Sangat Ji, today I am going to tell you about my mother.
Who is also your mother.
I am going to speak about Mata Sahib Kaur Ji,
who is the mother, the spiritual mother of Khalsa Panth.
Mata Sahib Kaur Ji from a very, very young age,
she has been devoted to Sikhi and to Guru Gobind Singh Ji
and no one could understand why.
From a very young age, she could memorise Japji Sahib,
she started doing a lot of Simran and
starting memorising countless other teachings as well.
And she would always speak about Guru Gobind Singh Ji,
and she would always dream about Guru Gobind Singh Ji as well.
The time even came, such, where the villagers in her village started calling her Mata Ji,
because at a very young age she portrayed those virtues, those attributes
that a young woman, that a lady, a Mata Ji would have.
So with respect they started calling her Mata Ji as well.
Now Mata Sahib Deva Ji when she came of age to get married,
she told her parents I will only get married to Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
And even her parents say that for someone like Mata Sahib Deva Ji,
there is no one else but Guru Gobind Singh Ji who could get married to her,
or who is compatible to her as well.
Because as a woman, her wishes, her desires are not of the worldly ones,
but of the spiritual ones.
And there is no man here who could be compatible to her.
Only Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
So her parents went to Guru Gobind Singh Ji
and did Benti that please take my daughter's hand in marriage
and get married to her.
But at that point Guru Gobind Singh Ji say that I am already married
and now I have become Brahamchari, where I have renounced all the physical relationship
of a household and now I am only focused on the panthic matters.
So I can't get married to your daughter.
And Mata Sahib Deva Ji parents say that she only thinks about You,
she only looks up to You and she will not get married to anyone else but You.
At that point, Mata Sahib Deva Ji stood up and she does Benti, she says that Sache Paatshaah
as a wife I will not demand anything from You, all I want is to be able to do your Seva
and I can do that if I am in your palace, if I am near You I can do that Seva of You.
And Guru Gobind Singh Ji said that I have a few conditions
if you want to get married to me.
My first condition is that we are not going to be taking part in any physical relationship
as a husband and wife and with that we will not bear any children as well.
And Mata Sahib Deva Ji, Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, she said Sat Bachan.
Because in her mind, all she wanted was to do Seva of her husband
was to do Seva of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Mata Sundri Ji was also there present in the palace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji
and Mata Gujri Ji as well.
Mata Sahib Deva Ji, she loved Mata Sundri Ji just like her own sister.
Both of them had that sisterly love between each other.
And both of them loved Mata Gujri Ji just like their own mother,
there was no difference between the 3 of them.
And Mata Sahib Deva Ji, she had so much love for the Chaar Sahibzaade,
it was her responsibility to get them ready every morning.
Mata Sahib Kaur Ji would put small small Kalgia on the Dastar of the Sahibzaade,
especially Baba Fateh Singh Ji.
And she would be so happy to see the Chaar Sahibzaade,
it was like as if these 4 are her own children, that's how she loved them and took care of them.
These peaceful times were only short-lasting.
And the whole Parvaar they got separated in Sirsa River.
Now, Mata Sahib Kaur Ji's Nem, her routine was that she would not have her food
she would not have her breakfast her meal of the day
until she had the Dashan of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
And this is one condition of Mata Sahib Deva Ji as well which she put forward to Guru Gobind Singh Ji,
she said that I know You are busy with Your daily routine,
of meeting the Khalsa Panth, of strategising for war against the enemies
and all that, but this is my humble Benti. That please come to me daily
to have your meal so that I can have your Darshan.
And only then I will have my meal.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji, knowing this Iccha of Mata Sahib Kaur Ji,
Guru Sahib knew how much love Mata Sahib Kaur Ji had for Them
and they agreed to this condition.
And daily Guru Gobind Singh Ji would come and have meal with Mata Sahib Kaur Ji,
eat the food that she made and gave her Darshan.
This was not possible when the separation of the family happened
and Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, Mata Sundri Ji and a few Gursikhs such as Bhai Mani Singh
went towards Delhi.
Now Sangat Ji, this is a point Sangat Ji.
We can see how the role of the woman changes from just practising Sikhi in a family
just like Bebe Nanaki Ji, Mata Khivi Ji then came forward and started serving her community.
And then we can see like Bibi Bhani Ji has now started doing Seva in other communities as well.
