Mata Sahib Kaur was the third wife of Guru Gobind Singh. Born Sahib Devan, she was the daughter of Ramu of Rohtas dist. Jhelum. Mata Sahib Kaur was born on 1 November 1681 at Rohtas. She was offered to be a bride of Guru Gobind Singh by her father Bhai Rama, a devout Nanak Naam Leva Sikh, and the nuptials took place on 15 April 1700 at Anandpur. There is confusion regarding her name as her own Hukamnamas written after the death of Guru Gobind Singh are signed by her under the name of “Mata Sahib Devi”. There are no historical records during her lifetime which record her name as “Mata Sahib Kaur” and is believed to have been an invention originating in the Singh Sabha reforms.
Marriage proposal
When the proposal was brought for discussion to Anandpur, the Guru at first refused, as he was married already and had four sons. The Sangat and the Guru's family agreed to the marriage, but Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru made it clear that his relationship with Mata Sahib Devan would be of a spiritual nature and not physical. The Guru proclaimed her to be the Mother of the Khalsa and since then novitiates have been declared to be the sons and daughters of Gurū Gobind Siṅgh and Mātā Sāhib Devāṅ. During the battle of Anandpur Mata Sahib Kaur was split from the holy family of the tenth Guru during the siege of Fort Kesgarh where, along with Mata Sunderi, she was escorted to safety to Sri Damdama Sahib by Bhai Sahib Bhai Mani Singh Shaheed. Mata Sahib Kaur accompanied Guru Gobind Singh to Delhi and then on to Nanded whilst Mata Sunderi stayed back in Delhi. It was in Nanded that Guru Gobind Singh informed Mata Sahib Kaur of his time to leave Earth for his heavenly abode at which he commanded her to leave for Delhi to be with Mata Sunder Kaur. The Guru gave Mata Sahib Kaur 5 weapons of Guru Hargobind Sahib the sixth Guru, as his reminder and his Insignia. Mata Sahib Kaur resided in Delhi with Mata Sunder Kaur and lived a life of Naam Simran and Seva for the Khalsa Panth. Mata Sahib Kaur left in 1747 at the age of 66 and was cremated at Gurdwara Bala Sahib, New Delhi. Her memorial stands close to the one commemorating Mata Sunderi Kaur.
There are different views among Sikh historians on her presence during this event. According to Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha in the Mahan Kosh, Mata Sahib Devan was present during the creation of Khalsa Panth and participated in making Pahul by adding sugar wafers but the Twarikh Guru Khalsa refutes this claim. The Twarikh states that Guru Gobind Singh's first wife, Mata Jito, put sugar wafers in the Pahul and that Mata Sahib Devan was not married to Guru Gobind Singh at that time.
