Sri Ram Koer-o Vaach..
Seeing the desire in the hearts of the listeners, Bhai Ram Koer ji spoke with love: “I will tell you the history of Sri Amritsar as it happened. Listen carefully. During the time of Guru Amardas ji, he blessed many Sikhs in Goindwal. He made the Baoli Sahib in Goindwal and built many houses there. Many tradesmen and craftsmen were employed to work. There were countless workers and sevadaars that came from far away lands. They did Seva at the Baoli as they earned Seva. It went on for a few years. Satguru ji directed the Sikhs on how to make the Baoli. He made this for the salvation of the Sikhs. He was the mine of blessings.
In Delhi, the Shah was Akbar. Jaimal and Fatah were two Rajput Kings that stayed with Akbar. They were great warriors. Akbar kept these two like his own brothers. They were the rulers of Chittorgarh. They were obedient to Akbar. They stayed in Chittorgarh but went to Delhi sometimes to meet the Shah. One day, a jealous person wanted to cause friction between Akbar and the Rajput brothers: “listen Khuddah’s form, oh Shah: Jaimal and Fatah have three valuable things that you should have, instead of them. They have a beautiful horse and a beautiful elephant that should be with you. These two things are kept hidden in Chittorgarh and never brought out to Delhi. They think you will take them from them. Jaimal has a beautiful daughter as well. She is of the Padamani Jaati. She is so beautiful that bees hover around her ears. Her eyes are like lotus petals; her skin is white like the champak flower; her braid is like a black snake and she entices the most patient of men. Her waist is slim and her chest is heavy. She is fair and her skin shines like gold. Bees stay close to her which she is always shooing away. She is 14 years old. She is like a flame without smoke. She is a woman of the Padmani type which cannot bear the weight of her jewellery. The weight of her hair and her breasts make her lose her balance. Her friends hold her when she walks. The legs in her pajama are slim like a banana. Her eyes are like a fawn’s eyes. When she turns and looks, it is like a fish staring outward. The young girl, the horse and the elephant should be with you. You will have to ask for these 3 things from Jaimal. He will give her hand to you if you ask. There is nobody greater than you. You are fortunate. I think you are deserving, that’s why I have told you.” Akbar heard this and got caught in the illusion.
Akbar had his messenger sent to Jaimal’s house to offer him more land. The messenger said to Jaimal: “the Shah is happy with you and sent me to you. He was praising you. He said: “both brothers are great and brave warriors. I don’t see anyone else like them. I would like to be related to them by being their son-in-law. They will be respected throughout the land if they give me their daughter and give their horse and elephant as a dowry. I will give them more land. I would be so happy if I am related to them.” The Rajput brothers didn’t like what they heard. They felt as though an arrow pierced their heart. After a long silence, Jaimal spoke: “the Emperor is a Turk Shah and we are Hindu. Our traditions aren’t the same. We are like day and night. How can we be related? Our traditions will be apposing. This is an impossible thing to do. How can we be related? My brothers and community will appose this.”
The messenger heard this and went back to the Emperor. He said: “my Emperor, the Rajputs did not accept your offer. They said: “we are Rajput Hindus and the Emperor is a Turk; how can we be related? We are like day and night. We will stay obedient to the Emperor but we can’t be related. I can’t give my daughter to him. If the Emperor needs us to fight, we will fight for him and die. We will kill the enemy or die. We can’t leave our religion though. We can’t give our daughter to the Turks. People will talk bad about us. It will look like we sold our daughter for land.” Akbar heard the response but he was determined to marry Jaimal’s daughter. He told the messenger to go back: “go and respect them. Ask them: “who is greater than the Emperor of Hindustan?” Jaimal’s daughter will be known as my Begum (Queen) and the whole world will bow to her. There is no other respect more than this. Jaimal will be respected in the world as well. I can make paupers into kings. Tell him: “let go of his stubbornness and give me his daughter. His land will be four times bigger.” Talk to him with love first. If he doesn’t listen then remind him of my power. Remind him how big my army is. Ask him where he would hide in this world to save his life. The Emperor can catch him anywhere. Nobody will be able to save him.” The messenger went back to Jaimal Rajput and told him what the Emperor said: “give your daughter and receive your land. That is the best thing for you.” The Rajputs heard this and became worried of why the Emperor was being so stubborn. He stayed quiet for a while and then said: “I will tell you tomorrow what my answer is. I will speak to my brother and have a discussion with the community.” The messenger went back.
Jaimal spoke to his brother, Fatah. They were sad to hear the choices. They said: “the Turk Shah is egotistical and proud of his army and wealth. We are Rajput Hindu warriors who wield weapons. It looks like we are not going to be friends anymore. He is showing off his might to us. If we give our daughter and get more kingdom, we will be spoken bad about. We will be called cowards in this world and in the next. Let’s go to the Chittorgarh fort and announce a rebellion. We will fight for our pride. Akbar’s army will come and we will destroy it with our weapons. Otherwise we will die in this fight for our Dharma. We will go to Heaven then. By fighting the battle, we will be praised. If we give our daughter, we will be in pain in this world and in Heaven. That person’s life is great who lives with self-respect. We will die and earn praise in the world.” Both brothers decided to gather their soldiers and go to their fort. They looted other villages on the way to Chittorgarh. They sounded their Nagaras and announced their rebellion. They gathered all the Rajput army and fortified the fort. They got ready for battle. They collected all of the items for their needs.