Dhan Dhan Guru De Pyarai Daughter of Sri Guru Gobind Sahib Ji Daughter of Mata Sahib Kaur Ji Fearless Warriors Courageous Mothers Determined Daughters They suffered great in-humane tortures Watch their children bleed to death Witnessed the brutal murder of their husbands Yet, they fought for freedom and faith Remembered Guru Ji in every breath And were an Inspiration to all Sikhs We are a Kaur Princess We are a Brave Lioness We are the Daughters of the Khalsa

Shaheed Bibi Anup Kaur

The Sikh Gurus not only preached for the equal status of women, but also revolutionized their social life. History is full with examples where women who did not step out of house without covering their faces, performed wonderful daring deeds in life. After being baptized, they faced the enemy courageously and preferred death to an immoral comfortable life. Life story of martyr Anup Kaur is a golden example worth narration...


She was born in 1690 in village Jalopur Khere, near Amritsar. Her father’s name was Lachchman Das Sodhi. In those days, Sodhis were divided in two opposite groups. One group favored Guru Tegh Bahadur for Guruship, while the other group led by Dhir Mal claimed that Guruship belonged to them. Many members of the Sodhi dynasty, like Lachchman who favored Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur, left the central Punjab to avoid daily bickering and friction, and settled far away at Anandpur Sahib.


Anup Kaur was only five years old when her parents migrated to Anandpur Sahib. She was an attractive, every happy, sweet-tongued and beautiful girl. She used to play with Sahibzadas (Sri Guru Gobind Singh’s sons) and was liked by Mata Sundri. Anup Kaur spent most of her time with the Sahibzadas and was treated like a member of the Guru family. She acquired religious education and learned reading and writing Gurmukhi in their company. In 1699 when Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji created Saint- soldiers, she along with her father who was now named Lachchman Singh was also baptized. It brought a wonderful change in her life and she rapidly grew physically as well as spiritually. Now she was regular in the performance of her daily prayers and visited Gurdwara daily.


She collected other baptized girls (Amrithdhari) and started learning fencing and other martial arts. They also used arms like sword, shield and spear. These girls also learned horse riding. This armed group under Anup Kaur was well versed in self defense and became famous in the area. Anup Kaur with her group took part in the battle with the Sikhs against the hill chiefs. Victory in this battle created self-confidence among the young girls. The hill chiefs requested the Mughals at Delhi for help.


As desired by Aurangzeb, the Mughal emperor, governor of Sirhind along with governor of Lahore and the hill chiefs besieged the Anandpur Sahib fort with a huge force. The Sikhs met the Mughal forces with fire from their guns.



"...Sikh girls under the leadership of Anup Kaur played a very important part in this battle. They took responsibility of looking after the Guru’s family and taking the cooked food from the common kitchen to the Sikh soldiers in their trenches. They also helped in fighting wherever the Sikh soldiers needed help and showed feats of bravery..."


The siege continued for some days. The governor of Sirhind assured the Guru for the safety of all if the fort was vacated. The Guru did not rely on this assurance, but he knew that the effective defense was impossible owing to lack of food and other supplies. So the Guru agreed reluctantly to vacate Anandpur on the night of 20th December 1704. Anup Kaur’s group took care of the Guru’s family. The assurance proved false and the Sikhs were attacked outside the fort. Sikh soldiers and girls under Anup Kaur continued their march towards the rivulet Sirsa while fighting the enemy.


While crossing the flooded Sirsa, Anup Kaur was separated from the Guru’s family in confusion. After crossing the river, she met five Sikh soldiers who told her that Sri Guru Gobind Singh fought a battle with the Mughal forces at Chamkaur where the two elder Sahibzadas died fighting and the Guru had left Chamkaur. She was also told that the younger Sahibzadas were arrested at Sirhand. They all started towards Sirhand, but on their way they met a patrolling party of the Mughal soldiers. In the fight with them two Sikh soldiers were killed and Anup Kaur was injured, but the Mughal soldiers took to their heels. Anup Kaur came to know from someone that Mata Gujri (Mata Gujjar Kaur Ji) and her two younger grandsons had been martyred, so they started to find the Guru.


They were on their way when the chief of Malerkotla state with two hundred soldiers surrounded them. Anup Kaur’s companions died fighting but Anup Kaur’s horse stumbled, she fell down and broke her arm. She was arrested and taken to Malerkotla. When the chief came to know that the young charming girl was Anup Kaur about whose bravery he had heard a lot, he decided to marry her and instructed his soldiers to treat her respectfully and get her arm treated.


