Suraj Podcast

In this episode hear how Kirpal Mahant (Udasi) praises the Guru before the battle preparations begin at Bhangani. This relates to chapter 24 of season (rut) 2.

In this episode hear how the Udasi Sikhs, a group of renunciate sadhus with a lineage to the son of Guru Nanak, Baba Sri Chand, leave the camp of Guru Gobind Singh in the dark of night to avoid taking part in the Battle of Bhangani. This relates to chapter 23 of season (rut) 2.

In this episode Buddhu Shah hears how the Pattan mercenaries, which he brought to Guru Gobind Singh, left their post and betrayed the Guru – all except Kaale Khan, who remains faithful to the Guru. Also, we hear how the Pattans meet and conspire with the Hill King, Fateh Shah, making a deal regarding the right to loot the Guru’s treasury. This relates to Chapter 22 of season (rut) 2.

In this episode hear how most of the Pattan mercenaries defect and join the Hill Kings, hoping to loot the Guru's treasury after the battle. This relates to Chapter 21 of season (rut) 2.

In this episode hear how the news of the approaching Hill King army is received in Paonta Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh then receives a request from his Pattan mercenaries for leave from their duties to attend weddings in their ancestral villages. This relates to Chapter 20 of season (rut) 2.

In this episode hear how Guru Gobind Singh blesses a Sikh business man who delivers magnificent horses. Preparations for battle begin in Paonta - meanwhile the hill chiefs pressure Fatehshah to attack the Guru, who mobilizes a force which heads towards Paonta.

In this episode hear how Nandchand, the Guru's minister, recounts the events in Sri Nagar, alerting the Guru and warriors that there is a vast force arriving to destroy Paonta Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh responds with his battle plan. This relates to Chapter 18 of season (rut) 2.

In this episode hear how the Guru's minister, Nand Chand, and administrator, Daya Ram, escape Sri Nagar under hot pursuit from Bhimchand and Fateh Shah's forces. This relates to chapter 17 of season (rut) 2.

In this episode hear how tensions erupt as Bhimchand, enraged by Fateh Shah's devotion to Guru Gobind Singh, orders his army to mobilize and capture the Guru's minister Nandchand and administrator, Daya Ram. Pressured by fear, Fateh Shah agrees to oppose the Guru. This relates to chapter 16 of Season (rut) 2.

In this episode hear how a wealthy Sikh merchant finds refuge in the fortified encampment of the Guru's ministers, Nand Chand and Daya Ram. Also hear how the public praise of the Guru in Sri Nagar ignites Bhimchand's jealousy, putting Raja Fateh Shah in a difficult position. This relates to chapter 15 of Season (rut) 2.

In this episode hear how Bhimchand's son and a minister pass by Paonta Sahib with the permission of Guru Gobind Singh. The episode describes how they reached Sri Nagar where Raja Bhimchand's son is married to Raja Fateh Shah's daughter. This relates to chapter 14 of Season (rut) 2.

In this episode hear how Bhimchand's minister returns after meeting with Guru Gobind Singh, who completely saw through the Hill Raja's deceitful plan. The minister warns that the Guru’s forces are vast and fierce - suggesting that he send the groom with an attendant along the Guru’s route while the main wedding party detours around Paonta Sahib. This relates to Chapter 13 of Season (rut) 2.

In this episode hear how Bhimchand’s minister travels to Guru Gobind Singh’s court seeking passage for the wedding caravan heading to Sri Nagar. The Guru warns the messenger that no army can cross his path without facing conflict. Five hundred Sikhs are stationed ahead of Paonta, prepared for battle. This relates to Chapter 12 of season (rut) 2.

In this episode hear how Guru Gobind Singh sends his minister, Nand Chand, to deliver wedding gifts worth over 125,000 rupees to Fateh Shah of Sri Nagar. This relates to Chapter 11 of season (rut) 2. This episode was recorded at the residence of Kavi Santokh SIngh, where the master poet himself composed this very text.

This episode was recorded while sitting in the Yamuna River - where Guru Gobind Singh used to compose Gurbani. In this episode you'll hear how Guru Gobind Singh sat on these very banks of the Yamuna River in the early morning, to compose Gurbani, before hunting in the later part of the day. The episode also discusses the Guru's plan to send Dayaram and Nandchand to deliver gifts to Fatehshah for his daughter's wedding. This relates to Chapter 10 of Season (rut) 2.

In this episode hear how Guru Gobind Singh along with Punjab Kaur carry out the punishment of the corrupt Masands, who burned the Exalted Ram Rai alive. This relates to Chapter 9 of Season (rut) 2.

In this episode hear how Guru Gobind Singh sets up the arrangements for the masands to be punished - following their brutal assassination of Ram Rai. This relates to Chapter 8 of Season 2.

In this episode hear how Punjab Kaur sends a letter to Guru Gobind Singh, requesting support to punish the evil Masands who killed Ramrai. This relates to Chapter 7 of season (rut) 2.

This podcast is the first of a limited number of longform podcasts that highlight significant events from The Suraj Podcast. This extended podcast is a compilation of episodes 90-93 of The Suraj Podcast recounting the martyrdom [shahidi] of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. For those that wish to enjoy even further context, we encourage listening to episodes 86-89 which narrate additional preceding events to Guru Arjan Dev Ji's Shahidi including the Gurgaddi of Guru Hargobind, Guru Arjan Dev Ji's last meeting with Mata Ganga, and Guru Arjan Dev Ji's final discussion with Jahangir.

In this episode we hear of Ramrai's end - brought about by his own corrupt Masands. This relates to Chapter 6 of Season (rut) 2.

