The History of Vaisakhi...

ਵੈਸਾਖੁ ਭਲਾ ਸਾਖਾ ਵੇਸ ਕਰੇ ॥
"(The month of) Vaisakhi is so pleasant; the branches blossom with new leaves."

(Ang 1108) 

Vaisakhi is the second month of the Panjabi/Sikh calendar. Vaisakhi is a traditional harvest festival when the community rejoices. For the Sikhs, Vaisakhi is a special time which is linked to various historical events.

Vaisakhi is a time when nature is blossoming with new life, similarly, on Vaisakhi the Guru brought new life to society. Guru Nanak Dev jee came to this earth to bring new life to the world through Shaastar (knowledge) revealed through the Shabad (Divine-Word of God). Guru Gobind Singh jee, the tenth Guru, revealed that when people do not reform through wisdom or knowledge, it is righteous to bring reform to society and benefit humanity through Shastar (weapons). On Vaisakhi 1699, the tenth Guru raised the naked sword and brought new life to the society by infusing a new spirit in the people and baptising them with the Amrit (Divine-Nectar) of the double-edged sword.

 VAISAKHI IN HISTORY

"There is no Hindu, nor Muslim"

Whilst staying at Sultanpur, Guru Nanak Dev jee went to bathe in River Vein and disappeared for three days. In those three days Guru Nanak Dev jee went to Sach Khand and received the gifts of Amrit, Naam and Humility and was given the mission by Vaheguru to spread the Path of Truth in the world. When Guru Nanak Dev jee returned out of the river, it was Vaisakhi day. According to the Janam Saakhis, Guru Nanak Dev jee proclaimed, "There is no Hindu, nor Muslim." Meaning that in the eyes of Vaheguru, our actions and life will be judged, not our religious labels.

Hardwar

On Vaisakhi day Guru Nanak Dev jee visited Hardwar and witnessed Hindu Brahmins throwing water towards the sun. Guru jee asked them what are they doing. The Brahmins replied, "We are throwing water to the sun to quench the thirst of our dead ancestors."  Guru jee began throwing water in the opposite direction. When the Brahmins asked Guru jee what he is doing, Guru jee replied, "I am throwing water to my fields in Panjab." The Brahmins asked, "How can you water reach Panjab?" Guru jee replied, "How can your water reach the sun?" On Vaisakhi day Guru jee turned around the hearts and minds of the ritualistic people and showed them the Path of God.

Guru Amardaas Jee's Parkaash Divas

On Vaisakhi 1479 Guru Amardaas jee, third Guru, was born in village Basarke in Amritsar. Guru jee's parents were Baba Siree Tej Bhaan jee and Mata Lachhmi jee. On Vaisakhi day Guru Amar Daas jee prepared the boali sahib (well) at Goindwal Sahib. The well was made to eradicate the caste system, where high and low can all bathe together.

 

Dukhbhanjani Sahib Tree

Bibi Rajni was the youngster of seven daughters of Rai Duni Chand. The father summoned all the daughters and asked, "Whose salt do you eat?" All the daughters replied, "Yours." Bibi Rajni jee replied, "I eat the salt given by Waheguru." In anger, the father married Bibi Rajni jee to a leper. Bibi jee accepted Waheguru's Will. Once she left her husband next to the lake of Amritsar and went to get something. Her husband, Bhai Mohan jee, saw black crows go in the lake and come out white. Having faith in Waheguru he dips his body in the lake but leave one finger our so that his wife can he recognise him. He becomes cured and Bibi Rajni comes back and sees the miracle. This happened on Vaisakhi day. Guru Ramdas jee blessed the couple. Guru jee named their son, Bhai Gurmukh jee.

 

Guru Arjan Dev Jee's Parkaash Divas

On Vaisakhi 1563 Guru Arjan Dev jee was born in village Goindwal Sahib in the home of Guru Ram Daas jee and Bibi Bhaani jee.

"Baba Bakaale"

On 3rd day of Vaisaakh in 1664, Guru Harkrishan Sahib jee, the eighth Guru, physically passed away and the jyot (light) was carried to Guru Tegh Bahadur jee. In his last moments, Guru jee said that the next Guru is "Baba Bakaale." Guru jee's grandfather (Baba) was Guru Tegh Bahadur jee, who lived in the village Bakaala.

