Interesting Facts of Mai Bhago ji

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 1. Their Esteemed Lineage
Mai Bhago Ji was daughter of Bhai Mallo. Bhai Mallo had joined Guru Hargobind Ji's army and taken part in several campaigns against the Mughals. Her grandfather, Pero Shah (Bhai Mallo's father) and his elder brother, Bhai Langha were both devoted Sikh of Guru Arjan Dev and Guru Hargobind Ji Maharaj. Bhai Langha is even mentioned in Bhai Gurdas Ji's Vaaran and was one of the five Sikhs chosen to accompany Guru Arjan Dev Ji on their journey to martyrdom at Lahore.


Mai Bhago Ji's village Jhabal has also produced some eminent personalities of Sikh history such as Sardar Baghel Singh, the warrior who was also married into family of Bhai Langah Ji. Indeed, Mai Bhago Ji came from a very esteemed lineage. 

2. Childhood
Mai Bhago Ji was fondly called Bhag Bhari, which means “fortunate”. They were also a devoted Sikhni since young, having learnt Gurmukhi at a very young age, constantly reciting bani and listening kirtan. We also often talk of Mai Bhago Ji’s martial achievements while most of the time overlooking her spiritual achievements and avastha. Mai Bhago Ji’s spiritual practice before Mukatsar is evident by the existence of their Bhora Sahib at their ancestral house in Jhaabal.

 
3. Weaponry Training
Mai Bhago Ji had keen interest in using armaments especially spear since young and always carried a long ਸਾਂਗ (a type of spear) on them. It is of no doubt that they would have received good weaponry training as their father was a great warrior.



4. Guru Darshan
Mai Bhago Ji is believed to have lived through time of five Gurus from Guru Hargobind Ji to Guru Gobind Singh ji. However, historically, other than 10th Guru, her only recorded meeting is with Guru Tegh Bahadur ji whom she visited in Anandpur, with her parents.

5. Mukatsar War
According to some historians such as Kavi Santokh Singh ji, Mai Bhago Ji had gone to the Guru to seek their blessings for a child, but on seeing some Sikhs of her area had deserted Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib and wrote Bedava, she decided to act. According to Bhai Vir Singh, she was determined to wipe out the badge of infamy from the face of her area. She, along with her husband, told the villagers the reality of deserters to them. Ladies of the deserters did not talk to them when they came back, and taunted them. Mai Bhago Ji mounted a horse, collected the Singhs and proceeded towards Malwa. On learning that the Mughal army was chasing the Guru, they decided to block the passage of the advancing Mughal troops. A bloody battle with Mughal forces took place and she fought in front lines.

6. Mukatsar Aftermath 
Bhai Swarup Das Koshish's book "Guru Ki Sakhiyan" states that two of Mai Bhago's brothers- Sardar Bhag Singh and Sardar Dilbagh Singh also accompanied her to Mukatsar. Both of the brothers and her husband were martyred in this war. Mai Bhago Ji's act to fight alongside the Singhs was not merely for the sake of showing act of courage regardless of gender, but because of her love for the Guru and to make those who fled from their responsibility and faith realise their mistake. The Guru praised the bravery of Mai Bhago ji and allowed her to accompany the Guru in the rest of their travels as a member of their bodyguards. She accompanied the Guru in the rest of their travels to Sabo Ki Talwandi, Agra, and finally Nanded.


7. Langgar Sewa
At Sabo Ki Talwandi, Mai Bhago Ji was involved in sewa of the Khalsa especially in ensuring that good Langgar was prepared for the sanggat. Most of their time was also spent in Simran meditation, kirtan and in Guru Ji's sanggat.

8. Routine at Nanded
Mai Bhago ji stayed with Mata Sahib Devan Ji and continued their sewa of the sanggat. Her routine starts by doing darshan of Guru Ji, recite Gurbani, listen to kirtan and Guru Ji's bachans (discourse) in sanggat. Only after that, she would have some food.

9. Parchar
After Guru Gobind Singh Ji left to Sachkand, Mai Bhago Ji made efforts to spread His message in Abchal Nagar (Nanded) and Bidar. She left to Sachkand from Bidar. It was also her desire that her deceased ashes should be sent back to Hajor Sahib. Gurdwara Tap Asthan Mai Bhago Ji in Bidar marks the site of a house where Mai Bhago spent the rest of her saintly life practising her spiritual practices.


10. Teaching 
Looking at this brief life history of Mai Bhago Ji, we can observe that her achievements as an inspirational icon is not just from her martial achievements, but also from their spiritual practices, avastha, and humility to serve the Khalsa. Bhai Vir Singh, calls her the light of the Sikhs who guided the Sikhs in times of distress just as the ‘Pole Star’ guides lost travelers. May we continue to learn and implement teachings from our history in our jeevan. 


Important noting that this is one of the path through which historically women had contributed to the panth. This is not the sole narrative of the jeevan of puratan bibiya because all those Gursikh women who did sewa in the background are equally inspirational and important too. 




References:
Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, Ayan 1, Adhaiyi 11,13,22
Mahan Kosh by Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha
Kalgidhar Chamtkar by Bhai Vir Singh
Twarikh Guru Khalsa by Gyani Gyan Singh
Itihasik Virtant Pind Jhabal Te Mai Bhago by Principal Shingara Singh
Malwa Desh Ratan Di Sakhi Pothi by Uttar Singh Bhadod
Safarnama and Zafarnama by Giani Ishar Singh Nara
Eminent Sikh Women by Mohinder Kaur Gill
Ithihasic Sikh Nariyan by Giani Bhajan Singh
Parsidh Sikh Bibiyan by Simran Kaur
Guru Ki Sakhiyan by Bhai Swarup Das Koshish
Sikha Di Bhagat Mala by Shaheed Bhai Mani Singh Ji