Hola Moholla From Guru Kian Sakhian 1790

[amardeep]

The Sikh historical text “Guru Kian Sakhian” was written by Bhatt Saroop Singh Khaushish in 1790. Saroop Singh was the son of Bhai Kesar Singh Bhatt of village Bhadson in Thanesar district, who was a well know hymn singer and priest of that time. Bhai Saroop Singh Ji’s elder brother, Bhai Sewa Singh Ji is the author of “Shaheed Bilas” a writing on the life of Shaheed Bhai Mani Singh Ji.

In honour of the upcoming Sikh martial celebration of Hola Mohalla, Nihangsingh.org would like to present a sakhi from “Guru Kian Sakhian” relating to the celebration of Hola Mohalla by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his beloved Khalsa warriors.

Here goes the tale of the celebration of Hola Mohalla from Anandgarh Fort (Qila Anandgarh)

In the same year (1702), as in the last year (1701), there was great merrymakings near Holgarh Fort. Forming various groups, the Khalsa started to celebrate Holi from Phagun Sudi 8 till the Purnima (Feb. 24th to March 3rd, 1702).

There were great jubilations outside the Anandgarh fort and near the Holgarh fort. The sprinkler held in the auspicious hands of Guru Jee was looking very propitious, as it had at least once endowed scarlet colour to the earth as well as the sky. The scene was charmingly attractive as the rose.

The next day on Chetar vadi 1 (March 4th), in the late afternoon, to receive the articulation of Guru Ji, all the Sikhs gathered outside Anandgarh fort. The priests (mukh sevadars), standing there, rendered the commencing supplication (arambh ardas) “Praying that blessedness prevails over all.” At the end all the Sikhs responded with the sky-roaring slogans of Sat Sri Akaal (Glory to the Immortal).

With the command of Satguru Ji, all the Khalsa mounted their horses. At that time a Sikh pronounced very loudly “Honour, honour to the glory of Your Name.”

To begin with, Piara Bhai Daya Singh Ji threw five handfulls of colour upon Guru Ji. Guru Ji responded with a handfull.

Then Bhai Daya Singh Ji recited the following shabad:

ਮਾਘ ਬਤੀਤਿ ਭਏ ਰੁਤ ਫਾਗੁਨ ਆਇ ਗਈ ਸਭ ਖੇਲਤ ਹੋਰੀ ॥ ਗਾਵਤ ਗੀਤ ਬਜਾਵਤ ਤਾਲ ਕਹੈ ਮੁਖ ਤੇ ਭਰੂਆ ਮਿਲਿ ਜੋਰੀ ॥ After the month of Magh, in the season of Phagun, all began to play Holi; all the people gathered together in couples and sang songs with the playing of musical instruments;

ਡਾਰਤ ਹੈ ਅਲਿਤਾ ਬਨਿਤਾ ਛਟਕਾ ਸੰਗ ਮਾਰਤ ਬੈਸਨ ਥੋਰੀ ॥ ਖੋਲਤ ਸਯਾਮ ਧਮਾਰ ਅਨੂਪ ਮਹਾ ਮਿਲਿ ਸੁੰਦਰਿ ਸਾਂਵਲ ਗੋਰੀ ॥੨੨੫॥ Various colours were splashed on women and the women beat the men with staffs (with affection); the poet says that Krishna and beautiful damsels are together playing this tumultuous Holi.

At the end of the shabad, the Khalsa, thunderingly, raised the war cry of Sat Sri Akaal. Thereafter the flag-bearer, Maan Singh, with the command from Satguru Ji, mounted his colt, Bhai Daya Singh followed by the Panj Piare shouting the war cry, with unsheathed swords and sang:

ਖਗ ਖੰਡ ਬਿਹੰਡੰ ਖਲ ਦਲ ਖੰਡੰ ਅਤਿ ਰਣ ਮੰਡੰ ਬਰ ਬੰਡੰ ॥ The sword chops well, chops the forces of fools and this mighty sword beautifies and glorifies the battlefield.

ਭੁਜ ਦੰਡ ਅਖੰਡੰ ਤੇਜ ਪ੍ਰਚੰਡੰ ਜੋਤਿ ਅਮੰਡੰ ਭਾਨ ਪ੍ਰਭੰ ॥ It is the unbreakable staff of the arm, it has a powerful luster and its light even outshines the radiance of the sun.

