🚩📿 Why and How Guru Gobind Singh ji reached Nander, and then chose Baba Banda Bahadur Ji, over and above the others to carry forward his military mission.⚔🚩@ ✒ GBG⚔
© Before we try and answer this question, I would like to talk about the Birth of Khalsa, as a prologue to my views on how Guru Gobind Singh Ji reached Nanded, and ultimately why only Banda Bahadur was chosen as the Chief of Khalsa army.
1. Shri Guru Gobind Singh created Khalsa On 30th March 1699, at Anandpur as he proclaimed that Khalsa is, his and Akal Purakh's eternal child. So this new creed of sikhs were proclaimed to be both saints aswellas soldiers.
2. To give a never die spirit to these warriors, he created the concept of amrit (nectar), for initiating the Khalsa. Amrit it self is very symbolic.
3. Amrit being prepared in a steel bowl, signifies steel like strength in it. Just like steel tempered by fire and ice, a spirit is tempered by adversity and joy, to the extent of transgression of spirit beyond physical pain. Stirring water with a khanda or double-edged sword, is symbolic of the warrior spirit.
4. In the process of Amrit preparation, he asked Mata Sundari ji and Mata Saheb deva to add sugar, (Patasha) which were dropped into the vessel by them as Guru Saheb stirred the Amrit. Sweetness and gentleness of motherly spirit was thus added to the alchemy of steel.
5. This was also symbolic of empowering the sikh women as equal in status to men. Mata Sundari ji and Mata Saheb Deva thus became the first Khalsa Women, but as Mata Saheb kaur, being the spiritual and platonic wife of Guru Saheb had been promised by Guru ji, that she would be the mother to his immortal child, thus she was declared as the mother of Khalsa.
6. This little introduction to the next part of this post is necessary to establish, that after the creation of Khalsa, the Sikhs were firmly established in the warrior tradition for ever. This also established that Guru Gobind Singh now on was a full fledged warrior rebel, for whom there is no turning back. A very strong message to his enemies that the fight shall continue till the very end.
7. With this as background, the spiritual part of sikhism was for inner peace, good conduct for social harmony, but what became necessarily clear was that Sikhs will never take an enemy's attack lying down, in the name of spirituality, but rather the sikh spirituality from now on will, revolve around, prayer for peace but readiness for war, and knowledge of tactics of war and strategic thinking shall now on be essentially a sikh necessity.
8. Lets now turn our attention to other facts. Guru ji, was repeatedly cheated by his enemies, and ultimately his two elder sons were martyred in war, as two younger ones bricked alive in Sirhind. Guru ji however fought on relentlessly, and also continously walked the way of peace by first offering peace and treaty to his adversaries.
9. As a result, he wrote a letter to Aurangzeb, who was old and tired by now, and after reading the Zafarnama, he also repented in his heart, all that he and his governor of Sirhind had done to Guru Sahib's children and his extended family, his Khalsa warriors.
10. Thus a spirit of making peace with Sikhs arose in Dehli Darbaar. As a result Aurangzeb after having received the letter(Zafarnama), decided to personally meet Guru Gobind Singh ji. Ahmadnagar was decided to be the rendezvous, but the meeting could not fructify as the Mughal Emperor died before that.
11. After Aurangzeb died, a succession struggle immediately began between his sons. Crooks as the Mughals were, they were infamous for two things, fratricide, and not keeping their word. A war for succession ensued and the success of becoming Aurangzeb's successor came to Bahadur Shah, and strange as it might seem, but it was with the Guru ji's blessings that this man got his throne.
12. How all this came to be, well Aurangzeb died in Deccan, and at that time, Bahadur Shah, his eldest son was in Afghanistan. His younger son Muhammad Azim was with his father, who, taking advantage of the situation, assumed command of the Imperial army, aswellas took possession of the treasury and declared him self to be the emperor of Hindustan.
13. Bahadur Shah decided to fight for his father's throne, but in the given circumstances, his brother was better equipped. Bahadur Shah had to look for allies. Having heard of Guru Gobind Singh's warriors, and their die hard spirit, and being in circumstances where help could not come from those, used to saluting the rising sun, Bahadur shah requested for Guru ji's help, thus Guru ji put his forces with Bahadur Shah, on the condition that after Bahadur Shah becomes the emperor, Nawab of Sirhind would be handed over to him.
14. When this was agreed to, Guru ji sent his best army under command of Bhai Dharam Singh to help Bahadurshah. As a result, a fierce war of succession was fought, in which Muhammad Azim's forces were defeated, Prince Muhammad Azim was killed and Bahadur Shah became the Emperor of Delhi.
15. To thank and honour the Guru, Emperor invited him to Agra. Guru ji accepted the invitation, and was received with the honour due to an ally.
