8 ਪੋਹ // 22 December
Chamkaur Di Garhi
(A Thread)

After separation, Guru Sahib with his Singhs went to a Kachi Garhi, a Mud fortress on a small hill. Kachi Garhi was owned by two brothers Chaudhari Chand and Jagat Singh. They offered their services to Guru.

Some say Guru Sahib had visited Chamkaur Sahib in 1702 while returning from Kurekshetra. Guru Sahib and Singhs moved into the house of Chaudhari Budhu Chand and Jagat Singh situated on a hill. The Haveli with its high parameter mud brick wall now became the fort of Guru Sahib.

Singhs started to settle there. Guru Sahib said everyone to take some rest. Singhs went to sleep while some were Guarding the Fort.

That Night, Guru Sahib came to the place where Singhs were Sleeping and Looked at them...

ਕਰਤਾਰ ਕੀ ਸੋਗੰਧ ਵਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੀ ਕਸਮ ਹੈ ।।
ਜਿਤਨੀ ਭੀ ਹੋ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਕੀ ਤਰੀਫ ਵੁਹ ਕੰਮ ਹੈ ।।
ਹਰ ਚੰਦ ਮੇਰੇ ਹਾਥ ਮੈਂ ਪੁਰ–ਜੋਰ ਕਲਮ ਹੈ ।।
ਸਤਗੁਰਿ ਕੇ ਲਿਖੂਂ ਵਸਫ਼ ਕਹਾਂ ਤਾਬਿ–ਏ–ਰਕਮ ਹੈ।।

At the commencement of Amritvela Guru Sahib woke up the Singhs, and said it was time for Asa Di Vaar and Nitnem.

What an amazing warrior-saint Guru was! An army was pursuing Guru Sahib and planning to attack the place where they were staying, and yet Guru Sahib was still blissfully continuing his daily discipline of meditation, Nitnem and Kirtan, with his Singhs.

Meanwhile, the Mughal army had started surrounding the Fort. Mughal generals, yelled over the wall, "Gobind Singh! If you and your Sikhs come out now, you will be spared!"

Guru Sahib replied to this with a rain of arrows. There was silence now in the cold morning. Clouds filled the sky followed by thunder and lightening. Guru and the Singhs became ready for the battle.

And then, it was time for the battle...

Mughals changed alot of their strategies, but in end couldn't do anything. They stepped a few foots back so that the Arrows don't hurt them and then Singhs have to finally come out of the fort and fight with them on Ground..

Guru Sahib ordered Singhs to Form groups of 5-5 each and go out and Fight with them. The Singhs Got ready as per Hukam of Guru Sahib.
3 Groups of Singhs had gone out of Fort to Fight. They caused alot of Destruction to the Mughal army.

The Nawab was astonished at what these Singhs were made of. He remembered the sayings of the Sikhs that "One Sikh equalled Sava Lakh (125,000)" – the bravery of one Sikh is equal to that of 125,000 ordinary men.

And then, It was time when Baba Ajit Singh Ji said They'll take out 4th Jatha and Fight with the Mughals..

Both Brothers remembered their younger brothers before going to the field. Bhai Maninder Singh Ji writes a poem on this...

Guru Sahib hugged Baba Ajit Singh. Little beard had yet appeared on Baba Ji’s face, showing how young he was. Every father wants to see his child get married, But, that day death was waiting and Baba Ajit Singh would be marrying death..

Baba Ajit Singh boldly and valiantly came out of fort, accompanied with 5 other Singhs, which included one of the original Panj Piarey, Bhai Mohkam Singh. Guru watched the battle scene from the top of the fort. There was silence on all four sides.

As they came into the battleground they roared, "Jaikarey", which sounded like the roar of a lion. Baba Ajit Singh with the five Sikhs advanced swiftly onto the battlefield displaying his great courage, bravery and skills with weapons.

The enemy was immediately repulsed & many of Mughal and Hill forces met their deaths. Such was the fury of the Sikh contingent and the dedicated, continuous and precise support from the haveli that this Jatha of brave men of the Khalsa eliminated hundreds of brave enemy soldiers.

After killing many hundreds of the enemy, the group began to take casualties. Slowly the impact of the unit began to diminish and after almost an hour, the enemy began surrounding the Sahibzada from all four sides.
While fighting, Baba Ajit Singh's kirpan (sword) broke.

He then began to fight with a Neja (spear). While fighting, however, one by one the 5 Singhs were overcome and lost their life and became Shaheed (martyrs) of the Guru. One Mughal chief injured Baba's horse.
As a result,

Baba ji fought from the ground with his talwar (sword). With each blow of his sword, he split the enemy into two. Now as the army surrounded the sahibzada, Guru watched with keen interest to see how bravely his son would live his last few minutes of life.

When Baba attained Shaheedi, Guru Sahib roared a Jaikara full of emotions and courage - a salutation to the Almighty for the blessing of such a brave and noble son.

And Baba Ajit Singh Ji attained martyrdom in front of Guru Sahib's eyes...

Guru Sahib smiled and Said

ਜੋ ਤੁਧੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਸਾਈ ਭਲੀ ਕਾਰ ॥
Whatever pleases You is the only good done,
ਤੂ ਸਦਾ ਸਲਾਮਤਿ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ॥੧੬॥
You, Eternal and Formless One!

