Vaisakhi
Vaisakhi
We’ve all heard the story many times it’s been told and re-told by our forefathers, preachers and our community… over 80,000 Sikhs were gathered together in the presence of Guru Gobind Singh Jee in the Shivalik hills, on the blessed ground now known as Sri Anandpur Sahib. Suddenly silence falls across the congregation and everyone’s eyes are focused on the stage waiting to be addressed by their beloved Guru Gobind Singh Jee, the rider of the blue horse and wearer of the golden plumed Kalgi.
Today there is lightening shinning through the Guru’s eyes, and thunder roaring through the Guru’s voice. Guru Jee holds a naked sword in his hand and challenges a Sikh to give his life for the protection of truth, love and honour. We all know how one by one the Panj Pyare stood up to sacrifice their lives, how they didn’t think of their families, their material attachments or even themselves. They gave up everything they knew, everything they owned and everything they loved, and only then did they receive the sacred gift of Amrit.
From the day of Vaisakhi they renounced their previous caste, colour and creed associations and entered into the brotherhood of the Khalsa Panth or ‘Path of the Pure’. They vowed to be ever ready to give up all for the cause of truth and justice no matter what the price they had to pay, they were brothers united through the grace of the double edged sword of Guru Gobind Singh Jee Maharaj, and when the time came they stood true to the words of the Guru and happily gave up their lives for his cause.
Year after year Vaisakhi comes and goes; we hear the immortal story of how our father Guru Gobind Singh Jee prepared 1 to fight against 125,000, fought
sparrows against hawks and trans formed jackals into lions. Yet only 300 years after that historic day we have started falling away from the golden path set out by our beloved Guru. He took us out of the entangled web of castes, drugs and dishonour, but we find ourselves being submerged into the same evils again!
Sangat Ji now is the time to wake up! How many times will we hear this immortal story and still believe in the Brahmanical yoke of castes? How many times will we still fall prey to drugs? How long are we going to stand back and watch the beloved uniform of our Guru be washed away down the drain?Sangat Ji now is the time to wake up! How many times will we hear this immortal story and still believe in the Brahmanical yoke of castes? How many times will we still fall prey to drugs? How long are we going to stand back and watch the beloved uniform of our Guru be washed away down the drain?
Instead of hearing the story like each year and leaving it in the four walls of the Gurdwara, take it with you into your heart, into the very core of your being. Give up drugs, castes, and material attachment to this world and join together as brothers and sisters of the Khalsa. Wear the beloved uniform of Guru Gobind Singh Ji which is drenched in the blood of countless Shaheed Singhs, read the Bani which once flowed from the tongue of Guru Nanak Dev Jee and take pride that your father is Guru Gobind Singh Jee, your mother is Mata Sahib Kaur Jee and you are a resident of Sri Anandpur Sahib.
Don’t waste another Vaisakhi simply listening to this story, wake up, take the immortal nectar of Amrit, read the Guru’s Bani and forever remember the true Khalsa of Guru Gobind Jee lives with honour and dies for the truth.
Maata Gujri Jee
As a Daughter – Mata Jee was brought up with the consciousness of the Guru’s light; she fulfilled her parent’s aspiration of serving the path of the Guru beyond their expectations by growing into a perfect role model of grace, strength, persistence and sacrifice.
As a Wife – She supported Guru Tegh Bahadur Jee when he was deep in meditation for years, again while he was on his missionary tour, and finally, when the Guru left for Delhi to make the supreme sacrifice.
As a Mother – She moulded the father of the Khalsa, the great Guru Gobind Singh Jee, raising him as a single mother after the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur Jee in Delhi.
As a Grandmother – She was an inspiration to the young martyrs: When Mata Jee and the Sahibzadas were arrested and confined in Sirhind Fort, and as the children were summoned to appear in court each day, she kept urging them to remain unfaltering in their faith. She constantly reminded the Sahibzadas that their Grandfather and Great-Grandfather had both sacrificed their lives to strengthen the ideals of Guru Nanak Dev Jee.
As a Leader – After her husband, Guru Tegh Bahadur Jee’s martyrdom, she and her brother, Kirpal Chand had the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Panth. She also organized the langar (community kitchen) and played an important role as the administrator of the army. She had an important role inspiring the Khalsa armies during the battles Guru Gobind Singh Jee had to fight. Her role in the battle of Bhangani is especially remembered.
As a Martyr – While imprisoned on top of an open tower during the cold month of December, Mata Gujar Kaur Jee continually did simran with no complaints about her physical being. She attained martyrdom the same day as her grandsons after hearing that her grandsons had been bricked alive rather than give up their faith. Her mission had been fulfilled.