Sparrows

Sparrows also played role in Guru Gobind Singh's life. The following words were uttered by guru ji in Ambala:

Chirion se main baaz larraun, Tabe Gobind Singh naam kahaun. (It is when I make sparrows fight hawks that I am called Gobind Singh)

While on a hunting trip one day on his horse, he came to a big garden just outside the city of Ambala. Then only a small child of eight years, he had with him his white hawk as well. The garden belonged to Pir Amir Din, the custodian of the Muslim shrines of the city. He happened to be present in the garden at the same time. Pir Amir Din had with him a black hawk. On seeing Guruji’s white hawk, the Pir took a liking to it and began thinking of how to take it himself. He threw a challenge to the Guru for a fight between the two hawks. But, Guruji realizing the real intention of the Pir, refused and said that instead of the hawk, he would make sparrows fight the Pir’s hawk. The Pir laughed and said that sparrows were food for his hawk, but Guruji repeated his words. With this, Guruji called upon two sparrows that were sitting on a tree to fight with the hawk. The sparrows fought so ferociously that the hawk was injured badly. It finally fell to its death about a kilometer away, near Labbu ka Talaab, the site of Gurudwara Gobindpura. The Pir realized his folly and built a platform in honor of the Guru. It is here that Guru Gobind Singh uttered his famous words:

Chirion se main baaz larraun, Tabe Gobind Singh naam kahaun. (It is when I make sparrows fight hawks that I am called Gobind Singh)

Another story related to sparrows is as under:

The most significant story concerning the baaj is in 1699 when Guru Sahib Ji had created Amrit (holy nector) for the precise purpose of creating the Khalsa brotherhood. A few drops of amrit had fallen from the iron cauldron, which were readily consumed by a few sparrows. The sparrows turned onto the baaj and repeatedly assaulted him to such an extent that he had to take flight, followed vigorously by the sparrows. This incident showed the Sikhs that the amrit created by the Tenth Guru had immense power, after drinking a few drops a small sparrow not only had the courage to take on a bird of prey but to harassed it until it took flight and fled. Guru Gobind Singh Ji said “I will create my Khalsa of such courage and vigour that he will take on armies of the enemy, he will stand up for the poor and the downtrodden – Sava Lakh say ek ladaho (One will confront a lakh and a quarter of the enemy)”

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