Deg Tegh Fateh by Gurfateh
Phil Singh
I only knew you for a while
I never saw your smile
Till it was time to go
Time to go away
Sometimes it s hard to recognise
Love comes as a surprise
Then its to late
It's just to late to stay
To late to stay
Because the friendship that you gave
Has taught me to be brave
No matter where I go
I'll never find a better prize
And though your miles and miles away
I see you everyday
I don't have to try
I just close my eyes
I close may eyes
We'll always be together
How ever far it seems
We'll always be together
Together in electric dreams
At His Feet by Puran Singh (The
Temple Tulips)
Leaving time and thought behind, I fly,
I Cut the illusion-cocoons that I have woven around me,
Flying out of myself for ever, I faint and faint at His Feet.
As a babe in the mother's lap I drink His light in my soul,
concealed from all.
I go as a cloud at night veiling the stars in myself.
But I sit drinking dew with the turbaned flowers in the morning,
at His feet.
At the sight of His creation Love turns his key on the doors
of my heart.
By His goodness I have gained freedom within the prison doors,
at His feet.
Sajia Singh! by Manbir Kaur
In his Bana, tall and strong.
As part of Khalsa he is born.
His dhamala like a lions mane.
To guru with Amrit he is chained.
With his Kirpan, hanging down.
Made for protection of the people around.
Blessed with Guru Gobind Singh jis roop.
Taking care going on the right route.
The kamar kasa around his waste.
Tied like Guru's love that will never break.
Khalsa brothers face all glowing.
Enriched in Naam he is living.
Protector of all Khalsa Singh.
Destroying fear, hope he brings.
Like a Sant absorbed in Naam.
With Guru ji he's never in harm.
Sant Siphai, Sajia Singh.
With the roop of Guru Gobind.
Bibi Bhani by Jaswinder Singh
Chadha
The nice Bibi Bhani,
Guru Amardas's daughter
was married to Jetha,
who became a Guru later
as a devoted Sikh
she served all around
she looked after the Guru
her devotion was sound
she got up every day
before the early dawn
and helped Guru Amardas
with his morning Ishnan
one morning, the Guru
was sitting on a stool
Bhani was helping him
with his bath as usual
one leg of the stool
appeared to be cracking
the Guru was seated there
as it was breaking
Bhani acted at once
put her foot underneath
balancing the seat
for the Guru's benefit
there was a bare nail
which was showing
it plunged into her foot
the blood started flowing
the Bibi was injured
but she kept at it
she got on with her job
till the bath was complete
as she took a towel
and the Guru was dried
the Guru could see
the blood on one side
when she explained
what had happened
he was overwhelmed
as he was saddened
the Guru asked her
if she had any desire
if she had a wish
to which she does aspire
she wanted Jetha
to become the next Guru
this was her prayer
to the revered Guru
she also prayed
that the Guruship stays
within the Sodhi family
for the future days
Bibi Bhani's prayers
were accepted by the Guru
the future did witness
her wishes came true
Martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur
by Jaswinder Singh Chadha
Martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur
Aurengzeb the Mughal
was vicious and cruel
a fanatic and a bigot
he was both fire and fuel
Hindus were regarded
as a hoard of infidels
who must be converted
or else gotton rid off
death and destruction
had become a norm
the Hindus wern't safe
in this vicious storm
the schools and temples
symbols of Hindu culture
were particular targets
of the wayward Mughal
Vishwanath shrine at Benares
was levelled down
so was Keshvari temple
in the Mathura town
conversion to Islam
was policy of the state
forced on pain of death
it was a dreaded fate
the cruel Iftikar Khan
the Governor of Kashmir
started the Hindu purge
and swung it into gear
the man's killer instinct
needed no further urge
enough was his obsession
Hindus were a scourage
Brahamins of Kashmir
met at Amarnath shrine
where a dream revealed
a guidance from divine
with Kirpa as a leader
and in circumstances grim
they met Guru Teg Bahadur
to state their case to him
sad tale of the Brahamins
was heard by the master
how Janeous in thousands
were being torn asunder
the Guru was distressed
and troubled in mind
when Gobind, barely nine
walked in from behind
amidst the Brahamins
sat his much worried dad
Gobind looked at him
and said "you do look sad"
" the earth is heavy
with tyranny and dread
a sacrifice is needed
of a great and noble head"
the brave lad responded
relieving his dad's tension
" who is better than you
for a task of this dimension"
Brahamins were advised
to give Aurengzeb a bid
everyone shall accept Islam
If Guru Teg Bahadur did
the Guru then left for Agra
the king was expected here
Teg and his companions
were arrested over there
they were moved to Delhi
and kept under house arrest
then the torture started
it began with caging first
Teg was offered awards
to accept the Islamic path
he should comply
or face the king's wrath
Teg Bahadur was solid
determined and steadfast
nothing could deter him
from his chosen path
they couldn't break him
as they tortured his Sikhs
Bhai Matti Dass was the first
who went through this
Matti Dass was sawn
he was sliced into two
the cruel deed was enacted
infront of the Guru
Bhai Dyalla was next
