Mata Jito: First Wife of Guru Gobind Singh and Her Historical Legacy

Thousands of devotees gathered at Guru Ka Lahore to mark the wedding anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh and his first wife, Mata Jito Ji, a ceremony that blends religious reverence with regional tradition [1]. Mata Jito, also known as Mata Jeet Kaur, is remembered for her early marriage to the tenth Sikh Guru, her participation in the creation of the Khalsa, and the martyrdom of her three sons.

Key takeaways

• Mata Jito was the first wife of Guru Gobind Singh, married in 1677 at the temporary encampment called Guru ka Lahore [2].
• She is credited with adding sugar crystals to the amrit during the Khalsa initiation in 1699, symbolising sweetness in the new order [2].
• Three of her sons—Jujhar Singh, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh—were martyred fighting the Mughal forces, a narrative she helped shape for future generations [2].
• Annual celebrations on Basant Panchami include a baraat procession, religious discourses, and a communal langar that draws pilgrims from Punjab and Himachal [1].
• Some modern scholars argue that Mata Jito and Mata Sundari are the same person, though historic texts list them as distinct individuals [2][3].

Marriage at Guru ka Lahore and the Birth of the Khalsa

The betrothal of young Gobind Rai to Mata Jito took place in 1673, but the actual wedding was delayed by the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur in 1675 [1]. When circumstances allowed, the ceremony was finally held on 23 Har 1734 BK (21 June 1677) at a makeshift camp near Basantgarh, later called Guru ka Lahore, because the original plan to travel to Lahore was thwarted [2]. This site now hosts a gurudwara where the annual anniversary is observed, featuring a nagar kirtan that starts from Gurdwara Bhora Sahib in Anandpur Sahib [1].

On 30 March 1699, Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa at Anandpur. According to tradition, Mata Jito brought sugar crystals to the iron bowl where the Guru was stirring water, symbolising the addition of sweetness to the steel of the new warrior‑saints [2]. This act has earned her the title of the first Khalsa woman.

Martyrdom of Her Sons and Ongoing Commemoration

Mata Jito bore three sons—Jujhar Singh (born 14 March 1691), Zorawar Singh (17 November 1696) and Fateh Singh (25 February 1699)—who each became celebrated martyrs in Sikh lore [2]. Their deaths at Chamkaur and Sirhind, refusing to renounce Sikhism, are recounted in Sikh narratives, and Mata Jito is said to have instilled in them the resolve to fight bravely [2].

The annual fair at Guru ka Lahore includes religious discourses, a bhog of the Sri Akhand Path, and a langar organized by Sant Labh Singh featuring nine types of sweets [1]. Devotees also visit nearby shrines such as Gurdwara Triveni Sahib and Gurdwara Sehra Sahib, and many take a dip in the holy sarovar. The Himachal Pradesh government has even exempted vehicles from tolls at the Punjab‑Himachal border to facilitate pilgrim travel [1].