16. Guru ji was given a Khillat, (a robe of honour) and jewellery worth 60 thousand rupees, in form of a bejeweled scarf. Guru ji was also requested to accept the Emperor's hospitality, which Guru Ji accepted, as herein lay an opportunity, to set things right in Punjab.
17. Guru ji is said to have stayed with the Emperor from July 1707 to November 1707. Bahadur Shah was informed of all the wrongs done by Vazir Khan, the governor of Punjab and Sirhind, and he promised to punish Vazir Khan and cronies.
18. However, Bahadur Shah had other plans. He did not want to disturb the apple cart of Sirhind, as at that time, the Kachhvaha Rajputs of Rajputana, and his brother Kam Bakhsh were his immediate headaches, he wanted to deal with.
19. Being a clever man, Emperor asked Guru ji to accompany him, to Rajputana and Marath-wada. This had an effect on the complete campaign, as Rajputs and most of others, had heard of Guru's sacrifices and held him in high esteem, also his being instrumental in putting the Emperor on throne had a huge effect, so Rajput Kings, took the way of peace, but When in Deccan, Bahadur Shah demanded Guru Ji to engage in direct conflict with emperor's adversaries. Guru Ji refused.
20. By now, on this long march, which took many months to cover, some sikh mercenaries, were more willing to be with the mughal army, for better wages and for better share in loot of battles and raids. Barring a few, who were inherently loyal to Guru Ji, others had engaged themselves in the business of Emperor.
21. Some were with Guru ji in hope of gaining the trophy of Gurudom in the end, as Guru Gobind Singh ji had lost his immediate family in war against oppression. Guru Ji's sharp eye was seeing it all.
22. By now, Guru ji had also realized that going back on one's word and cheating, were an essential state-craft practiced by the mughals.
23. The Emperor Bahadur Shah believed that if not engaged in some other business, Guru ji, might take advantage of his absence from Delhi, he might gather his forces and start a war against Vazir Khan , which could result in Sikhs growing in to a bigger power, and ultimately challenging Delhi. Being one of the mughals, who were used to killing their own blood for women and wealth, Bahadur Shah's distrust in Guru Sahib was a part of his naturally conditioned upbringing and legacy.
24. Emperor wanted Guru Gobind Singh ji, both as an ally in his battles, and also out of Punjab, both at the same time, but this was not agreeable to Guru Ji. By now Guru Sahib had been let down by his own people aswellas others, and he wanted to take a break. Bahadur Shah too, by now had taken the wagers away from sikh army, and was happy to part ways with Guru Ji in a tactfully clever way.
25. Thus as they travelled by the sides of Godavari, at a place called Nander, Guru ji and his few loyalists camped, to rest. I am sure that by now, Bahadur Shah also would have had communicated his unwillingness to honour his commitment on Sirhind as willingly, as he had promised to. This must have been heart breaking for Guruji.
26. This was the state of affairs, when Guru Gobind Singh ji happened to meet, an experienced hunter, an ex mercenary having fought for Maratha Sambha ji, a practising yogi and spiritualist, Bairagi Madho Das, who listened to Guru Sahib's story, empathised with him, and as a result not only converted to be his Khalsa, but even vowed to avenge the wrongs done to Guruji. Around this point in time, Guru ji was stabbed by an assain, commissioned by Vazir Khan. His wounds were stitched by an english doctor sent by Bahadur Shah, but the wounds reopened. Rest is History.
27. Why only Banda Bahadur was chosen by Guru sahib, was because Guru ji, in these unique circumstances, must have found in Banda, all that he desired in a Khalsa leader, that is intelligence, strength, stamina, spiritual awakening, soldierly traits, integrity, honesty and trustworthiness, some what more, than others around him. There must have been some great warriors around Guru Sahib, but the unique package of Saint Soldier, as desired by Guru Sahib could only be found in Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, and then, who could have been a better Judge of circumstances, other than Guru Gobind Singh Ji him self.
28. Thus he gave the command of the Khalsa to BBSB Ji, as at the same time the temporal power for community decisions was vested in Panj Piaras, and also at the same time the Spiritual authority over the Sikhs was vested in SGGS ji.
29. To understand it in essence, we must understand that Shri Guru Gobind Singh ji was not a battle hungry war monger. He was a man of peace who believed in raising the sword as a means to establish peace, and not as an end in its own self. Thus he handed over the reins of his Spiritual Mission to SGGS ji, his Social and Community responsibility to Panj Piaras, and his immediate military mission of challenging, containing and punishing, where necessary, the unlimited, despotic and exploitative power of emperors and other rulers to Baba Banda Singh Ji Bahadur. In my opinion it was a fair division of labour. The legacy lives on, even today, although not essentially as desired by Dashmesh, but his glory lies in the fact that he established the institutions of sikhism in the right spirit.
