Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara Sikhi Class

Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji’s first name was Bhai Jaita Ji. He was a Hindu at birth. Bhai Jaita Ji was born into a Rangreta family. Rangreta was a very low caste. It was considered one of the untouchable castes which meant Bhai Jaita Ji and his family received no respect from society. All the Hindus hated Bhai Jaita Ji because of his caste. After being rejected by his own society and religion, Bhai Jaita Ji became a Sikh of Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji. The Sikhs treated Bhai Jaita Ji with as much respect as a person from a higher caste. Everyone was treated equally in Guru Sahib’s Darbar. Bhai Jaita Ji served Guru Ji and the Sangat with a lot of love.

In 1675, Aurengzeb was unsuccessful in converting the Hindu Kashmiri Pandits. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji had accepted to sacrifice himself so that the Hindus could follow their own religion. Guru Ji was tortured and 3 Gursikhs were Shaheed in front of Guru Ji; Bhai Dyaala Ji, Bhai Mati Das Ji and Bhai Sati Das Ji. After refusing to convert to Islam, Aurangzeb ordered his men to behead Guru Ji. Guru Ji accepted this and was beheaded in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. Aurangzeb told his men to behead anyone that tries to come near Guru Ji’s body. For this reason, many Sikhs living in Delhi were too scared to cremate Guru Ji’s body. After hearing of Guru Ji’s sacrifice, Bhai Jaita Ji decided to go to Delhi, along with his father, Bhai Sada Chand Ji, and his uncle, Bhai Agya Ram Ji. The 3 of them reached Delhi. They wanted to take Guru Ji’s head to Anandpur Sahib and cremate it. However, Bhai Jaita Ji thought that if Guru Ji’s head went missing then Aurangzeb would send all his men to find who took the head. The 3 of them started to think how they could take Guru Ji’s head without the guards ever noticing. Then, Bhai Sada Chand Ji came up with an idea. Bhai Sahib looked at Bhai Jaita Ji and said “Look son, this Seva is priceless and I would give anything to do this Seva”. Bhai Jaita Ji agreed and said “Yes father, so what do you suggest we do?”. Bhai Sada Chand Ji smiled at his son and said “Take my head... take my head and replace Guru Ji’s head with mine. The guards will not come after us then.” Bhai Jaita Ji looked towards his father and saw how much love his father had for Guru Ji. He also realised that his father’s face looked a lot like Guru Ji’s face and that this plan would work. Bhai Jaita Ji hugged his father and promised to get Guru Ji’s head to Anandpur Sahib. That night, the 3 of them set out with their horses towards Chandni Chowk, where Guru Ji was executed. It was a stormy night which made it easier to avoid being seen by the guards. Eventually, they reached Guru Ji’s body. Bhai Sada Chand Ji then looked at his son and asked him to cut off his head. Bhai Jaita Ji accepted his father’s request and, using his Kirpan, cut off his own father’s head so that he could carry out this Seva. Then, Bhai Jaita Ji and his uncle sneaked towards Guru Ji’s body. They carried Bhai Sada Chand Ji’s body and head with them. They replaced the head and body of Guru Ji with Bhai Sada Chand Ji’s head and body. The 2 of them managed to reach their horses with Guru Ji’s head and body. Bhai Agya Ram Ji placed Guru Ji’s body on his horse and returned to his house which was close by. He then cremated Guru Ji’s body inside his house. Bhai Jaita Ji took Guru Ji’s head and travelled to Anandpur Sahib on foot. Once reaching Anandpur Sahib, Bhai Jaita Ji went to the Darbar Sahib and placed Guru Ji’s head in front of Guru Gobind Rai Ji. The Sangat looked at Guru Ji’s head and then looked towards Guru Gobind Rai Ji expecting a tear. The 9 year old, Guru Gobind Rai Ji, didn’t shed a single tear. Instead, Guru Ji walked towards Bhai Jaita Ji and hugged Bhai Sahib. Guru Ji was really proud of Bhai Jaita Ji’s bravery. Guru Gobind Rai Ji looked towards the Sangat and said “Rangrete Guru Ke Bete (The Rangrete are the children of the Guru)”. With this Guru Ji proved that it’s not caste which defines who you are, it’s your actions. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s head was then cremated. When Aurangzeb found out about what had happened, he ordered the arrest of Bhai Agya Ram Ji and his family. Bhai Sahib and his family were tortured to death. Aurangzeb then demolished Bhai Agya Ram Ji’s house and built a Mosque as he knew that the Sikhs would want to build a Gurdwara there. Over 100 years later, a Gursikh named Baba Baghel Singh Ji took over Delhi and turned the Mosque into a Gurdwara. Names of Gurdware Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, Delhi – Where Guru Ji’s body was cremated by Bhai Agya Ram Ji. Gurdwara Sees Ganj Sahib, Anandpur – Where Guru Ji’s head was cremated. Gurdwara Sees Ganj Sahib, Delhi – Where Guru Ji was executed. Note: The 2 Gurdware in Delhi were built by Baba Baghel Singh Ji after he took over Delhi in 1783.

