OUR ILLUMINATING FORCE - MATA GUJRI JI
In the illustrious heritage of the Sikhs, the contribution Of Sikh women is not in any respect lesser than that of men. As Guru’s sister, daughter, wife, mother or simply as a Gursikh, the Sikh women have made numerous sacrifices towards achieving the objectives of Gurmat. For the development and strengthening of the social order, the creation of which was started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Sikh women forsook their comforts, suffered separation from their dear ones, actively participated in Gurmat Prachar, boldly faced the martyrdom of their husbands, sons, grandsons and other dear ones, fought like lioness in wars and embraced martyrdom, got imprisoned, ground mounds of wheat in prisons, witnessed the hanging of their little children on spears, got their children cut into pieces and wore garlands made of those pieces and bore many other suffering and pain. All this was to give shape to the social order in which all individuals share a feeling of brotherhood and none is a stranger; in which there is no discrimination on the basis of religion or caste and none is considered high or low; in which there is no oppressor and none is oppressed; in which everybody is God- fearing, no body frightens another and none fears the other; in which everybody has an equal right to live; enjoys freedom and none is master or slave and all are free to enjoy the freedom of religion of their choice and none is forced to change religion.
Mata Gujri Ji, wife of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and the mother of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji is the epitome of Sikh womanhood. Besides being remembered for her other sacrifices, Mata Gujri Ji has the honour of being the daughter-in-law of the sixth Guru, Guru HarGobind Ji who gave a new turn to Sikh history by taking to sword for fighting for human cause for the first time and established the Akal Takhat Sahib, the supreme seat of authority for the Sikhs; of being the wife of a martyred Guru; of being the mother of a Sarbans Dani Guru who spent his entire life fighting battles and sacrificed everything including many dear lives for human cause; of being the grandmother of her all four martyred grandsons and also being a martyr herself.
Mata Guru Ji was an illuminating force behind her husband Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and her son Guru Gobind Singh Ji and she was responsible for the training of the Sahibzadas who gave up their lives for Sikhism while they were still very young. She was an inspiring force during one of the most difficult times in Sikh history. No where in the history of the world can one find a parallel of such sacrifices made for human cause. Mata Gujri Ji’s life would continue to serve as a lighthouse for the women of the entire world for all times.
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