🚩तत्त सत्त श्री अकाल 🚩
📿Motivational and Corporate Guru Balwant Gurunay⚔
© Before we try and answer this question, I would like to talk about the Birth of Khalsa, as a prologue to my views on how Guru Gobind Singh Ji reached Nanded, and ultimately why only Banda Bahadur was chosen as the Chief of Khalsa army.
1. Shri Guru Gobind Singh created Khalsa On 30th March 1699, at Anandpur as he proclaimed that Khalsa is, his and Akal Purakh's eternal child. So this new creed of sikhs were proclaimed to be both saints aswellas soldiers.
2. To give a never die spirit to these warriors, he created the concept of amrit (nectar), for initiating the Khalsa. Amrit it self is very symbolic.
3. Amrit being prepared in a steel bowl, signifies steel like strength in it. Just like steel tempered by fire and ice, a spirit is tempered by adversity and joy, to the extent of transgression of spirit beyond physical pain. Stirring water with a khanda or double-edged sword, is symbolic of the warrior spirit.
4. In the process of Amrit preparation, he asked Mata Sundari ji and Mata Saheb deva to add sugar, (Patasha) which were dropped into the vessel by them as Guru Saheb stirred the Amrit. Sweetness and gentleness of motherly spirit was thus added to the alchemy of steel.
5. This was also symbolic of empowering the sikh women as equal in status to men. Mata Sundari ji and Mata Saheb Deva thus became the first Khalsa Women, but as Mata Saheb kaur, being the spiritual and platonic wife of Guru Saheb had been promised by Guru ji, that she would be the mother to his immortal child, thus she was declared as the mother of Khalsa.
6. This little introduction to the next part of this post is necessary to establish, that after the creation of Khalsa, the Sikhs were firmly established in the warrior tradition for ever. This also established that Guru Gobind Singh now on was a full fledged warrior rebel, for whom there is no turning back. A very strong message to his enemies that the fight shall continue till the very end.
7. With this as background, the spiritual part of sikhism was for inner peace, good conduct for social harmony, but what became necessarily clear was that Sikhs will never take an enemy's attack lying down, in the name of spirituality, but rather the sikh spirituality from now on will, revolve around, prayer for peace but readiness for war, and knowledge of tactics of war and strategic thinking shall now on be essentially a sikh necessity.
8. Lets now turn our attention to other facts. Guru ji, was repeatedly cheated by his enemies, and ultimately his two elder sons were martyred in war, as two younger ones bricked alive in Sirhind. Guru ji however fought on relentlessly, and also continously walked the way of peace by first offering peace and treaty to his adversaries.
9. As a result, he wrote a letter to Aurangzeb, who was old and tired by now, and after reading the Zafarnama, he also repented in his heart, all that he and his governor of Sirhind had done to Guru Sahib's children and his extended family, his Khalsa warriors.
10. Thus a spirit of making peace with Sikhs arose in Dehli Darbaar. As a result Aurangzeb after having received the letter(Zafarnama), decided to personally meet Guru Gobind Singh ji. Ahmadnagar was decided to be the rendezvous, but the meeting could not fructify as the Mughal Emperor died before that.
11. After Aurangzeb died, a succession struggle immediately began between his sons. Crooks as the Mughals were, they were infamous for two things, fratricide, and not keeping their word. A war for succession ensued and the success of becoming Aurangzeb's successor came to Bahadur Shah, and strange as it might seem, but it was with the Guru ji's blessings that this man got his throne.
12. How all this came to be, well Aurangzeb died in Deccan, and at that time, Bahadur Shah, his eldest son was in Afghanistan. His younger son Muhammad Azim was with his father, who, taking advantage of the situation, assumed command of the Imperial army, aswellas took possession of the treasury and declared him self to be the emperor of Hindustan.
13. Bahadur Shah decided to fight for his father's throne, but in the given circumstances, his brother was better equipped. Bahadur Shah had to look for allies. Having heard of Guru Gobind Singh's warriors, and their die hard spirit, and being in circumstances where help could not come from those, used to saluting the rising sun, Bahadur shah requested for Guru ji's help, thus Guru ji put his forces with Bahadur Shah, on the condition that after Bahadur Shah becomes the emperor, Nawab of Sirhind would be handed over to him.
14. When this was agreed to, Guru ji sent his best army under command of Bhai Dharam Singh to help Bahadurshah. As a result, a fierce war of succession was fought, in which Muhammad Azim's forces were defeated, Prince Muhammad Azim was killed and Bahadur Shah became the Emperor of Delhi.
15. To thank and honour the Guru, Emperor invited him to Agra. Guru ji accepted the invitation, and was received with the honour due to an ally.
16. Guru ji was given a Khillat, (a robe of honour) and jewellery worth 60 thousand rupees, in form of a bejeweled scarf. Guru ji was also requested to accept the Emperor's hospitality, which Guru Ji accepted, as herein lay an opportunity, to set things right in Punjab.
