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Baba Deep Singh Ji Shaheed


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Baba Deep Singh's life story would make one absolutely fantastic movie; not that I'm suggesting such a thing is made. But the rich narrative of their life and their achievements would be wonderfully soul-stirring.

I mean, they took Amrit from Dasme Paatshah themselves when in the service of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and they were called "Deepa" by Guru Ji as a child: Imagine being called by your pet-name in such an affectionate way by Dasme Paatshah!!! :wow:

Then as a last hurrah in old age when they were creating saroops of Gurbani, they came out of "retirement" and picked up the sword to destroy the enemy, rallied Singhs together, and gave their shaheedi for Sikhi. The drawing of the line in the sand when Baba Ji made an ultimatum to the gathered Singhs would be one heck of a dramatic and heroic moment.

You simply can't make up anything like that.

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  • 8 years later...

https://www.sikh24.com/2012/01/26/a-glimpse-into-the-life-of-shaheed-baba-deep-singh-jee/

A Glimpse into the Life of Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Jee

January 26, 2012
 
 
 
 

Childhood and Meeting Guru Sahib

Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Ji was born in January, 1682, in the village of Pahu-vind, district Amritsar. His father’s name was Bhai Bhagtu Ji. At the age of twelve, Baba Deep Singh Ji went with his parents to Anandpur Sahib to meet Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh guru. They stayed at Anandpur Sahib for several days, doing sewa (service) with the Sangat. When his parents were ready to return to their village, Guru Gobind Singh Ji asked Baba Deep Singh Ji to stay with him. He humbly accepted Guru Ji’s command and began serving him.

http://www.sikh24.com/wp-content/uploads/Sahibzada_Jujhar_Singh_jee_trains.jpg

Training & Knowledge

From Bhai Mani Singh Ji, Baba Ji began learning reading and writing Gurmukhi and santhiyaa (exegesis) of Gurbaani. He also learned several other languages. Guru Gobind Singh Ji taught him horseback riding, hunting and Shastar-vidiyaa (weaponry). At the age of eighteen, on the Vaisakhi of 1700, he received the blessing of Khande-di-pahul, amrit, from the Guru-roop Panj Piaare. As an Amritdhari Sikh, Baba Deep Singh Ji took an oath to serve in Akaal Purakh’s Fauj (the Almighty’s army) and to follow the way of the Khalsa by always helping the weak and needy and fighting for truth and justice. Baba Deep Singh Ji soon became one of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s most beloved Sikhs. During this time, countless spiritually elevated souls were residing in Anandpur Sahib, doing Sangat with them and with the Guru’s blessings, the Sangat recognised the young Deep Singh Ji as a “Baba” (wise person) and gave him this title.

Return Back Home

Baba Deep Singh Ji stayed in Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s service for about eight years. At Guru Ji’s request, he returned to his village to help his parents and he got married. Guru Gobind Singh Ji met Baba Deep Singh Ji at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo in 1705. Here, he learned that two of the Guru’ sons, Baba Ajit Singh Ji and Baba Jujhar Singh Ji, had become Shaheed (martyred) in the battle of Chamkaur Sahib. Guru Ji also told him that his two younger sons, Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji, were cold-heartedly bricked alive and attained Shaheedi (martyrdom) at Sirhind under the orders of the governor Wazir Khan.

In 1706, Guru Gobind Singh Ji placed Baba Deep Singh Ji in charge at Damdama Sahib, while Bhai Mani Singh Ji was made Head Granthi of Sri Harmander Sahib in Amritsar. After Guru Sahib left for Delhi, Baba Deep Singh Ji took up the duty of preparing copies of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and carried on the sewa blessed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji to manage this Sikh Centre.

‘Taksal’ means a minting factory or forge. Sri Damdama Sahib had become a factory where Sikhs would come to mint and prepare their shastars (weapons) as well as mint their minds and enshrine Gurbaani within their hearts through learning the correct pronunciation and grammar of reading Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. As a result, this centre of education and weaponry was known as “Damdami Taksal.” Baba Deep Singh Ji spent many years at Sri Damdama Sahib preaching Sikh values and teachings and doing sewa of the Sangat. He was always ready to serve those in need and to fight for justice.

The Khalsa Delivers Justice to the Tyrants

In 1709, Baba Ji joined Baba Banda Singh Ji Bahadar in punishing the tyrants of Sadhaura and Sirhind. Baba Ji fought so bravely without care for his life, that Baba Banda Singh Ji Bahadur entrusted Baba Ji with the title “Jinda Shaheed” (living martyr). Since that moment Baba Ji was called “Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Ji.” It is noteworthy that Baba Ji wasn’t called “Shaheed” after he died, but during his own lifetime. In 1733 Nawab Kapoor Singh Ji, the commander of the Khalsa forces, appointed Baba Ji as the leader of one of the jathas (groups) of Dal Khalsa (a united and collective body of groups of Khalsa divided and dispersed across Punjab). On Vaisakhi day of 1748, when Dal Khalsa was reorganised into twelve misls, he was entrusted with the leadership of Shaheedaa(n) di Misl.

