Welcoming Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji’s Head back to Anandpur Sahib

The Wonderous 1
Jul 8
5 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

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

Continued...

Once the mass congregation started to leave the funeral, Guru Gobind Singh Ji invited Jaita Ji (who brought Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji’s head from Delhi) to sit beside him. Guru Ji asked him “How did the head come into your ‘Jholi’? Did nobody see you or stop you? There must have been many guards on duty to deter anybody from taking Guru Ji’s body (for cremation), but how did they all lose concentration? Tell me how you managed to bring Guru Ji’s head back.”

Bhai Jaita Ji clasped his hands and humbly replied “Guru Ji assisted me to successfully complete this task. I fearlessly stood close by (the place of sacrafice) with a stretched ‘Chadra’ (a sheet of fabric), waiting for the right time (as per Guru Ji’s instructions). When Guru Ji’s head separated from his body, a mighty storm commenced which blew dust into people’s eyes so nobody was able to see me. I had faith in Guru Ji’s words and wrapped the head quickly before setting off. A loud racket began from the public present there, due to the storm. I walked past all the guards that were standing at the doors of the city, without being stopped. Once I had travelled about 5 ‘Khoh’ (about 2.75 miles), it was then that the guards had realised that the head was missing. Soldiers started to search the city on horseback. I also noticed a soldier on horseback making his way towards me. I flinched at first thinking about the possibility of being caught. However, I noticed a row of ‘Gadde’ (carts) travelling passed me so I thought quickly and placed Guru Ji’s head on one of the carts covered with the ‘Chadra’ (sheet). The soldiers on horseback were stopping and searching whoever they saw and would shout aggressively. They also verbally abused me and told me to remove my clothes to reveal anything that I may be hiding (under my garments). They then stopped the movement of the carts and started to search them. I could see Guru Ji’s head shifting between the carts, but none of the soldiers could locate it. When they would approach the cart with Guru Ji’s head, the head would shift to another cart. After searching the carts thoroughly enough, they went back towards the direction that they had come from. Once I saw that the coast was clear, I then possessed Guru Ji’s head again. Guru Ji blessed me as such, neither did I tire on route nor did I feel any fear. Guru Ji himself accompanied me to successfully complete this task. I know that chaos started in Delhi but I left it all behind me so only ‘Sikhs’ that were in Delhi during that time would know what exactly happened there.”

This conversation between Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Bhai Jaita Ji is recorded in ‘Gurpartap Sooraj Parkash’ as such and the last part relating to the carts may raise doubts in one’s mind. However, we can understand that event as ‘God’ assuring that his great devotee’s head was not disrespected by the tyrants any further. Gurbani reiterates repeatedly how God preserves the honour of his ‘Saints’ and if we attribute this quality to God, then the whole phenomenon can be understood from that perspective more clearly. In conclusion, this is a historical source and my job is to cite references as they are presented.

On the other hand, other sources record more details about this amazing seven-day journey. ‘Bhai Jaita Ji’ managed to travel with Guru Ji’s head (on foot) for about 220 miles without being caught by the ‘Mughal’ officials. His father’s name was Sadanand and mother’s name was Premo. His family lineage had been ‘Sikhs’ for five generations starting with Kalyana 'Ji’ at the time of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Kalyana Ji has been recorded in history to have chosen death over renouncing his faith, in a city where he was the only Sikh and refused to follow the traditions of the majority. Such genuine commitment to ‘Gurbani’ teachings earned Kalyana 'Ji' a noble reputation amongst other Sikhs and a memorable name in history. Sources suggest that there was a ‘Dharamsala’ constructed in Delhi which was named after Kalyana Ji. A ‘Dharamsala’ was the traditional name for what we refer to as a ‘Gurdwara’ today. This ‘Dharamsala’ belonged to Jaita Ji’s family in which Jaita Ji’s ‘Thaiya’ (paternal uncle) Agya Ram would reside. Due to this family connection, and regular travel to and from Anandpur Sahib, Jaita 'Ji’ was very knowledgeable of the different routes. Hence, he was chosen by Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji for this task as he was young (around 16 years of age), physically fit and geographically sound to make him most suitable for this task.

Sources state that there was a meeting of five ‘Sikhs’ at this particular ‘Dharamsala’ (which included Lakhi Shah too) where a masterplan was drafted to collect Guru Ji's body respectfully. As a result, both Guru Ji’s body and head were collected at the same time in an perfectfully executed plan. Seen as Lakhi Shah Ji would provide goods to the ‘Mughal’ empire, his local face was undoubted by the soldiers on duty. When the stampede of bulls and carts entered ‘Chandi Chowk, Lakhi Shah Ji took Guru Ji’s body in one direction and ‘Jaita Ji’ took the head towards the other. These sources also add that Jaita 'Ji’ did not travel alone to ‘Anandpur Sahib’ but had three other Sikhs on watch with him. One supervising at the front by the name of Nanua, one keeping a look out at the back called Udha ‘Ratour’ (which was also one of the five Sikhs that travelled to Delhi with Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji, but managed to escape the prison) and thirdly Jaita Ji’s uncle ‘Agya Ram’ would supervise in between the other two.

Any places that ‘Jaita Ji’ stopped at (on route) was purely because he was familiar with them and because well trusted ‘Sikhs’ lived there. He may have stopped at these points regularly on his travels to Delhi and back because his family lineage had been travelling with Guru Ji since Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s time. Hence, these spots were well known amongst closely associated ‘Sikhs’ who would travel with Guru Ji. One of which, was Jaita Ji’s father who has been recorded to have travelled with Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji to and beyond ‘Patna Sahib’. Western historians even state that Jaita Ji’s birth took place in ‘Patna Sahib’.

To be continued...

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

References:

1. Guru Granth Sahib Ji

2. Sant Gurbachan Singh - (Katha) 'Shaheedi Saka of Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji' (Parts 1 & 2) 3.Thakur Das - Shaheed Bilas

4. Kavi Santokh Singh - Gurpartap Sooraj Parkash

5. Kahan Singh (Nabha) - Mahan Kosh

6. Giani Pinderpal Singh - (Katha) 'Jeevan Katha Ate Shahadat Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji'

7. Bhatt Vahi

8. Alphabet.Inc - Google

9. Dr Sukhpreet S - (Lectures) 'Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji'

10. Sant Kartar Singh - (Katha) 'Shaheedi Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji'