Bibi Harsharan Kaur - 1704
The Final Shaheed of the Battle of Chamkaur
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In the Battle of Chamkaur, Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s two elder sons, Baba Ajit Singh Ji and Baba Jujhar Singh Ji, obtained Shaheedi (martyrdom).
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The Panj Pyare ordered Guru Gobind Singh Ji to leave Chamkaur as the Panth still needed them. Guru Ji accepted this order and left Chamkaur with 3 other Singhs.
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When Guru Ji reached a village called Khroond, Guru Ji met Bibi Harsharan Kaur, who was Amritdhari. She asked Guru Ji to tell her everything that had happened.
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When Guru Ji told her what had happened in Chamkaur and how his Singh’s obtained Shaheedi, Bibi Ji decided that she would go to Chamkaur to cremate the bodies of the Sahibzaade and the other Shaheeds.
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Bibi Harsharan Kaur disguised herself as a Muslim woman and hid her Kirpan under her clothes. She then started walking to Chamkaur.
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When Bibi Ji reached Chamkaur, it was dark. She saw that the Mughal soldiers were sleeping as they were tired from burying the bodies of the dead Mughals.
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Bibi Ji started collecting the bodies of the Singhs. She could easily differentiate between the Mughal bodies and the Sikh bodies as the Sikhs wore the Bana (uniform) and Dastaar of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
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Whilst collecting the bodies she started feeling sad. The more bodies she collected, the sadder she felt.
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Bibi Harsharan Kaur Ji wasn't sad because the Singhs were Shaheed. She was happy for the Singhs as they had given their life for Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
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The reason she was sad was because she knew that her husband, Bhai Preetam Singh, was also at Chamkaur when the Battle of Chamkaur took place. She was expecting to find the body of her husband.
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She searched and searched and started to think that her husband ran away from the battle like a coward. She started crying.
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However, eventually, she found another body. She looked at the face and, suddenly, the tears of sadness turned into tears of joy as she saw that it was her husband. She knew at that point that her husband was in Sach Khand.
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After collecting all the bodies, Bibi Harsharan Kaur did Ardas. She then picked up wood pieces and cremated the Shaheeds.
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The Mughal soldiers woke up and saw the fire and ran towards it. They saw Bibi Ji and asked her who she was and what she wanted. She replied “I am the daughter of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and I have come to cremate my brothers”.
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The Mughal soldiers needed the bodies of the Singhs to show the Emperor and collect their reward; Bibi Ji did not allow this to happen. The Mughals decided to attack Bibi Ji but Bibi Ji fought back.
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After killing many Mughals, Bibi Ji was injured. Two Mughal soldiers then picked up her injured body and put it in the fire. Bibi Ji obtained Shaheedi and joined her brothers in Sach Khand.
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Morals of Story:
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The Panj Pyare are the form of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. We should always do what the Panj Pyaare tell us to do.
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Never be afraid to do the right thing, no matter what the consequences.
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Guru Ji has given us the 'Bana' (uniform) so we stand out from the crowd.
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A Gursikh is detached from Maya, they do not cry in pain if a loved one dies.
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Everyone should get the chance to have a funeral (1 of 4 life ceremonies).
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In Guru Sahib’s army, both men and women are equal. They should both learn how to defend themselves and other people.