 

Bhai Nand Lal jee

On Vaisakhi day in 1707 Bhai Nand Lal jee came to the sanctuary of Guru Gobind Singh jee. During his early life he was trained in Arabic, Persian, and Mathematics. At the age of 12 he started writing poetry in Persian under the pen name Goya. At the age of 17 he lost his mother, and two years later his father. In 1652, he went to Multan and settled over there, and was married to a Sikh girl. Thereafter, he became inclined towards Sikhism, met Guru Gobind Singh in 1682 and later became Amritdhari. In 1707, he finally left his job with Prince Muazzam and appeared before Guru Gobind Singh. He came to Multan again in 1712 after the death of Bahadur Shah I and started a school of Arabic & Persian. He died in 1713 when in Multan.

Damdami Beerh

During Guru Gobind Singh jee's guruship, Dheer Mal refused to return the Kartarpur Beerh of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee over to Guru Gobind Singh jee when Baba Deep Singh jee along with 24 other Singhs went to visit him. Instead Dheer Mal said, "If your Guru is the same roop (form) as the first and fifth Guru Sahibs, then why doesn't he fashion Gurbaani from memory?" On Vaisakhi day of 1706 Guru Gobind Singh jee completed the Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee, including Guru Tegh Bahadur jee's revelations, which he dictated to Bhai Mani Sahib jee at at Talwandi Sabo (known as Sri Damdama Sahib today). The task took nine months and nine days. As this Bir (Volume) was compiled at Sri Damdama Sahib, this final form of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee became known as the 'Damdami Beerh'.

Dal Khalsa

In the post Baba Banda Singh jee Bahadur period, the Khalsa became engaged in guerilla warfare and were divided into small groups (jathe). There were approximately 83 jathe (groups). On Vaisakhi 1739, Nawaab Kapoor Singh called for a Sarbat Khalsa (meeting of the all the Khalsa). A Gurmatta (resolution) was passed that small leaderships would be removed and instead there would be a supreme power and that every attack on Panjab should be considered an attack on Sikhi. The Dal Khalsa made Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, who was an orphan, the supreme leader and was honoured Sultan-e-kaum. 

Freeing a Hindu lady from captivity

On Vaisakhi 1763, a Hindu Brahmin comes to Sri Akal Takht Sahib and complains to the Khalsa that Usmaan Khan has abducted his wife. The Khalsa does Ardaas whether to attack Usmaan Khan because they were few in number. Guru jee blessed Basant Ki Vaar as the Hukamnama. The line "ਪੰਜੇ ਬਧੇ ਮਹਾਬਲੀ ਕਰਿ ਸਚਾ ਢੋਆ ||... " ( The five powerful enemies are bound down, when you lean on the True Lord...") gave the Khalsa strength that they have Guru jee's blessings. The Khalsa returned the Hindu Brahmin's wife.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

On Vaisakhi 1919 the the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Jallianwala Bagh is an enclosed garden on the road leading up to Sri Harmandar Sahib. The massacre was ordered by General R.E.H. Dyer on 13th April 1919. Fifty British Indian Army soldiers, commanded by Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer, began shooting at an unarmed gathering of men, women, and children without warning in the aim of silencing the movement of freedom against oppression. Dyer marched his fifty riflemen to a raised bank and ordered them to kneel and fire. Dyer ordered soldiers to reload their rifles several times and they were ordered to shoot to kill. Official British Raj sources estimated the fatalities at 379, and with 1,100 wounded. Civil Surgeon Dr Williams DeeMeddy indicated that there were 1,526 casualties. However, the casualty number quoted by the Indian National Congress was more than 1,500, with roughly 1,000 killed.

1978 Amritsar Massacre

On 13th April 1978 a cult supported by the Indian Government known as Nirankaris under the leadership of Gurbachana who had claimed himself to be a prophet and incarnation of Guru Nanak Dev jee held a procession and a conference at Amritsar. During their conference the speakers made venomous attacks on Sikhi, Sikh Gurus, Gurbani etc. Over 150 Sikhs under the command of Bhai Fauja Singh of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha, marched from Sri Darbar Sahib to protest peacefully against this fake Nirankari procession in which Gurbachana had seated himself on a higher position that of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee. As the Sikhs approached the meeting place, the police stopped the Sikh protesters under the guise of granting them official and safe passage. During this time an ambush was set in motion, the police on duty hurled tear gas bombs against the unarmed Gursikhs and then armed units of Nirankaris briskly advanced forward and sprayed bullets indiscriminately with machine guns. This incident resulted in the death of 13 devout Gursikhs. No justice was given to the Sikhs. This Amritsar massacre became the starting point of the new phase of the struggle of the Sikh Nation.


Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!