Jan-March 2006 - Institute of Sikh Studies

WOMAN IN SIKHISM13Women, too, came to realize their position, and after this we oftenhear of their making a bold stand for their own defence. Womancame to be recognized, in one sense, as even the spiritual support ofmen. Somebody expressed his surprise to Guru Hargobind, the sixthGuru, on his living a married life. The Guru answered, “Woman is theconscience of man.” There is a good example of Sikh women helpingtheir men to keep themselves on the right path, when the latter showeda tendency to go astray. Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru, oncecame to Amritsar to visit the Golden Temple. The people of theplace closed the doors of the temple and would not allow him toenter. The Guru went away saying, “O people of Amritsar, howgloomy are your hearts!” From that moment the people of the citywere filled with a mysterious gloom. The Guru took up his abode inKotha Sahib – a place in Walla about three miles from the city ofAmritsar. The women of the city felt sorry that their men had sodisgraced themselves and came to the Guru in a body supplicating hisforgiveness. It was then that the Guru forgave the people and said,“The women of Amritsar know how to love the will of God.” Thus,had women saved their men from the irreverence into which they hadfallen.The following stories are other instances of the same spirit:During the long siege of Anandpur, lasting for several months,some of the Sikhs became restive, believing that it was futile to holdout any longer. They showed signs of disaffection, and Guru GobindSingh asked them to declare themselves. Forty of them signed adisclaimer renouncing their allegiance to the Guru and went away totheir homes. Their women, however, shut their doors in their faces,and would not let them enter, for they had shamed their profession ofarms. Their women taunted them as more fit for wearing women’sgowns than for wielding the warrior’s sword. They said, “You sit athome and mind the children. We shall go and fight for you with thesword.” The men were struck with remorse, but did not know how tobe reconciled to the Guru. Then Mai Bhago, a brave Sikh lady, cameforward to help them out of this difficulty. She put on male dress, andtaking a sword and mounting a horse, she told them to follow her.They came with her to the field of Muktsar, where, fighting againstodds, they laid down their lives and won the title of ‘the Saved Ones.’