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In Praise of The King of Kings:
Part II
SARBPREET SINGH
Continued from yesterday …
PART II
In Anandpur, young Guru Gobind had his followers engage in martial pursuits, teaching them how to use weapons, ride and drill, perhaps very cognizant of the struggles that lay ahead. His growing influence, in the proud Raja Bhim Chand’s backyard, was bound to raise the latter’s hackles.
Here’s another excerpt from Max Macauliffe’s work:
Several men went to the Guru for enlistment, and his army rapidly increased. He now set about the construction of a big drum, without which he deemed his equipment would be incomplete. When the masands (Sikh community leaders) found that it was nearly ready they said that when Bhim Chand, the king of the country, heard it, he would be wroth, and not suffer the Guru and his Sikhs to abide in the locality. The Guru celebrated with prayers and the distribution of sacred food the completion of the big drum, which he called Ranjit, or victorious on the battle-field. When it was beaten, the men and women of the city went forth to behold it, and there was great rejoicing.
The Guru and his men, in full panoply, went hunting the same day. When the party arrived near Bilaspur, the capital of Kahlur, the Guru's drummer beat the drum with much energy and ostentation. It sounded like thunder to the hillmen, who at once apprehended that some potentate had come to take possession of their country.
Raja Bhim Chand consulted his prime minister who said, “It is Guru Gobind Rai, the tenth Guru in succession to Guru Nanak, who hath arrived. His father purchased some land at the base of the Tung mountain, and built a village thereon. Thousands of worshippers come to him from great distances.
“It is only recently that the Raja of Assam came to visit him and presented him large offerings. He hath constructed a drum and come shooting here. My advice is to keep on good terms with him. In the first place, he is worthy of worship, secondly, he maintaineth a large army and is greatly feared. Thirdly, he is very brave, and such men are sometimes useful as allies.“
On hearing this Raja Bhim Chand determined to go to meet the Guru, and dispatched his prime minister to arrange for the interview. The minister informed the Guru that his master, who was the head of all the hill chiefs, desired to meet him, and it would be well for the Guru to be on good terms with him. Bhai Kripal, the Guru's uncle, at a nod from the Guru replied, “This is the Guru's castle. As any one treateth him, so shall he be treated.”
Raja Bhim Chand was received in darbar with great honour by the Guru, who invited him to tell him the whole circumstances of the hill chiefs. Bhim Chand gave him the desired information, and then prayed the Guru to let him see the presents from the king of Asam. The Guru at that interview showed him all the presents, except the elephant. Next morning the Guru had a costly tent erected which had been sent him from Kabul by an enthusiastic Sikh named Duni Chand, and prepared to receive Bhim Chand in it at the second interview.
With the Guru were his relations, courtiers, and principal wrestlers and warriors. When Bhim Chand saw the Kabuli tent he was astonished at its magnificence. In reply to his inquiry he was told that it had cost two and a half lakhs of rupees, and that it was the offering of a pious Sikh.
During this conversation the elephant, beautifully decorated, was led forward. Bhim Chand expressed his unbounded admiration of all that he had seen and heard.
On his homeward journey his mind burned with envy of the Guru's state and wealth, and he considered how he could take possession of all his valuables. On reflection, however, he came to the conclusion that he would be satisfied with the elephant, and he determined to have the animal whether by force or stratagem.
On his arrival in his capital he unfolded his design to his courtiers, and asked them to suggest how possession of the elephant could be obtained. After some discussion it was agreed that a message should be sent to the Guru to the effect that an embassy was coming from Srinagar in the present British Garhwal district, with the object of betrothing the daughter of its Raja, Fatah Shah, to Bhim Chand's son; and Bhim Chand desired to borrow the elephant so as to make a display of wealth to his guests. It was accordingly decided that the Guru should be requested to lend the elephant for the purpose.
When the Guru received this message he knew that it was simply a trick to obtain permanent possession of the animal. He thought to himself, “If I refuse the elephant, it means war, and if I send him it also means war, as I must resort to force for his recovery.”
He accordingly replied to Bhim Chand's message, “The raja who presented me with the elephant requested me not to let the animal go out of my possession; and it is a principle of the Guru's house to comply with such requests. I have another elephant, and should Raja Bhim Chand require him he may take him.
The messenger seeing that there was no chance of obtaining the desired elephant hastened to return to Bilaspur. The Guru's message was delivered with the addition that he did not seem afraid of any of the hill chiefs.
Raja Bhim Chand, much incensed, consulted his prime minister, who advised him not to provoke a quarrel with the Guru. Bhim Chand angrily retorted, and charged his minister with age and cowardice. The Guru had shown contempt for him, and was he to calmly endure it?
“If he give me not the elephant by peaceable means, I will take the animal by force. The Guru is already on bad terms with the Emperor, and, if he fall out with me also, he cannot abide here. He is still a mere boy; arms are new to his hands. When I show him what I can do, he will know who I am and renounce his pride.”
Thus were sown the seeds of strife between Raja Bhim Chand and Guru Gobind Singh, which led to the Battle of Bhangani, in which a large host, under the command of many Hindu Rajas, led personally by Bhim Chand, was soundly defeated by a much smaller Sikh army.
The stirring story of the Battle of Bhangani will have to wait for another day.
Eventually, Raja Bhim Chand sought Guru Gobind Singh’s forgiveness, which was generously given.
Sikh tradition says that the Guru addressed the Tav Prasad Sava-i-yye to Raja Bhim Chand in order to help him understand the limits of temporal power and its insignificance, when compared with the power of the Divine.
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For a fabulous rendering of the first Sava-i-yya in Raag Brindabani Sarang (an early afternoon melody) by the incomparable Bhai Sahib Dharam Singh Zakhmi -- one of my favorite Gurmat Sangeet recordings of all time, please CLICK here.
And please CLICK here for a magnificent rendering of the ninth Sava-i-yya by the brilliant Bhai Baljeet Singh and his brother Bhai Gurmeet Singh in Raag Bihag (a night melody).
CONCLUDED
January 8, 2013
Conversation about this article
1: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom), January 08, 2014, 4:23 PM.
We as Sikhs owe our freedoms and success around the world to Guru Gobind Singh and the Khalsa.
2: Ari Singh (Sofia, Bulgaria), January 10, 2014, 9:03 AM.
Sarbpreet Singh ji, your articles are the most interesting ones. I strongly suggest you publish them in book form. And thank you for enlightening us on our history.
3: Gurinder Singh (Stockton, California, U.S.A.), January 12, 2014, 6:59 AM.
Not only Sikhs, but India, as a Hindu majority state which is surrounded by Muslim countries, owes its very existence today to Guru Gobind Singh ji. He introduced a spirit of invincibility in us by his acts of sacrifice and his martial bani.
4: Hargurmit Singh (Delhi, India), January 13, 2014, 3:46 AM.
Vaah, Sarbpreet Singh ji, this can only come from an aashiq of our beloved Kalgidhar, who never had and will never have an equal. Keep up the aashiqee.