News of Sacrilege at Amritsar

In April 1757, Ahmed Shah Abdali, after his fourth invasion, was returning to Kabul from Delhi with precious booty and young men and women as captives. Singhs made a plan to retrieve the valuables and set the prisoners free. The jatha (squad) of Baba Deep Singh Ji was deployed near Kurkhetar (also called Kurukshetra). His squad freed large number of prisoners and lightened the burden of valuables of Abdali considerably. While departing from Lahore, Abdali appointed his son Taimur Shah, the Governor of Lahore and told him, “Try to finish the Sikhs.” In Accordance with his orders, Taimur Shah started demolishing Gurdwaras and filling the sarovars (pool tanks) with debris and alcohol. When Baba Deep Singh Ji came to know of this beadbi (violation of sanctity) and demolition of Sri Harmandar Sahib, he narrated it to the Sangat (congregation) of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib and said, “Diwali will be celebrated at Amritsar this year.” Five hundred Singhs came forward to go with him. Baba Deep Singh Ji offered an Ardaas (pray) before starting for Amritsar, “May my head fall at Sri Harmandar Sahib.”

Baba Jee Leaves for Sri Amritsar Sahib

Although Baba Deep Singh Ji was seventy-five years old, he still had the strength of a young warrior. He gathered a large group of Sikhs and advanced towards Sir Harmandar Sahib. By the time they reached Taran Taaran, about ten miles from Amritsar, the number of Singhs had risen to about five thousand. At this time, Baba Ji drew a line on the ground with his Khanda (double-edged sword), and asked only those who were willing to fight and die to cross the line. Those willing to die for the Guru and give up their attachment to their homes and families crossed the line eagerly. Baba Deep Singh Ji then recited the shabad:

ਜਉ ਤਉ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਖੇਲਣ ਕਾ ਚਾਉ ॥ ਸਿਰੁ ਧਰਿ ਤਲੀ ਗਲੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਆਉ ॥
ਇਤੁ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਪੈਰੁ ਧਰੀਜੈ ॥ ਸਿਰੁ ਦੀਜੈ ਕਾਣਿ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ॥20॥

“THOSE WHO WISH TO PLAY THE GAME OF LOVE (FOLLOW THE GURU‘S PATH), COME TO ME WITH YOUR HEAD IN YOUR PALM. IF YOU WISH YOUR FEET TO TRAVEL THIS PATH, DON’T DELAY IN ACCEPTING TO GIVE YOUR HEAD. 20”
(ANG 1412, SGGS)

Clash with the Mughals

At the news of the approach of Singhs, the Governor of Lahore sent one of his generals with an army of twenty thousand to face them. His army took up position six miles north of Sri Amritsar Sahib and waited for the Singhs there. Both the armies clashed near Gohalwarh on the 11th November, 1757. Fighting bravely, the Singhs pushed the army back and reached village Chabba where Attal Khan came forward and a fierce battle ensued, during which Attal Khan inflicted a blow on Baba Deep Singh Ji—severing his head from his body. Baba Deep Singh, more than seventy-five years of age at that time, started to lose his footing under the impact of the blow, when a Sikh reminded him, “Baba ji, you had resolved (Ardaasa soddhyaa see) to reach the Parkarma of Sri Darbar Sahib.” On hearing this, an inhuman energy suddenly took over, and Baba ji placed his head on the palm of one hand and with the other hand moved his 14kg Khanda (double-edged sword) with such ferocity and strength that enemy soldiers started running away in panic. Thus, Baba Deep Singh made his way to the Parkarma of Sri Harmandar Sahib where, due to the severe injury, he attained martyrdom.

Baba Jee Laid to Rest at Harmandir Sahib

The Singhs celebrated the Diwali of 1757 in Sri Harmandar Sahib. The place where his head had fallen is marked by a stone and the Sikhs go past this place on their way to pay obeisance in Sri Darbar Sahib. It reminds them that the way to Sri Darbar Sahib is paved with the sacrifices of Gursikhs like Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Ji.

http://www.sikh24.com/wp-content/uploads/baba_deep_Singh_jee.jpg

Conclusion

Baba Deep Singh Ji’s shaheedi incited the Sikhs to continue to fight against oppression for many years. Even today, his life serves as an example for all Sikhs on how to live and die with dignity, and never stand or tolerate the beadbi (violation of sanctity) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji or the Guru Ghar (Gurdwara).

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