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Bhai Bachchitter singh
were five Khalsa brothers. The Eldest
was bhai Udai Singh, second Ajaab Singh
third Aajaib Singh, Ajai Singh and Bachchitter
Singh. They were sons of Bhai Mania,
who was a descendant of a Rajput named
Mai Das residing at the village alipur
in district Multan. Mai Das had abandoned
the Vaishnav beliefs during the times
of Guru Amardas (third guru) becoming
his Sikh. He was also given a Manji
(village alipur) at his village by Guru
Amardas. Since then all of his generations
regularly contacted the Sikh gurus of
their respective times affirming their
beliefs.
Bhai Mania when came in to visit Guru
Gobind Singh at 1692 he offered all
of his five Sons for his service. At
the same time (year 1692) Bhai Nand
Lal of Multan also first contacted Guru
Gobind Singh when he visited Anandpur
sahib. These five brothers (sons of
Bhai Mania) lived along with other Gur
Sikhs at Anandpur sahib getting trained
in martial arts as well as education.
Then in 1699 on the visakhi day when
Khalsa was born, all the five brothers
along with their father Bhai Mania became
Khalsa by taking the Khanda Baate da
Pahul. After Amrit, Bhai Mania became
http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/martyrs/mani.html">Bhai
Mani Singh and then he became a famous
Martyr (Shaheed) Bhai Mani Singh of
Darbar Sahib.
All the five brothers lived and helped
Guru Gobind Singh while Bhai Mani Singh
was sent by Guru Gobing Singh to make
copies of Adi Granth and to install
them all over Punjab. These five brothers
participated in all battles fought by
Guru Gobind Singh against the Hill kingdoms
around Anandpur Sahib.
Bachchitter Singh is famous for his
exceptional valour in the second battle
fought at Anandpur Sahib. He alone fought
a drunken elephant let loose by the
enemies to break open the gates of the
fort at Anandpur sahib. In the year
1701, the king of the Gujjars named
Jamtula at the request of Bheem Chand
attacked Anandpur Sahib then Sikhs named
Bhai Bachchitter Singh Bhai Alam Singh
Bhai Daya Singh faced him and defeated
him.
Jamtula and Bheem Chand seeing that
they could not enter Anandpur Sahib
decided to lay siege of the fort with
emphasis being on cutting supplies to
the Guru Gobind Singh, his family army.
Guru Gobind Singh had planned these
forts around Anandpur sahib with keeping
water and supplies in mind, the biggest
of these forts was called Lohgarh (iron
fort). So, After a month or so of siege
Bheem Chand seeing that Guru is not
bulging became restless for an alternative
means. They decided to let loose a drunken
elephant at the main enterance of the
Lohgarh fort to break its steel doors.
Bheem Chand's friend from villge Jaswalia
named Kesari chand swore that he will
enter the fort of Lohgar at all costs.
To face this threat, Guru Gobind Singh
himself prepared Bhai Bachchittar Singh
presenting him with a spear named "Nagini".,
he and two other Singhs was sent to
battle among the war cries of Sat Sri
Akal. This spear that is named Nagini
still exists at the gurdwara Takht Keshgarh
Sahib at Anandpur Sahib. Historians
recall that Bhai Bachchittar singh along
with two other Sikhs came out of the
Lohgarh fort riding on their horses.
Bhai Bachchittar Singh galloped straight
to this drunk elephant and threw the
spear with such a force between the
eyes that it pierced through the armour
as well as bones of the elephant. Severely
wounded this elephnat turned around
on the forces of Bheem Chand and Kesari
Chand. The driver of the elephant (Mahaut)
fell down and it crushed many of the
soldiers of Bheem chand and Kesari chand.
Just then the rest of the Sikh army
came out of the fort of Lohgarh and
started pursuing the enemies. Both Bheem
Chand and Kesari Chand were wounded
in this battle. But this battle was
undoubtbly Bhai Bachchittar Singh's
battle.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Copyright © Sikh Missionary College,
Regd, Ludhiana"Sikh Itihaas vichon
chonvian sakhiya."
Translated by Sandeep Singh Bajwa from
Punjabi
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