In 1684, Guru Gobind Singh Ji installed a war drum called the ‘Ranjit Nagaara’ (Drum of Victory) at Anandpur Sahib Fort. This Nagaara was played before a major battle or to alert the Sikhs when Anandpur Sahib was under attack. When the Nagaara was played, it would send shivers down the enemy’s spine. Bhai Jaita Ji was made the first beater of the Ranjit Nagaara by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Bhai Sahib would always be ready to play the Nagaara when required, even if it was in the middle of the night.

Bhai Jaita Ji received Amrit on Vaisakhi 1699. He was given the name Bhai Jeevan Singh by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Bhai Sahib became an exceptional warrior. He was so good at fighting that he became the trainer of the 2 Vadde Sahibzaade and also taught them how to fight. Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji took part in all of Guru Ji’s battles and was capable of fighting thousands of people at once.

After leaving Anandpur Sahib Fort in December 1704, Guru Ji and the Sikhs were attacked, from behind, by the Mughals and Hindu Raja soldiers. Baba Ajit Singh Ji and a few other Sikhs fought the thousands of Mughals whilst the Sangat made their way to the Sirsa River. Once they had reached the Sirsa River, Guru Gobind Singh Ji ordered Bhai Uday Singh Ji to go fight the Mughals and Hindu Raja Soldiers whilst Nitnem and Asa Di Vaar was being done. Guru Ji also told Bhai Uday Singh Ji to tell Baba Ajit Singh Ji to come back as it was not his time to become Shaheed. Bhai Uday Singh Ji went into the battlefield and told Baba Ajit Singh Ji to return to his father. Baba Ajit Singh Ji tore through the enemy and made his way towards Guru Ji. Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji was with Guru Ji and left the Divaan to see where Baba Ajit Singh Ji was. Bhai Sahib saw Baba Ajit Singh Ji fighting the soldiers and making his way towards the Divaan. Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji ran towards Baba Ji and helped Baba Ji kill the Mughal and Hill Raja soldiers that were standing in their way. Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji brought Baba Ji to where the Divaan was being held. After this, Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji gathered 50 Sikhs and told them “Today we give our lives for our Guru. We must go into the battlefield and not let any of the Mughals or Hill Raja soldiers get to the Sangat whilst they are crossing the river”. Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji and the 50 Sikhs set off towards the battlefield. When they reached the battlefield, Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji and the 50 Sikhs got their guns ready, roared “Bole So Nihaal! Sat Sri Akaal!” and charged at the enemy like a pride of lions. The Mughals and Hill Raja soldiers were taken by surprise and, in just a couple of minutes, the Sikhs had shot down thousands of them. Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji fought like a true son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji; he had no fear and was going to fight till death. The Mughals and Hill Raja soldiers started to panic and back off as Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji’s Jatha was gunning down everyone in their path. Not a single Mughal or Hill Raja soldier could get past Bhai Sahib’s Jatha. This meant that the Sangat was able to quickly cross the river without being attacked. With no other options available, the Mughals and Hill Raja soldiers surrounded Bhai Sahib’s Jatha. They loaded their guns and aimed towards the Jatha of Sikhs. At this point, thousands of soldiers were holding their guns towards Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji’s Jatha. They all fired their guns at once and filled the Sikhs’ bodies with bullets. At last, after killing thousands of Mughals and Hill Raja soldiers, Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji and the 50 Sikhs were Shaheed together. By this point, Bhai Uday Singh Ji had also obtained Shaheedi and Guru Ji and the Sangat had already crossed the river. Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji, Bhai Uday Singh Ji and the Jatha of Sikhs fought fearlessly and, with their sacrifice, Guru Ji and the whole Sangat was able to cross the river without being harmed. Note: Gurdwara Shaheed Burj Sahib was built in memory of Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji’s Shaheedi.

You should treat everyone equally and not discriminate against people based on their caste, colour or religion. Always stand up for your own rights and for the rights of other people. Never give up your religion. Everyone should have the chance to have a funeral. Seva should be done with love, not ego. We should be willing to die to do Seva for the Guru. If something bad happens, for example someone you know dies, you should try not to cry. Instead, do some Simran or a Sukhmani Sahib and an Ardaas to Vaheguru. Guru Ji does not judge you based on caste or colour, Guru Ji judges you based on your actions. You carry out the best actions by following the path of Sikhi. As a Sikh, we should always be ready for battle. That’s why Guru Gobind Singh Ji has ordered us to wear a Kirpan at all times. We should work towards receiving Amrit. We shouldn’t delay it. When a Gursikh is fighting in the battlefield, Guru Ji themselves comes into their body and gives them strength. Protect those that cannot protect themselves.