In this episode hear the story of Ram Kaur, Ramrai's eldest wife. This relates to Chapter 5 of Season (rut) 2.

In this episode hear how Guru Gobind Singh composes his poetry along the banks of the Yamuna River before visiting Kapal Mochan, where he playfully deceives many pilgrims.

In this episode hear how Guru Gobind Singh and his Sikhs train in martial arts before meeting with Ramrai on a boat in the middle of the Yamuna River. This relates to Chapter 3 of Rut 2.

In this episode, Ramrai, the son of Guru Harrai, makes a plan to meet with Guru Gobind Singh. We hear how the Masands of Ramrai arrive in Paonta Sahib to organize the a discreet meeting between the two leaders.

This is the first episode of second season (rut), the Poet Santokh Singh begins with an invocation to the ten Gurus. Also hear how 500 Pathans enlist into the Guru's Army.

In this episode hear how Guru Gobind Singh hunts a tiger with only a shield and sword before bidding farewell to Pir Buddhu Shah. This is the concluding chapter of the first season (rut).

In this track hear how Guru Gobind Singh orchestrates a treaty and unity between King Fateh Shah and King Medani Prakash before going into the forests to hunt a man-eating tiger. This relates to chapter 50 of season (rut) 1.

In this episode hear how Pir Budhu Shah arrives in Paonta Sahib and Guru Gobind Singh's plan to create unity between the two kings, Fateh Shah and Medani Prakash. This relates to Chapter 49 of season (rut) 1.

In this episode hear how Ramrai (Guru Harrai's son and Guru Gobind Singh's nephew) was worried about the new arrival of the martial Guru in his region. Two delegates were sent from the Guru's house to calm Ramrai's anguish. This relates to Chapter 48 of season (rut) 1.

In this episode hear how Guru Gobind Singh establishes Paonta Sahib at the foothills of the Himalayas. This relates to Chapter 47 of season (rut) 1.

In this episode hear how Guru Gobind Singh enjoys the riverbanks alongside the Yamuna (Jamuna) River near Paonta Sahib. This relates to Chapter 46 of season (rut) 1.

In this episode hear how Guru Gobind Singh along with his army arrive in the region of Nahan, where they are greeted by the king, Medani Prakash. This relates to chapter 45 of season (rut) 1.

In this episode hear how Guru Gobind Singh with his standing army leave Anandpur, traveling south east to the region of Nahan, along the Himalayan foothills. This relates to Chapter 44 of season (rut) 1.

In this episode hear how the minister of the Nahan king arrives in Anandpur, requesting the Guru to arrive in the mountainous valley of Nahan, at the foothills of the Himalayas. This relates to chapter 43 of season (rut) 1.

In this episode hear how Guru Gobind Singh responds to his mother, Mata Gujari, who wanted to squash any conflict in the region. This relates to Chapter 42 of season 1.

In this episode hear how all the mountain kings get together and make a plan related to Guru Gobind Singh. This relates to Chapter 41 of season (rut) 1.

In this episode we hear how Guru Gobind Singh reacts to the proposal by the delegation of Bhimchand, including Kesari Chand and Pamma Brahmin, how they are beaten out of the court. This relates to Chapter 40 of Season (rut) 1.

Raja Bhimchand's delegation, including Kesari Chand (his brother-in-law) and his purohit (Brahmin priest) Pamma, arrives in Anandpur to meet with Guru Gobind Singh. This relates to Chapter 39 of season (rut) 1.

In this episode hear how the king (raja) of Basohli, Kirpal Katochia, schemes against Guru Gobind Singh in trying to spark conflict between the Guru and Bhimchand. This relates to Chapter 38 of season (rut) 1.

In this episode hear how Guru Gobind Singh anoints Nandchand as the top minister (divān) within his court along with a vivid description of the Guru's hunting expeditions through the forests around Anandpur. This relates to Chapter 37 of season (rut) 1.

In this episode hear how Mata Gujari tries to guide Guru Gobind Singh away from his martial practices, with the desire of keeping the peace in the Punjab hills. This relates to Chapter 36 of season (rut) 1.

In this episode hear how Bhimchand's chief officer meets and then praises Guru Gobind Singh. This relates to Chapter 35 of season (rut) one.

In this episode hear how Bhimchand rejects the advice of his close council and sends his chief officer to Anandpur Sahib to meet with the Guru. This relates to Chapter 34 of season (rut) 1.

In this episode hear how the minister of Bhimchand returns back empty handed and how Bhimchand stubbornly continues on with his plan to steal the elephant of Guru Gobind Singh. This relates to Chapter 33 of season (rut) 1.

In this episode we hear how the minister of King Bhimchand leaves Anandpur without the Prasadi elephant of Guru Gobind Singh, unable to trick the Guru. This relates to Chapter 32 of season 1.

In this episode hear how the King of Kahlur, Bhimchand, within his court constructs a scheme to secure the possession of Guru Gobind Singh's Prasadi elephant. This relates to Chapter 31 of Season 1.

In this episode hear how Guru Gobind Singh bids farewell to Raja Bhimchand and the martial training the Guru performs along with his warrior Sikhs. This relates to Chapter 30 of season (rut) 1.

In this episode we hear how Bhimchand is shown some of the rare items within the Guru's house like the Prasadi elephant and the extravagant tent, made in Kabul. This relates to Chapter 29 of season (rut) one.

In this episode hear how Bhimchand meets with Guru Gobind Singh in Anandpur Sahib. This relates to Chapter 28 of season 1.

In this episode hear how the minister of Bhimchand arrives in Anandpur Sahib to meet with Guru Gobind Singh. This relates to Chapter 27 of season 1.