|
Events / History pages which move your heart
|
40 sikhs of Guru Gobind Singh Ji fought with 10 lac soldiers of the mughal army
When in need King Bahadar Shah, had fallen at the feet of Guru Gobind Singh, and now in Dec 1710, ordered that Sikhs, wherever seen, be killed.
'Chhota Ghalughara' (Small Holocaust) In 1746 about 20000 Sikhs (including women, children and the old) were killed. 30000 Sikhs killed in 1762 known as the 'Vadda Ghalughara' (Big Holocaust)
After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh leadership went into the wrong hands of Dogra Sikhs, who were traitors and had secretly joined the British rulers for their personal gains.
It is recorded in the official British records that whenever a sikh was taken to the execution room, he was given a chance to apologize, but they preferred dignified death than slavery.
|
|
|
SHORT HISTORICAL ASPECTS AND THE SIKH RELIGION - GURU NANAK DEV JI, GURU ANGAD DEV JI, GURU AMARDAS SAHIB JI, GURU RAMDAS SAHIB JI
Hindu society was divided in four groups. They were given the name as castes viz: Brahmin, Kashatri, Vaish and Shudra. People in general and especially the high castes in particular became very rigid and started hating and mistreating the low castes, with the result that they were terribly divided and lost co-operation among each other. The low castes had no right even to pray, worship, to go to temples, sit near a high caste, bathe or drink water from a common well or pond or a sacred river. In fact the low castes were given inhuman punishments for offending such rules. Like cutting off tongue if he prays to gods or putting melted lead in the ears if he listens prayers to gods.
Seeing such a weak society in India, Muslims from Arab and other Asian countries started plundering it. In eighth century AD Muhamad-bin-kasam from Arab, attacked India with very few soldiers and plundered whole of the country and opened way for other Muslim rulers to attack and loot India. In the beginning of 11th century, Mehmood Ghaznavi attacked India 17 times to loot wealth, honor and respect of unlimited young boys and girls and sold them in Ghazni and Kabul as slaves. From 1206 AD to 1526 AD Sultans and Pathans ruled India.
In the times of Guru Nanak, Mugals ruled India. The first Mugal King, Babur had direct confrontation with Guru Nanak. Descriptive heart rendering details of the attack of Babur in Emnabad in India (now in Pakistan), in which Guru Nanak himself was arrested, is given by Guru Nanak and is existing in Guru Granth Sahib at page 417-418, is worth reading.
Guru Nanak came in this world in India (now Pakistan) in the year 1469 AD. He preached for brotherhood of all humans. He believed in One God and asked to pray only to Him. He told Muslims to be good Muslims and Hindus to be good Hindus. He said that root cause of all the sufferings is - forgetting God, living in ego, lust, anger, greed and attachment to self.
Good parents cannot see their children suffering. Likewise Guru Nanak loved all the people of the world. He could not sit comfortably at home when the people of the world were suffering. He traveled whole of Asia for more than 20 years to get rid of the sufferings of the people of the world. The Sikhs have one after the other 10 Gurus (Masters) to give a complete Sikh doctrine for a better and purposeful living and peace to soul ever after.
Guru Nanak was bold enough to criticize the rulers. He said "The kings are tigers and administrators wolfs and dogs." Guru Nanak criticized even the people, who had lost their respect, language, religion and started pleasing the rulers. Out of their houses, they were Muslims and when inside the home, they were Hindus. The Muslim rulers, who followed the policy of live and let live, were friendly towards Sikh Gurus. But some rulers never liked that a society of fearless humans should come up, obviously such a society will not allow the ruler to be greedy, selfish and cruel.
Sikhism is based on virtues such as believe in God, believe in His Existence at all the places in all the lives, believe in the Guru, believe in the Guru's words, teachings, orders and giving up oneself to the Guru. It believed that "ONE WHO FAILS TO SEE GOD 'EVERYWHERE' CAN NEVER SEE HIM 'ANYWHERE'".
Bhai Lehna had utmost faith in Guru Nanak, not even the two sons of Guru Nanak could understand their father Guru. Guru Nanak gave up himself to Bhai Lehna and established him the 2 nd Guru of his followers in the year 1539 AD, naming him Guru Angad (part of his own body).
Guru Angad Dev continued the teachings of Guru Nanak in the same vigor. Guru Angad Dev married his daughter Bibi Amro to the son of the younger brother of Sri Amardaas. On one occasion Sri Amardaas happened to listen the sweet words (Gurbaani) of Guru Nanak, when Bibi Amro was reciting it. He was so impressed by listening Gurbani that he requested Bibi Amro to take him to her father Guru. At the age of 60 years, Sri Amardaas became sikh of Guru Angad. Sri Amardaas served the Guru and the Sangat (congregation) with full devotion for 12 years, and Guru Angad Dev was so impressed with his devotion and qualities that he bowed himself to Amardaas and established him as 3rd Guru of the Sikhs in the year 1552 AD.
Guru Amardaas ji, A Guru at the age of 73 years, made first Pangat (sitting in line for taking food in the common kitchen called 'Langar') and then Sangat (taking part in the prayers by sitting in the congregation) compulsory for all whoever came to the Guru Darbaar (court). It was so strictly followed that even the Emperor Akbar of India, when desired to see Guru Amardaas, sat in line (Pangat) with the poor and took food in the common kitchen (Langar). He had all praises for the Guru. The Guru did this to remove differences between the high and low castes telling that all humans are children of God.
In India, widows - young or old, were asked to sit on the pyres of their dead husbands to die along with them. The Guru opposed this vigorously, stopped this custom of 'Sati' and propagated for the remarriage of young widows. A woman is considered to have the same soul as that of man and she has an equal right to grow even spiritually and to attend religious congregations and recite divine hymns (Gurbani) in the Sikh places of worships. She is advised not to put on veil (Pardah). Dowry is not permitted. Divorce is discouraged. Wearing of clothes, which expose the body and breed lustful thoughts are considered dishonorable.
Guru Amardaas ji married his daughter Bibi Bhani to a poor orphan Bhai Jetha, who had lost his parents when young and was living with his poor grand mother in the service of the Guru. Even after his marriage Bhai Jetha ( Ramdas) served the Guru and congregation) with full vigor and devotion. He accepted all orders of the Guru with full faith and sincerity in spite of the objections of the haughty relatives of the son-in law Ramdas. Seeing Ramdas the most suitable successor, Guru Amardas at the old age of 95, bowed himself to Ramdas and announced him as the 4 th Guru of the Sikhs as Guru Ramdas in the year 1574 AD.
Guru Ramdas spread the message of the previous gurus. He founded the famous city of Amritsar in the year 1574 and initiated work for Golden Temple. He led and served the Sikh masses for 7 years, he gave Guruship to the youngest of his three sons, Arjan as 5 th Guru of the Sikhs in the year 1581 and departed from this world.
Previous || Next
|
