Sikh history
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Women
Divya Goyal, April 16, 2023: The Indian Express
Here are their profiles (with excerpts from calendar):
Bibi Amro
Bibi Amro was the daughter of the second Sikh master Guru Angad Dev and Mata Khivi. Amro’s talent was such that she could memorise vast amounts of Sikh scripture. It is believed that her husband’s uncle Amar Das, who later succeeded Guru Angad Dev as the third guru, would occasionally visit his brother, and it was on one such visit that he heard the sweet voice of Bibi Amro singing Gurbani. He was so impressed that he became a devout Sikh and a disciple of Guru Angad Dev. Later he appointed Bibi Amro as the head of one of the 22 manjis formed to preach Sikhism. Bibi Amro was responsible for all aspects of administration and was influential in the choice of Amritsar as the spiritual home for Sikhs.
Deep Kaur
Deep Kaur had earned fame on a trip from her village to see Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib. She was believed to have shown exemplary courage when four miscreants tried to harass and rob her. Showing her self-defence skills, she defeated all four with a sword.
She got separated from her group and was encircled by four local thugs, who threw her to the ground to rob her. She grabbed a sword and quickly chopped one down before striking down the other three. When the other group came to help her, they saw Deep Kaur sitting on top of one of the corpses, with the other three around her. When they reached Anandpur Sahib, she received great praise from Guru Gobind Singh, who encouraged other women in the congregation also to adorn such bravery.
Bebe Nanaki
Bebe Nanaki, considered to be the first Sikh, was the elder sister of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak. She was the first to recognise Nanak’s presence, prowess and profound perspectives. She exemplified the essence of sewa (serving the poor), a cornerstone of Sikhism. She remained a constant support in Nanak’s life throughout. She would offer Nanak a job at her husband’s shop, open up her own home for Nank and his wife, and later gifted him the rabab (a musical instrument), which Bhai Mardana went on to play while accompanying Nanak on his travels to preach Sikhism. She also played a significant role in raising Nanak’s son Baba Sri Chand.
Mata Sahib Deva aka Sahib Kaur
Known as the ‘Mother of the Khalsa panth’, she was the wife of the tenth Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh, who had laid the foundation of the Khalsa panth at Anandpur Sahib in 1699. Also known as the empress of the Sikh community, she would direct the Khalsa on socio-political matters whilst heading humanitarian endeavours. Addressing the community of Khalsa as her children, she would perform daily worship to the weapons of Guru Gobind Singh. A modern take on her name adds the honorific ‘Kaur’, which is the name given to women after they are baptised into the Khalsa panth. However, all of the hukamnama (proclamations) she penned show that she signed her name as Sahib Deva.
Bibi Mumtaz
Bibi Mumtaz, the daughter of a Muslim named Nihang Khan, had unconditionally served Bhai Bachittar Singh, the famed horseman, during his last few days after the great Battle of Anandpur Sahib [1704]. He was critically wounded in the battle. Nihang Khan, a devotee of Guru Gobind Singh, gave him shelter. When enemy soldiers confronted Nihang Khan and accused him of harbouring enemies, he still sheltered Bachittar Singh under the guise that he was Bibi Mumtaz’s husband. Soon after Bachittar died, Bibi Mumtaz took Nihang Khan’s words as truth – that she was married to the deceased soldier. She spent the rest of her life as his widow. The Gurdwara Yaadgar Bibi Mumtaaz Sahib now stands at Ropar of Punjab in her memory.
The brave women of Lahore who refused to convert
Thousands of women of Lahore braved the extreme barbarism of Mir Mannu, then Governor of Lahore (1748-1753), who sought to eradicate all Sikhs from his province. Sikh men were beheaded, and the women and children were sent to a labour camp, where women were expected to grind over 40 pounds of grain each day.
Freedom was offered to them if they converted to Islam, but not a single woman converted and kept singing Gurbani. Mannu escalated his barbarism by ordering children to be slain before their mothers. The lifeless bodies of infants, toddlers and children were ripped apart, with the limbs strung into garlands placed around the grieving mothers’ necks. Yet they held steadfast to their identity and refused to denounce their faith.
Mata Khivi
Mata Khivi was the wife of the second master Guru Angad Dev, and the mother of Bibi Amro. She was the force behind expansion of langar sewa (community kitchen) far and wide. She was also considered a key figurehead for the early Sikh community and holds the auspicious honour of being the only Sikh woman directly mentioned in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The holy scripture describes her as “Khivi, the virtuous wife [of Guru Angad], whose [caring nature] provides such dense shade to all. She serves bounty of Guru’s Langar, the kheer- the rice pudding and ghee- delicious like ambrosial nectar.” (Ang 967, Raag Ramkali, written by Sata & Balwand).
Mata Nanaki
Mata Nanaki was the wife of the sixth Sikh master Guru Hargobind, the founder of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs in Amritsar. She was a constant force of support for the Sikh community. Mata Nanaki lived long to see and serve five Sikh Gurus – from Guru Arjan Dev to Guru Gobind Singh. She saw the expansion of the Sikh community in Amritsar during Guru Hargobind’s time. She was a community leader during this period, travelling eastwards with her son Guru Tegh Bahadur (who later became the ninth Guru). Mata Nanaki would help raise the young Gobind Singh (son of Guru Tegh Bahadur, who later became the tenth guru) when Guru Tegh Bahadur travelled with his wife Mata Gujari to preach Sikhism. Mata Nanaki was the constant force of support and guidance for the latter half of the Sikh period.
Mata Sulakhni
Mata Sulakhni was the wife of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak. She was a pillar of support for the foundation of the early Sikh community. While she and Guru Nanak were still in their teens, they moved in with his sister Bebe Nanaki and her husband, Jairam, in Sultanpur. Here, Mata Sulakhni gave birth to two sons, Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das. Mata Sulakhni held the highest regard for Bebe Nanaki and raised both sons with her support. Whilst Guru Nanak travelled worldwide, Mata Sulakhni cared for congregations back home in Punjab.
Mai Bhago
She was a distinguished woman Sikh warrior who led Guru Gobind Singh’s army against the Mughals. She was an exceptionally skilled warrior who had forced the Mughal army to retreat. In 1704, Mughals surrounded Guru Gobind Singh in Anandpur Sahib, stating any of his men could leave on the condition that they declared themselves as no longer a Sikhs of the Guru.
As many as 40 Sikhs agreed to leave. Mai Bhago was enraged when she heard of their desertion and confronted them. Her ferociousness made them realise their mistake, and they agreed to return to the battlefield. On their journey, they intercepted a Mughal army. Mai Bhago and the 40 men fought the Mughals on horseback with a spear in hand and forced them to retreat. All of the men died except for the seriously injured Mai Bhago. She went on to spend the rest of her life as a Nihangani, serving within the guru’s army.
Kaula aka Mata Kaulan
A devoted disciple of Guru Hargobind, there are different versions available related to her in Sikh history. According to one version, she was the adopted daughter of a Muslim priest Rustam Khan and later became the student of Sufi saint Mian Mir. She lived a repressed lifestyle under her father’s watch. According to the other version, she was kidnapped by Rustam Khan, who raised her as a Muslim but she was the daughter of a Hindu couple. She found solace in Gurbani and became a true disciple of Guru Hargobind after catching a glimpse of him. Eventually, the guru, upon consultation with Mian Mir, rescued Kaula from her Lahore home, and she started living in Amritsar near Harmandir Sahib. An incredibly enlightened disciple, Gurdwara Mata Kaulan Sahib stands in her memory near the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Bibi Bhani
Bibi Bhani was the daughter of the third Sikh master Guru Amar Das. Her husband Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh master, died at the young age of 47 and held the title for just six years. She attained great spiritual enlightenment and her teachings guided her youngest son Guru Arjan Dev to obtain the title and he succeeded his father as the fifth Sikh master.
The shabad “Poota Mata Ki Aasees” (loosely translated as, “O son, this is your mother’s blessing that you may never forget the God”) was written by Guru Arjan Dev (in the words of her mother) as a tribute to the guidance he received from her when he attained the title at the age of 18.
Women Who Inspired
Stuti Malhotra, March 6, 2021: The Times of India
The first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Devji, laid the foundation of equality between men and women by stating: “Why should we talk ill of her, who gives birth to kings? The woman is born from woman; there is none without her.” (Guru Granth Sahib p 473) By demonstrating great courage and valour, Sikh women became the backbone of their religion; they undertook different responsibilities at different times, ranging from running the community kitchen to fighting battles.
Mata Khivi, wife of the second of the 10 Sikh gurus, Guru Angad Dev, took the responsibility of langar, the community kitchen, and was an embodiment of selfless service. Her community kitchen would be open at all times. The Guru Granth Sahib mentions her thus: “Great was her shadow like that of a huge tree. Regularly and abundantly, she served the delicious rice pudding enriched with clarified butter and tasting like elixir, to the persons who visited the Guru.” (GGS, p 967) Mata Khivi was instrumental in establishing the practice of langar which served all without any discrimination on the basis of caste, colour, gender or religion. The tradition of langar continues till date and has become very much a part of Sikh identity. Mata Khivi broke the age-old practice of purdah and encouraged women to do self-less service in the community kitchen. She has been called as Mata as she would feed everyone with care and affection like a mother.
Mai Bhago, also known as Mata Bhag Kaur, was a disciple of the tenth Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh. She was born and brought up in a devout Sikh household and was instrumental in influencing the Sikhs who expressed ‘bedava’, dissent, against Guru Gobind Singh, to return to the Guru and fight for him valiantly under her leadership.
Mai Bhago is said to have saved the Sikh panth from disintegration at a crucial juncture, and is referred to as the Joan of Arc of Sikh history, an exemplary representation of bhakti and shakti.
On another occasion, when Mai Bhago learnt that the Mughal army was chasing Guru Gobind Singh, she dressed like a soldier, riding a horse and bearing a sword, led a military contingent to block the path of the Mughals and fought against them at Khidrana in what is known as the Battle of Mukatsar.
Guru Gobind Singh was pleased with the sacrifice of the brave Sikhs and called them ‘Muktas’, the liberated. From then on, Mai Bhago was always with Guru Gobind Singh, as part of his security. She played an exemplary role of a disciple whose mettle is tested to the hilt, and also became a role model for women fraternity of the religion.
Some historians also mention that the tradition of women wearing a turban was initiated by Mai Bhago.
Bhai Vir Singh, a Sikh writer and theologian, calls her the ‘Pole Star’ of the Sikhs who guides the lost travellers. She is a source of inspiration to the community till date.
It was due to the spirit infused by the Sikh Gurus that the remarkable character of Sikh women came to the fore and they played an important role in Sikh history.
