Mata Bhag Kaur to Bhai Maha Singh

A Kaurs United Publication: www.kaursunited.org

Mata Bhag Kaur was born in the village of Jhabal in Amritsar – the Majha region of Punjab. She grew up being trained in fencing, sparring, etc., and was a woman of extremely strong and noble character. Mata Bhag Kaur spent a great amount of her life in dedication to Guru Gobind Singh Ji, in both Punjab and Maharastra (Hajoor Sahib). Mata Bhag Kaur was a great warrior and was the general of the battle of Khidrana (present day Mukatsar) and she was also able to obtain a large army of Sikh male and female warriors.

In Anandpur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh ji’s home was surrounded by invading Mughals and Hill Rajas, with rations for the Sikhs running out. Bhai Maha Singh and his army, after having defended the Guru for so long, decided to turn their back on Guru Gobind Singh Ji and return to their families. Bhai Maha Singh and the other Sikhs even signed a treaty saying “Guru Gobind Singh, you are no longer our Guru, and we are no longer your Sikhs!” What a sad day in Sikh history, when the Guru’s beloved warriors found no other option but to leave their Kalgidhar Patshah.

Mata Bhag Kaur, like a lioness on the prowl for her prey of injustice, could not believe that her brothers left Guru Gobind Singh Ji in such a difficult time for the Panth. She gathered an army and gained support from several Sikh women, including the wives and families of the 40 Muktay. Speaking bravely like the fearless Daughter of the King of righteousness, Mata Bhag Kaur awoke a new fervour of warrior spirit in the Sikh Sangat, the 40 Muktay hanging their heads in shame at leaving their Guru.

As an army was formulated and the 40 Muktay realized their mistake, the Sikhs joined together in Mukatsar, or “the pool of liberation”, occupying the only source of water in the land. In this battle of Mukatsar, Mata Bhag Kaur and Bhai Maha Singh were badly injured, Maha Singh and the other 40 Muktay being blessed with forgiveness by the Guru for turning their back.

Such was the legend of Mata Bhag Kaur – a true warrior general of the Khalsa that awoke a new spirit to fight injustice in the blood of the Sikhs. A poem written that depicts the relationship of Mata Bhag Kaur to Bhai Maha Singh as children of the Guru:

To My Brother, Maha Singh

When a Lion is deserted by His dear Cubs, what a sad day that is, Maha Singh
What kind of princes, losing their royalty, would desert their precious King?
What a sad day, alas, brother of mine – have you become blind?
With stones in your hearts, and exhausted bodies, you left your Guru behind.

Do you not remember, Bhai Mati Das, Sati Das and Dyala Ji?
They gave their bodies, lives, and souls, for their precious Guru Ji.
They desired naught to see family or relatives, they left this world in grace
Their last desire was to gaze at Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s Face.

Guru Arjan Dev ji sacrificed, to fill your soul with spirit
The fire burned under the Hot Plate, tell me brother, can you hear it?
The Path of Sikhi is as difficult and as sharp as a sword
But it will be painted with the blood of Marytrs, forever more

What face will you show to the Khalsa of tomorrow?
Will this day be remembered as an eblem of sorrow?
How dare we call ourselves children of Guru Gobind Singh?
To this great Panth of glory, what name will you bring?

Wearing the great Bana and weaponry of our sweet Father,
This world will clearly think we are His proud Sons and Daughters,
But what great dis-service have you done, today, oh Maha Singh,
To this great Panth of glory, what name will you bring?

There is still time to beg for forgiveness, from our Guru of beauty
Recognize your mistakes, O Brother! May the True Guru forgive thee
May you never leave the side of this Niyara Khalsa Panth
May you always fight injustice, like a true Soldier-Sant

My brother, you must wake up, and correct your wrong actions
You left our Guru alone, with your senseless distractions
Please help me gather again an army of Great Power
We will fight for our Guru and die, like his precious saffron flowers

We must wake all of Punjab and help them rise from Slumber
The time has come to prove we are Sava Lakh in Number!!
Grab your weapons and come on your horse, oh my Brother of Might,
As children of Guru Gobind Singh, we are Vaheguru’s Knights!

We must gather every warrior soul to defend the Guru of Light
Wake up, Punjab, Wake Up My Brothers!!! The time has come to fight!!

BOLEYYY SO NIHAAAAAAAL
SAT SRI AKAAAAAL
GUR BAR AKAAAL
TERI MEHMA APAAAR! AKAAL AKAAL AKAAL

In this way, Mata Bhag Kaur rode into the day with her warrior Brothers and Sisters, determined to protect the Khalsa Panth from the invading arms of the Moghul Army.

When all have deserted us, we will still never desert our Guru! May we forever stay dedicated to His mission of world peace and the fight against injustice!

May we all live like the Sava Lakh Warrior, Mata Bhag Kaur, in death and in life, until we merge with our Guru again.

May we all treat our brothers the way that Mata Bhag Kaur treated Bhai Maha Singh, waking them up from slumber and helping them remain strong warriors of the Guru.