• Welcome to all New Sikh Philosophy Network Forums!
    Explore Sikh Sikhi Sikhism...
    Sign up Log in
Jun 1, 2004
3,007
83
45
http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/In 1708 while on his travels in the Deccan Guru Gobind Singh Ji had tried for many months to persuade emperor Bahadur Shah to take action against Wazir Khan who had committed such atrocities against the Sikhs and had executed Guru Ji’s two youger sons Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji as well as their grandmother Mata Gujri Ji. As the discussions bore no fruit Guru Ji continued with the negotiations but decided to send one of his followers back to the Punjab to do the work. Although there were many old and trusted disciples the choice fell on a comparative stranger whom Guru Ji had met just a few weeks. His name was Lashman Das, who had spent the last fifteen years of his life as a sadhu on the banks of the River Godavari.

Born in 1670 at Rajauri to well off Rajput parents Lashman Das grew up to be a strong and intelligent youth. While on a hunting trip he shot a doe who happened to be pregnant. As he approched the dying animal it gave birth and both mother and fawn died. This had a devestating effect on his tender heart. He withdrew into himself giving away all his possessions much to the dismay of his parents. One day a group of bairagi sadhus (holy men) came by his town and Lashman Das joined them and left home. Under the influence of a vaishnava hermit Janaki Prasad he was given a new name of Narayan Das alias Madho Das. He travelled south with Baba Ram Thamman and spend many years in Hindu monistries in centeral India. During these wondering years he was captivated by an old yogi Aughar Nath in Maharashtara in the Panchbati forest learning all manner of Trantric Mantras. He finally settled down near a town called Nanded. As time went by he aquired disciples of his own and his attainments made him haughty and he began to show disrespect to visiting hermits and sadhus, his awe spread throughout the surrounding land and was regarded by locals with apprehention.

In September 1708 the all knowing Guru, wondered into the ashram of Madho Das. At the time the hermit was away bathing in the river, Guru Ji ordered his Sikhs to slaughter a buffalo grazing near by. Upon hearing this Madho Das returned to his ashram with great anger and fury. Upon setting eyes on Guru Sahib Ji, Madho Das faultered and went down to his knees. But still the anger of the killed animal welled within him. “My ashram has been desicrated by the blood of this buffalo” he said.

“The animal was killed in a corner of your compound, how does it desicrate the whole of your ashram?” enquired Guru Sahib Ji.

“This is my land, and blood has been spilt upon it” answered Madho.

“Rivers of blood are flowing all around you. Your fellow man is being subjected to untold attrocities, is this not also on your land ?” Guru Ji said. With this the realisation dawned upon Madho Das and he fell at Guru Sahib Ji’s feet. “O’Lord, I am your Bandha, command me as you will “ he said.

Madho Das was initiated into the Khalsa by taking the amrit of the double edged sword administered by Guru Sahib Ji. Thus Madho Das became a fully fledged Sikh and was given the name of Gurbakhsh Singh, but he became known as Bandha Singh Bahdadur, the brave.

Bandha was an inspired choice of leader for the impending confrontation with the Mughals.

Once converted to Sikhism, Bandha projected a sense of formidable power that witnessed the emergence of militant Khalsa assertiveness. When he left the south for the long journey to the Punjab, however, he only had twenty five Sikhs with him – the five, Binod Singh, Kahan Singh, Baaj Singh, Daya Singh and Ram Singh and twenty others.

His strength of course lay in Guru Gobind Singh Ji's blessing and the hukamnamas (directives) to the various Sikh sangats, directing them to rally around Bandhas banner. As symbols of authority Guru Ji had given him five arrows from his own quiver, a nishan Sahib (flag) and a nagara (war drum). Armed with these the handful of men left Nander to seek their destiny in the northern reaches of Hindustan at the end of 1708.

