From Manvir Singh's blogspot (www.manvirsingh.blogspot.com)
In Sikh history Mata Sahib Kaur Ji is known as the
Mother of the Khalsa. This honour was bestowed upon her by the Tenth Nanak,
Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. When a Sikh recieves the gift of Khande Dee Pauhul
(Amrit), he/she is told that from today onward your spiritual father is Guru
Gobind Singh Sahib and you spiritual mother is Mata Sahib Kaur Ji. Mata Sahib
Kaur Ji, whose name before taking Amrit was Mata Sahib Devaan Ji, was born on
the 1st November 1681 ( 18th Katak samant 1738 bikrami) in a village called
Rohtas, District Jehlum, in West Punjab, (now in Pakistan). Her mother’s name
was Mata Jasdevi Ji and father’s name was Bhai Ramu Bassi Ji. Her brother’s
name was Saheb Chand Ji. Her father, who was an ardent sewak (devotee) of Guru
Gobind Singh Sahib, influenced her to the extent that she wanted to devote her
whole life in the service of the Guru Sahib. From her childhood, Mata Sahib
Kaur Ji was a sweet and quiet natured girl. Because of the religious atmosphere
at home, she was deeply influenced by Gurbaani during her formative years. It
is possible that in her childhood she might have seen Guru Gobind Singh Sahib
at Sri Anandpur Sahib during the visit of her family. She had inherited
humility, love and sacrifice to humanity and devotion to Waheguru.
http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/personalities/sikhwomen/sahib-devan-hse.jpg
Birth house of Mata Sahib Devann at Rohtas, Jhelum
.When she came of age, her father and other devotees of village Rohtas, took
her to Sri Anandpur Sahib and requested Guru Gobind Singh Sahib to take her as
his bride. Guru Sahib told the Sangat that he was already married and could not
marry again. However, Mata Sahib Devann Ji's father had pledged his daughter to
Guru Sahib and no-one else would marry her now. Therefore, Guru Sahib said if
Mata Sahib Devann ji agreed to be as “Kunwara Dola”, she could stay with the
Guru's family, however, they could not marry or ever have children. Guru Sahib
instead promised Mata Sahib Devann Ji, that you will become a great Mother to
thousands. Mata Sahib Kaur Ji lived in the Guru Sahib's household and served
Guru Sahib and the Sangat with full
shardaa (devotion).
http://www.lotusmedia.co.uk/sikhstudent/images/Gurus/images/Guru%20the%20disciple_jpg_jpg.jpg
Mata Sahib Kaur Ji accompanied Guru Sahib
throughout his life, even during battles, serving him in every possible way. On
Vaisakhi 1699 ( Bikrami samant 1756), in the first Amrit-Sanchaar, Mata Sahib
Kaur Ji participated in the sewa of the Amrit-Sanchaar by adding Pataasey
(sugar wafers) to the Amrit, and was bestowed the honour of eternal motherhood
of Khalsa Panth.
http://www.sikhpoint.com/religion/sikhcommunity/images/sahib.jpg
Mata Ji guided the Khalsa Panth through period of
crisis many times and issued eight decrees in the name of Khalsa Panth.
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7209/1490/320/5F7516E9EF.jpg
When Guru Gobind Singh Sahib reached Abchal Nagar
(Sri Hazoor Sahib), he sent Mata Sahib Kaur Ji to Delhi and stay along with
Mata Sundree Ji. Guru Sahib also gave her five weapons ( Talwaar, Khanjaar,
Jamdhaar, & 2nos. Khandee) of the Sixth Nanak, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, for
safekeeping. These weapons are today displayed at Gurdwara Rakabganj in Delhi.
Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, passed away before Mata Sundri Ji. She left for heavenly
abode at the age of sixty six in 1747 ( Bikrami samant 1804) and her last rites
were performed in Bala Sahib, Delhi.
http://www.worldkhalsa.com/public/gurud/india/delhi/balsa2.gif
Gurdwara Bala Sahib, Delhi
www.manvirsingh.blogspot.com
Why
did Guru Gobind Singh Sahib have more than one wife ???
How
many marriages did Guru Gobind Singh Sahib have ???
The wrong impression that the Guru Sahib had more
than one wife was created by those writers who were ignorant of Sikhi Values
& culture. Later authors accepted those wrong writings indicating more than
one marriage of the Guru Sahib and presented it as a royal act. During those
days kings, chiefs, and other important people usually had more than one wife
as a symbol of their being great and superior to the common man. Guru Gobind
Singh Sahib, being a true king, was justified in their eyes to have had more
than one wife. This is actually incorrect.
