The Journey to Martyrdom

The pure belongs to the 'Wonderous Enlightener'. The victory belongs to the 'Wonderous Enlightener'.

After spending the two rainy months of ‘Savan’ and ‘Bhadron’ in ‘Saifabad’, Guru Ji travelled 26 miles to the city of ‘Samana’. Guru Ji camped outside the city for one night where many ‘Sikhs’ came to visit him. From here, a ‘Pathan Sardar’ (a wealthy man from the ‘Pathan’ tribe) welcomed Guru Ji with sheer devotion and insisted that Guru Ji spend some time at his residence. He had met a group of ‘’Aihdis’ that were searching for Guru Ji within Samana and became extremely fearful that they had reached the city where Guru Ji was camped outside. Guru Ji tried to explain to this ‘devotee’ that everything happening was God’s play and there was no need to fear about the outcomes that will unfold. However, this ‘Pathan’ (whose name is recorded as ‘Jafar Khan’ in some sources) was drenched in love for Guru Ji and was adamant that Guru Ji visited his ‘Garhi’ (fortress) to avoid arrest. Noteworthy here is how even followers from ‘Muslim’ backgrounds would risk their life, just to serve Guru Ji. This displays just how secular Guru Ji’s message was for the world as people of all beliefs saw Guru Ji as their own. Guru Ji on the other hand would never decline any token of love expressed by his ‘followers’ and even if he knew the person could not fully comprehend the situation, he would still embrace their expression of love.

The 'Pathan Sardar' was overwhelmed to have met Guru Ji

After spending two nights in Samana (within the house), Guru Ji continued his journey to Delhi and spent his next night 10 miles ahead, in the village of ‘Karhali’. There lived a ‘Masanad’ here that hid himself out of fear from the ‘Mughals’ and never met Guru Ji. A ‘Masanad’ was a person authorised by Guru Ji for collecting ‘Dasvandh’ from the ‘Sikhs’ and delivering the money to Guru Ji. Some other ‘Sikhs’ also hesitated to meet Guru Ji in case they were later punished by the Mughal empire for doing so. Hence, Guru Ji spent the night camping outside the village. ‘Gurudwara Karhali Sahib Pathshahi Chhevin Ate Patshahi Nauvin, Hari Nagar (Urf Kherki), Punjab, stands still here in remembrance. It was here that a Sikh named ‘Gilora’ came to visit Guru Ji from the village ‘Chihka’, 7 ‘Khohs’ (11 miles) away. His parents had passed away as a child and when Guru Ji visited the ‘Malwa’ region in the past, he nurtured this child as his own and raised him. Guru Ji paid for his marriage and even gave him the role of a ‘Masanad’. Thus, now a grown man, ‘Gilora’ lived with this huge errand and insisted that Guru Ji visit his house in ‘Chihka’. ‘Gurudwara Sahib Patshahi Chhevin Ate Patshahi Nauvin’, pays witness to this in Cheeka, Guhla, Kaithal, Haryana even today. After spending two nights at ‘Chihka’ and meeting many Sikhs who came from far and wide to meet Guru Ji, he continued his journey towards the East and stopped in the village of ‘Karra’. ‘Gurdwara Siri Karah Sahib’ stands as a memorial of this stay in Adoya, Haryana. After spending a night here, Guru Ji stopped in the village of ‘Khark’ under a huge ‘Bohar’ (banyan) tree. ‘Gurdwara Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib’, has been constructed in Khark Bhura, Haryana in relation to this.

