It’s Bandi
Chhor Divas tomorrow!
Guru Hargobind
Ji, our 6th Guru, build the Sri Akal Takht Sahib and strengthened
his army. In 1619, Murtaja Khan, Nawab of Lahore, noticed this and lied to
emperor Jahangir that Guru Ji was going to seek revenge for the torture and
execution of his father (Guru Arjan Dev Ji). Wazir Khan was sent to arrest Guru
Ji, however he instead asked the Guru Ji to accompany him to Delhi to meet
Jahangir. Jahangir changed his mind once he got to see and hear Guru Ji speak,
and Guru Ji saved his life from a lion.
(I am going to
write a little bit of back-story about Chandu Shah. He was the governor of
Lahore, and a wealthy banker. His family priest suggested Guru Arjan Dev’s son
Hargobind would be a good match for his daughter, however being of upper caste,
Chandu Shah refused and made disparaging comments about Guru Ji. These were
passed on to Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Over time, Chandu Shah reconsidered and felt
this may have been a good match, at which point he asked for the match to be
arranged. Guru Ji refused, knowing Chandu Shah’s real nature from his comments. Chandu Shah was enraged and went on to cause the torture of Guru Arjan Dev Ji.)
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Then in 1619,
when Jahangir fell ill, Chandu Shah wanted to find a way to imprison Guru
Hargobind Ji as well. He told an astrologer to tell Jahangir that a holy man
needed to pray for him at the Gwalior Fort (prison) in order for him to get
better. Chandu Shah recommended this be Guru Hargobind Ji. Guru Ji prayed in
the prison, and worked to have the conditions of the jail improved for the
prisoners. Hari Daas, who was in charge of the prison was actually a follower
of the Guru himself, and helped as much as he could including foiling Chandu
Shah’s plan to poison Guru ji. Jahangir’s
health improved but the Guru Ji was kept prisoner. His followers, led by Baba
Buddha Ji, became concerned and visited Guru Ji. Guru Ji told them not to
worry. Sufi Saint Mian Mir then convinced Jahangir to release Guru Ji. Guru Ji
thought of the other prisoners, Hindu Princes who had only been imprisoned due
to political reasons and were suffering for years in the poor conditions of the
jail. He said he would leave the jail if the other prisoners would be released.
Jahangir did not like this idea, but agreed that only those prisoners who could
hold the cloak of the Guru could be released.
Guru Ji designed a long cloak with 52 tails for each prisoner to hold,
and they were all released. Gurdwara Bandi Chorr Sahib has been created at the
site of the Gwalior fort. So Bandi Chhor Divas, translated as “prisoner release
day” is the day that Guru Hargobind Sahib and the 52 princes were freed from
the prison. When Guru Ji safely traveled home to Amritsar, Diwali was being celebrated
by the Hindus, so we celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas at Diwali each year.
Happy
Bandi Chhor Divas everyone!
picture from http://sikhguru.org.uk/sikhsim/festivalsceremonies/bandi-chhor-divas/
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