Started going out there to different villages and started doing Seva and doing Parchaar.
Now we'll see when the time came to Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, Mata Sundri Ji they have gone
completely to a different state and now they are taking up the role that a man would take.
Such as the economical aspect, the political aspect of Panthic matters.
Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, Mata Sundri Ji took care of all these matters for the Khalsa Panth in Delhi.
Because they knew that war was coming and normally with war there's always chaos
attached to it as well.
So it was in the hands of Mata Sahib Kaur Ji and Mata Sundri Ji, both together sisters,
to ensure that there was peace and Sikhi Parchaar was still continuing in Delhi as well.
And the time came when they found out that Guru Gobind Singh Ji
is in Damdama Sahib and They are writing Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj
and they are doing Santhiya there for 9 months.
Mata Sundri Ji and Mata Sahib Deva Ji, they go to Damdama Sahib
to have Darshan of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
They spend time there and they did darshan of Guru Maharaj,
they did Seva of Guru Maharaj as well.
Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, as the mother of the Khalsa Panth, also served the Khalsa -
her children, the Sikhs.
She would take care of their needs, of their daily needs:
food, medication, anything else, money.
Then Guru Gobind Singh Ji decided that They were going to go to Hazoor Sahib.
At that point, Mata Sahib Kaur Ji did Benti that I cannot be separated from You any longer.
Please keep me with You.
Mata Sundri Ji then say, I will go back to Delhi
and Mata Sahib Kaur Ji stayed on with Guru Gobind Singh Ji in Hazoor Sahib.
And at the Asthaan of Mata Sahib Kaur Ji the Sikhs, the Khalsa Panth would come
and have langar made by her.
And they would come to Mata Sahib Kaur Ji whenever they needed anything,
medication, they need help, they need advice, they need money
they would come to Mata Sahib Kaur Ji.
And Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj,
They were preparing for the day where They would leave this world.
And They knew that Mata Sahib Kaur Ji had so much love for Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj.
That Mata Sahib Kaur Ji's life was such that she would sacrifice her life for Me
and if, after I'm gone, she would have no purpose.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji calls Mata Sahib Kaur Ji and tells her, gives her the Hukam
that she is to go back to Delhi to help Mata Sundri Ji.
To serve the Khalsa Panth there.
And that Guru Gobind Singh Ji does not want her to be here when He leaves this world.
And Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, she wouldn't be able to bear the pain of separation because
she is so in love with Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Just like how Guru Angad Dev Ji was so in love with Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji also told Guru Angad Dev Ji to leave Kartarpur Sahib,
go to Khadur Sahib, so that They would not have to see the day when Guru Nanak Dev Ji
leaves this world.
The same was for Mata Sahib Kaur Ji.
And Mata Sahib Kaur Ji says that I can't live without having Your darshan.
And at that point, Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj gave Mata Sahib Kaur Ji five Shastar
and told her that have my darshan daily by looking at these shastar.
From these shastar I will give you My darshan
and then you can have your meal.
And not only that, but Guru Gobind Singh Ji also told Mata Sahib Kaur ji,
that it is her responsibility to bring up young Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and to bring him
along with her to Delhi. Take care of him. Give him that Vidhiya, that Sikhi Vidhiya
the Shastar Vidhiya to Jassa Singh Ahluwalia,
so that when he grows up he can serve the Panth.
And that's exactly what Mata Sahib Kaur Ji did.
In Delhi, Mata Sahib Kaur Ji helped Mata Sundri Ji.
They would address panthic issues, they would give out Hukamnaame to the sangat
in Punjab, in Delhi and in other states as well.
They would put Gursikhs to do seva and they actually made a fortress that was given to them
into a Dharamsala. In the Dharamsala they started doing Langar.
They started asking the Sikhs in Delhi to give Dasvand.
And when they found out that Guru Gobind Singh Ji has left for sachkhand
and that They have given the Gurgaddi to Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj.
Now imagine sagat ji, a kingdom without a king will become chaotic
and those people who know about the Gurgaddi of Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj
were in Hazoor Sahib with Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
When the Hukamaama, when the letter was sent to the mothers in Delhi,
that now the Gurgaddi is given to Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj,
Mothers Mata Sahib Kaur Ji and Mata Sundri Ji, they took it upon themselves
to spread, to do this Parchaar that
They started doing Paatth of Guru Granth Sahib Ji,
so that Gursikhs, they would not lose hope that now Guru Sahib is not here anymore.
