The Bahadur Blog

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh. This weekend will mark the Parkash (birth) of our third Guru, Sri Guru Amar Das Ji. Guru Ji was born in 1479, 10 years after Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Guru Sahib was a shopkeeper and lived in a village called Barsake, close to Amritsar, and married Mata Mansa Devi and they had four children. They had two sons and two daughters. One of Guru Sahib's daughters, Bibi Bhani Ji, would later marry Bhai Jetha, who became Sri Guru Ram Das Ji, the fourth Guru. Bhai Amar Das Ji was born into a Hindu family and lived as a very religious Vaishanavite Hindu, who spent most of his life performing rituals and keeping fasts. One day, Bhai Sahib heard the Shabad of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji being sung by the daughter of Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji. Bhai Sahib was so impressed by this, that he went and visited Guru Angad Dev Ji immediately. It was recorded that Bhai Amar Das Ji was 61 at the time of this visit. Bhai Sahib was so touched by Sikhi, that he became a

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh. Yesterday marked the Janam Dihara (birthday) of Bhagat Dhanna Ji. In 1415, Bhagat Ji was born into a Jatt family in Rajasthan. Three Shabads, written by Bhagat Dhanna Ji, are included in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, on Ang 487, 488 and 695. Since Bhagat Ji spent his early life working on his family's farm and during this time he was an idol worshipper, but slowly he became a pure saint. From his childhood, he was a simple, honest and hard-working person who enjoyed the company of scholars, although he didn't attend school himself. Bhagat Ji also spent time helping the needy and assisting the holy men whom he would come across. Later on in his life he went to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the most famous Hindu temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Here he was initiated by Swami Ramananda, and began his journey to becoming a saint. Although he was illiterate, through devotion and dedication, he gained a high status. Sri Guru Arjan

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh. As we approach Vaisakhi, many towns and cities will be leading a Nagar Kirtan to mark the significance of Vaisakhi. Whilst many of us will attend, not all of us are aware of the importance and meaning behind the procession. The word 'Nagar' generally means town or city, and 'Kirtan" is the singing of Shabads, therefore it literally translates to 'Neighbourhood Kirtan'. The concept of a Nagar Kirtan is to bring the message of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj to the forefront of the community. The procession is lead by the embodiment of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, in the form of the Panj Pyare. Behind the Panj Pyare is the float which carries Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and in many cases there are multiple other floats which follow behind the float of Guru Sahib. The Sadh Sangat walk behind these floats and partake in the singing of Shabads, and some Sevadars hand out refreshments along the route, as part of the con

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh. Last week marked 169 years since the Sarkar-e-Khalsa was annexed by the British Empire, at the end of the second Anglo-Sikh War in 1849. The young Maharaja Duleep Singh was exiled from Lahore to  England, as the British took control of the former Sikh Empire. The Khalsa Raj had begun when Maharaja Ranjit Singh captured Lahore in 1799, and at its peak it included all of Punjab, Delhi and continued to the Khyber Pass (Afghanistan/Pakistan) on its western front. The expansion towards the west was halted after the Battle of Jamrud, in which the Afghans manage to kill the great Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa. However the Sikhs managed to crush the harsh Pashtun rebellion, and Maharaja Ranjit Singh marched, with his troops, into Kabul. The Raj was thriving and flourishing but what lead to its downfall? How could such a powerful Empire be conquered? It is said that the Sikhs would have never lost the empire if they had followed what Sri Guru Gobind Si