Poota Mata Kee Asees
(An anecdote of love between Guru Tegh
Bahadur Ji and their Mother)
- daughter-in-law of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji
- wife of Sri Guru Hargobind Ji
- aunt of Sri Guru Har Rai Ji
- grand-aunt of Sri Guru Har Krishan Ji
- mother of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
- grandmother of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji
The Virtuous Mother
The relationship of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji with His mother was indeed magnificent, as He spent almost all His life in her presence. In her 80 years of living in this world, Mata Ji had the extraordinary experience of watching her son grow from His Parkash to His Gurgadhi and from His Gurgadhi to His Shaheedi. Kavi Santokh Singh Ji in their monumental work, Sri Gurpartap Suraj Parkash Granth, described the personality of Mata Nanaki Ji1:
ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੁ ਤੇਗ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਮਾਤਾ ।
The mother of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
ਨਾਮ ਨਾਨਕੀ ਜਗ ਬੱਖਯਾਤਾ ।
Nanaki is what the world calls her
ਪਤਿਬਰਤਾ ਧ੍ਰਮਾਤਮ ਰੂਪਾ ।
A chaste and devoted wife
ਰਿਚਿਰ ਸੁਸ਼ੀਲਾ ਗੁਣਨਿ ਅਨੂਪਾ ॥੨॥
Beautiful, well-mannered, and full of good
virtues
ਮਧੁਰ ਭਾਸ਼ਣੀ, ਦੀਰਘ ਦਰਸਾ ।
Sweet-speaking and far-sighted
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਧਯਾਨ ਪਰਾਇਣ ਹਰਸਾ ।
With constant concentration in Satguru Ji
ਪ੍ਰਿਯ ਪੁੱਤ੍ਰਾ, ਮਨ ਮ੍ਰਿਦੁਲ, ਕੁਲੀਨਾ ।
From a noble lineage, soft-hearted Mata Ji
lived with her beloved son
ਸਦਾ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਲੂ, ਪਰਮ ਅਦੀਨਾ ॥੩॥
Ever so compassionate and benefactor is
Mata Nanaki Ji.
Parkash of the Guru
In 1621, Mata Nanaki Ji's holy womb was blessed with the emergence of a son who like a full moon emerged to light up the dark skies of Kalyug. For even the moon has imperfections, this child had none. Satguru Sri Hargobind Ji Maharaj bowed before this newborn, their beloved youngest son. This newborn son of the Guru was named Tegh Bahadur knowing that He will not only yield the sword courageously, but also make the enemy’s sword blunta. Sant Gyani Gurbachan Singh Ji in their katha also mentions that when Guru Hargobind Ji carried this son of theirs for the first time, both of His little hands gripped the hilt of Guru Ji's Miri and Piri swords upon which Guru Ji said "I don't need to choose a name for this child, for he has chosen it himself".
Birth of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji by Sarbloh Arts (Sikh_Vision)
Guru Hargobind Ji’s Bachan
As Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was growing up, Mata Ji was always worried about Him because He did not have interest in worldly affairs or socialize as much as His other siblings. Despite His quiet and reserved nature, His father, Guru Hargobind Ji Mahraj was exceptionally fond of Him. So, one day Mata Nanaki Ji asked her husband, Guru Hargobind Ji on the reason behind their fondness to which Guru Ji then answered2:
"Nanaki Ji, this child is a Mahapurakh that you have been blessed to have given birth to. He is with neither attachment nor enmity to anyone. My boon for this child is that His son (Kalgidhar Patshah Ji) will be an Utam (exalted) Purash that no Avtar (incarnation) in this world will be able to be equivalent to. He will not only have a strong eminence in this world but will also be the destroyer of evil. He would bring further glory in the house of Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj and uphold Dharma. His praises will be sung in this world and beyond. This is why I give very high respect to this youngest son of mine whose son in future will be a great Avtar''.
Delighted with the answer of her husband, Mata Nanaki Ji watched Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji grow into great scholar, poet, musician and soldier under the supervision of great Gursikhs like Baba Buddha Ji, Bhai Gurdas Ji and Baba Bidhi Chand Ji. The valour of Guru Ji at a young age was evident in the victorious Battle of Kartarpur.
