Lakh Lakh Vadhai to the Saadhsangat on Purab of Diwali/Deepmala, a day which was established by the Guru Sahibaan as a Jorr Mela, when Sikhs from far and wide would flock for the Darshan of their Guru. This day also commemorates Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji's return to Sri Amritsar Sahib after releasing 52 Rajput Kings from Gwalior Killa (Bandi Shorr Divas). Below is a beautiful passage from Sri Gurpartap Suraj Granth describing the scene when Guru Sahib Ji walked out of Gwalior Killa (fort). When Emperor Jahangir came to Guru Sahib saying he could leave the Gwalior fort after many years, Guru Sahib agreed to leave only with the 52 Rajput Kings who had been imprisoned there. Jahangir in his cleverness said, ‘take as many kings as can hold onto your robe’. The following passage describes this scene:
ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਹਰਿਗੋਵਿੰਦ ਗੁਸਾਈ। ਲਖਿ ਕਰਿ ਤੁਰਕੇਸ਼ੁਰ ਚਤਰਾਈ। ਚਢਨਿ ਹੇਤੁ ਨਿਜ ਬਸਤ੍ਰ ਮੰਗਾਏ। ਦੌਰਤਿ ਦਾਸ ਸਕਲ ਲੇ ਆਏ॥੧੧॥
Sri Guru Hargobind Ji, recognising the trickery of the Mughals, ordered new clothes to be made which the Sikhs ran and brought.11
ਅਰੁਣ ਬਰਨ ਚੀਰਾ ਸਿਰ ਚਾਰੂ। ਜੁਗ ਛੋਰਨਿ ਕੈ ਜ਼ਰੀ ਉਦਾਰੂ। ਸੁੰਦਰ ਪੇਚ ਲਾਇ ਸੋ ਸਾਜਾ। ਮੁਖ ਮੰਡਲ ਤਬਿ ਅਧਿਕ ਬਿਰਾਜਾ॥ ੧੨॥
On their head, Guru Ji wore a beautiful red dastaar, which was embroidered with gold and silver threads. This was decorated by ‘pech’ (pins similar to a kalgi). Guru Ji’s face was beaming with radiance. 12
ਜਾਮਾ ਪਹਿਰਯੋ ਚਾਰੁ ਬਿਸਾਲਾ। ਬਨੇ ਪਚਾਸ ਜਾਸ ਕੇ ਪਾਲਾ। ਸੁੰਦਰ ਬੰਦ ਸੁ ਦੁੰਦ ਬਿਲੰਦੇ। ਆਯੁਤ ਉਰ ਪਰ ਲਮਕ ਸੁਹੰਦੇ॥੧੩॥
Guru Ji put on a very large Chola, on which they had made 50 hems. (Note: An image of this Chola can be seen in the post) The sleeves of this Chola draped down on both sides (which allowed 2 more Rajas to hold on – there was 52 Rajas in total). The Chola went below Guru Sahib knees and looked very beautiful.13
ਸਿਰ ਪਰ ਜਿਗਾ ਜੇਬ ਜਿਸ ਜਾਹਰ। ਜਬਰ ਅਜਾਇਬ ਜਰੇ ਜਵਾਹਰ। ਕੁੰਡਲ ਕਰਨ ਕਰਨ ਮਹਿ ਕੰਕਨ। ਆਂਖਿ ਬਿਸਾਲ ਬਿਲੋਕਨਿ ਬੰਕਨ॥੧੪॥
The kalgi on Guru Sahib’s dastaar shone brightly, which was studded with various gems and precious stones. Guru Ji put on kundals (golden loops) and kangan (bracelets), the elegance of his eyes was unmatched.14
ਜਥਾ ਸੁੰਡ ਭੁਜਦੰਡ ਪ੍ਰਚੰਡੇ। ਨਵਰਤਨੇ ਅੰਗਦ ਜਹਿ ਮੰਡੇ। ਗੁਰ ਮਹਿ ਮੁਕਤਾ ਮਾਲ ਬਿਸਾਲਾ। ਬਿਚ ਬਿਚ ਹੀਰਨ ਜਾਲਨਿ ਝਾਲਾ॥੧੫॥
Guru Ji’s arms were long/strong like the arms of an elephant, the nine types of ‘rattan’ (jewels) were on Guru Sahib’s body. A necklace of pearls was around Guru Ji’s neck, and precious stones which had been studded into the pearls were shining.15
ਜਰੇ ਜਵਾਹਰ ਛਾਪ ਛਲਾਇਨ । ਸੋਭਤਿ ਸੁਭ ਸਰੂਪ ਛਬਿ ਆਇਨ। ਲੇ ਬਹੁ ਮੋਲਾ ਲਲਿਤ ਦੁਕੂਲ। ਜ਼ਰੀ ਜੁਕਤਿ ਸ਼ੋਭਤਿ ਭੁਜ ਮੂਲ॥੧੬॥
The shaap (stamp rings which carried Guru Ji’s seal) was studded with diamonds. A very exquisite embroidered scarf was draped over Guru Ji’s shoulder.16
ਗਹਿ ਦੀਰਘ ਪਕੜੀ ਸ਼ਮਸ਼ੇਰ। ਬਲੀ ਬਿਸਾਲ ਸੁਭਤ ਸਮ ਸ਼ੇਰ। ਜਾਂਬੂਨਦ ਕੇ ਫੂਲ ਲਗਾਏ। ਬਾਂਧਿ ਲਈ ਅਸ ਢਾਲ ਸੁਹਾਏ॥੧੭॥
