The Battle of Sarsa River – On the night of December 20th, 1704: 7th Poh, 1761, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, his family, and the Sikhs left Anandpur Qila. By the morning of December 21st, they reached the Sirsa River, where Guru Ji emphasized the importance of Amritvela Nitnem (morning prayers). While crossing the river, they were ambushed by the Mughal army, resulting in intense fighting and heavy casualties. Guru Ji’s family was separated during the crossing, with each group heading in different directions. After reaching the far bank, Guru Ji was left with his two elder sons, 42 Sikhs, and the Panj Piaare. They continued toward Ropar and sought refuge in a haveli, where they faced the Mughal army in the Battle of Chamkaur.
The separation of Guru Gobind Singh Ji‘s family at the Sarsa River (Sirsa) in December 1704 was a tragic event during the siege of Anandpur, where a fierce Mughal ambush during a stormy night forced the Guru’s party to scatter, resulting in the loss of many Sikhs and valuable manuscripts, and forever separating his family, with his mother Mata Gujari
The Sarsa River, usually dry, had turned into a powerful, raging current due to heavy rains in the hills, making it impossible to cross. The first group of Sikhs waited on the riverbank for Guru Gobind Singh to arrive. The Guru set out with his two elder sons and about 400 Sikhs. Before he could reach the river, his group was attacked by a large Mughal force under Wazir Khan. While the Guru and his men were engaged in battle, another Mughal unit launched an assault on the Sikhs waiting by the riverbank.[4][5]
Amidst the rain, cold, darkness, and fierce fighting, confusion spread among the Sikhs. Many were killed, including Udai Singh and his warriors. Some courageous Sikhs attempted to cross the dangerous river on horseback, carrying the Guru’s family with them. Though they reached the other side safely, they lost all their belongings, including important manuscripts, to the floodwaters. After crossing the river, the Guru’s family was separated. His mother, Mata Gujri, along with his two younger sons, Baba Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, were unable to travel far. They were taken in by Gangu, a former servant of the Guru’s household, who led them to his village, Saheri. Meanwhile, Mata Sundari and Mata Sahib Devi disguised themselves as village women and moved toward Ambala for safety. Gobind Singh and his men also suffered heavy losses. Despite fighting bravely, most of his warriors were either killed in battle or drowned while trying to cross the river. By the time he reached the other side, only 43 Sikhs remained with him, including his two elder sons, Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh, the “Five Beloved Ones” (Panj Pyare), and other warriors. As they continued their journey, they received alarming news—nearly a thousand Mughal soldiers were marching toward them from Sirhind, while another force was crossing the Sarsa River.[4][5][6]
