Women of Sikh history.
From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married.
Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come. When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound.
So why call her bad? From her, kings are born. From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all. O Nanak, only the True Lord is without a woman. That mouth which praises the Lord continually is blessed and beautiful.
O Nanak, those faces shall be radiant in the Court of the True Lord. || 2 || (Punna 473)
In Sikhism a woman is held in the highest regard, the Gurus were forward thinking and liberal in their ideas. Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s first Sikh was his elder sister Bebe Nanaki who recognised in him the divine spirit. The Guru’s advocated the education of women so that they could develop and nurture their children. Guru Amar Das Ji granted women ‘manjies’ or seats of learning, so that they could go out into the world as missionaries and preach Gods word. The practice of sati (the burning of a woman on her husbands pyre) was forbidden and remarriage after the death of a husband encouraged. Women made great sacrifices in the creation of the Sikh faith as testified to by the likes of Mata Bhago and those ladies who sacrificed their children but never gave up their faith.
 
 
 
The birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji- from a Baba Atal Tower fresco - showing Mata Tripta and Bibi Nanaki
  
Guru Nanak Dev Ji rejects the Janao as his mother Mata Tripta Ji and father Mehta Kalu Ji look on.
 
 
 
Bibi Nanaki (Guru Nanak Dev Ji's sister) and Mata Tripta (Guru Nanak's mother) played very important roles in encouraging young Nanak to pursue his lifelong mission.
 
The marriage of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. When Guru Ji arrived at the place of the wedding the receiving party did not much care for the Saddhus and holy men Guru Ji had brought with him in the bharaat. In a fit of mischief they told Guru Ji to sit next to a very old wall that was going to fall at any moment. Guru sat next to the wall even though his friends warned him against it. To this day the wall is still standing.
Bibi Nanaki was the first person to recognize Guru Nanak Dev Ji as the messenger of the Almighty. She would sit and gaze at her younger brother for hours on end as if mesmerised. She loved him with all her soul and was fiercely protective of him, never would she hear a word said against him. In return, when Guru sahib Ji setoff on his long journeys he promised that if she ever felt lonely she but had to close her eyes and think of him and he would appear before her
 
 
Hukamnama by Mata Sundri Ji   Portait of Mata Sundri Ji
Mata Sundri Ji was the mahal (wife) of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Through the difficult times after Guru Ji ascended the heavens Mata Ji provided leadership and direction to the Sikhs. She was in close communication with Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and his campaigns against the Mughals and she was instrumental in getting Bhai Mani Singh Ji to collect and collate the writings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji into a single granth, later known as the Dasam Granth.
 
 
Mata Sahib Kaur Ji brought sugar candy (pattasay) and added it to the amrit being prepared by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Guru Sahib Ji declared "It is good that you have added sweetness to the amrit, now my Sikhs will be sweet as well as courageous."
   Gurdwara in memory of Mata Sundri Ji.
 
  Home Page 1 Page 2 Page 3