On October 4, 1708, the great Guru Gobind Singh Ji appointed Baba Banda Singh Bahadur as the Jathedar (Commander) of the Khalsa Panth. He blessed him with symbolic authority — five arrows, a Nishan Sahib (holy flag), and a Nagara (war drum) — and sent him to Punjab along with five Singhs: Bhai Binod Singh Ji, Bhai Kanh Singh Ji, Bhai Baj Singh Ji, Bhai Daya Singh Ji, and Bhai Ran Singh Ji. Their mission was to establish Khalsa rule and punish the tyrants. Some historians, however, cite the date as September 18, 1708. On September 3, 1708, Guru Gobind Singh Ji visited Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji’s monastery. There, Baba Ji took the vow to become “Banda,” a humble servant of the Guru, and received Khande di Pahul (the Amrit initiation). This was not their first meeting — Baba Ji had earlier met the Guru in Anandpur Sahib with his mentor Baba Samarth Das. Even before this encounter, Madhodas (Baba Banda Singh’s earlier name) had been deeply influenced by the Guru’s divine presence. Guru Ji instructed him to abandon his miraculous powers and instead dedicate himself as a true servant of righteousness. Because of his courage and devotion, this warrior became known in Sikh history as Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. Guru Gobind Singh Ji initiated him with Amrit and gave him the name Gurbakhsh Singh. Guru Ji sent him toward Punjab with five arrows, a Nishan Sahib, and a Nagara. He was accompanied by five Singhs (the Panj Pyare) and about twenty specially trained warriors — what we might today call “commandos.” As Banda Singh advanced into Punjab, Sikhs began to unite under his command and one flag. On November 26, 1709, he attacked the town of Samana — home of Jalaluddin, one of the executioners of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji — and destroyed it. Then he attacked Sadhaura, whose ruler Usman Khan had tortured and martyred Pir Buddhu Shah Ji. On May 12, 1710, Banda Singh Bahadur captured Sirhind, executed Nawab Wazir Khan — the man responsible for the martyrdom of the younger Sahibzadas — and reduced the city to rubble. Some historians believe Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself was preparing to march toward Punjab, but on September 18, 1708, he was attacked by two Pathans, Jamshaid Khan and Gul Khan. Some sources say the attack occurred on October 4. Wazir Khan had sent them to assassinate the Guru. They first visited Mata Sundar Kaur Ji in Burhanpur, gathered information, and then traveled southward. Possibly due to old acquaintance, they gained entry easily. According to Sri Guru Sobha, they came multiple times, studying the situation before striking. One evening, Jamshaid Khan stabbed Guru Ji in the chest. As he raised his arm for a second blow, Guru Ji caught his arm and struck him with his own dagger. The assassin cried “Hai Amma!” (Oh Mother), to which Guru Ji replied, “Not Amma — say Allah, this is the time to remember Allah.” The second assassin, Gul Khan, was captured by the Sikhs. When the Sikhs saw the Guru drenched in blood, they rushed to him, and Guru Ji said calmly, “The Eternal has protected me with His own hand.” Author: Dr. Gurdeep Singh Jagbir
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