Martyr Mata Gujar Kaur Ji (Mata Gujari Ji) – by Rubbina Singh, University of Calgary, Canada

(By – RUBBINA SINGH, UNIVERSITY of CALGARY)

Mata Gujri ji was the wife of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, mother of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, grandmother of four Sahibzadeys and sister of a martyr Kirpal Chand. She was born in 1624 at Kartarpur, near Jalandhar. In 1644, Guru Hargobind Sahib had instructed his son Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib to move to Bakala, near Amritsar. At Delhi, in 1664 Guru Harkrishan Sahib, had said “Baba Bakalay” (Next Guru is at Bakala). From Bakala, Guru Sahib went to Amritsar and then to Kiratpur, along with his mother and wife.

In 1665 Guru Sahib purchased land and founded a new town, Chak Nanki (named after his mother), now Anandpur Sahib (The abode of Bliss). Later, along with Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Gurditta, Guru Sahib moved to Assam for spreading Guru Nanak’s Mission, leaving Mata Gujari ji, with her brother at Patna. Guru Sahib returned to Patna in 1670 and later went to Punjab, leaving the family at Patna. Some Pandits reached Anand Pur to narrate the plight of Kashmiri Brahmins and complain to Guru Sahib against forced conversion to Islam by Aurangzeb in 1675.

When Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib explained their grave problem to his  nine-year-old son Gobind Rai, he  asked his father how can they be helped. Guru Sahib answered that a truly pious and holy person will have to sacrifice his life. Gobind Rai replied, “There is nobody holier than you, father”. Guru Sahib  told the Pandits to convey his message to the Emperor Aurangzeb that if Guru Tegh Bahadur accepts Islam, then all others would follow him. Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib was executed at Chandni Chowk in Delhi along with his three disciples in November 1675, as they refused to give up their faith.

Bhai Jaita ji brought his severed head to Anand Pur. Mata Gujari ji courageously carried out her husband’s Mission with determination. She brought up Govind Rai like a Prince, gave him education, and military training, for the challenges ahead. In December 1704 Guru Gobind Singh vacated  Anandpur Fort after prolonged siege by Mughal and Hill rulers. Mata ji, and her two younger grandsons Zorawar Singh (9) and Fateh Singh (5) were separated from other family members. The three and their cook, Gangu, went to his village, Saher, near Ropar. At night he stole their bag containing valuables. Later, Mata  ji and her grandsons were arrested, and taken to the governor of Sirhind, Wazir Khan, who jailed them in the coldest part of the fort, Thanda Burj, without warm clothes and food.

Mata Gujari ji advised her grandsons not to give up their faith and reminded them how their grandfather Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib had sacrificed his life and preferred death to conversion. She also related to them the sacrifice of Guru Arian Sahib for Dharma. In the court, the two young Princes  refused to bow and instead uttered fearlessly Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh”. They were asked by the governor to convert to Islam but both of them refused.

Next day, tempting offers were made to them but when they rejected them, they were ordered to be bricked alive. Sher Muhammad Khan of Malerkotla, pleaded for the small children but to no avail.

When both Sahibzadeys were bricked alive, Mata Gujari ji thanked Akaal Purakh for giving them a dignified death. She breathed her last while meditating. Later, Diwan Todar Mal cremated them  by purchasing the most expensive land in the world. There Gurdwara Jyoti Sarup Sahib was built later in their memory. Unparallel services were rendered by both Baba Moti Ram Mehra ji and Diwan Todar Mal ji and their families. There also stands Gurdwara Thanda Burj, where she spent the last three days of her life. Every year, devotees come to pay homage to courageous Mata Gujar Kaur ji and her two younger grandsons in the last week of December. Brave Mata Gujar Kaur ji kept the tradition of Sikhi alive, without any complaint. She proved a real steel hearted lady, the like of whom shall never be born again. The life history of this unforgettable brave lady is a lighthouse for the generations to come. Due to her teachings and upbringing, her two young grandsons set an example for others to follow, particularly for the young Sikhs of today.