Cautiously making their way through Delhi after a journey of several months Bandha headed for the Punjab where is emissaries had already delivered Guru Sahibs hukamnamas to the Malwa, Doaba and Majha regions, as a result a steady stream of Sikhs had started to join him. After several small scale military actions Bandha headed towards Samana, a town of bitter memories for all Sikhs. It was the home of Sayyad-Jalal-ud-Din, the person who had beheaded Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, and Shashal Beg and Bashal Beg the executioners of Sahibzada Johrawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji the two younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Sumana was a heavily defended and fortified town with a resident garrison. The military commander was scornful of the rag-tag force that was descending upon them. On 26th November 1709 they were in for a surprise.

Bandhas lightening assault that morning was so swift that the attackers were in the town before the defenders had time to close the gates. A fierce battle ensued in the streets with the long oppressed peasantry joining forces with Bandha and wreaked vengeance. In quick succession Bandha next stormed Ghuram, Thaska and Mustafabad. Each Sikh victory added to Bandhas mystique and gave the populace confidence in its own power, a discovery made by Bandhas fearless feats.

When on his way back from Mustafabad, Bandha heard of the indecencies which Qaddam-ud-din, the ruler of Kapuri, inflicted on the regions Hindu population, he decided to punish him. Kapuri was destroyed and Qaddam-ud-din punished with it. The prosperous town of Sahaura, which had an equally infamous ruler, Osman Khan, was Bandhas next destination. Osman had tortured and killed the Muslim divine Pir Buddhu Shah because he, his four sons and five hundred of his men had aided Guru Gobind Singh Ji in the battle of Banghani. The Sikhs anger was further honed by reports of Osman Khans atrocities against the local Hindus. Ironically Sadhaura, the abode of sadhus, once a Buddhist holy centre was raised to the ground.

Sirhand, the principle town of the south-east Punjab was the goal. To Bandha as to all Sikhs, it represented the bestiality of its governor Wazir Khan, who had bricked up Guru Gobind Singh Jis youngest sons before putting them to death.It was clear to every Sikh that the time had come for Wazir Khan to get his just dues. Writes James Bowne of the India Tract, “ Of all the instances of cruelty exercised by the Moghals this is the most barbarous and outrageous. Defenceless women and children have usually escaped, even from religious fury. No wonder then that the vengeance of the Sikhs was so severe. "

Though the Sikhs were fewer in numbers and arms and the well equipped Mughal force with its muskets, heavy guns, mail armour, cavalrymen and war elephants was more superior, Bandhas force excelled in swordsmanship and hand to hand combat, backed by archers and spearmen. What fuelled them was the impeccable sense of purpose, which their foe lacked. Wazir Khans army is estimated to be in the region of 20,000, while no records exist of the Sikh force it is generally regarded to be much fewer in number. The two forces clashed on the plain of Chappar Chiri, ten miles from Sirhand, on 22nd May 1710. Not unexpectedly the ferocity of the fighting outstripped all previous encounters between Sikh and Mughal forces. Wazir Khan and several of his commanders were killed and according to Khafi Khan, a chronicler of the time ‘not a man of the army of Islam escaped with more then his life and the clothes he stood in. Horsemen and footmen all fell under the sword of the infidels (Sikhs) who perused them as far as Sirhand.’ The defences of Sirhand were breached two days later. Although Sirhand paid a heavy price, it was spared total destruction after its Hindu population appealed to Bandha Singh. Its reprieve was short lived, as a little over 50 years later Jassa Singh Ahluwalia would be less forgiving of the towns past misdeeds.

Taken from another forum...

The general message being that Banda Singh Bahadur’s memory was not well revered amongst the Sikhs of that time (as continues to be amongst the Nihangs to this day) and the following assertions were made amongst others as to his ‘true’ character:-

-He was not Amritdhari.
-He was not in charge of the Dal Khalsa Panth.
-He betrayed the Guru Khalsa with his views on the use of alcohol and meat.
-He fought and raided all Muslims indiscriminately and up turned graves of the dead.

