Lohgarh — meaning the Fort of Iron, or the place where iron was forged and weapons were manufactured. Inside this fort, constructed in Anandpur Sahib, the Tenth Master — Guru Gobind Singh Ji — personally had his Sikhs forge high–quality, modern-style steel weapons. “Skilled blacksmiths shaped the iron, Crafting wondrous weapons of many kinds. Spears, arrows, muskets, swords — Forged and presented one after another.” The arrows, guns, kirpans, swords, cannons and many other steel weapons made by these hereditary craftsmen, blacksmiths, and gifted engineers were tested by Guru Gobind Singh Ji Himself. He, along with his Sikh warriors, practiced war skills inside Lohgarh Fort and trained all Singhs for battle — making them constantly ready. Among them were poor, downtrodden Sikhs from oppressed communities who stood up as marjeevḍe (prepared to die) to offer their lives. After the peaceful sacrifice of His Father — Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji — who gave His life to stop tyranny, Guru Gobind Singh Ji decided to stand against the oppression of Aurangzeb. He constructed five great forts in Anandpur Sahib. A huge fort-like wall was built around the city; on the top of the mountain the residence-fort Anandgarh Sahib was established. Across the Charan Ganga river — which flowed beside the mountain — He constructed fort Lohgarh, Holgarh, Taragarh, and Fatehgarh in four directions, securing the entire city. Charan Ganga river was brought inside the fort-wall to ensure that during times of war, water would remain available for the city. Within the upper fort Anandgarh, a baoli (stepwell) was also made, so that even if the Mughal armies captured the surrounding walls and outer forts, water would still remain available inside. This entire monumental construction was done by blessed Sikh craftsmen and laborers whose names appear in history — Baba Hardas Singh Bamra, Giani Bhagwan Singh Bamra, Bhai Natthu Ram Lote, Bhai Sahib Singh Sehemi, Bhai Anand Singh Tarkhan, Bhai Sukkha Singh Baadhi, and Bhai Duna Singh Tarkhan Handuria. Many others from different regions also came to serve and many achieved martyrdom in battle. Upon this very Lohgarh Fort, when the Mughal-Hill forces sent a massive drunken armored elephant, Bhai Bachittar Singh Ji — with the Guru-given strength — struck it with the steel spear “Naagini”, piercing through its iron plates and forcing the elephant to turn back toward the enemy ranks.
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