Battle of Gurusar

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Gurdwara Gurusar where last rights of martyers were performed
Battle of Gurusar

Date: 1631
Location : Mehraj & lahira,Bathinda
Reason : Horses Snatched by Bhai Bidhi Chand.

Combatants/Commanders
Guru Hargobind Qasam Beg & Lala beg

Results
Guru Sahib lost 1200 Saint Soldiers including Kirt Bhatt Ji and Bhai Jetha Ji. Sameer Beg and his two sons Shams Beg and Qasim Beg were also killed. The Mughal forces fled to Lahore leaving behind the dead and wounded

Battle of Gurusar was third battle fought by Guru Har Gobind ji near Mehraj with Qasam Beig and Lala Beg in 1688. After this war, Guru Sahib blessed Phul with sovereign rule that subsequently emerged as the Kingdom of Patiala.

Reson of Conflict

Snatching horses

Guru Hargobind Sahib retired to the semi desert wastelands of Bhatinda. (While leaving Amritsar for the Malwa region, Guru Sahib took Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji with him but after making a halt for sometime at Daroli he sent Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to Kartarpur along with his family). Soon after this, an incident occured involving two horses, between Guru Sahib and the Subedar of Lahore.

Once the Sangat from Kabul and Peshawar was coming to meet guru sahib, Bhai Bakhat Mall, Bhai Tara Chand, Bhai Dyal Chand were leading the congregation with other masands. Acc. to Twarikh Guru Khalsa, their counting was One thousand to twelve hundred.

There was a Famous Horse Trader and Devotee of Guru Sahib in congregation named Seth Karhorhi Mall who have two horses for guru sahib. A dedicated devotee of the Guru in Afgan territory had raised and trained two magnificent horses which he intended to give to their Guru. The horses, on their journey to the Guru's Darbar had drawn many admirers on their trip across the Punjab. Rich People who see the horses tried to convince Karorhi mall by offering high amount but Karorhi mall always reply that these were not his horses but guru's horses.

When the congregation was staying at lahore, Rumours of their beauty had reached the Mughal Govenor's ears. An avid collector of horses he had offered the young Sikh a small fortune for each horse only to be turned down. So the horses were forcibly snatched and taken to the Govenor's stable area at Lahore Fort. Governer also gave cheque of rs. 5 thousand.

Seth became very sad and with his sad face the congregation went to amritsar, tarn taran, goindwal, khadoor etc crosing harike reached village Sidhar(Gurusar Sidhar today) where guru sahib ji was residing. After meeting guru sahib whole congregation was delighted but Seth Karhorhi Mall was sad, he kept the cheque given by Qamas Beig and cried that the horses which was belong to guru was snatched by mughal governer in lahore. Guru Sahib said they will teach a lesson to such people who have high authorities and they do dhakkashahi with poor people. Guru ji said seth not to worry his donation is accepted and the horses would be here soon.

Sending Bidhi Chand

When the matter came to the attention of Guru Sahib he asked if their were any among his Court who could think of a way to recover the horses. Bhai Bidhi Chand a daring disciple, who before becoming a Sikh was a noted thief, managed to recover the horses one by one from the royal stable. He had stolen the second horse while pretending to be a Soothsayer, by reenacting the first theft before the Govenor's very eyes. was considered an open threat to the authority of the Mughal Empire and a great loss of face for the Govenor. An Imperial forces of 22,000 troops was dispatched towards the 'Lakhi Jungle' under the command of Qammar Beg and Lalla Beg. Guru Hargobind Sahib had only three to four thousand warriors. The Sikh forces under the command of Rai Jodh and Kirt Bhatt camped near a water reservoir. The interception took place near Mehraj and Lahira villages.

Prepration Of Battle

The Battle

According to some chronicle (on 16th December 1634) the Sikhs waged a guerilla attack on the Mughal forces at night, which resulted in heavy causalities in the Mughal camp. The Sikhs routed and defeated the enemy. Guru Sahib lost 1200 Saint Soldiers including Kirt Bhatt Ji and Bhai Jetha Ji. On the other side Sameer Beg and his two sons Shams Beg and Qasim Beg were also killed. The Mughal forces fled to Lahore leaving behind the dead and wounded. The Sikhs did not intercept the fleeing enemy. Guru Sahib built a tank called Gurusar commemorating the victory. Near the village of Nathane Guru Sahib defeated another encounter with a Mughal force.



The Phulkian states of Patiala, Jind, and Nabha all descend from Phul of the Brar Bans, born AD 1627. After the Battle of Gurusar (1631), Phul came to Guru Hargobind Sahib with his brother Sandaali and his 'chacha' (uncle), Kala. In the diwan of Guru Sahib, Phul began to slap his belly to indicate he was hungry. Guru Hargobind Sahib gave Phul the blessing that Guru Nanak would bless Phul with the capacity to feed thousands and he would one day have a kingdom. Guru Har Rai Sahib also blessed Phul on his travels in Malva (AD 1646).

The sons of Phul - Tilokh Singh and Ram Singh were blessed with Khande di Amrit from Guru Gobind Singh at Damdama Sahib - They were blessed with the 'Apaar kirpa' of Guru Gobind Singh - evidence of this can be seen in the Patiala Hukumnama sent by Guru Sahib in 1696.

Memorials

Battles By Guru Har Gobind

Battle of Amritsar || Battle Of Hargobindpur || Battle Of Gurusar || Battle Of Kartarpur || Battle Of Kiratpur

Battles By Sikh Gurus

Battle of Amritsar || Battle Of Hargobindpur || Battle Of Gurusar || Battle Of Kartarpur || Battle Of Kiratpur || Battle of Bhangani || Battle of Nadaun || Battle of Anandpur || Battle of Chamkaur || Battle of Muktsar

References

  • History Board at Gurdwara Gurusar Sahib clicked by Jarnail Singh
  • History Book by Bhai Veer Singh, Head Granthi