Mata Sahib Kaur Ji | Mothers of the Panth | By Bibi Gurprit Kaur

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.