The painting below shows the King of Mandi, Sidh Sen, possibly with Guru Gobind Singh (on the right) when they met in 1701. This is very likely only the contemporary painting of Guru Gobind Singh after the birth of the Khalsa. Below is a passage from the Suraj Prakash (1843), which documents this meeting. Guru Gobind Singh, at the request of the Raja Sidh Sen, arrives in Mandi where:
ਦਾਸ ਆਏ ਸ਼ੁਭ ਫਰਸ਼ ਵਿਛਾਵਾ । ਤਬਿ ਸੁੱਖਾ ਤਤਕਾਲਾ ਬਨਾਵਾ ।11।
The Khalsa devotees laid out beautiful sheets for Guru Gobind Singh, then they began to quickly make Sukha a cannabis drink.
ਉਤਰ੍ਯੋ ਗਿਰਪਤਿ ਚਮੂ ਸਮੇਤ । ਸ੍ਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਨਿਕਟ ਹੋਇ ਸਹਿ ਚੇਤ । ਥਾਨ ਥਾਨ ਤਟ ਸਿੰਘ ਥਿਰੇ ਹੈਂ । ਭੰਗ ਅਫੀਮਾਂ ਖਾਨ ਕਰੇ ਹੈਂ ।12।
The King of Mandi and his army approached after and dismounted from their horses, and came close to meet with Guru Gobind Singh, who was surrounded all around by Singhs, they were all consuming opium and drinking cannabis.
ਦੋਨਹੁ ਮਾਦਿਕ ਗੁਰ ਛਕਿ ਲੀਨੇ । ਸੌਚ ਸ਼ਨਾਨ ਸਭਿਨਿ ਤਨ ਕੀਨੇ ।ਸ੍ਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਤਬਿ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਸਜਾਈ । ਊਪਰ ਬੰਧਿ ਜਿਗਾ ਦਮਕਾਈ ।13।
Guru Gobind Singh consumed both drugs *opium and cannabis* and bathed his body *in the river*, he then adorned a Dastar *turban*, placing on top a radiant Plume.
Following this the Singhs, Guru Gobind Singh and Raja Sidh Sen partook in target practice with their rifles, firing at clay pots they floated down the river.
Gurpratap [[Suraj]] Prakash (1843), author: the Great Poet Santokh Singh
Rut 5, Chapter 8
![[p10 mandi.png]]