Sri Guru Gobind Singh

Brief life-sketch of Sri Guru Gobind Singh 

Guru Gobind Singh (earlier name Gobind Rai) was born to Guru Tegh Bahadur, the Ninth Sikh Guru and Mata Gujri on Poh Sudi 7, 1723 Bikrami corresponding to the month of December, 1666 at Patna, a big town of historic fame in the province of Bihar, now a State Capital of Bihar there stands a sacred shrine, Takht Sri Harimandar Sahib, one of the five most honoured seats of religious authority for the Sikhs. He was born while his father was on a tour of the neighbouring state of Assam, spreading God’s word. Returning to Patna in 1670 A.D., he directed his family to return to Punjab. Guru Gobind Singh lived at Patna until he was five then he was sent to Anandpur Sahib (Punjab). Gobind Rai was escorted to Anandpur (then known as Chakk Nanaki) on the foothills of the Shivalik hills where he reached in March 1672. His early education included reading and writing of Punjabi, Braj, Sanskrit and Persian. At Anandpur, he started studying Punjabi under Sahib Chand and Persian under Qazi Pir Mohammad. Having received training in the use of sword and spear, bow and arrow, musket and matchlock, the child-Guru hunted in the Jungles around Anandpur. A small force of Sikhs recruited by his uncle Kirpal Chand took charge of the protection of the young Guru. Guru Gobind Singh was barely nine years of age when a sudden turn came in his life as well as in the history of community he was destined to lead. His father fought for the religious freedom of the harassed Kashmiri Pandits who were being forcibly converted to Islam by the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. He was beheaded on November 11, 1675 at Chandni Chowk, Delhi. After the martyrdom of the Ninth Guru, his son Gobind Rai accepted the leadership of the Sikh community. Guru Gobind Singh was formally installed as Guru on the Baisakhi day of 1733 Bikrami/March 29, 1676. He took charge of the Sikh masses, and like his grandfather, the Sixth Guru, Guru Har Gobind, he took to arms. Thus Guru Gobind Singh was a challenge to Aurangzeb, who ruled from Kanya Kumari in the South to Kabul in the North of India. Guru Gobind Singh became the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs at the age of nine years. Guru Gobind Singh had four sons namely – Ajit Singh, Jujhar Singh, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh. Guru Gobind Singh had a natural genius for poetic composition and his early years were assiduously given to this pursuit. The Var Sri Bhagauti Ji Ki, popularly called Chandi Di Var, written in 1684, was his first composition and his only major work in the Punjabi language. Much of Guru Gobind Singh’s literary work was done at Paonta, which he founded on the bank of the river Yamuna and to which site he had temporarily shifted in April 1685. He also gave special attention to the composition of literature. He wrote a number of poems in praise of God - Jaap Sahib, Akaal Ustat, Gian Probodh, Shabad Hazare, 33 Swayyas, Zafarnama etc. His writings in complete form was given the name of Dasam Granth. During his stay at Paonta, Guru Gobind Singh availed himself of his spare time to practice different forms of many exercises, such as riding, swimming and archery. For the first 20 years or so of his life, Guru Gobind Singh lived peacefully at Anandpur practicing arms and 7 exercises to complete his training as a soldier. In a period of about 20 years, in between 1686 AD to 1706 AD, the Guru had to face and fight about 16 fights. In the wars of Guru Gobind Singh, where there was not even the thought of a Red-Cross Society, it was Bhai Kanniaha who started serving the injured soldiers alike. In March 1699, Guru Gobind Singh laid the foundation of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib. He offered Amrit to the Panj Piaras (five beloved ones). All of them surnamed Singh meaning lion, were required to wear in future the five symbols of the Khalsa, all beginning with the letter K - the Kesh or long hair and beard, Kangha - a comb, Kara- an iron bracelet, Kachch – short breeches and Kirpan – a sword. Guru Gobind Singh then received initiatory rites from five disciples, now invested with authority as Khalsa and had his name changed to Gobind Rai to Gobind Singh. In fact, thousands of people took the Amrit that day prepared by stirring a dagger in a steel vessel containing water. In one movement he finished the distinction of caste and creed. He gave a new identity to his followers, and took them to live a morally high life. It was a great miracle. A new organization was born with the holy duty of protecting the poor and the oppressed. These were fearless soldiers in the cause of righteousness. They joined the fold of the Khalsa. The birth of the new order became an eyesore for the Mughal King. In 1705, the two elder sons of Guru Gobind Singh died fighting in a fierce battle at Anandpur Sahib. Two younger ones, hardly seven and five years old, were bricked alive by the Governor of Sarhind. Their grandmother held as a prisoner by the Governor, could not stand this tragedy. She died of grief. Thus the Tenth Guru sacrificed his whole family for the cause of truth, justice and equality. He himself left this world on Kattak Sudi 5, 1765 Bikrami/October 7, 1708 in Maharashtra. Before he died, he declared that there would be no living Guru after him, and that all spiritual guidance would be obtained from the Holy Book, Guru Granth Sahib.