Seen as Guru Ji was travelling on horseback, it was important to stop regularly to give the horses rest and nutrition. After a night’s stay in ‘Khark’ which is now known as ‘Kharak Bhura’.  Guru Ji rode further to the village of ‘Khatkarr’ alongside his five ‘Sikhs’ from ‘Anandpur Sahib’. Anybody else wanting to travel with Guru Ji was refused to do so due to the foreseeable future of sacrifices. ‘Khatkarr’ was the first village where the local farmers did not serve Guru Ji initially, but soon realised the divine prowess that Guru Ji had after they were unsuccessful in stealing Guru Ji’s horses. as they would try to approach the horses at night to take them away, they would go blind until they did not back off. This happened a few times until they realised that they were dealing with a divine power in the form of Guru Ji. After regretting their actions, the farmers alongside the local villagers approached Guru Ji and expressed their shortage of clean water within the village. Guru Ji then helped the village find a suitable area to install a water well. Guru Ji shot an arrow, which landed perfectly to mark the spot where a source of water was adequate. ‘Gurdwara Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji’ stands here in Khatkarr Kalan, Khatkarr, Haryana. After spending two nights here, Guru Ji travelled to ‘Jeendh’ where the ‘Mughals’ had a strong power hold and would abuse the rights of the locals living there. ‘Gurudwara Sri Manji Sahib Patshahi Nouvi’, is still in Jind, Haryana, present day India to remind us of this visit.

Furthermore, Guru Ji progressed to ‘Nardhak’ (‘Bangar Des’) where he stopped for a short period. Nardhak ("high tract") is a region in western and northern parts of Karnal district in the north eastern area of Haryana. Guru Ji did not stop at this place to rest, nor stay at any residence until he further reached ‘Agra’. Some historical sources suggest that Guru Ji also travelled through ‘Mathura’ before going to ‘Agra’. ‘Agra’ was the capital of the ‘Mughal’ empire and Giani Gian Singh write in ‘Tavareekh Guru Khalsa’ that Guru Ji visited an elderly woman here who was eagerly awaiting to meet Guru Ji but could not travel to meet him due to her old age. She had prepared a gift (garment) for Guru Ji which was welcomed by Guru Ji with warmth. ‘Maithan Gurudwara’ in ‘Maithan’, Rakabganj, Agra, Uttar Pradesh was built in memory of that pure soul’s love.

More details of what events occurred at the listed places can openly be found online or by visiting the places today. There are many other places that Guru Ji has been recorded to have either stopped for a short while, or spent the night at. I have briefly mentioned a few details in this articld so that one can have an idea of Guru Ji’s character on route to martyrdom. He still helped the masses, guided his followers and pleased many ‘Sikhs’ on the way. These reasons can be used to justify why Guru Ji did not travel straight to Delhi, but passed by it and went further ahead to Agra.

In Agra, there also lived a ‘Ayali’ (someone who overlooks and grazes sheep or goat). This poor man’s name was ‘Hassan Ali’, who had heard of the bounty that one would receive if they informed officials of Guru Ji’s whereabouts. This poor man whose clothes were torn in financial hardship, prayed to be this informant so that he could rid his family of their poverty.

To be continued...

The pure belongs to the 'Wonderous Enlightener'. The victory belongs to the 'Wonderous Enlightener'.

References: 1. Sant Gurbachan Singh - (Katha) 'Shaheedi Saka of Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji' Parts 1 & 2 2. Thakur Das - Shaheed Bilas 3. Kavi Santokh Singh - Gurpartap Sooraj Parkash 4. Kahan Singh (Nabha) - Mahan Kosh 5. Giani Pinderpal Singh - (Katha) Jeevan Katha Ate Shahadat Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji' 6. Bhatt Vahi 7. Alphabet.Inc - Google 8. Dr Sukhpreet S - (Lectures) 'Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji' 9. Sant Kartar Singh - (Katha) 'Shaheedi Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji' 10. Punjab Siyan - 'Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji' 11. Jatha Randhawa - Gurbani Arth Bhandar 12. The History of Kashmir (Book) 13. Bhai Vir Singh - Footnote Exegesis of 'Gurpratap Sooraj' 14. www.historicalgurdwaras.com 15. www.discoversikhism.com 16. Google Maps 17. Giani Gian Singh - Panth Parkash 18. Giani Gian Singh - Tavarikh Guru Khalsa