urgenttttt!!!

[Gurjeet_Kaur]

does anyone know where this story is from? is it real or fictional? i think i remember reading it in 'sundri'...

One Woman risking her own life to visit Harmandir Sahib (Golden

Temple)

Two persons (Kaura Mal and Surat Singh) hurried to Amritsar and

reaching there informed the organizers that Lakhpat was determined

to order mass-massacre of the Sikhs. Anyone who went to Harmandir

Sahib (Golden Temple) for the Sikh celebrations would be killed.

Therefore no one should enter Harmandir Sahib the next day. Then

they posted their men outside the city on the highways, so that they

might turn back any Sikh who wanted to enter the city on the plea

that entry to the Harmandir Sahib had been officially banned. While

the religious-minded leaders accomplished the task of warning the

people, Lahkhpat, on the other hand, stealthily posted a large

number of sepoys around the temple. He sat on the balcony of a

nearby building and waited for the further developments.

Early next morning, Diwan Kaura Mal and Surat Singh rode towards the

temple to see what Lakhpat had decided to do, and when they

approached the temple, the blissful music of the songs of the

devoted Sikhs and their women singing, fell gently like rain in

their ears. Both the Diwans were distressed, as they knew Lakhpat's

evil plans. At the same time, they wondered what stuff are these

Sikhs made of. They fear not death. Their faith is firm. But the

pity is that Lakhu is determined to bathe in the blood of these

brave men.

Reflecting for a while, these two men tied their horses and turned

towards the tents. They were now near the gateway of the

temple,

when they saw a young woman whose beauty rivaled the full moon. She

had a soiled round cloth (dastaar) on her head and a nine-year old

child holding her fingers beside her. Both were reciting Gurbani

(prayers).

Advancing towards them Diwan Kaura Mal asked them: "Where are you

going?"

Lady (bowing towards them with folded hands): "We are going to Sri

Darbar Sahib."

Surat Singh's face was flushed with indignation and he asked

them: "From where have you come from? Did no one stop you from

coming here?"

With great confidence the lady answered: "I am coming from Tung. Two

men met me on the way and told me not to go to the temple, for we

would be killed. So I turned back and changed my route and have come

back here stealthily through the fields."

Diwan Kaura Mal: "Do you want to live?"

Lady: "There is nothing dearer than one's life, but ultimately it

will also come to an end. Faith will outlive life. Therefore, it is

not proper to sacrifice one's faith for preserving one's life."

Surat Singh: "If you wold not have come to the temple, your religion

would not have been endangered."

Lady: "Sir, to keep away on this Gurpurb celebration from the sight

of the Guru is despicable. Where else can I find refuge? I do not

care for my life, for it will not last long and will ultimately part

my company, but my religion will be with me forever. When all others

leave me, my faith will abide with me."

Surat Singh: "O Lady! How come you have so much courage? Your youth

is meant for enjoying comforts. Why have you become so deeply

religious- to the point of renunciation- at this age?"

Lady: "Guru Sahib has caught me by the arm and made me His devotee.

Well, I know nothing, yet the murder of Harikirat Singh is fresh in

my mind."

Kaura Mal: "That poor fellow was also killed. He is dead and gone."

Lady: "My God! Do the saints ever die? They return to their home

s.

Who of Woman born can kill the

Saints?"

Kaura Mal: "Well, are you still bent upon going to Harmandir Sahib?"

Lady: "As the Lord Wills!"

Kaura Mal: "Why are you not accompanied by you husband?"

Lady: "Sir, he is dead and gone to Sachkhand (God's Abode)."

Surat Singh: "Lady, listen to us and go back and save your skin and

that of your child. Lakhpat is sitting over there and he will never

let you go back alive!"

Lady: "Well, you keep away."

Surat Singh: "Have you no pity for this child?"

Lady: "I have compassion for him and therefore I have brought him

with myself, otherwise I could have left him at home. I thought I

should not go to Sachkhand alone; I should take a part and parcel of

myself also to that holy place. After my death, possibly he may give

up his faith as he is of a tender age."

Kaura Mal: "O God! It is marvelous! What is that stuff of which the

hearts of Sikhs are made of? O the pity of it. Will Lakhpat really

kill these pious people?"

Lady: " This is the blessing of Amrit (Sikh baptism) and the Grace

of the Guru. If you love the Sikhs so much as appears from your

actions, then please prevent Lakhpat from committing this sin, and

fight against him. If there is any problem, inform the Khalsa (God's

Army) living in any of the nearby jungles."

This appealled to the two Diwans very much. They could not prevent

the lady from attending the celebrations which she felt was right.

She began reciting her prayers and proceeded to Harmandir Sahib

(House of God)....

[Son of Guru Gobind Singh Ji]

Hanji, this peice of work is from Bhai Veer Singh Ji's krit 'Sundri' and it is a fictional story however based on accounts of true historical happenings.