Artist's Notes
“She is the most beautiful among women who loves the Guru and wears this jewel on her forehead.”
– Guru Nanak Dev ji (Guru Granth Sahib, 54)
Mughals and hill chiefs had surrounded Anandpur, and were demanding it be evacuated. They announced that any Sikh who would say that “he/she is not a Sikh of Guru Gobind anymore” will be left untouched, while others will be done to death.
A group of forty Sikhs, led by Mahan Singh Brar told Guru Gobind Singh that they were no longer his Sikhs. Guru Sahib asked them to put this in a document and sign it. They all did so, and left Anandpur.
When Mai Bhago ji heard of this, she was distressed. She rode to their gathering, and made them realize their mistake. She set off along with them and some other Sikhs, to find the Guru.
Guru Gobind Singh ji, who had to evacuate the fort of Anandpur, was now being pursued by the Mughal army. Guru Sahib’s youngest sons got lost in the confusion, and his eldest sons attained martyrdom in Chamkaur, where he had found temporary shelter.
Guru Sahib then evacuated Chamkaur, and travelled in the Malwa region with several Khalsas. He reached the village of Khidrana, where he met up with Mai Bhago ji and the forty Sikhs. Together, they challenged the pursuing Mughal army, and fought furiously, forcing it to retreat.
All forty Sikhs attained martyrdom in this pitched. Mahan Singh, who was fatally injured, died, as the Guru took him into his lap. Guru Gobind Singh then blessed those forty dead as the Forty Liberated Ones, Chali Mukte. He took into his care Mai Bhago ji, who had also suffered injury in the battle. She, thereafter, stayed with Guru Gobind Singh ji as one of his bodyguards.
After the death of Guru Gobind Singh ji at Nanded in 1708, Mai Bhago ji retired further south. She settled down at Jinvara, 11 km from Bidar in Karnataka where, immersed in meditation, she lived to attain a ripe old age.
Mata Bhago ji always reminds me to take an active role in moving myself and those around me, towards the Gurus’ way, towards meditation, social work and martial arts, and she reminds me to be the leader of change and to avoid waiting around for change to “just happen”.
Pavinder S. Athwal –
No joke — I have never spent as much money on anything in my life, other than my house and my wife’s wedding ring! But the results are stunning. The frames are incredible and IMO accent and highlight the unreal beauty of your work. So proud.
Have you ever pondered how strange it is for strangers to see your art work on a daily basis and ruminate over it? I think that’s nuts. Rarely does a week go by where I don’t think about your work or at least stare at it. I’ve told people that if my house were on fire, after my family I would be grabbing the paintings.
You deserve the praise!
Suri –
Stunning!
I’d been looking for a female warrior painting for over a year and I’d just about given up when quite by accident, I found this amazing website and paintings. Little did I know that it would be back to my roots for the warrior painting that I was looking for. I absolutely loved this painting from the first day that I saw it.
Finally, it arrived, well packed, by courier from overseas. I was even happier on seeing it for real before me. This painting is stunning in person.
She is hanging in my hallway, where I see her everyday and she always puts a smile on my face.
Thank you for such a beautiful piece of artwork.
Kully Deol (verified owner) –
WJKKWJKF
Prints are poweful! No words to describe their beauty.
I have been blessed with a son and daughter and the prints are on there bedroom walls.
I requested non reflection glass from the framer so there couldn’t ever be a glare!
Ravneet Kaur (verified owner) –
I can’t remember how long I had dreamed of such a poster of Mai Bhago Ji and this is way beautiful than I could dream of. Thank you!!!!