In Punjab,
there are two and sometimes three big functions connected with marriage, i.e.,
engagement, wedding, and Muklawa (Doli). Big gatherings and singings are held
at all these three functions. In many cases, the engagement was held as soon as
the person had passed the infant stage. Even today engagements at 8 to 12 years
of age are not uncommon in some interior parts of India. The wedding is
performed a couple of years after the engagement. After the wedding, it takes
another couple of years for the bride to move in with her in laws and live
there. This is called Muklawa (Doli). A dowry and other gifts to the bride are
usually given at this time of this ceremony to help her to establish a new
home. Now, the wedding and Muklawa (Doli) are performed on the same day and
only when the partners are adults.
A big befitting function and other joyful
activities were held at Anand Pur Sahib, according to custom, at the time of
the engagement of the Guru Sahib. The bride, Mata Jeeto Ji, resided at Lahore,
which was the capital of the Mughal rulers who were not on good terms with the
Gurus Sahib. When the time for the marriage ceremony came, it was not
considered desirable for the Guru Sahib to go to Lahore, along with the armed
Sikhs in large numbers. Furthermore, it would involve a lot of traveling and
huge expenses, in addition to the inconvenience to the Sangat, younger and old,
who wished to witness the marriage of the Guru Sahib. Therefore, as mentioned
in the Sikh chronicles, Lahore was 'brought' to Anand Pur Sahib for the
marriage instead of the Guru Sahib going to Lahore.
A scenic place a couple of miles to the
north of Anand Pur Sahib was developed into a nice camp for the marriage. This
place was named Guru Ka Lahore. Today, people are going to Anand Pur Sahib
visit this place as well. The bride was brought to this place by her parents
and the marriage was celebrated with a very huge gathering attending the
ceremony. The two elaborate functions, one at the time of engagement and the
other at the time of the marriage of the Guru Sahib, gave the outside observers
the impression of two marriages. They had reason to assume this because a
second name was also there, i.e., Mata Sundari Ji. After the marriage, there is
a custom in the Punjab of giving a new affectionate name to the bride by her
inlaws. Mata Jeeto Ji, because of her fine features and good looks, was named
Sundari (beautiful) by the Guru's mother ( Mata Gujari Ji). The two names and
two functions gave a basis for outsiders to believe that the Guru Sahib had two
wives. In fact, Guru Sahib had one wife with two names as explained above.
Some historians even say that Guru Gobind
Singh Sahib had a third wife, Mata Sahib Kaur Ji. In 1699, the Guru asked Mata
Sahib Devaan Ji (Mata Sahib Kaur Ji) to put patasas (puffed sugar) in the water
for preparing Amrit when he founded the Khalsa Panth. Whereas Guru Gobind Singh
Sahib is recognized as the spiritual father of the Khalsa, Mata Sahib Kaur Ji
is recognized as the spiritual mother of the Khalsa. People not conversant with
the Amrit ceremony mistakenly assume that Mata Sahib Kaur Ji was the third wife
of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. As Guru Gobind Singh Sahib is the spiritual but not
the biological father of the Khalsa, Mata Sahib Kaur (Saheb Devaan) Ji is the
spiritual mother of the Khalsa, but not the wife of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.
From ignorance of Sikhi Values &
culture and the Amrit ceremony, some writers mistook these three names of the
women in the life of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib as the names of his three wives.
Another reason for this misunderstanding is that the parents of Mata Sahib
Devaan Ji, as some Sikh chronicles have mentioned, had decided to marry her to
Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. When the proposal was brought for discussion to
Anandpur Sahib, the Guru Sahib had already been married. Therefore, the Guru
Sahib said that he could not have another wife since he was already married.
The dilemma before the parents of the girl was that, the proposal having become
public, no Sikh would be willing to marry her. The Guru Sahib agreed for her to
stay at Anand Pur Sahib but without
accepting her as his wife.
The question arose, as most women
desire to have children, how could she have one without being married. The Guru
Sahib told, "She will be the "Mother" of a great son who will
live forever and be known all over the world." The people understood
the hidden meaning of his statement only after the Guru Sahib associated Mata
Sahib Devaan Ji with preparing Amrit by bringing patasas. It is, therefore, out
of ignorance that some writers consider Mata Sahib Devan Ji ( Mata Sahib Kaur
Ji) as the worldly wife of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.
