Jan-March 2006 - Institute of Sikh Studies

14ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : JAN-MARCH 2006 / 537-38 NSThey are remembered in the daily prayer of Sikhs.Hayat-i-Afghani, a history of the North-West Frontier by anancestor of Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan, records a story about a Sikhwoman who not only saved her honour from a Pathan but taught hima lesson. She was found by him walking alone in a deserted place. Hewas tempted to lay hands on her. She knocked him down singlehanded,and siezing his sword dismissed him contemptuously. Hewent away with bowed head, but soon came back to her and said,“Please give me back my sword, or cut off my head with it. I can’tface my people after surrendering my sword to a woman.” She replied.“Yes, you may have your sword, if you promise that you will neveragain attempt to dishonour a woman.” He gave the promise, and learntthe lesson of his life.The Sikh Temple of Nander, called Hazur Sahib, is sacred to thememory of the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, who passed away atthis spot in 1708. This temple was the victim of constant inroads ofMohammedans from the Deccan, and the Sikhs felt helpless. Theybegan to desert the place. These news reached Malwa in the Punjab.About two hundered Sikh women volunteered themselves to go andrescue the temple. They formed themselves into a battalion andmarched to the South on horseback. On reaching there, they engagedthe enemy in a sharp skirmish lasting for many hours and drove outthe Mohammedan usurpers. In this battle, they captured a drum and abanner of the enemy, both of which are said to be still lying in Nander.On the Baisakhi day of 1699 A.D., Guru Gobind Singh convokeda big assembly of his people from far and near to lay the foundation ofthe Khalsa. The five Sikhs – or the Beloved Ones of the Guru, as theSikhs call them – had been tried and stood ready to be initiated. TheGuru was preparing Amrit, the water of baptism, when his wife, MataSahib Kaur, appeared on the scene with an offering of patashas (cakesof sugar). The Guru took the sugar and throwing it into the Amritwelcomed her, saying, “Your coming is opportune. Woman sweetensthe Amrit of life.” And to this day when Sikhs are baptised, it isannounced to them that Guru Gobind Singh is the father and MataSahib Kaur the mother of the Khalsa.In Sikh history, there are examples of women who not only foughtin the battle but ruled over states, and assisted men in all the spheres