he was boiled in a cauldron
the Sikh kept his faith
and he couldn't be won
Teg was then to bear
Bhai Satti Dass's ordeal
who was burnt alive
defending the Sikh ideal
both carrot and the stick
had failed in the end
the revered Guru
will neither yield nor bend
in Chandni Chowk Delhi
Teg was beheaded
a fate he met with calm
a fate he never dreaded
during that night
a dust storm had blown
in its blinding fury
the severed parts were gone
Lakhi Shah hid the body
in a cart of hay
brought it inside his home
and burnt the house away
the head was collected
by Bhai Jaita of Delhi
who took it to Anandpur
after a hazardous journey
the young Guru Gobind
put flame to the funeral pyre
and the sangats present
offered the prayers
ashes arrived from Delhi
with the brave Lakhi Shah
he recounted to the sangats
an account of what he saw
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan
by Jaswinder Singh Chadha
Martyrdom of the Guru Arjan
Much of Guru Arjan's life
passed in Akbar's time
when worship of a faith
was not a crime
Sikhism was doing well
Sikhs were all over Punjab
but the enemy appeared
and closed in to rob
Jahangir became the king
he wasn't liberal or kind
but a zealot and a bigot
Sikh faith troubled his mind
Jahangir wrote in Tuzuk
Arjan fascinates them all
Hindus and even Muslims
are heeding to his call
Jahangir wrote further
that it was his intent
to convert the Guru and
destroy all that he meant
Akbar's policy of neutrality
was forthwith reversed
the pressure was increased
Guru Arjan was coerced
Jahangir needed an excuse
and God provided him one
Khusroo, the rebel prince
came to stay with Guru Arjan
Khusroo was made welcome
as anyone would be
he stayed there and rested
the cooked meals were free
The Guru was summoned
to come to Lahore
where he was charged
on lies and lies galore
The emperor alleged
that the Guru had prayed
for success to the prince
and had offered him aid
Jahangir who had ordered
death sentence on Khusroo
imposed a hefty fine
two lakh rupees on the Guru
An option was offered
to accept the Islamic way
but the Guru won't agree
to convert or to pay
Officer Chandu suggested
he will persuade the Guru
make him see the light
and alter his view
The king agreed
he put the Guru in his care
the man had sinister plans
the king wasn't aware
Chandu Lal was a Hindu
serving the Raj at Lahore
with a grudge against Guru,
he irked to settle a score
Chandu's men had sought
a match for his daughter
it was settled to Guru's son
could it be any better?
Yet Chandu didn't like it
as he was heard to mutter
"what a match- like laying
a royal brick in the gutter"
The news reached the Guru
the Sikhs were annoyed
the match was annulled
Chandu was horrified
With the Guru in his hold
Chandu asked him to savour
revival of the match
and advise in Islam's favour
But Guru Arjan won't agree
on one count or the other
Chandu was most annoyed
and resorted to torture
Guru Arjan was confined
in a dark and dingy dungeon
the heat was oppressing
Lahore was like an oven
The Guru was made to sit
on a red hot metal plate
a picture of endurance
the Guru showed no hate
They poured on the Guru
shovels of burning sand
calmly abiding in His will
he sat through this demand
Then in a pot of water
the Guru was made to sit
the water was boiled
and kept in a boiling fit
he was moved to the river
Blistered and barely alive
they lowered him in the water
but he rose to The High
Uncrowned Prince Of Machhiwara
by Karnail Singh Gyani
In the early hours of a rosy dawn,
I could'nt believe what I came upon.
A forest overgrown with thistles,
And a chilling wind that rustles and whistles.
A wilderness for the humans to scare,
Then suddenly looked with a vacant stare. By a thicket over
an unhewn mound,
A gentle soul lay on the ground.
The weary traveller must have lost his way,
Could be resting till the break of day.
A special glow I saw on his face,
As if bestowed with heavenly grace.
A steel bracelet adorned his arm,
The turban matched his regal form.
An unsheathed sword lay by his side,
The tattered cloak, his limbs did'nt hide.
My heart cried to watch his plight,
His blistered soles were a dreadful sight.
From the bleeding feet, the earth got red,
On his arm, did rest his princely head.
One could easily tell, from his half opened eyes,
Beckoning to some one up in the skies.
I watched his lips quiver in a mumble,
The prayer of JAPJI, in a voice so humble.
With folded hands and upward gaze,
He seated himself, in the Lord's praise.
And then addressed the power sublime,
"O God of Universe of all the time,
Whatever I vowed on Hemkunt Mount,
At long last I can tender an account.
To rid this land of the aggressor,
And teach a lesson to the oppressor,
I cast-off all rituals of yore,
And raised Khalsa, a Band-of-the-Pure.
They hold the standard of truth so high,
Sat Sri Akal is their battle-cry.
To the down-trodden, they always shield,
But never turn their back to the field.
Some day, like a tree, will this sapling grow,
As a beacon of light, for ever shall glow.
"O Holy Father, O King of Kings,
To ensure well being of all siblings,
I have now renounced all worldy things,
And that includes my Four Offsprings.
I know that ends my posterity,
But acclaim must I, in sincerity.
"Cause their devotion has no parity,
May Khalsa live in prosperity.
