bowed to Guru ji.  Guru ji was happy and took out 5 golden coins and put it in the plate.  The Brahmin was happy.  He gave his blessings and went home.  By the coming of the Brahmin, Bhai Gulaba and Bhai Punjaba became even more scared.  They no longer spoke out loud.  They thought to themselves: “the whole neighbourhood will find out that Guru ji is here.  We will be caught.  There is no way to be released then.  We will be killed.”

The goat meat was cleaned and cooked.  The skin and the hooves of the goat were kept towards one side.  After a while, it was dark.  It was time for the Isha Nimaaz.  There was a mosque nearby where the Qazi announced the Bhaang.  At this point, seeing the hypocrisy of the Paharis and the Turks, Guru ji had proven that greed overtook everyone’s faith in the land.  He wanted to further demonstrate this.  Satguru ji heard the Bhaang and picked up the goat skin and hooves.  He jumped from the rooftops of the houses and came to the mosque.  He covered himself with a shawl.  He jumped from house to house and came near the mosque.  Where the Qazi was giving the Adhan, Guru ji threw the goat skin and hooves towards the Qazi.  The bundle hit the Qazi in the head.  The Qazi’s pugri fell off and his head was hurt.  There was goat skin and bones everywhere.  He was shocked from what happened.  Guru ji jumped along from the rooftops of the houses and came back.  The Qazi looked around and didn’t see anyone.  He yelled and then went quiet.  He thought to himself: “who threw this skin from the sky?”  He threw the skin outside of the mosque.  He then cleaned the places.  He stayed quiet.  He forgot the Bhaang and Nimaaz. 

Guru ji came back and ate the goat that was cooked.  Guru ji threw the bones of the goat towards the Brahmin’s and Syed’s home.  The Brahmin noticed it was Guru ji throwing the bones and didn’t say anything.  The Syed got angry and began to swear.  He said to Bhai Gulaba ji: “listen Gulaba you fool: I’ve kept your secret.  You are hiding Singhs in your home.  Why are you not scared?  Just wait till morning.  I will complain about you.  The Badshah’s men will come to your home and arrest you.  They will open your stomach and your family’s.  You still throw bones to my home without fear.”  Bhai Gulaba and Bhai Punjaba folded their hands and said to the Syed: “please forgive us today.  They will all leave in the morning.  Neighbours will always live by each other.  Please do this for us.  We will always be grateful towards you for this.  We will be like your followers.  You are a great Peer.”  The Syed didn’t stop after being requested to.  Guru ji smiled and threw money to the Syed’s home.  When the Syed saw the coins in his home, he picked it up.  His whole family began to pick up the money.  Because of the greed for money, the Syed remained quiet.  He went to sleep at night and didn’t speak again.  Guru ji fulfilled their greed and made them quiet.  These people demonstrated unfaithfulness towards their neighbours and their faith because of money.  They wanted to tell on their neighbours because of greed and compromised their faith because of greed. 

Bhai Gulaba’s whole family sat together and had discussions: “when Guru ji wakes up at Amritvela, we should give him gifts to send him off.  They do not like to hide nor do they fear anything.  We need to save ourselves.”  They thought of these things and lost their patience.  Guru ji tested them but they couldn’t handle it.  Guru ji ate the food and washed his hands.  He laid down on his bed and did not fear anyone.