Vaisakhi

Vaisakhi is always an interesting day. The children are proud to wear their orange dastars and gurus bana, the parents take time out to enjoy the sangat and gurbani and the grandparents talk about how great their grandchildren look in gurus bana. It gives a chance for all, no matter how old to do seva (selfless service) of other gursikhs. It allows all to enjoy the sangat in ones local area and it allows us all to forget our worries for just one day and fully immerse our mind, body and soul into Gurbani and sangat.

Vaisakhi to me reminds me of something my Dad said to me a few years ago. When maharaj (God) blessed me with Amrit almost 4 years ago, my worldy father said to me

you are no longer my daughter, you are Guru Gobind Singh Ji's daughter

This is something that sticks with me. It doesn't matter how far away from home I am, no matter what I am doing or what I have yet to achieve in life, my spiritual father, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, is always (and will always be) with me. I posted this a few weeks ago and it holds true

Greatest thing about being a Gursikh is that one is never alone. No matter where we are, how far along we are on our spiritual journey or whether we acknowledge Him - maharaj (God) is always with us, always watching over us, always looking after us.

THE LAST REPORT: Eye witness account of Vaisakhi 1699 An account of what happened on the day the Khalsa was born -- written by a spy sent by Aurangzeb to watch over the Sikhs There were many in Guroo Gobind Singh Ji’s camp whose intentions altogether were not loyal, the all knowing Guroo knew this. One of these spies of emperor Aurangzeb was called Abu-ul-traifi. He is mentioned by the eminent scholar Bhai Vir Singh in his writings. Being a spy he kept a daily journal of the events that took place for the emperor. Below is the translation for the accounts of vaisakhi day:

“On the day Guroo Gobind Singh Ji prepared Amrit in Anandpur, the attendance in the diwan was about 50 to 70 thousand. The Mughals had four thrones (seats of imperial power), Delhi, Agra, Lahore and Kalanur. But the grandeur of Guroo Ji’s throne was in a class by itself. The grandeur of this throne was out of this world. Guroo Ji came to the diwan and, unsheathing his sword, spoke in a thundering voice that he needed a head. No questions or hesitation at all, Bhai Daya Ram came forward to Guroo Ji. Guroo Ji right in front of all cut of his head from his body in one stroke. Every body present was stunned. Then Guroo Ji again thundered and demanded one more head. Right on Guru’s call, Dharam Chand got up, came to Guroo Ji, bowed his head and said here is my offering of my head. Guroo Ji again, in one stroke cut off Bhai Dharam chands head from his body. Now there was a big commotion in the diwan. But Guroo Ji in his thundering voice went on demanding heads, one after another. Himmat Rai, Mohkam Chand and Sahib Ram got up and offered their heads. Guroo Ji cut off the heads of these three also. Many from the congregation went to Guroo Ji’s mother and narrated the whole happening in the diwan to Mata Ji. Guroo Ji cleaned up the blood from the five bodies and heads, and even washed the floor, then the Guroo of these infidels stitched one head with another body, one by one, this process took about three hours. Then he covered these dead bodies with white sheets. The Guroo of these infidels then took a cauldron made from stone and put an iron wok (bowl) without handles on top of it. He then poured water into the wok and started preparing “Amrit” (aab-e-hyat- elixir of life). The infidel Guroo kept churning the water with his double-edged sword and kept on reciting his kalma (Gurbani). This process went on for 1.5 to 2 hours. During this time a lady came from Guroo’s house and put something in that water. Now the Amrit was ready. From the corpses he took the covering sheets off. First he sat on the head side of Daya Ram and poured Amrit into his mouth, then poured some into his head and then sprinkled some in his eyes, and then he asked the dead body to say waheguru ji ka khalsa waheguru ji ki fateh. As if on his Guroo’s command, Daya Ram got up and repeated in his bold voice, Waheguroo ji ka khalsa, waheguroo ji ki fateh. It appeared that in the entire congregation everybody was so stunned that it seemed like no one was breathing. There was pin-drop silence. All the present were mesmerised with their Guroo’s miracle. In the same manner one after another the Guroo made the other four alive too. Then he took all five of them into a tent. After a while Guroo Ji along with the five came out. The five were now wearing new attire (uniform, bana); those five risen from the dead were standing in a line. Then their Guroo came in front of them and took bir rasan (posture of the brave-kneeling on one knee) and asked for Amrit. At this point, the five asked what are you offering to get this Amrit. The Guroo said that “I will sacrifice my whole family for the sake of the panth” then these five gave Amrit to Guroo Ji, and his name was changed to “Gobind Singh” (from Gobind Rai). The word Singh was attached with the other fives too, -Daya Singh, Dharam Singh, Himmat Singh, Mohkam Singh and Sahib Singh. (I was very remorseful and cried like a baby) After that, thousands took Amrit. Even, I was attracted like a magnetic force and with no regret fell on Guroo’s feet. I requested to the Guroo to give me Amrit too. Guroo Ji already knew about my role as a spy and traitor, put his hand on my back, gave me Amrit and changed my name to Ajmer Singh. Just with this act, my sins of numerous lives got washed away.

(Extract from the last report) The whole report can be found in the archives of Aligarh University