Page 62 - Lohgarh

62 w Lohgarh : The World’s Largest Fort

of his personal arrows. The Guru also handed him some hukamnamas
(royal letters), addressed to some prominent Sikhs, asking them to give
Banda Singh complete support. Bhai Lakhi Rai Vanjara was the owner
of Bangeshwari Tanda and it was one of the richest Tanda of that time.
Bhagwant Singh Bangeshwari (earlier Bhagu Vanjara) was one the major
mansabdar of Aurangzeb and he was a noble of Attock and was having
the Mansab of 5000. 5
The Guru also sent some Sikhs to accompany Banda Singh. Rattan
Singh Bhangu has given the names of these Sikhs as Binod Singh, Kahan
Singh, Baj Singh, Ran Singh and Ram Singh. But the Bhatt Vahis mention
the names of Bhagwant Singh, Baj Singh, Kuir Singh, Kahan Singh and
Binod Singh. 6
Banda Singh was still on his way when he got the news of the
martyrdom of the Guru. But, he was so dedicated to his mission that it
did not dishearten him and he continued his march towards the Punjab.
He covered a distance of more than 1500 kilometres in more than one
year. He travelled through Khan Desh (Burhanpur etc.), Mandsaur, Ajmer,
Phulera, Churu, Bharatpur and reached Bangar Desh. He next encamped
in the forest area between the villages of Khaanda and Sehri in
Kharkhauda pargana, situated between Sampla and Sonepat. 7
This was a desert and scanty forest region, almost without
habitation. From here, Bhagwant Singh Bangeshri proceeded towards
his home near Multan, with a promise to deliver the Guru’s letters to
the prominent Sikh families and also to enlist Sikh soldiers in the Banda
Singh’s army. Thus, within a few weeks, the armed Sikhs began joining
him. In a month’s time the number of his companions had crossed five
hundred and in two months it was above a thousand and every day
new recruits were joining the Sikh army.

Banda Singh Captures Royal Treasury
One day Banda Singh got the information that the royal treasure was
being taken to Delhi. When this party reached near Bahun village, near
Kaithal, it stopped for some rest; the Sikhs, under the command of Banda
Singh attacked the party carrying the treasure. On seeing the Sikhs, the