Then Guru Ji looked at Baba Jhujhar Singh Ji.
Baba Jhujhar Singh Ji was already ready to go in field to fight. He got His Father's Sign.

Bhai Sahib writes this situation...

Baba Ji asked Guru Sahib, "Permit me, dear father, to go where my brother has gone. Don't say that I am too young. I am a Singh, a Lion, of yours. I shall prove worthy of you. I shall die fighting, with my face towards the enemy, with the Naam on my lips and the Guru in my heart"

Guru Sahib embraced him and said, "Go my son and wed the life-giving bride, Death. May the Almighty be with you always"
Guru Sahib gave blessings to Baba Jujhar Singh.

Guru Ji added, "I asked my father to give his life for "dharam" (righteousness and justice). Today, what I told my father, I now tell you son."

Baba Jujhar Singh ji got ready for the fight..

Bhai Himmat Singh and Bhai Sahib Singh (two of the Panj Pyare) along with 3 other Singhs accompanied Sahibzada Jujhar Singh Ji. The Mughals were shocked at what they saw. To the enemy, it looked as if Ajit Singh had come back.

To them this appeared like a repeat of the same disaster that had befallen them an hour or two ago. They had not even had time to recover from the previous shock and now they had a second wave of the same enormously vibrant energy.

This time the enemy was driven even further back; many just took flight as they thought that the Sikh numbers must have increased and so many of the enemy deserted the battlefield. This new force of six Khalsa soldiers killed many hundreds of the enemy; many simply ran away.

Guru Ji watched with gratefulness to the Almighty. He knew the Sikhs had learned the lessons of warfare well and would soon join the many hundreds of Sikh martyrs who had attained the highest honour of Dharam. The Almighty had indeed blessed the Sahibzade and the Sikhs.

Slowly, due to the huge number of the enemy, they eventually assembled around Baba Jujhar Singh. He was now surrounded and had a Neja (spear) in his hand. Wherever the Neja hit, the enemy was destroyed.

He also used a Khanda with which he killed the enemy as a farmer mows down his crop. Guru saw that Jujhar Singh was being surrounded and the opportunity to kill the Mughal soldiers was decreasing. For over 2 hours the Khalsa unit had continued to desolate the enemy

Guru Sahib fired volleys of arrows in the area around the Sahibzada's unit giving 'protection fire' to the Sikh soldiers. Baba ji and the 5 Singhs demonstrated the Sikh concept of one equalling the bravery and courage of "Sava Lakh" (125,000) humans.

Baba Ji eventually attained Shaheedi but died a hero's death in the fight against tyranny and falsehood.

ਗਗਨ ਦਮਾਮਾ ਬਾਜਿਓ ਪਰਿਓ ਨੀਸਾਨੈ ਘਾਉ ॥
The battle-drum beats in the sky of the mind; aim is taken, and the wound is inflicted.

ਖੇਤੁ ਜੁ ਮਾਂਡਿਓ ਸੂਰਮਾ ਅਬ ਜੂਝਨ ਕੋ ਦਾਉ ॥੧॥
The spiritual warriors enter the field of battle; now is the time to fight

ਸੂਰਾ ਸੋ ਪਹਿਚਾਨੀਐ ਜੁ ਲਰੈ ਦੀਨ ਕੇ ਹੇਤ ॥
He alone is known as a spiritual hero, who fights in defense of religion.

ਪੁਰਜਾ ਪੁਰਜਾ ਕਟਿ ਮਰੈ ਕਬਹੂ ਨ ਛਾਡੈ ਖੇਤੁ ॥੨॥
He may be cut apart, piece by piece, but he never leaves the field of battle.

This was truly a sign of a dedicated warrior! By the time Baba Jujhar Singh had attained Shaheedi nightfall had arrived and the moon could be seen in the sky.

Guru Sahib wrote in his composition, the Zafarnama:
"Chi qasme Quran man Kunam itibar
Vagarnah tu goi man man een rah chi kar"

What trust can I have on your oath on Koran? Otherwise, why should I have taken this path of taking up the sword?

After the day's fighting, by the night, writer Dalip Singh in Life of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji tells us that the following 11 Sikhs remained alive
1 Bhai Daya Singh
2 Bhai Dharam Singh
3 Bhai Mann Singh
4 Bhai Sangat Singh
5 Bhai Sant Singh
6 Bhai Ram Singh
7 Bhai Kehar Singh

08 Bhai Santokh Singh
09 Bhai Deva Singh
10 Bhai Jiwan Singh
11 Bhai Katha Singh

Gurdwara Damdama Sahib marks the place where Guru Gobind Singh ji and the Singhs first settled at Chamkaur Sahib.

Gurdwara Garhi Sahib is the spot where Guru sahib, elder Sahibzade and Sikhs fought the Mughal army from inside the fortress of Chamkaur Sahib.

It is the place where the elder Sahibzadas and Singhs attained Shaheedi.

A thread by @inder9713 about Historical Gurdwaras of Chamkaur Sahib. https://twitter.com/inder9713/status/1341021867486810113?s=19

On the other hand, Mata Gujri Ji and Both chotte Sahibzaade were taken by Gangu Brahmin to His house..
There is Gurdwara Attac Sahib now.

Picture/Video Credits to Respective Owners.

Bhul Chuk Maaf.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.

Compiled https://threader.app/thread/1341358991486590976