Presented below are some questions that arise from these assertion:-

1. Kesar Singh Chibber in his Banasivalanama has indicated that Banda Singh Bahadur did in fact Khande Bata da Amrit. This is a source far more contemporary than those used during the lecture to indicate otherwise. This account certainly does not speak ill of Banda Singh Bahadur.

2. Guru Ki Sakhia relay the account of Banda Singh Bahadur, explain this 2 meetings with Guru Sahib (at the second he was given the title Bahadur by Guru Sahib as defiance against the same title bestowed upon Aurangzeb by his father and also given Amrit). Incidentally, this is the same text used by the Nihangs when discussing the Keski and the requirement for a Blue Keski.

3. This text (Guru Ki Sakhia) further describes Baba Binod Singh coming back from Nanded with Banda Singh Bahadur. This is interesting, as the Buddha Dal claim Baba Binod Singh to be the first Jathedar of the Dal Khalsa Panth, however there is no mention of him or of Baba Kahn Singh (another historical figure from the Buddha Dal) in either Gur Bilas P10 or Sri Gur Sobha or indeed, Mehma Parkash –all of which form the collection of primary and contemporary sources in terms of Sikh history.

4. Another issue, on the topic of the Buddha Dal is that Gyani Gyan Singh (again another commonly quoted source by the Nihangs and Sanatan Sikhs) states in his Twarikh Guru Khalsa that the Buddha Dal was formed in c.1734 –how does this reconcile with the Buddha Dal being synonymous with the notion put forth by the Nihangs that they are the Guru Khalsa Dal Panth? This text also does not lend support to the concept of the Dal ever being led by a single Jathedar.

5. The account of Banda Singh Bahadur upturning a grave relates to that of Bibi Anoop Kaur, who was kidnapped by the Nawab of Malerkotla. Having done with her, she was buried there by his men. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur upturned her grave in order to give to her a proper funeral cremation as per Sikh rites and honour her shaheedi. The only negative account I have seen of Banda Singh Bahadur upturning graves is a Moghul account, which unsurprisingly displays him to a culprit.

6. The aforementioned texts relaying the account of Banda Singh Bahadur also indicate that he did in fact stop his attack at Sirhind after delivering due justice to Wazir Khan and moreover ordered the Sikhs to stop looting at this stage.

It would appear from the foregoing that there is much in the way of reconciliation between the account presented by the Nihangs and that indicated in sources available prior to the British texts and those of the illustrious Gyani Gyan Singh.

Reply from a member...

Without having this slip into the usual ramblings on meat etc, the main points that come up when Banda Singh Bahadur is discussed tend to be:-

Pro-Banda Camp:
-Excellent Warrior & Khalsa Singh of the Guru
-Appointed as leader of the Khalsa Army
-Upheld the much loved 'Vegetarian' ideals of many of today's Sikhs (although his ultra-Vaishnav diet often gets overlooked!)
-Did a great job in Sirhind
-Established the first major Sikh Kingdom with the striking of the coin (with the Persion Legend..."Fateh Gobind Singh Shahen Shah...)

Anti-Banda Camp:
-Was he Amritdhari or not?
-Wore the wrong colours
-Didn't eat meat or partake in alcohol
-Shouldn't have got married
-Became obsessed with power and undertook hideous crimes against Muslims, Women and Children

Points concerning his initiation into the Khalsa and vile accusation of up turning graves etc, have already been addressed above by various posters, however, let's look at some of the other points:-

1. Why should Banda Singh Bahadur not have got married? -Usually we hear of supposed Hukams from Guru Sahib in this respect, however where are there hukams? Moreover, why would such a hukam be made to Banda Singh Bahadur, given that Guru Sahib himself was married thrice?