Future of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
A mother is always concerned about the future of their child and wants to ensure the best for their child. Such was Mata Nanaki Ji too. After Sri Guru Hargobind Ji blessed the next Gurgadhi to Guru Har Rai Ji Mahraj and was preparing to leave their physical body, Mata Nanaki Ji was worried about the future of her son as he is always in solitude. Therefore, one day while Guru Hargobind Ji was having their meal, Mata Ji approached them with folded hands and expressed her worry about the future of their youngest son, Tegh Bahadur Ji as He has no interest in any worldly affairs. Guru Ji kept eating and after washing their hands uttered3:
"Have faith for our youngest son is capable of everything. He shall be highly respected even without Gurgadhi".
Mata Ji was still upset and broke into tears revealing her sadness as her other son Baba Atal Rai Ji left for Sachkand at the age of six and it seems her other son, Tegh Bahadur Ji will have to go through a tough time now which she would not be able to tolerate. Looking at her condition, Guru Hargobind Ji placed the handkerchief they were wiping their hands with into Mata Ji's laps saying:
" Here you go then, your son too shall attain the Gurgadhi one day but it shall come with a lot of difficulties that you too would have to face. But all these hardships will bear fruit in the form of your grandson who shall also attain the Gurgadhi of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's house."
Baba Bakala
After the merging of Guru Hargobind Ji into their formless form, Mata Nanaki Ji decided to return to her parental village, Bakala with her son Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and His wife, Mata Gujri Ji. Considering Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's personality, this place was ideal for Him because of its peaceful atmosphere. In the next 26 years of Guru Ji's meditation period, Mata Nanaki Ji was also present alongside Mata Gujri Ji.
When the eighth Guru, Sri Guru Harkrishan Ji Mahraj was in preparation to merge into their formless form at Delhi, they performed the ceremony of passing Gurgadhi to the next Guru. They also told the congregation about the next Guru whereabout in a very short sentence 'Baba Basey Gram Bekale, Sakal Sanggat Aap Sembale' saying the "Baba'' is residing at the village of Bakala and will be responsible to lead the Sanggat. The word Baba can either mean a holy man or grandfather. With this clue it is very clear that the next Guru is supposed to be Guru Tegh Bahadur ji because not only is He meditating at Bakala, but also He is the "Baba" (great grandfather) of Guru Har Krishan Ji Maharaj4.
Guru Har Krishan Ji leaving to Sachkhand by Anaahad Productions
Gurgadhi
Mata Ji knew that Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji is the next Guru following Guru Har Krishan Ji because not only has her husband Guru Hargobind Ji before their Joti Jot indicated that her son will attain Gurgadhi one day, but also because, she who has done Darshan of the fifth to the eighth Guru knew what a true Guru is like. Mata Ji was in fact the first person that tried to encourage Guru Mahraj to take up Gurgadhi at Baba Bakala before Makhan Shah came. Firstly, Mata Ji requested Guru Mahraj personally to take up the Gurgadhi to which He refused by just remaining quiet and humbly bowing before Mata Ji. Understanding her son's inner feelings, she then wrote a letter to Bhai Dwarka Das from Bhalla lineageb to come to Bakala and to bring along Bhai Ghariyac to persuade Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji to take up the Gurgadhi. Even though the ceremonial Tilak of the Gurgadhi was already applied on Guru Ji, it still remained unknown to Sanggat on who the true Guru in Baba Bakala was, in view of the presence of other 22 fake Gurus there.
Finding the True Guru in Bakala by Sarbloh Arts (Sikh_Vision)
Makhan Shah Lubana
With the coming of Makhan Shah Lubana who identified Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji as the true Guru in Bakala, he was caught in a dilemma too as Mata Nanaki delivered the message of Guru Ji who has said that whoever attempts to publicly Pargat (manifest) Him as the next Guru, shall have their faces blackened (disgraced) in court of Almighty. Upon contemplating, Makhan Shah decided to proceed to manifest Guru Ji but also wanted to fulfill Bachan (order) of Guru Ji. So, he went to pay his obeisance to Mata Nanaki Ji who was sitting in meditation at that point of time. Attaining her blessing, Makhan Shah then rubbed some black dirt onto his face and proceeded to meet Guru Sahib expressing his desire to manifest them publicly. Guru Ji was touched by the love of Makhan Shah who would rather have his face blackened as per their order just to manifest Guru Ji publicly for the benefit of all Sanggatd.
