Baba Deep Singh Ji: Life History and Martyrdom

Baba Deep Singh Ji Biography

Baba Deep Singh Ji was born on January 26th, 1682 in Pahoowind, Amritsar. He was the only child of his parents, Bhai Bhagtoo and Jeeooni. There are various legends surrounding his birth, including the belief that he was born after 15 years of his parent’s marriage.

The annals of Sikh history are filled with tales of heroic martyrdoms. Driven by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s belief in the “welfare of all,” a tyrannical despot martyred Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. He was subjected to a hot plate and hot sand on his head. The state aimed to silence the voice of truth, but the sacrifice of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji instead taught Sikhs to remain steadfast. They were willing to give their own lives for the sake of upholding the truth. As a result, Sikhism continued to flourish.

Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji further reinforced this spirit of sacrifice by wearing two swords, symbolizing the dual concepts of temporal power and spiritual authority. This reinvigorated the Sikhs and the movement continued to gain momentum. This posed a significant challenge to Aurangzeb, who made numerous attempts to suppress it.

When Aurangzeb resolved to only consume food and water if he could remove a certain weight of Janeau (Upanayana) each day, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji answered the call of the Kashmiri Pandits and went to Delhi to protect their human rights. This ultimately led to his martyrdom, a sacrifice that was unprecedented in history. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji also made the ultimate sacrifice by giving up his entire family for the sake of the “welfare of all” mission.

Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji imbued the Sikhs with a sense of sacrifice by administering Khande bate di Pahul (Amrit), which enabled them to create a history that is unparalleled. Baba Deep Singh Ji was blessed to receive this divine gift from Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and is a shining example of the exceptional history of Sikhism. His martyrdom serves as a model of devotion and sacrifice.

Baba Deep Singh Ji: Life Journey

In his early years, Baba Deep Singh Ji was known as Deepa. At the age of 18, he attended Hola Mahalla with his parents at Anandpur Sahib. It was here that he received Khande Bate di Pahul from Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and was renamed Deep Singh. After his parents returned to their village, he decided to stay back and serve the Guru.

Baba Deep Singh Ji devoted himself to the study of Gurbani and received arms training under the guidance of Bhai Mani Singh Ji while living in Anandpur Sahib. He became proficient in various languages including Sanskrit, Brij, Persian, and Gurmukhi. He not only studied the scriptures but also played an essential role in spreading the teachings of Gurbani.

In 1705, when Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji arrived at Talwandi Sabo, Baba Deep Singh Ji also went there to serve him. Together with Bhai Mani Singh Ji, he meticulously prepared hand-written recensions of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. These recensions were then distributed to various Takhts.

After the departure of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Baba Deep Singh Ji joined Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on the battlefield and played a crucial role in the establishment of the first Khalsa Raj. He assisted Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in various battles and contributed to the success of the Khalsa army.

In the aftermath of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s martyrdom, Sardar Darbara Singh and Sardar Kapoor Singh rallied the Sikhs by forming groups known as Misl. As a leader among them, Baba Deep Singh Ji was appointed as the Jathedar (Chief) of the Shaheed Misl. He was responsible for leading and organizing the group to achieve their common goals.

Martyrdom

Baba Deep Singh Ji was deeply offended by the desecration of Sri Darbar Sahib. Taimur Khan, son of Abdali, was troubled by Sikhs’ growing influence. At his command, Jahan Khan began to massacre Sikhs and filled the sacred Sarovar of Sri Harmandir Sahib with mud. Upon hearing this news, Baba Deep Singh Ji rallied a battalion of 5000 Sikhs and marched towards Sri Amritsar Sahib.

Upon arriving at Tarn Taran Sahib, he prayed before the Almighty and drew a line outside the city, asking those who were willing to die for the protection of the gurdwaras to cross over, and the rest to retreat. All the Sikhs crossed the line, eager to give their lives for the cause. Gurdwara Lakir Sahib at this sacred spot commemorates this momentous event in history.

The final battle took place in the village of Gohlwarh, located 10 km from Sri Tarn Taran Sahib. Baba Ji led the Sikhs in a fierce invasion, and today Gurdwara Lalkar Sahib stands at this spot. During the battle, Baba Ji faced off against Jahan Khan’s forces as they advanced toward Sri Amritsar Sahib. With his 18 Ser Khanda (double-edged sword), he fought fiercely against Amaan Khan. Both men struck each other and their heads were severed from their bodies. Amaan Khan died instantly, but Baba Ji held his head in one hand and continued to fight with the other. He was determined to only offer his head to Guru Ji and not leave this world before punishing those who committed the sacrilege.

This act of determination was a result of the spiritual power he gained through Gurbani and is unparalleled in valor. With his head held in his palm, Baba Ji reached the perimeter of Sri Harmandir Sahib and offered his head to Guru Ji before attaining martyrdom. Gurdwara Shaheedan stands where Baba Deep Singh Ji and other Sikhs were cremated, located on the Tarn Taran-Amritsar Road.

Download PDF