Banda Singh Bahadur

Banda Singh Bahadur
	Lachhman Dev alias Madho dass Bairagi alias Baba Banda Singh Bahadur (pronounce like this: Banda- "Bun-tha", Bahadur- "Bah-Ha-'th'ur" {'th' pronounced as 'th' in 'the'}), of Jammu region, is revered as one of greatest warriors as well as one of its most hallowed martyrs of the Khalsa Army who were fighting against the cruel Mughal-Muslim rule and their tyranny. His confrontation with the Mughal-muslim administration in Northern India, though brief, was strong enough to shake its foundations. The agrarian uprising that he led in the Punjab was the foundation on which the Dal Khalsa, the Sikh Misls and Maharaja Ranjit Singh built the edifice which finally culminated with Ranjit Singh capturing Lahore in 1799 and establishing the Sikh Kingdom of the Punjab.
Early life Banda was born in a Minhas Rajput family on October 16, 1670 at Rajouri in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir. 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 travelled 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 prepare food, so one of Madho's goats, was slaughtered and cooked at Madho's hut, there and then. On returning Madho, a vegitarian was outraged, as a Hindu he felt his his camp had been defiled. He had learnt Tantra and was locally famous for his occult powers. He attempted to conjure his magic to humiliate the Guru,but his magic could not prevail on Guru Gobind. Defeated he fell at the Guru's feet and said with great humility, "Let me be called banda (slave)." The Guru inquired, if Madho knew who he was talking to. Banda said "you are no other than Guru Gobind Singh". The Guru soon gave Banda the title of Bahadhur. Becoming one of the the Guru's lions (Singh) he took up the duties of a saint-soldier a true warrior in the fight against tyranny. Banda was baptized and converted into the Sikh fold, and was given the name Gurbax Singh. He is popularly known as "Banda Singh Bahadhur".
Banda's Mission Guru Gobind Singh hoped that Emperor Bahadur Shah would fulfill his promise and punish the Governor of Sirhind, Nawab Wazir Khan and his accomplices for persecuting the people of Punjab, and for murdering the Guru's mother, Mata Gujri and his two younger children, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh. The promise was made by Bahadur Shah to the Guru earlier, when Shah asked the Guru to help him consolidate his rule over India, following the death of his father, Emperor Arungzeb. Guru Gobind was intrumental in helping Shah defeat his brothers, who were fighting for the treasured throne of the Mughal Empire. Bahadur Shah was reluctant to carry out his promise, or may have been unable to do so during his delicate rule. The Guru had no ill-will towards the new Emperor, and decided to train Bunda Bahadur personally, so that he could help free the enslaved people of Punjab, who were being persecuted by Wazir Khan. In a few days, the Guru held a durbar, baptised Madho Das and conferred the title of Banda Singh 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 and to punish Nawab Wazir Khan and his supporters. Banda was supplied with five gold tipped arrow and a nagada (drum) as symbols of temporal authority. He was given an advisory council of five devoted Sikhs (Hazuri Singhs), who on their arrival in the Punjab were to assure the Sikhs that Banda was the Guru's nominee and deputy and to organize them in order to lead an expedition against Sirhind: Baj Singh, a descendant of the third Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das. Baj Singh's brother Ram Singh. Binod singh, a descendant of the second Sikh Guru, Guru Angad Dev. Binod Singh's son Kahan singh Fateh Singh.  Read More....

Asa Di Var

Asa Di Var is a collection of 24 pauris or stanzas written by Guru Nanak Devji (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, page 462-475). The founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev ji wrote the first 9 together on one occasion and later wrote 15 more stanzas on a different occasion. These two parts were then compiled together by the 5th Guru, Guru Arjan Dev ji in 1604 AD.

When Guru Arjan Dev ji was compiling the Holy Granth, he added a few Sloks of Guru Nanak and in some cases Guru Angad Dev ji, the second Guru of the Sikhs. These Sloks are tied together in a way that they relate to the same theme as highlighted in the pauri. In its present form, the Asa Di War contains a few more shabads recited by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru.

The Asa Di War kirtan is recited in the early morning hours in a very melodious way and style as mentioned by Guru Arjan Dev Ji called "Tunde Asraje Ki Dhuni" after the name of the contemporary brave and pious king Asraj. One of the hands of the king was amputated, so he was called Tunda meaning crippled. The deeds and the ode of this king was sung by the bards in that typical fashion which then was extremely popular and melodious and was therefore adopted to performing Asa Di War.

Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji - Pehli Patshai

Name: Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji
 Date of Birth: October 20, 1469
 Place of Birth: Talwandi - Nankana Sahib (Pakistan)
 Father: Shri Kalyan Das Mehta (Shri Kalu Mehta)
 Mother: Mata Tripta
 Mahal(Wife): Mata Sulakhani
 Sons: Baba Shri Chand, Baba Lakhimi Das
 Year of Gurgadi: 1469
 Duration of Gurgadi: Entire life
 Ruler of the Time: Babar, Behol Lodhi, Sikandar Lodhi
 Date of Eternal Rest: September 22, 1539
 Place of Eternal Rest: Shri Kartarpur Sahib (Punjab)
 Total Age: 70 Years, 5 Months, 7 Days

It was during the time when the world was plunged into the dark world of ignorance, feudal tyranny and oppression, religious and cultural strife, that Siri Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, was born. His birthday is celebrated on the full moon night which mostly falls within November. Celestial music resounded in heaven. Almighty host of gods, thus, hailed his birth, "God has come to save the trouble peace to the people of all communities, preached brotherhood and humanitarianism irrespective of caste, creed, color and economic status. Guru Nanak Dev brought vision of a common humanity to a society which had become a heaven of violence and strife. He had faith in humanity. According to him, love of God implied love for his creation. Service of humanity indicates one's love for God.

"Miti Dhundh Jag Chanan Hoa,
Mitya Andhera Chan Charya"

That is "With the appearance if Guru Nanak Dev, the mist of ignorance disappeared and there was the light of righteousness, just as darkness is dispelled instantly when the sun rises and stars disappear".

According to Alfonso Di Nola, "Like many of Indian Saints and Prophets, Guru Nanak's birth was accompanied by supernatural signs and by celestial music. He lived his childhood in freedom of nature, but manifested very soon an exceptional tendency to mediation and isolation, refusing the company of his contemporaries."Read More.....

Frequently Asked Questions About Sikhism

Frequently Asked Questions About Sikhism

Que 1: What is the meaning of the words: Sikh, Guru, Gurbani, Shabad, Gurdwara and Langar?

Que 2: How do Sikhs greet each other? What does Sat Shri Akal means?

Que 3: Why do some names end in “Ji” or “Sahib”?

Que 4: What does Sikhism tells about the image or description of God?

Que 5: Why do Sikhs keep hair?

Que 6: Why Sikhs do not cut their hair but they cut their nails?

Que 7: What is the purpose of turban? Why do Sikhs wear turban?

Que 8: What is the appropriate head covering for Sikh women? Are there particular colors and designs accepted by Sikhism?

Que 9: Why do Sikh men have the last name Singh and all women, have the last name Kaur?

Que 10: How and when should I visit the Gurdwara?

Que 11: At what age does a person “take Amrit” (become baptized into Sikhism)?

Que 12: What worship and life one has to follow after he or she takes Amrit?

Que 13: What is the function of the Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship)? Who maintains the Gurdwara? How is it financed?

Que 14: Are there prophets in the Bible, or the Vedas, or the Quran, who tell us about the advent of Guru Nanak?