history of 40 muktey

Chali muktey ( 40 liberated ones )

At the time of the siege on Anandpur, in late 1704, forty Sikhs, disheartened by the ravages of prolonged siege, asked Guru GOBIND SINGH JI under the leadership of BHAI MAHAN SINGH that " we can't battle any more , we want to go home "

guru ji replied that " OK IF U WANT TO LEAVE THE BATTLE FIELD , THEN WRITE A "BEDAVA "(written denial) saying, "Nan tun' sa-da- Guru atay na-n' asi tayray Sikh." (Neither are thou our Guru, nor we thy Sikhs) , THEN YOU CAN LEAVE .


THEY WROTE "BEDAVA "AND LEFT GURU 



When they returned to their families, their wives taunted them as traitors. Mal Bhago, a brave Sikh woman, charged them with cow-ardice and lack of faith. She inspired them to re-turn to the Guru's fold, and led them towards Khidrana to meet the Guru and seek his pardon. Many more joined her on the way.

Knowing that Wazir Khan was advancing to attack the Guru, Mai Bhago's group took up positions near Khidrana.  As soon as the Mughal forces came near, the Sikhs pounced on them. A fierce battle ensued; the Sikhs attacked with ferocity and smote the Mughals down before they, them-selves, fell in the battlefield.


When Guru  Sahib reached with Khalsa Army the battle was already over,Dead  bodies of those Sikhs  were lying there  , WHEN GURU SAHIB CHECKED THE LYING BODY OF MAHAN SINGH ,

MAHAN SINGH WAS COUNTING HIS LAST MOMENTS The Guru took him in his lap, wiped his face, and with tears of joy in his eyes, said: "Ask whatever you may and I shall grant." The devo-tee, his breath choked with emotion, sobbed, "Master, if you are in mercy, forgive me and my companions for our earlier betrayal at Anandpur. "PLEASE , TEAR UP THE BEDAWA WRITTEN BY US " and restore our relationship of the Sikh and the Guru." The Guru tore the bedawa and blessed him, "You have redeeme yourself both here and in the hereafter." The' forty deserters who lay dead on the battlefield were blessed by Guru Saheb as chalee muktay (forty liberated ones). There is a  gurdwara at  the battle area, known as Gurdwara Muktsar (the pool of salvation)Sahib .