Because it was a transition sangat ji from a physical Guru to Granth Guru,
it was a transition and it was not perhaps an easy one as well.
So that faith had to be instilled in the Sikhs, that now your Guru is
Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Have faith in Guru Granth Sahib Ji, because it is the Bachan
of Guru Gobind Singh Ji as well.
In the Rehitnaame as well Guru Gobind Singh Ji says that if you want to have My darshan
have darshan of Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
If you want to speak to Me, read Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
If you want to listen to Me, listen to My voice, listen to My words,
listen to the Hukamnama of Guru Granth Sahib Ji and that will be Me speaking to you.
And the mothers did this parchaar in Delhi
and they also ensured that the Sikhs would not lose hope,
the Sikh will not stop doing seva.
Mata Sahib Kaur Ji sent out nine Hukamnaame, that now we can find.
We still have these Hukamnaame.
Where in each letter, in each Hukamnaama, Mata Sahib Kaur Ji addressed the Khalsa Panth
as her Frarsand Puttar, Farsand Puttar here meaning here beloved children, her brave children,
her brave sons, her good children, good sons.
She will address the Khalsa Panth that way and that in that same Hukamnaame
every Hukamnaama you can see the same bachan of Mata Sahib Kaur Ji which is
that do not forget to do Simran of Vaheguru and this should be your purpose of life.
To do Simran of Vaheguru, so that your life becomes fruitful.
Does not go to waste.
The same bachan we can find in Guru Granth Sahib Ji as well.
By Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj, when they were going to Lahore
Bibi Bhani Ji does the same bachan to Guru Arjan Dev Ji.
They say
That this is an Aseesa a mother would give to the child,
that do not forget Vaheguru for even an instant.
Now sangat ji let me ask you, Mata Sahib Kaur Ji is our spiritual mother,
mother of Khalsa Panth, all of us Sikhniaa we are also going to be a mother some day,
many of us are already a mother.
And I ask you what aseesa do we give to our children?
Is the aseesa like how Mata Sahib Kaur Ji gave to her Gursikhs, children, to Khalsa Panth - to do Simran?
Is the aseesa like how Bibi Bhani Ji gave to Guru Arjan Dev Ji?
What aseesa do we give to our children?
What advice do we give to our children?
This is something we need to ponder on.
Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, in her Hukamnaame she would refer to the Khalsa Panth as Farsand Puttar
and she would say
That don't forget the Guru and the Guru will fulfils all your desires and help you in all your affairs.
And then the third bachan that Mata Sahib Kaur Ji would write in her Hukamnaame
is that give your dasvand, put your dasvand into the langar.
Start doing langar wherever you are, do not stop langar.
And if some Gursikhs in those village, they would write a letter
that we do not have a well in our village.
Because in order for langar to go on there must be a permanent source of water.
And some villages would not have a well.
Then Mata Sahib Kaur Ji would send Gursikhs from Delhi to build a well in those villages.
And then send in a Hukamnaama that a well is being built,
build a well and start doing langar seva.
Collect dasvand and don't ever for one day stop langar.
Those were the bachan of Mata Sahib Kaur Ji.
And even now sangat ji, Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji in their book also write this
when we go for Yatra, when we go to all the Panj Takht and all the other Gurdware
when we Matha Tek money into the collection box, that money goes for the Gurdwara,
but we must also give Bheta into the the langar.
So a lot of Gursikhs they would give bheta into the collection box for the Gurdwara
and they will also give bheta for Karah Prashad or for langar.
That bheta that goes for langar goes to Mata Sahib Kaur Ji
And Mata Sahib Kaur Ji give us her blessings when we give bheta for langar in the Takht.
This is the bachan written by Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji in their book as well.
And Mata Sahib Kaur Ji would send out these Hukamnaame with the same bachan
and if you read these Hukamnaame, even now, you can feel so much of love
in those letters by Mata Sahib Kaur Ji.
And that way they did Sikhi parchaar in Delhi and they took care of panthic matters
economically, politically as well, they sent out Gursikhs to solve the affairs of Sikhs in other states,
in other villages as well.
Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, Mata Sundri ji they brought up Jassa Singh Alhuwalia sangat ji,
that now we know the history what Jassa Singh Ahluwalia did for the Khalsa Panth.
Won the Lal Qila, fought again the Turks, fought again the Mughals
and became Sultan E Quam.
