Battle of Lahira (Gurusar)

01The two horses

Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru, wore two swords, of piri and miri, spiritual and worldly authority, and kept armed followers. Sikh tradition tells that two fine horses brought from Kabul as an offering to the Guru were seized by Mughal officials and placed in the governor’s stables at Lahore. Bhai Bidhi Chand, a former outlaw turned devoted Sikh, got into the stables in disguise and brought both horses back to the Guru. A Mughal force was sent after them.

02The fight in the sand country

The Guru had moved into the dry country of Malwa, south of the Sutlej, where water was scarce. The Mughal troops under Lalla Beg and Qamar Beg caught up with him near Lahira, and the Sikhs, holding the only water, fought them off in a hard battle in which both Mughal commanders were killed. Sikh losses were also heavy. The site is marked by Gurdwara Gurusar near Mehraj. The dating and details come from the Sikh chronicles, chiefly the Gurbilas Patshahi Chhevin.