Banda Singh Bahadur Shaheedi Diwas 2023

Shaheedi Purab Baba Banda Singh Bahadur

We are remembering the martyrdom of a great Sikh Warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on the 307th anniversary of his Shaheedi Diwas. Born as a Bhardwaj Rajput named Lachhman Dev, took Pahul {Baptized} from the hands of Guru Gobind Singh Ji – he became a Khalsa at Nanded. Gurudev Patshah named him Banda Singh ‘Bahadur’ also referred to as Gurbaksh Singh in historical literature sometimes.

Baba Banda Singh

Baba Banda Singh was born on October 27, 1670, to a Rajput plowman in Kashmir. He was thus about four years younger than Guru Gobind Singh; for the latter was born on December 26, 1666. He was named Lachhman Dev.

While yet in his teens, he lost interest in worldly, household life, became a Bairagi, and took the name of Madho Das. He wandered from place to place – came to Nasik on the banks of the Godavari in the Deccan. There he became a disciple of a Yogi named Aughar Nath. After the latter’s death, he moved on along the river bank, till he came to Nander. There he built a small cottage for himself outside the city. He became famous for his magical and tantric powers and took delight in practicing tricks of magic on his visitors.

In the last week of September 1708, Guru Gobind Singh came to Nander. He learned of Bairagi Madho Das, and visited his cottage, Bairagi tried his magic powers on the Guru. But no magic could prevail against the latter. He gave up and fell at the Guru’s feet, Saying, ‘I am your banda, your slave. Accept me as such. Let me be named Banda.’

Banda In Khalsa Brotherhood

Madho Das Bairagi was baptized and was given the name of Banda Singh. Throughout his life, he was known by the title of Banda Singh, a title which he chose for himself. Soon, the Guru conferred on him the title of ‘Bahadur”. Thus he came to be called Banda Singh Bahadur. But he was more popularly known as Banda Bahadur.

Banda Bahadur Singh camped at Bharatpur and freed the people of a village from local robbers. Then he fought the Battle of Sonipat, Battle of Ambala, and Kaithal, and conquered them. In the Battle of Samana Banda Singh gained a marvelous victory. At Samana Banda made land reforms and abolished the zamindari system and granted property rights to tillers of the land.

Then he fought battles at Malerkotla, Ghuram, Kesar, Shahabad, Ambala, Mustafabad, Nahan, and Kapuri and conquered them. He fought the Battle of Rahon (1710) and captured Rahon. Thereafter Banda fought the Battle of Sadhaura and killed Faujdar Osman Khan of Sadhaura. In the Battle of Chappar Chiri Sikhs defeated the Muslim Mughal army, and Sikh General Fateh Singh beheaded Wazir Khan. Sikhs also killed Diwan Suchananda and Banda to establish the first Khalsa Raj in Punjab.

You can read about his travel to Punjab, battles, and martyrdom by clicking the link below:

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Baba Banda Singh Shaheedi Purab 2023 Image

Baba Banda Singh was brutally murdered in front of Mughal Ruler Farrukhsiyar on June 9th, 1716. The horror of the scene is unimaginable, reading the tortures, one cannot get away without shedding tears. After 740 Sikhs with Baba Banda Singh Bahadur were captured, 100 were executed daily. 1 mother of a Sikh Warrior said he’s not a Sikh and had obtained orders to release him, but upon hearing this he said. “I am a humble Sikh of the Guru, my mother is telling a lie, So please execute me along with my other Sikh Brothers”. His companions were equally beloved of Guru Gobind Singh and were not afraid of death.

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Banda Singh Bahadur Martyrdom Day 2023 Image

Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and his Sikh soldiers were put through the harshest mental and physical torture. They were also asked to reveal the place where they had buried all the treasures they had during their better days.

Failing to convert them, all the Companion Sikhs were beheaded. They arranged the heads of 20 Sikh soldiers in a circle around Baba Banda Singh Bahadur.

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Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Shaheedi Diwas 2023 Image

They forced Baba Banda Singh Bahadur to Kill his 4-year-old son named Ajai Singh putting him on his lap with a short sword (Jibah).

Receiving no response one among them came forward and beheaded Ajai Singh. They threw the removed flesh and blood on the face of Baba Banda Singh. They tried to stuff his mouth with his son’s heart.

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Yet, this was not the end. Mughals wanted to make Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s death an example for the remaining Sikhs. His eyeballs were gauged out first, then limbs were slashed and his flesh was torn off with red-hot pincers. Even after his death, they cut him into thousand pieces. Unaware of the very nature of Sikhs, Mughals never knew that the Blood of Banda Singh Bahadur won’t make Sikhs afraid but will strengthen the dream of Khalsa Raj in Punjab.