International Women’s Day- Celebrating our dear Mother – Mata Jito Ji
Privileged to post about a rare poem regarding Mata Jito Ji – the wife of Guru Gobind Singh which is contained within the Sri Dasam Granth Sahib (Anandpuri Bir), dated within a 1695/1696 manuscript.
Sri Dasam Granth Sahib-Anandpuri Bir containing the poem by Kavi Mangal
This appears on the opening folio of the Anandpuri bir, a copy of which I had the darshan (audience) of. The poem written by Kavi Mangal, a Court poet of the Tenth Master, refers to Mata ji and her “importance may be like that of the sun and the moon” and that the Sahibzade “Jujhar Singh and Zoravar Singh live long”, and “eternal life be granted” to her husband Dasam Patshah Guru Gobind Singh- the “Ruler of the three worlds.”
The “Jagat Mata” will grant the wishes of those who come to her. Kavi Mangal as per dictates of other Hukamnamas requests financial support because Mata Jito “oversees the Sangat’s routine and families welfare” which will enable him to go to his native village, Pasrur. Most likely Pasrur, Sialkot, in the present day Pakistan.
He then continues, that this is in order to perform the wedding of his daughter, and then return to Anandpur Sahib to work on poetry without worry.
The instructions similar to that of the Hukamnamas of Mata Sundari Ji and Mata Sahib Devi Ji (Dewan/Kaur). It showcases the position and stature of Mata Jito Ji i.e.-as if it was the Guru writing the mandate.
Dhan Dhan Mata Jito Ji
Dr Kamalroop Singh and I are commemorating ten years since the release of our book on Guru Gobind Singh’s bani- “The Granth of Guru Gobind Singh-Essays, Lectures and Translations (Oxford University Press).
Sources:
Piara Singh Padam, Sri Guru Gobind Singh de Darbari Ratan.
Kamalroop Singh and Gurinder Singh Mann, The Granth of Guru Gobind Singh: Essays, Lectures and Translations (Oxford university Press).