Rajput - Sikh Relation (During Guru's Period): Difference between revisions

Rajput - Sikh Relations during and after the period of the Gurus

Guru Nanak

During his preaching tours. Guru Nanak (1469 - 1539), founder of the Sikh faith, is believed to have visited Pushkar and Kulayat, two important Hindu pilgrimage centres in Rajputana (now Rajasthan), the land of the Rajputs.

Guru Hargobind

While under detention in Gwalior Fort, Guru Hargobind came in contact with some Rajput chiefs similarly held in custody there, and was instrumental in their eventual release from captivity. Mirza Raja Jai Singh of Amber (1605-67), his queen, and his son, Raja Ram Singh, were devotees of the Gurus.

Guru Har Krishan and Guru Tegh Bahadur

Guru Har Krishan (1656-64) and Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-75) stayed in Mirza Raja Jai Singh's palace in Raisina, a Delhi suburb. According to some accounts Guru Tegh Bahadur, during his journey towards the eastern provinces, was arrested near Delhi, but was soon released through the intervention of the Amber prince. The Guru later accompanied Raja Ram Singh, at the latter's request, during the Assam expedition.

Guru Gobind Singh

Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) travelled widely across Rajputana in 1706-08.

In October 1686 the hill chieftains collected a force of 30,000 men and under the leadership of Raja Bhim Chand and Fateh Shah they rode towards Paonta Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s army consisted of around 4,000 Sikhs only besides a number of Udasis and Pathans. Except for Mahant Kirpa Das and a few others most of the Udasis had deserted the Guru. The Pathans who had taken up employment under Guru Ji on the recommendation of Pir Buddhu Shah were all bought over by Bhim Chand. They were promised free share of the loot at Paonta Sahib. Guru Ji informed Pir Buddhu Shah about the unfaithful behavior of the Pathans and he himself led his Sikhs to a place six miles outside Paonta Sahib, called Bhangani.

Guru Ji describes the battle of Bhangani in much detail in the Bachittar Natak :

Bhujung prayat chhand.

The sounds of trumpets and the beat of drums were echoing. The brave warriors started roaring from both sides and they with the full power of their arms continued to hit with their weapons. In the battle ground, now the shrieks of Chamunda goddess and her attendants dakinis (witches) were heard. How long it can be described; the fierce battle raged all around. Those all who stood firm in the field got killed but thousands of soldiers ran away. (Fateh) Shah riding on horseback ran towards the mountains. That brave one did not even hit a single arrow. Madhukar Shah of Dadval and king Jaswal also ran away with their soldiers. The stubborn Hari Chand catching hold of his spear in his hand stopped Mughals, Chandals, and the Rajputs on the Chandra lineage. He accomplished the duty of being the commander and whosoever struck with that warrior fell on the ground in two pieces. There, only Najabat Khan with his weapons killed Sangram Shah. This Khan killed many with his weapons and Sangram Shah was also sent to his heavenly abode at the hands of this Khan.

Dohra : Sangoshah killed Najabat Khan and was also killed at his hands. With his demise, cries of distress were heard all around in this world, but in the heavens echoed the sounds of cheers.

Bhjung Prayat Chhand : Witnessing the death of Sangram Shah in the battle field, your this lowly creature also caught hold of his bow and with one arrow killed Khan. My arrow hit the enemy in such a way as if he was bitten by a black cobra. So long he fell to the ground , I took over the second arrow and pulling it hit on the face of Bhikan Khan. Bhikan Khan, the killer, in fact escaped and took to his heels but his horse got killed. With (my) third arrow another person got killed. Now Hari Chand came to his senses and catching hold of his arrow he pulled and shot them continuously. Whoever was touched by his arrows could not survive and leaving his body here would go to his heavenly abode. That warrior, pulling two arrows was shooting them at a time and that brave person perished many horses. None could sustain his arrows which pierced the body and came out of it. All the warriers fulfilled their duties of commandership (and fought valiantly). The witches and ghosts were crying in the battlefield and the baitals were laughing and wandering there. The eagles were flying and sounds of kites were also heard.

The angered Hari Chand took over his bow and aimed at my horse he shot the first arrow. Second arrow he shot while aiming at me. God saved me and touching my ear the arrow went away. The third arrow he shot at my belt which pierced and went across my belt. Its tip pricked my skin but no wound occurred. The Lord in the form of time saved the life of this humble servant.

Rasaval chhand : As soon as the tip pricked me. my anger flared up. Catching the bow in my hand I pulled an arrow and shot it. On the other hand the warriors running here and there and their weapons were moving around. Meanwhile I shot that arrow which killed the powerful youngman (HariChand) Having killed Hari Chand other warriors were also trampled. The death killed Karori Rai also. Seeing this, repudiating the war all took to their heels and (seeing their commander dead) became horrified. Lord I became victorious because of your grace only.

Mata Sundari, Banda Singh Bahadur and later Sikhs

When Mata Sundari moved from Delhi to Mathura, the then Raja of Jaipur, Sawai Jai Singh, provided her with suitable residence and maintenance. Earlier during Bahadur Shah's expedition against Banda Singh Bahadur in 1710-11, while the Rajput princes of Mcvar and Kishangarh joined the imperial camp at the royal summons, Maharaja Ajit Singh of Jodhpur and Raja Sawai Jai Singh of Jaipur, despite the emperor's pressing orders, marched leisurely only arriving in the Punjab ten months after Bahadur Shah's campaign was over.

During the period after Banda Singh, Sikh jaihds or subunits of the Dal Khalsa, adopting guerilla tactics against the Mughal and Afghan regimes, took refuge on several occasions in the desert of Rajputana. We have it on the authority of Ratan Singh Bharigu, Prdchin Panth Prakdsh, that Bhai Mahitab Singh Mirarikotia and Bhai Sukkha Singh of Man Kannbo went to Jaipur and joined the service of its ruler. Bharigu also records a Sikh force assisting the ruler of Bikaner in his attack on Jaisalmer. According to Giani Gian Singh, Shamsher Khalsa, the jathd of Buddha Singh and Sham Singh of Narit had at one time been in the service of Bikaner.

In December 1765, RajaJawahar Singh of Bharaipur was at war with Raja Madho Singh of Jaipur. He hired 25,000 Sikhs under Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluvalia while Madho Singh invited the Marathas for help. The Marathas had also been engaged by Jawahar Singh's step brother, Naval Singh, who was in possession of Dholpur. Jawahar Singh decided first to deal with Naval Singh. He, therefore, made his peace with Madho Singh and dismissed the Sikhs after paying them their subsidy. In December 1767 Madho Singh attacked Jawahar Singh. The latter engaged 10,000 Sikhs to fight for him, but was defeated on 29 February 1768. He hired another Sikh force making a total of 20,000 at 7,00,000 rupees per month. He advanced again to meet Madho Singh, but the latter retired without giving a fight.

The Sikhs and Rajputs seem to have had no mutual, large scale contact of any kind thereafter.