Guru Ji placed their large Shamshir (sword) on their body, Guru Ji’s strength is unparalleled and they look like a mighty tiger. Flowers made of gold were on Guru Ji’s Chola, the Shield tied to Guru Ji’s back looked striking.17
ਕੰਚਨ ਮਹਿ ਜਰਾਉ ਜਰਵਾਯੋ। ਅਸ ਨਿਖੰਗ ਕਟ ਸੰਗ ਲਗਾਯੋ। ਧਨੁਖ ਕਠੋਰ ਹਾਥ ਮਹਿ ਗਹਯੋ। ਪਨਹੀ ਪਾਇ ਚਲਨਿ ਕੋ ਚਹਯੋ॥੧੮॥
A quiver made of gold, full of arrows is swung over Guru Ji’s back, and in their hand, and they hold a great bow. They placed their Jorreh (shoes) on and got ready to leave.18
ਸੁਨਿ ਪਿਖਿ ਕੈ ਕੈਦੀ ਮਹਿਪਾਲ। ਹਰਖਤਿ ਸਭਿ ਆਏ ਤਤਕਾਲ। ਦੀਨ ਮਲੀਨ ਕੁਢਾਲ ਕੁਰਾਲੇ। ਬਹੁ ਗਰੂਏ ਪਗ ਬੰਧਨ ਡਾਲੇ॥੧੯॥
The prisoners were amazed at the sight of Guru Ji and came rushing towards them. They (the prisoners) were deen (humbled), maleen (dirty because of the conditions they were kept in), without proper posture (due to the conditions of imprisonment) and vikraal (eager to be released). All their feet were bound with chains.19
ਦੇਖਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਕਰਿ ਕਹਯੋ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਲ। ਇਕ ਦਾਮਨ ਗਹਿ ਇਕ ਮਹਿਪਾਲ। ਉਤਲਾਵਤਿ ਜਬਿ ਪਰਕਨਿ ਧਾਏ। ਸਨੇ ਸਨੇ ਦੇ ਧੀਰ ਗਹਾਏ॥੨੦॥
Seeing them, in mercy Guru Ji Said, “each one of you must hold onto one hem of my Robe”. At once all of them rushed toward Guru Ji’s robe eager to hold on, seeing this rush Guru Ji handed them the hem one at a time.20
When the Sangat saw Guru Ji walk out of the fort they exclaimed:
ਧੰਨਯ ਧੰਨਯ ਗੁਰ ਬਡਿ ਉਪਕਾਰੀ। ਕਯੋਂ ਨ ਗਹੈਂ ਨਰ ਸ਼ਰਨਿ ਤੁਮਾਰੀ। ਜੀਵਤਿ ਮ੍ਰਿਤਕ ਸਦਾ ਰਖਵਾਰੇ। ਦੇਤਿ ਅਨੰਦ ਕਸ਼ਟ ਨਿਰਵਾਰੇ॥੨੯॥
Dhan (hail), Dhan (hail) the Guru who is ‘Parupkaari’ (benevolent), why should we not hold onto your feet? You protect us on this earth and in the next world, you cut all our pains and give us bliss! 29.
-Sri Gurpartap Suraj Granth, Raas 40, Ansu 66, Mahakavi Bhai Santokh Singh Ji
Thus Guru Sahib Ji went from Gwalior Fort towards Delhi, and then finally arriving in Sri Amritsar Sahib around the time of Diwali. Diwali Purab was celebrated by Gursikhs every year as a great 'Jorr Mela' when all Sikhs would get together in the presence of Guru Sahib. There are Hukamnama Sahibs (letters) of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji & Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji giving Hukam for the Sikh Sangat to give Darshan on Diwali Purab (we have attached one of these to the post). When we read Shaheed Bhai Mani Singh Ji's Jeevani, it is also revealed that one of the reasons they gave their Shaheedi was due to them wanting to celebrate this Purab in Sri Amritsar Sahib. So let us make as much use of this Purab by doing Seva, Simran, reading Gurbani and immersing ourselves in Saadhsangat.
Katha by Giani Sher Singh Ji Ambala Wale regarding the history of Deepmala Jorr Mela:
https://soundcloud.com/nihungsanthia/deepmaladiwali-jorr-mela-bandi-chhorr-itihaas-giani-sher-singh-ji-ambala-wale
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ ॥ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫਤਹਿ ॥
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