That because of Mata Sahib Kaur Ji Mata Sundri Ji
and I want to stress this point Sangat Ji what a woman can do.
We have that ability in our hands, we have the power in our hands to build a panth,
to bring up children who would grow up to be Gursikhs, who would grow up to be Bhagats,
who would grow up to serve the Panth.
We have that ability in our hands, to bring up our children so that they will serve
Guru Gobind Singh Ji, they will serve Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
They would serve the purpose of Sikhi.
We also have the power in our hands to break a panth as well.
As a woman, as a mother, as a wife we have that ability.
We can see this how Mata Sahib Kaur Ji and Mata Sundri Ji
their whole life after Guru Gobind Singh Ji they spent just to ensure Sikhi parchaar
was going on, that people will not lose faith in Sikhi, and they brought up children, they brought up Gursikhs
like Jassa Singh Ahluwalia to fight for Khalsa Panth.
And even where Banda Singh Bahudar fought to seek justice of the Sahibzaade
at that point Bahadur Shah, who was the emperor at that time,
Bahadur Shah had so much respect for Mata Sahib Kaur Ji and Mata Sundri Ji,
he would come daily to have their darshan, to meet them, even to seek advice from the mothers as well.
Whatever money or whatever help needed to build a dharamsala or anything, Bahadur Shah would help them.
And Bahadur Shah would always say if there is anyway I can help, please tell me Mata Ji.
And at that point when Bahadur Shah found out that Banda Singh Bahadur had approached the Mughals
and he came running to Mata Sahib Kaur Ji and Mata Sundri Ji asking what is happening?
I thought everything is fine, why is Banda Singh Bahadur now fighting?
He's trying to kill the mughals.
Imagine a man, a mughal emperor asking for Dilasa from mothers, from both the Mata Jis.
And I imagine that our Mata Jis, Mata Sundri Ji and Mata Sahib Kaur Ji telling,
don't worry Bahadur Shah, you're okay.
Banda Singh Bahadur is serving based on a Hukam of Guru Gobind Singh Ji,
which is to seek justice for the shaheedi of the Sahibzaade.
Which is to give punishment to those who have become so unjust
who have become so cruel.
You're okay, but if you do something wrong then we have no guarantee for you as well.
So, as long as you are doing good you stay righteous
then you are fine, you are safe.
And Bahadur Shah had the dilasa from both Mata Jis
and he kept continuing to serve the Mata Jis as well.
So sangat ji look at how powerful a woman can be.
Never think, that as a woman, we have no power in us.
In the whole history of the Sikh Panth, you see how Bebe Nanaki Ji
started doing seva, started doing Sikhi parchaar from home,
and then you can see how Mata Khivi Ji then came out and fought the society,
the stigma set by the society. She did not care about what the world was saying,
all she cared about was to follow the hukam of Guru Angad Dev Ji and Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Then you can see Bibi Bhani Ji doing parchaar of Sikhi, going village to village,
being a head of a Manji and doing parchaar of Sikhi.
Then you can see Mata Sahib Kaur Ji and Mata Sundri Ji being the forefront of Khalsa Panth.
Taking care of the political, economical aspect of Sikhi in Delhi.
And giving out Hukamnaame to Khalsa Panth as well.
And then you can see people like Mai Bhago Ji, who fought in the battle,
who became the personal bodyguard of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Who led one of those bibi who fought with the Chaali Mukte, who inspired the Singhs as well
to fight for Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
This is what a woman can do.
And never for once think that you have no power in your hands.
We have the power in our hands to build our panth as well.
As a woman, as a mother, as a wife we have that choice,
what kind of family do I want to build.
What kind of children that I want to bring up.
We have that choice in our hands.
And so I hope that we are inspired by these mothers in our Khalsa Panth
and we can take some advice, we can take some examples from their life
that are practical in our life as well.
We can practise, follow the steps of these mothers as well.
How they have become Sohagan, how they have made Parmatma happy.
They have become so virtuous, that they are called Gunvanti, that they are called sohagan.
How we too can become like that as well
I hope that this series of 'Mothers of the Panth' has been an inspiring one,
For especially all the Sikh women out there as well.
There's so much that we can learn and I urge all the Sikh women
to go and do research, to read about the lives of other Sikh women as well and be inspired from their Jeevan.
So please forgive me for any mistakes I've made.