Guru Har Gobind Sahib Ji

1. Guru Har Gobind Sahib Ji ~ Bandhi Chhorr ~

2. Dhan Dhan Har Gobind Sahib Ji (12 years afters 5th Guru Ji’s Shaheedi (1663)) • Emperor Jahingir felt concerned by the growing popularity of the the 6th Guru. • It was his advisors that devised a plan that would eventually imprison Guru Ji for 40 days. • Chandu Laal was still fuming over the break down of his daughters engagement to Guru Ji and was seeking revenge.

3. Dhan Dhan Har Gobind Sahib Ji • Chandhu was friends with a number of people including some renowned astrologers and the Emperor himself. • The astrologers then went to the Emperor and began to discuss what they had seen about his future. The astrologers said they had foreseen in the stars an up and coming suffering in regards to his health and his wealth.

4. Dhan Dhan Har Gobind Sahib Ji • The Emperor asked what can he do to avoid this illness. • The astrologers then followed through with Chandu Laals plans. • The Astrologers said that if he could find a Holy person to meditate in an isolated Fortress for 40-days then this illness could be avoided. • Emperor asked if there was a person to fulfil the criteria? • The Astrologers claimed that Guru Ji was a man of God and recommended him to be approached.

5. Dhan Dhan Har Gobind Sahib Ji • The Emperor asked Guru Ji for his help in his predicament. • Guru Ji replied that what the astrologers have said is not true, as illnesses comes and goes. • The Emperor was insistent and so Guru Ji agreed to go to Gwalia Fortress to meditate. • But the sangata were wise to what was really going on and that Jahingir might be planning a similar fate for Guru Ji as the 5th Guru.

6. Dhan Dhan Har Gobind Sahib Ji • Guru Ji told them that ‘everything’ is in Waheguru’s Hukum • Guru Ji said that there were prisoners, Hindu Raja’s that needed his help and guidance and that, that was his main objective for agreeing. • Jahingir’s mind was at ease for a very short period. Soon news began to spread that the Sikhs were agitated, restless and angry about Guru Ji’s imprisonment.

7. Dhan Dhan Har Gobind Sahib Ji • Guru Ji himself was provided with ample rations and anything else he needed. • At that time 52 Rajas were also imprisoned, they’d been deprived of their kingdoms and were being treated very badly. • Guru Ji was pained to see this and so shared all his rations and survived with very little himself.

8. Dhan Dhan Har Gobind Sahib Ji • Hazarat Mian Mir was a highly religious and regarded Muslim holy man. But he was also a devotee of the 5th Guru. He and many God fearing Holy Men were very angry and went to see the Emperor and told him, that what he’d done was wrong and Guru Ji must be released immediately. • The Emperor wrote a letter to the Governor of the prison for the release of Guru Ji. • Guru Ji refused to leave on his own and stated that he would only leave if the other 52 Rajas were also released.

9. Dhan Dhan Har Gobind Sahib Ji • A message was sent and the Emperor agreed, on the condition that only those that can hold Guru Ji’s robe will be released. • Guru Ji had a special robe made with 52 Khalia tapers

10. Dhan Dhan Har Gobind Sahib Ji • The day Guru Ji was released from the fortress coincided with the Day of Diwali. That is why Today we celebrate the release of Guru Ji on the day of Diwali and not Diwali itself. • After of this event, Guru Ji was named ‘Bandhi Chhorr’ ~ The Liberator of Prisoners. We too must grasp the hem of Guru Ji’s robe if we wish to cross the world-ocean. • Sangata celebrate in Amritsar by lighting Diva on to the sarowar out of Pyar and Sharda.