Fresco of Guru Hargobind and Bidhi Chand Chhina from the pre-1984 Akal Takht. It depicts the story of the two horses Dilbagh and Gulbagh being returned to the guru, circa 19th century
Bidhi ChandChhina[1] (Gurmukhi: ਬਿਧੀ ਚੰਦ; 26 April 1579 – 30 August 1638 or 1640[1][note 1]) was a Sikh religious preacher and military commander, from Chhina Bidhi Chand village, 37 kilometers south of Amritsar and Chhina Bidhi Chand was part of Amritsar District not Lahore. His birth place temple is situated in his own village Chhina Bidhi Chand, which was built by the residents with the help of Baba Daya Singh. Baba Daya Singh laid foundation with his own hands. Every year on his (Baba Bidhi Chand) birthday Baba Daya Singh, and now Baba Avtar Singh, would go to village Chhina Bidhi Chand and celebrate it there to date.
He was a disciple of Guru Arjan and served Guru Hargobind for most of his life.[2]
Biography
Early life
He was born into a Jat Sikh family of the Chhina clan.[3][4][5] His father may have been Hindal, a Sikh of Guru Amar Das.[6] As a young man, Bidhi Chand was an inhabitant of the Sur Singh village of Lahore district and had fallen into bad company and taken banditry.[1][6] One day, a pious Sikh, Bhai Adali of the village of Chohia, led him into Guru Arjan Dev 's presence where he underwent a remarkable transformation. His life of banditry and misdeeds ended for he knew now wanted nothing more than life of dedication to the service of the Guru. He became a devotee of Guru Arjan.[6]
Later life
He was one of the five Sikhs chosen to accompany Guru Arjun on his journey to martyrdom at Lahore in 1606.[1] On the death of his father, Guru Hargobind turned his thoughts to training and raising an army to resist the dangers that threatened the peace-loving Sikhs. He chose Baba Bidhi Chand to be one of the commanders of the Risaldari (cavalry) he was raising. Baba Bidhi Chand was the first ever commander in chief of cavalry who fought with Mughals in the absence of Guru Hargobind Sahib . Baba Bidhi Chand displayed great feats of valour in several battles with the Mughal troops.[2][7]
Guru Hargobind Sahib Blessed Baba Bidhi Chand as saying (Bidhi Chand Chhina Guru Ka Seena) means Bidhi Chand is the Chest of Guru. He was one of the first four commanders of the Akal Sena, the first standing Sikh army which was started by Guru Hargobind.[8]
Dilbagh and Gulbagh
A Sikh sakhi narrates a story involving the recapture of two horses, which had been forcibly taken from the Sikhs by the Mughals, by Bidhi Chand.[9][10][11]: 537–540 The horses had been seized as the owner, a Sikh who had raised and trained them, was bringing them from Kabul as an offering for the Guru in the company of two masands who had been dispatched to the local Sikh congregation of Kabul.[2] Bidhi Chand was chosen as the best choice for the mission to recapture the prized horses, named Dilbagh and Gulbagh, from the hands of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.[7] Bidhi Chand accomplished this task by becoming employed at the stable of the Lahore Fort where the horses were kept as the worker who brought the horses fresh grass to feed to the horses and their personal groomer, he used a false name of "Kasera" while he worked there.[10] He stayed at the residence of a local Sikh named Jiwan during the time of his employment and he refused to accept the pay he was afforded by the officials.[10] He eventually won the trust of the officials who were in-charge of guarding the fort after being employed there for some time. Every night, he would desensitize the guards to sounds coming from the Ravi River by throwing large rocks into it and tell them it was just a large animal, to mask his coming plan. Later on, he managed to escape with one of the horses, Dilbagh, by jumping into the Ravi River (whose course at that time flowed near the fort) at night when the guards were sound asleep after being fed a large feast under the patronage of Bidhi Chand on his payday. He brought the horse back to the encampment of the Guru.[9][11]: 537–540 [10]
However, this was only one of the horses, Dilbagh, and he still had to capture the other, Gulbagh. He returned to Lahore and was assisted by a local Sikh named Bhai Bohru. He managed to escape with the other horse by fooling the official caretaker of the horses, Sondha Khan, by disguising himself and pretending to be an astrologer investigating the disappearance of the first horse (which he had actually been the one who had stolen it).[9] The horses were renamed by the Sikhs, with Dilbagh being renamed as Jan Bhai (meaning "as dear to life") and Gulbagh being renamed as Suhela (meaning "dear companion").[11]: 537–540 [10]
After the rescue of the horses, the Guru famously proclaimed: "Bidhichand Chhinā Guru ka Sīnā. Prem bhagat linā. Kade kami nān." (meaning: "Bidhi Chand Chhina is very near to Guru's heart. He is a lovable devotee. He will never suffer from want.")[12]
Military service