2. What is the issue with the colour of clothing? Without dwelling into Taksal-influenced issues on Red and Green colours, clearly the issue here is that he no longer exclusively wore Blue -the colour argued to be that of the Khalsa. If indeed this is the case and that Blue that the costume of a Nihang Singh is the only true form of the Khalsa, then why would Guru Sahib remove blue clothing following the Uch da Pir episode?

3. Is it necessary to eat meat and drink alcohol to be a Khalsa Singh? (please note the question is not asking if meat/alcohol are OK, but if as the Tat Khalsa of the day enforced, is it necessary to be eating pork chops outside the Akal Thakt to prove oneself Sikh? -also, is the eating of Pork and Beef permitted for Sikhs?)

4. If the vegetarism as Banda Singh Bahadur propagated is indeed the Gurmat ideal, why do Sikhs today, including those professing extreme commitment to Bibek include onions and spices in their diet?

5. Following on from (4), why do the supporters of Banda Singh Bahadur as a key figure of Gurmat ideals not use the salutation 'Fateh Darshan' or contemplate "Guru Guru" as per his instructions?
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Admin

SPNer
Jun 1, 2004
6,689
5,244
SPN
Re: Baba Bandha Singh Bahadur

Baba Banda Singh Bahadur: Battle Strategy Against Mughal Forces

Baba Banda Singh Bahadur: Battle Strategy Against Mughal Forces By Surinder Singh
Surinder Singh has rightly chosen Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, a martyr to the cause of the Sikhs, as the subject of his book.
Guru Gobind Singh met Madho Das Bairagi at Nander, converted him to Sikhism and named him Banda Singh Bahadur. Later, the Guru sent him to Punjab to fight against the Mughal tyranny. As the author writes, "During the initial years of the 18th century, in spite of Mughal government’s all out efforts to literally wipe out the Sikhs with all sorts of barbaric atrocities and executions, Banda Bahadur has made a phenomenal contribution to keep the flame of Sikh existence alive and burning." Thus, the memory of a commander of this calibre of the Khalsa army needs to be cherished.
The author explores the fighting techniques of Banda Bahadur in detail. The subject needed extensive study because Banda Bahadur followed strategies like the element of surprise which caught the enemy unawares, dhai path (two and a half steps) and kept the morale of his soldiers high which are crucial in winning any war. The author claims: "I have been virtually living with Banda Bahadur for the past couple of years and strongly feel that the nation owes a debt of gratitude towards him and in all fairness should give him his due place under the sun."
It is amazing that Banda Bahadur planned his battles with such care that his partisan band of a few hundred soldiers could take on the Mughal army which was far superior in every respect, be it the number of soldiers, cavalry, arms or ammunition. From a bairagi to a saint soldier, it was a phenomenal achievement! He accomplished this all with the blessings of Guru Gobind Singh.
Besides his excellence in war craft and statecraft, Banda Bahadur was the first to issue Sikh coinage. He was responsible for the liquidation of the zamindari system in Punjab. The role of peasants became crucial during battles. They were an untapped energy and it was Banda Bahadur who succeeded in rousing them. The zamindars of certain areas who were tired of the tyranny of the Mughals too reposed their trust in him and supplied him with arms and horses. The Sikhs developed into a political power under Banda Singh Bahadur. His followers could move unchecked in major parts of Punjab after routing the huge, well-trained, well-equipped Mughal army. His aim was to avenge himself on all those who had harassed Guru Gobind Singh. He did it by razing Sirhind to the ground, attacking the well-fortified town of Samana and other towns like Ghuram, Jalalabad, etc.


Besides discussing the battle strategy of Banda Bahadur, the author has written about the Sikh Guru’s wars with the Mughal forces, their contribution to the art of defensive warfare. It traces the process of the Sikhs becoming a martial race, the gradual build-up of arms by the Gurus for the defence of their followers. The book throws light on the nine battles fought by Guru Gobind Singh before the creation of the Khalsa in 1699 and 11 battles fought after the creation. The writer has enumerated the principles to be observed in war as followed and practiced by the Sikh Gurus. This short and crisp book fulfils a long-standing demand of many people who feel that Banda Singh Bahadur has not got the due which he ought to.
The writer has chosen words with care that lead to visualisation of the battles, especially the siege of Gurdas Nangal, where Banda Bahadur and his followers were taken prisoners and then ultimately taken to Delhi and brutally massacred.
 
