|
 Bhai
Mati Dass and Bhai Sati Dass both brothers
were sons of Bhai Hira Nand. Their ancestor,
Gautam Dass was a resident of village
Kariala in Jehlum district. He was initiated
into Sikh faith by Guru Arjan Dev. Pleased
at his services, the Guru had bestowed
on him the title of 'Bhai' (brother)
which continues in their family to this
day.
Their grandfather, Bhai Praga, had
been given command of a 'Jatha' (unit)
by Guru Hargobind in the first battle
with the Mughals in 1628 A.D. He died
of deep wounds sustained in that battle.
After that, Bhai Hira Nand presented
himself in the service of Guru Har Rai.
Before his death in 1657 A.D., he left
Bhai Mati Dass and Bhai Sati Dass, elder
of his four sons, to serve the Guru's
institution. In accordance with the
command of their father, they started
serving the Guru's institution with
heart and soul.
Bhai Mati Dass and Bhai Sati Dass accompanied
Guru Har Krishan when he went to Delhi
on invitation from Aurangzeb. After
the merger of the Guru into the Supreme
Being on the 30th March, 1664 A.D.,
both the brothers went to village Bakala.
On the manifestation of Guru Tegh Bahadur,
both the brothers presented themselves
in his service. When Vhir Mall could
not become the Guru, he made a fruitless
attempt to shoot the Guru in collaboration
with Shihan Masand and his gang. After
that he had taken away valuable items
from the Guru's institution to his camp.
At that time both the brothers gave
all the help to Makhan Shah to present
Dhir Mall and Shthan Masand in bondage
before the Guru.
One day, Durga Mall, the Diwan (chief
minister) of Guru's institution requested
the Guru, "Respected Guru ! My
body, soul and worldly wealth are all
at your service but it is becoming difficult
for me to carry out the duty of Diwan
due to old age. These two nephews are
in your service who are trustworthy
and faithful sons. If you deem fit,
bestow the elder Mati Dass, the honour
to serve as Diwan and the younger Sati
Dass as Wazir (public affair minister)."
Accepting the request of Diwan Durga
Mall, the Guru entrusted the service
of Diwan to Bhai Mati Dass and Wazir
to Bhai Sati Dass.
In order to bring the whole of India
under one faith, Aurangzeb ordered in
1674 A.D., to convert Hindus to Islam
by force from the Kashmir side. Before
bowing their heads before the sword
of Sher Afgan Khan, the Governor of
Kashmir, the prominent Brahmins of Kashmir
led by Pandit Kirpa Ram appeared before
the Guru at Anandpur on the 25th May,
1675 A.D., and explained about their
helplessness. The Guru knew that weak
and terrified people do not become brave
by listening to episodes of bravery.
Fearless and great leadership is needed
to make them fearless. So the Guru said
to them, "Go and tell the Governor
that Guru Tegh Bahadur is our leader.
If you convert him to Islam, we shall
become Muslims of our own accord."
On getting this message, Aurangzeb ordered
the arrest of the Guru. For courting
arrest, the Guru started towards Agra
from Anandpur on the 11th July, 1675
A.D. At Agra, when the soldiers came
to arrest the Guru, both the brothers
came forward to offer themselves for
arrest flrst.
On receipt of the second order from
Aurangzeb, the Guru was asked to embrace
Islam. The Guru refused. In order to
intimidate the Guru, the qazis (Islamic
magistrates) made a plan to torture
to death, the Sikhs arrested with the
Guru before his eyes. They thought that
the Guru would embrace Islam out of
fear on seeing the Sikhs murdered. The
qazis decreed to cut Bhai Mati Dass
with a saw first of all.
Hearing the order of the qazis, Bhai
Mati Dass prayed to the Guru, "O
True King ! bless me so that I may do
my duty by sacfiflcing myself for the
glory of the faith." After the
Guru had blessed him, the qazis asked
Bhai Mati Dass, "Brother, embrace
Islam and enjoy the pleasures provided
by the goveInment. Moreover when you
die as a Muslim, you will go to heaven
where there will be streams of milk,
many kinds of wine to drink and beautiful
women to enjoy. If you do not embrace
Islam, your body will be sawn into two."
Bhai Mati Dass replied, "I can
sacrifice hundreds of such heavens for
my faith. I don't need women nor wine.
I see all the happiness in the path
of my faith." After his refusal,
the qazis asked him his last wish, to
which he replied, 'When I am being cut
with the saw, let my face be towards
my mentor so that I may behold my Guru
till my last breath and he may keep
on seeing me so that he may be convinced
how happily I reach my last destination."
By the order of the qazis, the executioners
sawed Bhai Mati Dass in two on the 8th
November, 1675 A.D., in Chandani Chowk,
Delhi.
On the 10th November, 1675 A.D., the
qazis ordered Bhai Sati Dass to be wrapped
in cotton and burnt. Before being wrapped
in cotton, the qazis asked Bhai Sati
Dass, "Save your life by embracing
Islam and live in pleasure." Bhai
Sati Dass replied, 'You cannot understand
that my pleasure and happiness lie only
in obeying the command of my Guru. It
does not lie in saving this life which
must end one day." At this reply,
the executioners wrapped Bhai Sati Dass
in cotton, poured oil over it and set
fire to it. Bhai Sati Dass remained
calm while burning till his last breath
and remained true to his resolve.
Salute to Great Sikh Martyrs Bhai Mati
Dass and Bhai Sati Dass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Copyright © Santokh Singh Jagdev
"Bed Time Stories"
|