17. Guru ji is said to have stayed with the Emperor from July 1707 to November 1707. Bahadur Shah was informed of all the wrongs done by Vazir Khan, the governor of Punjab and Sirhind, and he promised to punish Vazir Khan and cronies.
18. However, Bahadur Shah had other plans. He did not want to disturb the apple cart of Sirhind, as at that time, the Kachhvaha Rajputs of Rajputana, and his brother Kam Bakhsh were his immediate headaches, he wanted to deal with.
19. Being a clever man, Emperor asked Guru ji to accompany him, to Rajputana and Marath-wada. This had an effect on the complete campaign, as Rajputs and most of others, had heard of Guru's sacrifices and held him in high esteem, also his being instrumental in putting the Emperor on throne had a huge effect, so Rajput Kings, took the way of peace, but When in Deccan, Bahadur Shah demanded Guru Ji to engage in direct conflict with emperor's adversaries. Guru Ji refused.
20. By now, on this long march, which took many months to cover, some sikh mercenaries, were more willing to be with the mughal army, for better wages and for better share in loot of battles and raids. Barring a few, who were inherently loyal to Guru Ji, others had engaged themselves in the business of Emperor.
21. Some were with Guru ji in hope of gaining the trophy of Gurudom in the end, as Guru Gobind Singh ji had lost his immediate family in war against oppression. Guru Ji's sharp eye was seeing it all.
22. By now, Guru ji had also realized that going back on one's word and cheating, were an essential state-craft practiced by the mughals.
23. The Emperor Bahadur Shah believed that if not engaged in some other business, Guru ji, might take advantage of his absence from Delhi, he might gather his forces and start a war against Vazir Khan , which could result in Sikhs growing in to a bigger power, and ultimately challenging Delhi. Being one of the mughals, who were used to killing their own blood for women and wealth, Bahadur Shah's distrust in Guru Sahib was a part of his naturally conditioned upbringing and legacy.
24. Emperor wanted Guru Gobind Singh ji, both as an ally in his battles, and also out of Punjab, both at the same time, but this was not agreeable to Guru Ji. By now Guru Sahib had been let down by his own people aswellas others, and he wanted to take a break. Bahadur Shah too, by now had taken the wagers away from sikh army, and was happy to part ways with Guru Ji in a tactfully clever way.
25. Thus as they travelled by the sides of Godavari, at a place called Nander, Guru ji and his few loyalists camped, to rest. I am sure that by now, Bahadur Shah also would have had communicated his unwillingness to honour his commitment on Sirhind as willingly, as he had promised to. This must have been heart breaking for Guruji.
26. This was the state of affairs, when Guru Gobind Singh ji happened to meet, an experienced hunter, an ex mercenary having fought for Maratha Sambha ji, a practising yogi and spiritualist, Bairagi Madho Das, who listened to Guru Sahib's story, empathised with him, and as a result not only converted to be his Khalsa, but even vowed to avenge the wrongs done to Guruji. Around this point in time, Guru ji was stabbed by an assain, commissioned by Vazir Khan. His wounds were stitched by an english doctor sent by Bahadur Shah, but the wounds reopened. Rest is History.
27. Why only Banda Bahadur was chosen by Guru sahib, was because Guru ji, in these unique circumstances, must have found in Banda, all that he desired in a Khalsa leader, that is intelligence, strength, stamina, spiritual awakening, soldierly traits, integrity, honesty and trustworthiness, some what more, than others around him. There must have been some great warriors around Guru Sahib, but the unique package of Saint Soldier, as desired by Guru Sahib could only be found in Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, and then, who could have been a better Judge of circumstances, other than Guru Gobind Singh Ji him self.
28. Thus he gave the command of the Khalsa to BBSB Ji, as at the same time the temporal power for community decisions was vested in Panj Piaras, and also at the same time the Spiritual authority over the Sikhs was vested in SGGS ji.
29. To understand it in essence, we must understand that Shri Guru Gobind Singh ji was not a battle hungry war monger. He was a man of peace who believed in raising the sword as a means to establish peace, and not as an end in its own self. Thus he handed over the reins of his Spiritual Mission to SGGS ji, his Social and Community responsibility to Panj Piaras, and his immediate military mission of challenging, containing and punishing, where necessary, the unlimited, despotic and exploitative power of emperors and other rulers to Baba Banda Singh Ji Bahadur. In my opinion it was a fair division of labour. The legacy lives on, even today, although not essentially as desired by Dashmesh, but his glory lies in the fact that he established the institutions of sikhism in the right spirit.
🚩तत्त सत्त श्री अकाल 🚩
📿Motivational and Corporate Guru Balwant Gurunay⚔
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