While leaving Sri Anandpur Sahib and crossing the Sarsa River, the entire family of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji was separated. Mata Gujri Ji, along with her two young grandsons—Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh—became separated from Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his two elder Sahibzadas. After crossing the Sarsa River, the enemy forces pursued Guru Ji, leading to the fierce Battle of Chamkaur. In this terrifying battle, Guru Ji’s two elder sons attained martyrdom. Sahibzada Ajit Singh, aged 17, and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh, aged 15, were personally armed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji and sent into the battlefield to fight in the righteous war. Mata Gujri Ji and the younger Sahibzadas—Sahibzada Zorawar Singh, aged 7, and Sahibzada Fateh Singh, aged 5—who had been separated at the Sarsa River, were arrested. They were presented before Nawab Wazir Khan of Sirhind and imprisoned along with Mata Gujri Ji in the Thanda Burj (Cold Tower). For several days, the Nawab and the Qazis summoned them to court, offering temptations and issuing threats in an attempt to force them to abandon their faith. Both young Sahibzadas responded fearlessly, saying: “We bow only before Akal Purakh and our Guru Father. We do not salute anyone else. Our struggle is for justice, for righteousness, and against oppression. We oppose your tyranny. We are prepared to give our lives, but we will never bow.” Enraged by their steadfast faith, Wazir Khan ordered that both Sahibzadas be bricked alive in the walls. After the martyrdom of the Sahibzadas, Mata Gujri Ji, with immense patience and devotion, offered prayers of gratitude to the Almighty and then peacefully breathed her last. On 27 December 1704 (in the month of Poh), the final rites of Mata Gujri Ji and the two younger Sahibzadas were performed with full honor by devoted Sikhs.
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