Page 91 - BAALVARDI TEACHER RESOURCE

Bandi Chhor Divas

At the time Guru Hargobind Ji lived, there was an evil emperor who ruled the

land. One day, the emperor summoned Guru Ji to his palace. Guru Ji thought the
emperor was his friend and went to see him. When he got there, the emperor put
Guru Ji in prison. The name of the prison was Gwalior Fort. Guru had done
nothing wrong!

When Guru Ji entered the prison, he saw many other people there who the
emperor had unfairly imprisoned. The emperor treated the prisoners very badly.
They didn’t have enough food to eat, a proper place to sleep, or clothes to wear.
Guru Ji felt very bad for the prisoners who had been kept unfairly and under such

awful conditions.

When the Sikhs heard what happened, they were very upset. Immediately, they
gathered together and tried to find a way to release Guru Sahib. They did patth
and Ardas together. Guru Ji was loved and respected by so many people. Mian
Mir was a Sufi Saint who was loved and respected by many people, including the
evil emperor. When Mian Mir found out that the emperor had imprisoned Guru Ji,

he was very upset and decided to visit the emperor and tell him what an awful
thing he had done. He would ask that Guru Ji be released immediately.

The emperor listened to Mian Mir and decided it was time to release Guru Ji.
When the Guru’s Sikhs heard of this, they were so excited that they decided to
go to Gwaliar Fort so that they would be there when Guru Ji was released.

The day of Guru Ji’s release came, and when the guards came to get him, Guru
Ji refused to go! The guards were amazed; the sangat was so confused.

Why do you think Guru Ji refused to leave prison? Remind the students that
Guru Ji believed in Miri Piri. Always remember that Waheguru is in all of us, and
we should always be strong and ready to help those in need.

Bewildered, the guards and sangat asked Guru Ji why he refused to leave. He
explained to them that just as he had been unfairly imprisoned, so had the other

rajas and prisoners. He could not leave them behind; he saw Waheguru ji in
those prisoners and knew he had to do something to help them. But how? He
would ask the emperor to release the other prisoners as well.

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