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super soul better than that ofhis father who could save the religion of<br />
the poor pandits. Guru Teg Bahadur started for Delhi on his mission on<br />
11 th July 1675 and on the ll lh November 1675, he actually made the<br />
supreme sacrifice. Then what a horrible occasion was for her, when<br />
the slain rather martyred head - sans body· ofGuru Teg Bahadur<br />
was brought to the family at Anand Pur Sahib by Bhai Jaita<br />
Rangretta who narrated to the Guru family the events those took<br />
place at Delhi including those of Martyrdom of Bhai Mati Dass,<br />
Bhai Sati Dass and Bhai Dayala. They were also informed as to<br />
how and where the headless body of Guru Sahib was cremated at<br />
Delhi by Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara.<br />
From 1675 to 1699 onwards she was very actively associated and<br />
involved in the actions and the struggles ofhis son Guru, Guru Gobind<br />
Rai. Despite Bhangani war and other hostile acts oftyrannical Mughal<br />
rulers and Hill Rajas she never lost heart and gave any hour ofdespair<br />
to her son. She was always found standing by him in his decisions and<br />
was always in high spirits 'charhdi kala'.<br />
Mala Gujri and her two younger grandsons were arrested on 8<br />
December 1704 and confined in Sarhind Fort, which is referred to in<br />
Sikh circlf's as 'Thanda Burj, the cold tower'. As the children were<br />
summoned to appear in court from day to day, the grand mother kept<br />
urging them to remain steadfast in their faith. The mother narrated to<br />
them the events about the heroic acts ofthe martyrdom oftheir grand<br />
father Guru Teg Bahadur at Delhi and great grand father (The grand<br />
father of their grand father - Guru Arjan Sahib), at Lahore, the great<br />
deeds oftheir father, the Father ofKhalsa Panth and filled in them such<br />
a type ofzeal and guts that they did not budge an inch to the threats and<br />
embraced martyrdom brought to them in a most heinous way.<br />
Some people say that on hearing the news ofthe tragic end ofthe<br />
little kids, she gave away her life, but Principal Satbir Singh has<br />
categorically mentioned that when the messenger went to deliver the<br />
tragic news to her, she had already breathed her last, knowing fully<br />
well that she had done her duty. Mother Gujri who lived a long life of<br />
about eightyyears was having in her a spirit ofdedication, devotion<br />
anda commitmentfor the cause andspread ofGursikhi. She was an<br />
embodiment ofservice and sacrifice. She was a witness to a long<br />
periodofupheaval, that went through in thegrowth of<strong>Sikhism</strong>, right<br />
128/ The <strong>Sikhism</strong> - <strong>Culture</strong>, History & Religion
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