Dhirmal’s Jealousy
As Guru Ji then later agreed to be manifested publicly and formally ascended the throne of the Guru, it caused jealousy to the fake Gurus of Bakala especially Dhir Mal, the nephew of Guru Ji. Here Mata Nanaki Ji's protective nature to her son that she loved dearly was further portrayed when she berated Dhirmal's thugs for attempting to shoot her beloved son who has now accepted the Gurgadhi. The bullet which was shot towards Guru Ji’s holy head missed its spot as soon as He uttered Oangkar. The bullet however slightly touched Guru Ji’s forehead tearing some of His forehead flesh causing it to bleed. Shielding Guru Ji with her body and wiping the blood from her son’s forehead, she angrily uttered5:
"My son’s father was a Guru who used to collect Dasvand from all devotees. Who are you to stop us now? You are having enmity with us without any reason. Neither did we go to Dhirmal’s house nor to his village. Instead, he is the one who has come to Bakala from Kartarpur. If he thinks he is the next Guru, why is he not at his own village and getting the devotees to come worship him there? He is roaming around for wealth while we are sitting in our own house quietly. Thousands of people give their offerings at your house and yet you are unable to accept the fact that other people are getting it as well. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji will definitely punish you for what you have done. If the bullet would have hit my son’s head, he would have died then what would be your fate? Oh Murderers! You have done such a big sin!"
Viewing Bakala as an unsuitable place to continue living, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji decided to leave. Mata Nanaki Ji having lived in Bakala for years was sad to leave her very own hometown but still obeyed the decision of her son, respecting Him as the Guru. In search of a suitable place to establish a new city, Anandpur Sahib was the perfect choice. It is also commonly known and recorded historically that another name for Anandpur Sahib was Chakk Nanaki, in honor of Mata Nanaki Ji. Such was the respect given to an indeed deserving Mata Nanaki Ji.
Pilgrimage
As mentioned earlier, Mata Ji generally remained unseparated from her son, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. Therefore, as Guru Ji travelled across the subcontinent towards Patna Sahib for pilgrimage in order to give Darshan to Sanggat living far away, Mata Nanaki Ji despite of her old age joined in the arduous journey too alongside Mata Gujri Ji. It was during the journey at the banks of Tribeni that Mata Nanaki expressed her desire to have the holy glimpse of her grandson as prophesied by her husband, Guru Hargobind Ji. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji assured her that she will be able to have a glimpse of her grandson before leaving her physical body6.
Emergence of Kalgidhar Patshah
After a long pilgrimage lasting few years, upon reaching Patna Sahib, Guru Mahraj decided it is wise for Mata Nanaki Ji and Mata Gujri Ji to stay there under the care of Bhai Kirpal Chand Ji (Mata Gujri's brother) while He continue His journey further to Decca to help Raja Bishan Singh. Guru Ji took the decision to leave both Mata Jis at Patna Sahib contemplating the fact that Mata Gujri Ji at this point of time was pregnant and the Sanggat of Patna Sahib was faithful enough to take care of them. When Guru Ji was leaving for Decca (currently Dhaka in Bangladesh), Mata Ji was in great sorrow to bear the separation as she has always been by the side of her son.
She was however in extremely high spirits upon the birth of Kalgidhar Patshah Ji who she had been waiting for eagerly. In such delightedness, Mata Nanaki ji got a letter to be written to Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji on the arrival of His son and wishing for His return. Mata Nanaki Ji used to personally bathe Kalgidhar Patshah Ji, play and care for them with utmost love in their childhood. Guru Gobind Singh Ji Mahraj became the life of Mata Nanaki Ji and Mata Gujri Ji.
After Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji returned to Patna Sahib and met His son for the first time, He did not stay long and started preparing for His trip back to Anandpur Sahib after a few months. Guru Ji expressed His plan of returning to Anandpur Sahib and for both Matavas to remain in Patna Sahib until Gobind Rai Ji is a little older and ready for long travels. Hearing this, Mata Ji's holy eyes were filled with tears and said7 "You spent a few years in the East leaving us alone here and after such a long period we had the chance to see you. But you are leaving again. How will I live without your glimpse?". Guru Ji then lovingly consoled her and left for Anandpur Sahib the next day after bowing before Mata Ji. As recorded in Gurpratap Suraj Parkash Granth, this was the last time Mata Ji had the physical glimpses of Guru Mahraj because by the time Mata Ji shall come to Anandpur Sahib, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji would have left to Delhi for their Shaheedi.
Shaheedi
When Mata Nanaki Ji received the news of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's imprisonment in Delhi, she was devastated. Kalgidhar Patshah Ji then sent a Sikh to enquire about Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's condition in Delhi and to inform them on Mata Ji’s condition. Upon receiving the Sikh in the jail, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji then wrote a letter in reply which included the Salok Mahalla 9 bani. Having Mata Ji on His mind, Guru Mahraj wrote two Saloks in the Salok Mahalla 9 bani, to comfort His mother8.
ਰਾਮ ਗਇਓ ਰਾਵਨੁ ਗਇਓ ਜਾਕਉ ਬਹੁ ਪਰਵਾਰ ॥
Raam Chand passed away, as did Raawan, even though he had lots of relatives.
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਥਿਰੁ ਕਛੁ ਨਹੀ ਸੁਪਨੇ ਜਿਉ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ ॥੫੦॥
Says Nanak, nothing lasts forever; the world is like a dream. ||50||
ਚਿੰਤਾ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਕੀਜੀਐ ਜੋ ਅਨਹੋਨੀ ਹੋਇ ॥
People become anxious, when something unexpected happens.
ਇਹ ਮਾਰਗੁ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਕੋ ਨਾਨਕ ਥਿਰੁ ਨਹੀ ਕੋਇ ॥੫੧॥
This is the way of the world, O Nanak; nothing is stable or permanent. ||51||
Mata Nanaki Ji experiencing the battle days from the times of Guru Hargobind Ji, losing her son Baba Atal Rai Ji at a young age to receiving the holy head of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Maharaj after their Shaheedi, was truly a strong and extraordinary mother. On the other hand, it is exemplary that despite being such a detached person, Guru Maharaj Ji fulfilled His role as a son by giving so much of respect and love to their mother. From bowing to Mata Nanaki Ji each time He had her glimpse to writing them assurance Saloks from Delhi jail, Guru Ji truly cared for His mother. Such was the love of the great Mata Nanaki Ji and her beloved son, Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Mahraj.
Notes
Before Guru Maharaj Ji’s Shaheedi, they were asked by Aurangzeb on the significance of their name to which Guru Ji answered that the power of my name is that your sword will never be able to touch my neck. Truly enough, when Aurangzeb’s warrior used his full force to strike Guru Ji’s neck, the head separated from the body itself before the sword could even touch the neck.
Guru Amar Das Ji lineage - even though the Gurgadhi was in Sodhi lineage afterwards, they still do satkar of the lineage of the earlier Gurus
Bhai Ghariya Ji was an eminent Gursikh that turned sand to gold to show Mia Daula that Sikhs are not poor but rather choose to remain in simplicity.
An important reason why it was very important for the sanggat to know who the true Guru is because they don’t want to keep their Dasvandh for long at home.
References
Sri Gur Partap Suraj Granth - Churamani Kavi Santokh Singh Ji:
Adhyai 06, Raas 11
Adhyai 18, Raas 11
Adhyai 55, Raas 08
Adhyai 09, Raas 11
Adhyai 13, Raas 11
Adhyai 48, Raas 11
Adhyai 25, Raas 12
Adhyai 62, Raas 12