She saw through their trick and realized that she would be forced to embrace Islam and marry the chief. She was a helpless prisoner, but she made up her mind to commit suicide to save her faith and honour. At Malerkotla she was under strict watch. Her maid servants told the chief that she was always meditating and remained in a serious mood. The chief told Anup Kaur to marry him as there was no other way for her to save herself. He also promised her a comfortable life in the royal palace, but she refused. One day he called the Kazi (Muslim cleric) to forcibly convert and marry her, but they found only her dead body as she had thrust a dagger into her chest. She was buried quietly according to the Muslim rites.

soohee mehalaa 4II
har har naam bhajiou purakhotham sabh binasae dhaaladh dhalaghaa IIbho janam maranaa maettiou gur sabadhee har asathhir saev sukh samaghaa II1II
maerae man bhaj raam naam ath piraghaa II
mai man than arap dhhariou gur aagai sir vaech leeou mul mehaghaa II1II rehaooII
narapath raajae ra(n)g ras maanehi bin naavai pakarr kharrae sabh kalaghaa II
dhharam raae sir dda(n)dd lagaanaa fir pashhuthaanae hathh falaghaa II2II
har raakh raakh jan kiram thumaarae saranaagath purakh prathipalaghaa II
dharasan sa(n)th dhaehu sukh paavai prabh loch poor jan thumaghaa II3II
thum samarathh purakh vaddae prabh suaamee mo ko keejai dhaan har nimaghaa II
jan naanak naam milai sukh paavai ham naam vittahu sadh ghumaghaa II4II2II

Soohee, Fourth Mehla:
I chant and vibrate the Name of the Lord God, the Supreme Being, Har, Har; my poverty and problems have all been eradicated.

The fear of birth and death has been erased, through the Word of the Guru's Shabad; serving the Unmoving, Unchanging Lord, I am absorbed in peace. II1II

O my mind, vibrate the Name of the most Beloved, Darling Lord.

I have dedicated my mind and body, and placed them in offering before the Guru; I have sold my head to the Guru, for a very dear price. II1IIPauseII

The kings and the rulers of men enjoy pleasures and delights, but without the Name of the Lord, death seizes and dispatches them all.

The Righteous Judge of Dharma strikes them over the heads with his staff, and when the fruits of their actions come into their hands, then they regret and repent. II2II

Save me, save me, Lord; I am Your humble servant, a mere worm. I seek the Protection of

Your Sanctuary, O Primal Lord, Cherisher and Nourisher.

Please bless me with the Blessed Vision of the Saint's Darshan, that I may find peace. O God, please fulfill the desires of Your humble servant. II3II

You are the All-powerful, Great, Primal God, my Lord and Master. O Lord, please bless me with the gift of humility.

Servant Nanak has found the Naam, the Name of the Lord, and is at peace; I am forever a sacrifice to the Naam.II4II2II

Professor Ganda Singh, on the basis of his research, writes that Banda Singh Bahadur was moved to hear her story. When he marched upon Malerkotla in 1710, he said that last remains of this brave Sikh lady should not be allowed to rot in a grave. He was not opposed by anybody as the chief of the state had fled before Banda Bahadur reached there. He did not destroy Malerkotla as its chief had advocated mercy for the younger Sahibzadas at Sirhind. Body of Anup Kaur was exhumed and cremated according to Sikh rites as desired by Banda.


Thus the martyr Anup Kaur who sacrificed her life at the altar of her faith and chastity was given a decent cremation she richly deserved. She had not embraced Islam and had died a Sikh. She is still remembered respectfully by the people of the area and her sacrifice will never be forgotten.


Dhan Dhan Shaheed Bibi Anup Kaur Ji
The beloved Daughter of Satguru
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj

by FaujKaur @ Saturday, February 17, 2007
comments: 3

Comments:

By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:12 PM
Vaheguru!! So inspiring!

But does this mean that there are times when suicide is justified in sikhi?

 
By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:38 AM
where did you get this sakhi from? is it in suraj prakash?

 
By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:39 AM
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
Waheguru Ji Ke Fateh

Sakhi from SikhSangat Forum
http://www.sikhsangat.com/index.php?showtopic=18592&st=0

You can as well view the discussion they about suicide

 

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