8 Poh marks the Shaheedi Divas of the Vadde Sahibzaade, Sahibzada Baba Ajit Singh Ji & Sahibzada Baba Jujhar Singh Ji alongside many other Singhs during the battle of Chamkaur. At this location now stands Gurdwara Sri Katalgarh Sahib. To commemorate this Mahaan Shaheedi Divas we have translated two passages from Sri Gurmukh Parkash Granth, written by Sant Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale:
ਆਗਿਆ ਅਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਪਾਇ ਗੁਰਦੇਵ ਜੀ ਕੀ, ਸਵਾ ਲੱਖ ਮਾਰੇ ਕੀਆ ਜੰਗ ਜੋ ਸਵਾਇਆ ।
Taking permission from their Gurdev (Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji), Sahibzada Baba Ajit Singh Ji entered the battlefield and killed over Sava Lakh tyrants (as per the bachan of Dasam Patshah: Sava Laakh Se Ek Laraaoo)
ਦੋਇ ਉਮਰਾਵ ਮਾਰੇ ਜੰਗ ਸਾਰਾ ਦਿਨ ਕੀਆ, ਫਤੇ ਕੋ ਗਾਜੇ ਭੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਗੁਰ ਜਾਇਆ॥੧੧੬॥
Killing 2 Mughal generals, Baba Ji battled with the enemy all day. Roaring the Fateh, Baba Ajit Singh Ji attained Shaheedi.
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਜੁਝਾਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਿਆਰਾਂ ਸਾਲ ਦੀ ਉਮਰ ਜਿਸ, ਪਿਤਾ ਪਾਸੋਂ ਆਗਿਆ ਸੇ ਜੰਗ ਕੋ ਰਚਾਂਵਦੇ।
Sahibzada Baba Jujhar Singh Ji who was eleven years of age, took permission from their father (Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji) to enter the battlefield.
ਮੁਗ਼ਲ ਪਠਾਣ ਸਾਰੇ ਤੁਰਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਦਲ ਹਾਰੇ, ਮੁਖ ਵਿਚ ਘਾਸ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਯਾ ਅੱਲਾ ਗਾਂਵਦੇ।
All the battalions of the Mughals, Pathaans and Turks failed in front of Baba Jujhar Singh Ji, taking grass in their mouth (i.e. a sign of submission) they cried ‘Allah! Allah!’
ਕੇਈ ਉਮਰਾਵ ਮਾਰੇ ਹੌਸਲਾ ਉਚੇਰਾ ਧਾਰੇ, ਹੋ ਗਏ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਗੁਰ ਫਤੇ ਕੋ ਬੁਲਾਂਵਦੇ।
Baba Ji destroyed many Mughal generals with full strength; ultimately Baba Ji attained Shaheedi while roaring Guru Ji’s Fateh (cry of victory).
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਤਿਆਰ ਭਏ ਸ਼ੁਕਰ ਕਰਤਾਰ ਕੈ, ਜਿਸਕੀ ਅਮਾਨਤ ਸੰਭਾਲੀ ਤਿਸ ਭਾਂਵਦੇ॥੧੧੭॥
Guru Ji (watching the Shaheedi of their sons) got ready (to shower arrows on the enemy). Guru Ji thanked Vaheguru – those who Vaheguru had given as Amaanat (entrusted for some time i.e. their sons, the Sahibzaade) had now gone back to their eternal home (Sachkhand) according to Vaheguru Ji’s will.
ਹੱਲਾ ਕਰ ਭੀੜ ਪੈ ਸਾਰੇ ਕਿਲ੍ਹੇ ਵੱਲ ਆਏ, ਦਸ ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਤੀਰ ਗੁਰ ਵਿੰਨ੍ਹ ਕੇ ਲੰਘਾਇਆ।
At that time the Mughals started to advance towards the Qila (fort) with full force, Guru Gobind Singh Ji in full bir-ras (warrior spirit) destroyed 10 thousand with their arrow (Note: this is also mentioned in Sri Gurpartap Suraj Granth).
ਖੁਆਜਾ ਮਰਦੂਦ ਪਾਜੀ ਕੰਧ ਓਲੇ ਹੋਇ ਡਰੇ, ਡਰਦਾ ਮੈਦਾਨ ਤਜ ਵਜੀਦਾ ਭੀ ਸਿਧਾਇਆ।
The frightened Khwaja Mardood hid behind a wall of the qila, he ran from the battlefield towards Wazir Khan. (NOTE: Guru Ji mentions this in Zaffarnama: ‘That coward Khwaja, who was hiding behind the wall did not come out in the battlefield like a brave man, Alas! If I had seen his (Khwaja’s) face, I would have sent him to the other world with just one arrow.’ – Verse 34-35 of the Zaffarnama)
ਭੀਮ ਚੰਦ ਫੱਟੜ ਹੋ ਘਰ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਮੌਤ ਹੋਈ, ਜ਼ੇਰ ਦਸਤ ਸੂਬਾ ਹੋਇ ਜ਼ਖਮੀ ਭਜਾਇਆ।
Bhim Chand (hill raja) was injured and died while he was escaping towards his home, Sooba Dast Zer was injured and he ran away in fear.
ਨਾਹਰ ਖਾਂ ਚੜ੍ਹ ਆਯਾ ਛਾਤੀ ਮੇਂ ਲਗਾਇਆ ਤੀਰ, ਪੇਖ ਸਭ ਦਬ ਰਹੇ ਅਗੇ ਨਹਿ ਜਾਇਆ॥੧੧੮॥
Nahar Khan tried to advance towards the fort, Guru Ji shot an arrow in his chest, seeing this all the Mughals were frightened and no one dared to move forward.
- ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਅਧਿਆਇ ੧੦, ਸੰਤ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਗੁਰਬਚਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਭਿੰਡਰਾਂਵਾਲੇ
To listen to the complete Katha in detail, please listen to the following Katha from Sri Gurpartap Suraj Granth by Giani Sher Singh Ji Ambala Wale in 17 parts:
https://soundcloud.com/experiencesikhi/sets/battle-of-chamkaur-17-pt
Katha by Giani Harsimran Singh Ji Ambala Wale on Chamkaur Di Jang is available on our youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtM9sETELu4&list=PLOmHVnv_c2e0RzqNbvYscl5LXIgiCDhX5