Last edited:

Gyani Jarnail Singh

Sawa lakh se EK larraoan
Mentor
Writer
SPNer
Jul 4, 2004
7,706
14,381
75
KUALA LUMPUR MALAYSIA
A few relevant points.
Imho, the SIKHS at that time became "divided".(whats new about that ??)
The MUGHALS managed to "convince" a large number of Sikhs that Banda Singh was not quite right. The majority of these Sarrkariah Sikhs were the ones called the Tatt Khalsa.
Later onin time it was to become a "technical offense" ( hence the word Tankhaiyah meaning minor offender under the SRM is supposedly arrived at from the word SALARIED..otherwise Govt Employee ). Its no secret that Sikhs were employed by the Govt of the day..even Guru nanak ji was at one time of His Life a Govt Servant as a Store Keeper..so many Sikhs continued in Govt service - but later on the Mughals began to catch even these law abiding sikhs to be torutred and killed for being Sikhs..and thats when the Sikhs began to discourage govt service and called these Tankhaiyahs..who had to stand up in snagat..and be acorded a mild "punishment" of sorts before they could address the sikh jathas/sarbatt khalsa etc. The most prominent sarkari sikhs to be killed were the father and son duo subegh singh and shahbaz singh who were placed on the reversing gears charkhrree and murdered).
Anyway suffice it to say that the Govt of the day managed to get some Sikhs to their side agaisnt Banda Singh..a large enough rift that was then settled amicably by Bhai mani Singh at Darbar sahib...but looks like it didnt heal the wounds well enough. Banda Singh was not helped by the sikhs outside the Garhee and he was left to his own defences.
It could also be equally true that the Govt control/influece even extended to the Mata Jis living in Delhi. After all they were wives of the Enemy of the State and this influence was used by the mughal adminsitration to help divide the Tatt Khalsa away from the Bandai Khalsa.
Baba banda Singhs period needs a lot more research. Many of the Academics in Punjab were heavily influenced by Comrade Ideology - hence even Guru teg bahadur jis history has been heavily maligned and misinterpreted..Sikhs need a relook at Guru jis shaheedee and present the facts. Guru Ji has been maligned to be a "robber" who was justly punished by death - thus denying that his shaheedee is fro freedom of religion.
The Very Fact of How Banda Singh Faced his death is a testimony to his beleifs.He followed the hallowed path first showed by Guru Arjun Ji Sahib.... When he failed to receive any help from the Sikhs outside, and hunger spread inside the fortress he was forced to surrender. He was arrested with 700 sikhs and brought to delhi. Along the way he was placed in a iron cage that had sharp spikes on all sides - forcing him to stand chained in one position all the way from Punajb to delhi. ON arrival 100 of his Sikhs were martyred daily in publicin front of him. Officials of the Great East India company witnessed this slaughter and they were equally surprised at how bravely each Sikh preferred a horrible death to conversion and life/freedom and Govt.honours. One of the YOUNGEST Martyrs was Harkirat Singh just 7 yaers old. His mother managed to get him a Royal pardon on the grounds that he was a HINDU. When she arrived at the Martyr Ground to "rescue" her son..He DENIED the lady was his mother. How could his mother say he wasnt a sikh ? He begged the Zalaad to cut his head quickly as he was being delayed unnecessarily by an obvioulsy mad lady. I am a SIKH and want my martyrdom NOW.
After the 700 had been executed, it was Banda Singh Jis turn. First he was handed a knife and his infnat son was placed in his lap. Hewas ordered to cut out his son's heart- Banda remained seated serenely..the Zalaad took out another knife, slashed open the infnats body, took out his beating heart and stuffed it into Banda's mouth.Having failed to break Bnadas resolve, he ordered the others to heat pliers and pull out pieces of Bandas flesh from his body...a hot iron was pierced into his right eye..then his left...while his flesh was pulled off in chunks...finally he was beheaded. Bnada Singh died as he lived..a TRUE SINGH of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. By his DEATH he proved all the LIES spread agaisnt him. A "traitor" could never have endured such a death. SIKHS need to get their act together and preserve their authentic history..attempts are being made ( along the Ravidassiah separation from SGGS) to RECLAIM Banda Singh as BAIRAGEE SAADH...just as Bhai kanhiyah ji is being reclaimed as a Hindu of Haryana...and Bhagat ravidass ji is being "claimed back by the Hindu Chamaar community.... The PEARLS of our Necklace are being stolen right under our eyes..Jaagteh raho Khalsa Ji !!
 

