It has been told already that a few hundred Sikhs deserted the Guru during the siege of Anandpur. Before leaving, they wrote the disclaimer, putting down on paper that he was not their Guru and they were not his Sikhs. These deserters belonged to all parts of the country. Some of them were killed on the way, while others were able to reach their homes.
Forty of the deserters who could reach their homes belonged to the Majha tract of the Punjab: When they reached their homes, they were shamed by their own women. The latter did not let them enter their homes. They said, ‘Go back to the Guru and make amends for your cowardly conduct. Otherwise exchange your dress with ours, stay at home, and act as housewives, in our place. Dressed in your clothes we will go and fight and die for the Guru. In that way, we shall wash away with our blood the same which your conduct has brought on the Sikhs of the Majha.’
The deserters from the Majha decided to go back. This band of forty fully armed Saint-Soldiers started towards the Guru. Mai Bhago of Jhabal also joined them. She and Bhai Mahan Singh of Sursingh were the leaders of this band. They had to move cautiously. If they had marched together as a jatha, they might have been captured. So they travelled in small groups, mostly by night, and by unfrequented routes. Along the way, quite a large number of Sikhs joined them.
The party reached near Khidrana. They learnt that the Guru had shortly before gone over to the other side of the lake. They also learnt that Wazir Khan’s army was approaching. It was expected there soon. On reaching Khidrana, they found it almost dry. Bhai Mahan Singh proposed to engage the enemy there. The Guru would, thereby, get time to reach some safe place.
His proposal was accepted. Wide white sheets of khaddar were spread on shrubs. They looked like so many tents. The sight of them was sure to make the enemy believe that the Sikhs were encamping there in large numbers.
The Muhammedan army arrived soon, Long and bloody was the battle which ensued. The Sikhs fought with their usual courage and power. Mai Bhago was fighting in the foremost rank. The Guru had recalled a sand-hill on the other side of Khidrana. From there he directed a constant rain of arrows at the most prominent officers and soldiers of Muhammedan army. A large number fell, pierced by the arrows. The army made repeated attacks on the Sikhs. Each time it had to go back after suffering heavy losses.
Al last the Sikh’s stock of ammunition and arrows was exhausted. They were obliged to have recourse to their spears and swords. They advanced in small groups. They engaged the enemy and killed several times their own number. They went on wielding their weapons most effectively until they were overpowered and cut down. They were not fighting for victory. They had no thought of saying their lives. Their only wish was to win the Guru’s pardon and pleasure. Their only aim at the time was to check as long as possible, the enemy’s advance against the Guru. In time, all of them lay on the ground. About three thousand Turks lay with them on the same bloody field. The Mughal army then decided to go back After the Muhammedan any had gone, the Guru visited the scene of the battle. With fatherly affection he lifted the heads of the martyrs into his lap, one by one, wiped their faces, and blessed them. In due time it was Bhai Mahan Singh’s turn to be thus caressed and blessed. The Guru found that still there was some life in him. After A time he opened his eyes. He found himself in the Guru’s lap and arms. He was filled with immense joy. The Ouru asked him if he had any wish to be fulfilled. “No, father,’ replied Bhai Mahan Singh ‘I have seen you. I die for your cause, in your lap and with your blessings. What else or more could I desire? But father, if you have taken compassion on us here, tear off our disclaimer, the paper on which we and others wrote,
You are not our Guru, we are not your Sikhs.” Tear it off and let broken ties be reunited.’
The Guru was highly pleased to hear Bhai Mahan Singh’s last wish. He blessed him and said, “You. have done a great deed. You have saved the root of Sikhism in the Majha. You and your companions all 40 of you, are Muktas the Saved ‘Ones. You are delivered from the chain of births and deaths forever.’ Saying this, he took out the disclaimer from under his belt, tore it into tiny pieces, and threw them all away. Bhai Mahan Singh saw this. He felt immensely relieved. He smiled, took a long. deep breath, and closed his eyes forever.
Then the Guru went on to the place where Mai Bhago was lying senseless. She had not been severely wounded. She had fallen out of utter exhaustion. A little aid revived her. The Guru was greatly pleased with what she had done. He got her removed from the battlefield. Her wounds were treated and healed. When she was all right, she was baptized. She became Mai Bhag Kaur. Mai Bhag Kaur, dressed in male dress, remained in theguru service to the end. Along with ten Sikhs, she used to guard the guru’s bed during his sleep. When the guru died, she went to bidar. She lived there till the end of the earthly life.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 13, 1995