ਸੁਖ ਸੰਤਾ ਕਰਣੰ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਦਰਣੰ ਕਿਲਬਿਖ ਹਰਣੰ ਅਸਿ ਸਰਣੰ ॥ It brings happiness to the saints, mashing the vicious ones, it is the destroyer of sins and I am under its refuge.

ਜੈ ਜੈ ਜਗ ਕਾਰਣ ਸ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਉਬਾਰਣ ਮਮ ਪ੍ਰਤਿਪਾਰਣ ਜੈ ਤੇਗੰ ॥੨॥ Hail, hail to the cause of the world, saviour of the universe, it is my preserver, I hail the victory of the sword.

Afterwards, the drumming Singh hit the drum. The Khalsa again with the war cry of Sat Sri Akaal thundered the sky and once again the shouts came:

ਝਾਗੜਦੰਗ ਨਾਗੜਦੰਗ ਬਾਗੜਦੰਗ ਬਾਜੇ ॥ Various sounds of musical instruments are resounding.

ਗਾਗੜਦੰਗ ਗਾਜੀ ਮਹਾਂ ਗੱਜ ਗਾਜੇ ॥੩੫॥੧੧੨॥ The warriors are roaring and shouting loudly.

Thereafter, the Khalsa came towards the fort of Holgarh.

The Five flag-bearers lead, with the Five Beloved following, who had unsheathed swords in their hands. The drumming Singhs trailed them all. The drumbeats were reverberating the whole atmosphere. Satguru Ji mounting on the blue horse was proceeding ahead. The entire Khalsa was following Guru Ji. On command of the Guru, Bhai Uday Singh was moving ahead of the right flanks. Reaching the Guru’s abode, in front of Takht Kesgarh, receiving the order of Guru Ji, the riders showed the whip to the horses and hit the heels. But no one’s rider moved ahead of the Guru and to not be disrespectful, all of them pulled the reigns to stop.

The scene at the time was spectacular. The blue turbans and dresses depicted the panoramic view and it looked like the rainy season of Savan. This splendour of the Khalsa moving like the river water reached opposite of Holgarh.

On the instance of the Satguru, Bhai Daya Singh recited the hymns of Bhai Nand Lal Ji:

Ghazal Thirty Three

“The festival of Holi blossoms and spreads it’s fragrance.

And it blooms the sprout of her beautiful lips.

The rose, the amber, the jasmine and the reddish abeer.

All are showered like the rain from all sides.

What to talk of the sprinkling saffron?

It is endowing a colour to the colourless being.

The scattering of the pigment through her auspicious hands,

Is staining the heavens and the earth.

Through her benevolence, both domains have become colourful.

And she has adorned me with the vibrant attire.

Whosoever has her propitious glimpse, attains the bliss of both worlds.

I am a sacrifice, even, to the dust of the avenues of the congregation, and that is the upmost desire of Goya”.

After the recitation of these hymns, on the command of Guru Ji, the Singhs displayed the martial arts of arms. Then they were addressed. “My Sikho, get ready, now we have to go back.” The head sevadar stood up and presented the Ardas. The whole of the Khalsa riding their horses moved towards Charan Ganga to cross the river and go back to Qila Holgarh. Passing near the cremation ground of Raja Kesri Chand Jaswaria, the Sikhs with the permission of Guru Ji desecrated the place. After paying respect at various places, including Damdama Sahib (at Anandpur), they arrived at Anandgarh.

They dismounted their horses and the Ardasia performed the Ardas. With the persmission of Guru Ji, five male goats were killed with single strokes (Jhatka) by the Panj Piare and later on the Sikh army went into their quarters. A jealous person, who had witnessed the whole affair, went and narrated the whole episode to Raja Ajmer Chand at Bilaspur. After listening to the full account, he summoned a meeting of the Hill Rajas.

When all the Rajas has assembled, Raja Ajmer Chand narrated to them the entire story. He said that the Sikhs had gone to the cremation ground of my uncle Kesri Chand and desecrated it. The Rajas felt remorseful, but the wise-ones advised, “Two years have passed peacefully. Now we must take action only after careful thought.” And in this way the critical time passed and no untoward happening occurred between the Rajas and the Guru.