Admin

SPNer
Jun 1, 2004
6,689
5,244
SPN
Banda Bahadur-First Sikh King

Baba Banda Singh Bahadur is revered as one of Sikhism's greatest warriors as well as one of its most hallowed martyrs and was the first sikh king. His confronation with the Mughal administration in Northern India, though brief, was strong enough to shake its foundations.

Early life
Banda was born on October 16, 1670 at Rajouri in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, into a family of Minhas Rajputs. He was named Lachman Dev. Wrestling, horseback riding, and hunting were his major hobbies. As a young man, he shot a doe and was shocked to watch the mother and her aborted fawn writhing in pain and dying. After this gloomy scene, he had a change of heart. He left his home and became a disciple of a Bairagi Sadhu, Janaki Das, who gave him the name, Madho Das. In the company of the Sadhus he traveled through Northern India and finally arrived at Nanded (in present-day Maharashtra), situated on the bank of the river Godavari, where he built a hut to meditate upon God.

Madho Das meets Guru Gobind Singh

In the September of 1708, Guru Gobind Singh, who had come to the Deccan along with the Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah, happened to go to Madho Das’ hut while hunting. Madho Das was away. The Guru ordered his disciples to cook food there and then. The matter was reported to Madho Das, who was enraged. He had learnt Tantra and tried some tricks to humiliate the Guru. But none had any effect on Guru Gobind. The Guru then asked him, “Who are you?” Madho Das, who had accepted defeat, said with great humility, "I am your banda (slave)." The Guru inquired, if he knew who he was talking to. Banda said he was none other than Guru Gobind Singh. The Guru encouraged him to give up his present way of living and resume the duties of a true warrior.

Banda's mission
Guru Gobind Singh hoped that Emperor Bahadur Shah would fulfill his promise and do justice in the Punjab by punishing the Governor of Sirhind, Nawab Wazir Khan and his accomplices for their crimes against the people including the deaths of the Guru's mother, Mata Gujri and his two younger sons, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh. Finding him reluctant, the Guru deputed Madho Das Bairagi, under the leadership of five Sikhs, to end Mughal persecution of non-Muslims in the Punjab.

In a few days, the Guru held a durbar, baptised Madho Das and conferred the title of Banda Bahadur on him. He appointed him as his military lieutenant and invested him with full political and military authority as his deputy to lead the campaign in the Punjab against the Mughal administration
 

rajabandai

SPNer
Dec 9, 2011
3
3
50
Baba Banda Singh was a Dogra , we dogra's are eternal slaves and servants of GURU SAHIBBAN , but muslims , british and now purbia leaders have always tried and succeeded in dividing these two twin kaums of GURU dass's resulting in these outsider political thuggs shadowing the KHALSA
 

❤️ CLICK HERE TO JOIN SPN MOBILE PLATFORM

❤️ CLICK HERE TO JOIN SPN MOBILE PLATFORM

📌 For all latest updates, follow the Official Sikh Philosophy Network Whatsapp Channel:
Top