Forty (chali) liberated ones (mukte), is how a band of 40 brave Sikhs who laid down their lives fighting near the dhab or lake of Khidrana, also called Isharsar, on 29 December 1705 against a Mughal force in chase of Sri Guru Gobind Sahib Singh Ji are remembered in Sikh history and daily in the Sikh ardas or supplicatory prayer offered individually or at gatherings at the end of
all religious services. Mai Bhag Kaur: As a young girl, she heard sakhis of martyrdom of Sikh Gurus' and their disciples. A regular hearing of the sakhis and harassment by the tyrannous rulers made a deep effect on her tender heart. She decided in her mind to do her duty to stop such state violence against the Sikhs. She went to Anandpur Sahib along with his father in 1699 A.D., when Guru Gobind Singh Sahib ji founded the Khalsa Panth.
"She took Amrit and learned the art of fighting and self defence."
Mughals and hilly chiefs had surrounded Anandpur Sahib and were demanding it be evacuated. They called that any Sikh who says that "he/she is not anymore a Sikh of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji" will be left untouched. As said already, a group of 40 Sikhs deserted the Guru during the siege of Anandpur Sahib and proclaimed to the Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji that they are not his Sikhs anymore. Guru told them that they have to write it in a document that "they are not his Sikhs anymore" and sign it."All forty Sikhs signed this document Bedava and left Guru Gobind Singh."
Mai Bhag Kaur was distressed to hear that some of the Sikhs of her neighborhood who had gone to Anandpur Sahib to fight for Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji had deserted him under adverse conditions. Hearing her taunts, these Sikhs were ashamed at their deed. She rallied the deserters persuading Guru, then traveling across the Malva region. Her sharp words awakened the souls of numerous men. When forty Sikhs left Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib ji during the siege of Anandpur Fort, she inspired them to return to the Guru's fold and led them to meet the Guru and seek his pardon. Knowing that Wazir Khan was advancing to attack the Guru, Mai Bhag Kaur took up positions along with forty Sikhs and others at Mukatsar.
Traveling day and night in the Jungles of Malva region, imperial Mughal forces were in constant pursuit of Guru. Sri Guru Gobind Singh reached village of Khidrana, when Mai Bhag Kaur and the men, she was leading stopped near the dhab or pool of Khidrana where an imperial army in pursuit of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji had almost overtaken him. Once the part reached near Khidrana they learnt that the Guru had shortly before gone over to the other side of the lake. They as well learnt that Wazir Khan’s army was approaching. It was expected to reach them soon. On reaching, Khidrana, they found it was almost dry. Bhai Mahan Singh proposed that they enemy be engaged there. The Guru would, thereby get time to reach some safe place on the other side.
His proposal was accepted by the army. Wazir Khan’s army arrived soon. Long and bloody was the battle which ensued. The Sikhs fought with the usual courage and power. Mai Bhag Kaur was fighting in the foremost rank. The Guru had reached a small hill on the other side of Khidrana. From there he directed a constant rain of arrows on the attackers. A large number of them fell pierced by his arrows. The army made repeated attacks on the Sikhs. Each time it had to go back after suffering heavy losses.
At last, the Sikhs stock of ammunition and arrows were exhausted. They were obliged to have recourse to their swords and spears. They advanced in small groups. They engaged in the enemy in hand to hand fights and killed several times their own members. They went on wielding their weapons most effectively till they were overpowered. They were not fighting for victory. They knew that the enemy was too strong. They have not thought of saving their lives. Their only wise was to fight as long as possible, till the Guru found a safe area.
After the army left the field, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji visited the scene of the battle. All forty Sikhs attained martyrdom in this pitched battle, in which Guru himself was supporting them with a shower of arrows from a nearby high ground, found all the men except one Mahan Singh, killed when he visited the battlefield. When the Guru found him, he realized there was still some life in him. He asked Bhai Mahan Singh if had anything to say, and Bhai Mahan Singh replied,
The Guru was highly pleased to hear Bhai Mahan Singh’s last wish. He blessed him and said, ‘you have done a great deed. You have saved the root of Sikhism in Majha. You and your companions, all forty of you are muktas – the Saved Ones. The battlefield shall be called Muktsar or the Pool of Salvation. You are delivered from the chain of births and deaths forever. You have attained mukti, freedom from birth and death.’ The Forty Muktas are, and shall ever be, remembered in the Sikh Prayer.
The Guru then took out the disclaimer from under his belt, tore it into any pieces and threw it away. Bhai Mahan Singh saw this. He felt immensely relieved. He smiled, took a long deep breath, and closed his eyes forever.
As for Mai Bhag Kaur, the Guru was greatly pleased with what she had done. He got her removed from the battlefield and got her wounds treated and healed.
He took into his care Mai Bhag Kaur who had also suffered injury in the battle. She stayed with Sri Guru Gobind Singh as one of his bodyguard, in male attire. After the death of Guru Gobind Singh at Nanded in 1708, she retired further south. She settled down at Jinvara, 11 km from Bidar in Karnataka where, immersed in meditation, she lived to attain a ripe old age. Her hut in Jinvara has now been converted into Gurdwara Tap Asthan Mai Bhag Kaur. At Nanded, too, a hall within the compound of Takht Sachkhand. Sri Hazur Sahib marking the site of her residence is known as Bunga Mai Bhag Kaur.
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Once again thank U!
