JITOJI, MATA

JITOJI, MATA, the first wife of Guru Gobind Singh who died in 1700, was the daughter of Bhai Hari Jas, a Subhikkhi Khatn of Lahore. The betrothal had taken place in 1673. The father in law had desired that the bridegroom should come at the head of a marriage party to Lahore where the ceremony should be performed with due dignity. But the fateful events leading to the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur intervened, and in the changed circumstances it was not possible for the young Guru to go to Lahore. 

Therefore, a temporary encampment was raised near the village of Basantgarh, 10 km north of Anandpur, and named Guru ka Lahore where the nuptials were held on 23 Har 1734 Bk/21 June 1677.Three sons were born to MataJ lloji Jujhar Singh (14 March 1691), Zorawar Singh (17 November 1696) and Fateh Singh (25 February 1699). As Guru Gobind Singh was preparing amril for initiating the Khalsa, on 30 March 1699, stirring clean water in an iron bowl with a khandd or double edged sword, Mata JitojI, as the tradition goes, came with sugar crystals which were dropped into the vessel at the Guru`s bidding. Sweetness was thus added to the alchemy of steel.

Mata JltojI died at Anandpur on 5 December 1700. The cremation took place at Agampura, near the Holgarh Fort. A memorial shrine now stands upon the spot.

References :

1. Cliliibbar, Ke.sar Singh, Barisfivalrnamn Dnsaii Pdtshfihii`in Kn. Chandigarh, 1972