Chamkaur Battle| Martyrs Week (Shaheedi Saptah)

Chamkaur Battle| Shaheedi Saptah

The martyrdom of the family of Shri Gobind Singhji, the tenth and last Guru of the Sikhs, is considered the greatest martyrdom in history. No other example will be heard or read like this martyrdom given for the protection of religion and the general public.

This martyrdom is remembered by the name of Shaheedi Saptah because within a week the entire family of Guru Gobind Singh ji was martyred.

According to the Nanakshahi calendar, Martyrdom Week is celebrated from 20 December to 27 December. On the days of Martyrdom Week, kirtan-recitation is done on a large scale from Gurudwaras to homes and the sacrifices of Guru Gobind Singh ji's family are remembered. Sikhs tell their children about the martyrdom of Guru Sahib's family.

The martyrdom of Mata Gujri and Sahibzade in the chilly winter days is the biggest martyrdom in history.

Mata Gujri and both the younger Sahibzads were imprisoned by the Mughal soldiers under the open sky in cold Burj of Sirhind in the midst of this bitter cold of December month of 1704 AD.

Martyrs Week (Shaheedi Saptah)

20 December, 1704

Mughal soldiers suddenly attacked the fort of Anandpur Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh wanted to fight with the Mughal army, but other Sikh fighters asked him to leave. After this Guru Gobind Singh's family along with other Sikhs left the fort of Anandpur Sahib and left there.

December 21, 1704

When Guru Gobind Singh ji started crossing the Sarsa river with his companions, but due to the rapid flow of water, the whole family got separated from each other. After separation, Guru Gobind Singh reached Chamkaur along with his two elder Sahibzade Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Jujhar Singh. On the other hand, Mata Gujri, along with the two younger Sahibzade Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh and Gangu, who was a servant of Guru Sahib, separated from the other Sikhs. After this Gangu took all of them to his home and betrayed Guru Gobind Singh ji, he secretly informed Nawaz Wazir Khan of Sirhand that Mata Gujri and two Sahibzade were with him. As soon as he came to know, Wazir Khan sent soldiers and imprisoned Mata Gujri and both the younger Sahibzads.

22 December, 1704

On this day the battle of Chamkaur took place in which Sikh soldiers of Guru ji and Mughal army were face to face. It is said that the Mughal army was in large numbers (one million) but the Sikhs were very few. Guru Gobind Singh ji encouraged his soldiers and asked them to fight strongly against the Mughals. After this, the Sikhs bravely fought from the Mughals and killed many Mughals.

23 December, 1704

This terrible war continued the next day as well and the Sikhs bravely fought the Mughals. Baba Ajit Singh 18 year old and Baba Jujhar Singh 14 year old, both the elder Sahibzade of Guru Gobind Sahib, after seeing the Sikhs being martyred in the war, sought permission from Guru Gobind Sahib to go to war one by one. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib gave them permission and both the brothers started killing the Mughal soldiers one after the other but could not recover in front of the huge number of Mughals and both also attained Veergati.

24 December, 1704

Guru Gobind Singh Sahib also wanted to enter the war, but the companions, using their authority, stopped Guru Gobind Singh Sahib from entering the war and asked him to leave. Following the advice of his Sikh companions, Guru Sahib was forced to leave from there. After the departure of Guru Sahib, the remaining Sikh soldiers were martyred while fighting in the field.

25 December, 1704

After leaving Chamkaur, Guru Gobind Singh Ji reached a village where he met Bibi Harsharan Kaur, Bibi Harsharan Kaur considered Guru Sahib as her ideal. When she came to know about the Sikhs and Sahibzade who were martyred in the war, she secretly reached Chamkaur and started performing the last rites of the martyrs while the Mughals did not want it. Mughals wanted eagles and vultures to eat the dead bodies of Sikhs. As soon as the Mughal soldiers saw Bibi Harsharan Kaur in the battlefield, she was also martyred by handing over to the fire.

26 December, 1704

Nawab Wazir Khan of Sirhind imprisoned Mata Gujri and both the younger Sahibzade Baba Zorawar Singh who was 9 year old and Baba Fateh Singh who was only 7 year old under the open sky. Wazir Khan called both the younger Sahibzade to his court and threatened them to convert to Islam but both the Sahibzade started chanting 'Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Shri Akal' and refused to change their religion. done. Wazir Khan threatened both the Sahibzade and said that till tomorrow either convert your religion or be ready to die.

27 December, 1704

Mata Gujri, imprisoned in the cold fort, prepared both the Sahibzade with great love and sent them to Wazir Khan's court again the next day. Here again Wazir Khan asked them to convert but the younger Sahibzade refused and they started chanting again. Hearing this, Wazir Khan got angry and ordered both the Sahibzade to be walled up alive. After that, the Mughal soldiers martyred both the Sahibzade alive by choosing a brick wall. As soon as this sad news reached Mata Gujri, she too gave up her life.

In this way, the family of Guru Gobind Singh ji gave martyrdom while fighting the cruel Mughal emperor. He attained Veergati while protecting his religion and society.