Mural of Guru Hargobind, with Bhai Lakhu, Bhai Tiloka, Bhai Jetha, Bhai Bidhi Chand, and Baba Buddha, from an unidentified Samadhi located near Gurdwara Bhai Than Singh at Kot Fateh Khan, Attock, Punjab
All of the events associated with Dilbagh and Gulbagh led to the Battle of Lahira where over 35,000 Mughals were dispatched by Shah Jahan under the governor of Kabul to finish off the Sikhs. 500-1500 Sikh soldiers were placed under Bidhi Chand's command during the battle. Bidhi Chand faced the Mughal general Shamas Beg who had 7,000 soldiers under him. The battle between the two forces lasted 1 hour and 30 minutes. Shamas Beg's entire force of 7,000 was killed with Beg being cut in half by Bidhi Chand in a duel.[13][14] Later in the battle Bidhi Chand fought another Mughal general, Kabul Beg, who managed to gain the upper hand and injured Bidhi Chand. At the end the battle was a Sikh victory.[15]
Dilbagh later died on the banks of the Sutlej river, due to wounds sustained in the battle, during the journey and relocation of Guru Hargobind and his retinue to Kiratpur.[16]
Bidhi Chand also participated in the Battle of Kartarpur. He along with Baba Gurditta were given the lead responsibilities of defending Kartarpur.[17] He was eventually sent into the battle when the Mughal governor of Peshawar, Kale Khan, advanced with 20,00 troops. He along with Jati Mal held off the 20,000 Mughal soldiers.[18] A Mughal general, Anwar Khan, was killed by an arrow fired by Bidhi Chand.[19]
Missionary work
Page 151 of a Guru Granth Sahib manuscript prepared by Bhai Bidhi Chand under the guidance of Guru Hargobind Sahib from the Sur Singh Wala Collection.
Guru Hargobind instructed Bidhi Chand to travel to the eastern regions of the Indian subcontinent to act as a missionary to spread the teachings of the Sikh faith.[11] At Deonagar (or Devnagar), he met Pir Sundar Shah, the disciple of Pir Budhan Shah, and the two developed a close bond.[11] He also became close with Pir Budhan Shah.[6] After the death of his master, Budhan Shah, Pir Sundar Shah visited Kiratpur where he petitioned Bidhi Chand to visit him at Deonagar once again, whom promised him that he shall fulfill this request within a month of his death as he refused to leave the side of his beloved Guru.[11]
Death
In the year 1638, Bidhi Chand departed from Kiratpur, where he left his son, Lal Chand, in the service of Guru Hargobind, and died at Deonagar (or Devnagar) while in a state of meditation, on the banks of the river Gomti.[20][6] He died alongside his friend, Sundar Shah.[11]
Legacy
Photograph of the Bidhi Chand Dal in the early 20th century
Many of Chand's swords and paintings are displayed in the museum of Gurdwara Sri Harmandir Sahib, located in Amritsar. A faction of Akali-Nihangs, named the Bidhi Chand Dal, is his namesake.[21][22] The faction is based in Sur Singh village of Tarn Taran district, Punjab.[21]
^Narang, Gokul Chand (1972). Glorious History of Sikhism: From the Times and Teachings of Guru Nanak to the Death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (6th, reprint ed.). New Book Society of India. p. 80. ISBN9788186619209.
^Azad, Mohammad Akram Lari (1990). Religion and Politics in India During the Seventeenth Century. Criterion Publications. p. 154.
^Grewal, J. S.; Habib, Irfan (2001). Sikh History from Persian Sources: Translations of Major Texts. Tulika. p. 9. ISBN9788185229171.
^Macauliffe, Max Arthur (1909). The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors, Volumes 3-4. Vol. 3–4. Clarendon Press. pp. 213–214. The Guru reached Phagwara on his journey. As the town was on the road to Lahore, whence reinforcements could easily be sent against him, he continued his march to Kiratpur. On arriving at the Satluj he pointed to a hill at the north, which he said the tenth Guru would make his playground. Here the famous steed Dil Bagh, surnamed Jan Bhai, died from the effect of wounds in the recent battle.
^Macauliffe, Max Arthur (1909). The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors, Volumes 3-4. Vol. 3–4. Clarendon Press. pp. 200–201.
^Macauliffe, Max (1909). The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors. Vol. 3–4. Clarendon Press. pp. 202–206.
^Johar, Surinder Singh (1975). Guru Tegh Bahadur: A Bibliography. Abhinav Publications. p. 60. ISBN9788170170303.
^ abJudge, Paramjit S. (20 October 2021). "Nihang tradition is rich. Don't just view them through Singhu killing lens". ThePrint. Retrieved 2 September 2022. There are four factions among the Nihangs: Budha Dal, Taruna Dal, Ranghreta Dal, and Bidhi Chand Taruna Dal. The last two are less prominent. Not much is talked about the Ranghreta Dal, and it consists of Nihangs exclusively belonging to the Mazhabi caste, whereas the Nihangs identified with Bidhi Chand, a devout follower of the sixth Guru of the Sikhs, are confined to village Sur Singh in Punjab's Tarn Taran district to which he belonged.
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