Question

What was the immediate cause of the battle of Bhangani?
$A)$ Sikhs did not allow the marriage party of Bhim Chand's son to pass through Paonta Sahib which was on its way to Garhwal.
$B)$ Old enmity between Guru Gobind Singh and Bhim Chand.
$C)$ Recruitment of $500$ Pathans in Guru Gobind’s Army.
$D)$ Guru Gobind Singh was against idol worship.

Answer 1

Hint: Guru Gobind Singh's first battle with hill chieftains was the Battle of Bhangani. This fight was fought when Guru Gobind Singh ji was $20$ years old. The Battle of Bhangani, which took place six miles north of Paonta in October $1686$, was the culmination of the jealousies of the hill chieftains led by Raja Bhim Chand and the perceived threat of the Guru.

Complete answer:
Sikhs did not allow the marriage party of Bhim Chand's son to pass through Paonta Sahib which was on its way to Garhwal was the immediate cause of the battle of Bhangani. Raja Bhim Chand was enamoured with a beautiful ‘Kabli' canopy that had been provided to the Guru by a devotee, as well as a ‘Parsadi' elephant and a massive war drum called Ranjit Nagara, which were all in the Guru's possession. Bhim Chand took advantage of the opportunity to borrow these items for his son's wedding to Raja Fateh Shah's daughter. Knowing the Raja's intentions, Guru Ji said that he was unable to hand over the offerings to the Raja because they were made by his devotees. This irritated the Raja greatly. Raja Fateh Shah, on the other hand, had been a devotee of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and wished for Guru Ji to attend the wedding festivities.

Instead, Guru Ji sent his leaders, Bhai Nanad Chand and Bhai Daya Ram. They were escorted by $500$ horsemen, who were guarding the one and a quarter lakh rupees sent for the bride on the Guru's behalf. Bhim Chand couldn't stand Fateh Shah and Guru Ji's friendship and threatened to call off the wedding unless Fateh Shah returned the gifts and ended his friendship with Guru Ji. Fearing for his daughter's safety, Fateh Shah did as he was told and agreed to fight Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The members of the Gurus were sent off.

A horse dealer who had valuable horses for the Guru joined them on the way back. Bhim Chand thought it was an eyesore, too. The hill rajas planned to assault Guru Ji's returning party in order to rob and destroy them. Guru Ji's horsemen were struck, but they fought back valiantly. When he arrived at Paonta Sahib Bhai Nand Chand informed Guru Ji of what had occurred. Guru Ji was well aware that the hill rajas' combined forces would soon attack him, so he warned his Sikhs to prepare for battle.

Note: The Battle of Bhangani took place on September 18, 1688, at Bhangani near Paonta Sahib, between Guru Gobind Singh's army and a joint force of several Shivalik Hills Rajas (Pahari rajas).