The Anandpur sieges

Bachitra Singh and the elephant

A Sikh on horseback drove back a drunken elephant sent to break a fort gate.

Agreed in tradition1 September 1700Lohgarh fort, Anandpur1 min read

Old photograph of Takht Kesgarh Sahib — Takht Kesgarh Sahib in its earlier form, printed in the Mahan Kosh of 1930. Commons says this building was replaced from 1938. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism dates the present complex to 1936-44.Unknown, c. 1899-1930. Public domain. Source

Kuir Singh's Gurbilas Patshahi 10 tells that the hill chiefs, unable to break into Anandpur, made an elephant drunk and sent it to batter down the gate of Lohgarh. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji chose Bhai Bachitra Singh, one of five brothers given to Guru Ji's service by their father, to meet it.

Printed photograph of six old weapons in a row — Weapons displayed at Takht Kesgarh Sahib as relics of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, printed in Kahn Singh Nabha's Mahan Kosh of 1930. Commons names them as a spear, a musket, a khanda, a saif, a katar and a nagni. Source

He rode out and thrust his spear through the armour plate on the animal's forehead. The wounded beast turned and ran back through the attackers' own ranks, causing chaos. Bhai Bachitra Singh would later fall in the retreat of 1705.

How do we know?

Several traditional accounts tell this story, without close independent support.

Both go back to Kuir Singh, whose battle details the Encyclopaedia treats with caution. Sri Gur Sobha has a chapter on this first battle of Anandpur, but this detail was not checked in it.

Later traditionCredits this to Gurbilas Patshahi 10 and dates it to 1 September 1700.[EoS]
Later traditionPlaces it at the Lohgarh fort during the hill chiefs' siege of 1700.[EoS]

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