Guru Gobind Singh

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Guru Gobind Singh Ji (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ) (Born in Patna, Bihar, India, on 22 December, 1666 as Gobind Rai – 7 October, 1708, Nanded, Maharashtra, India) was the tenth and last of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on November 11, 1675 following in the footsteps of his father, the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur.

Guru Gobind Singh (also sometimes transliterated as 'Govind'), played a monumental part in the development of the Sikh faith. His 5 K's and taking up arms against the Mughals created a warrior brotherhood that was visibly different and helped evolve Sikhism from an embryonic lifestyle into a disciplined and determined religion. The First Guru was Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism.

Guru Gobind Singh exemplified the teachings of Sikh principles during his lifetime. He not only taught the principles of the faith, but also felt the pain of sacrifice in upholding those beliefs. Guru Gobind Singh lost his father, mother and all four sons to a religious war being waged by emperor Aurangzeb, the last of the six grand Mughals. Aurangzeb demanded that all Sikhs accept the Mughal rule. The Sikhs have led a rebellion against the Mughal empire since the first Guru.It was in this fight for spiritual survival (or as Guru Sahib himself called it, Dharamyudh, the war for righteousness) that Guru Gobind Singh felt the pain of loss.

Guru Gobind's father, Guru Teg Bahadur, was beheaded in Delhi (where the Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib stands today) on the orders of Aurangzeb for patronizing his brother, Dara Shukoh, who had been actively engaged in a war of succession with Aurangzeb. Guru Gobind Singh's two elder sons, Sahibzada Ajit Singh and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh, died fighting Mughal troops at Chamkaur Sahib. His mother Mata Gujri was killed along with his younger sons Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh in war.

Guru Gobind Singh also finalized many elements of Sikhism. He proclaimed himself the last living Guru and established the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru of the Sikhs. This elevates the reverence of Granth to that of a living Guru. However, it was only spiritual authority that was bestowed upon the Guru Granth. Guru Gobind also compiled the Dasam Granth sometimes known as the Dasven Paatshah Ka Granth (the Holy Book of the Tenth Emperor). He also established the Sikh baptism ceremony, the partaking of amrit or Amrit Sanskar. He was a great warrior, leader and poet, a rare combination.

Guru Gobind Singh's death and after

After Aurangzeb's death, his successor Bahadur Shah I tried to reduce the conflict as the Deccan wars had extended the Mughal armies. He tried to negotiate with the disaffected parties, including the Marathas and the Sikhs. Guru Gobind Singh went to Nanded in Maharashtra for discussions with Bahadur Shah. It was there during a hunting expedition that the Guru while stringing his bow, opened an old wound, reportedly inflicted by two Pathan merceneries who had been allegedly sent to the Deccan by Wazir Khan, the Nawab of Sirhind to assassinate the Guru. He was meditating in his tent and a hitman disguised as one of his followers stabbed him. Later he died from loss of blood.

Chronology of events

The following is a summary of the main highlights of Guru Gobind Singh's life:

• Compilation of the 1428 page Dasam Granth Sahib.
• Author of various important Banis which Sikhs recite daily: Jaap Sahib, Chaupai, etc.
• Wrote his autobiography, the Bichitra Natak
• Built various Gurdwaras - Keshgarh Sahib etc.
• Developed Anandpur Sahib as a Sikh Centre of Excellence.
• Developed Damdama Sahib as a Sikh Centre for Learning and Knowledge.
• Enhanced the structure of Sikh society by introducing various administration systems.
• Extreme personal sacrifice for society: Father martyred for protection of Kashmiri Pandits, all four sons sacrificed to the Islamic Mughal Forces.
• Sent Zafarnama to Aurangzeb.

The rules and guidelines for the Khalsa

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Guru Gobind Singh, after administering Amrit to the 'Five Beloved Ones', ordained them to do the following:

I. They must all wear the following articles. The name of each article begins with 'K'. These are known as the 5 Kakkas (the letter in the Gurmukhi alphabet corresponding to 'k'):

• Kes - Unshorn hair. This represents the natural appearance of sainthood. This is the first token of the Sikh faith. The Guru called the Khalsa the Sant-Sipahi (Saint-Soldiers)
• Kangha - A comb to manage the hair and kill nits.
• Kachha - A pair of knickers or underpants
• Kara - An iron bracelet on the wrist.
• Kirpan - A sword symbolizing dignity and strength.

II. They must observe the following guidelines. These are known as the Rahatnamas (Codes of Conduct):

• Defend the weak or infirm from tyranny and oppression.
• Not to remove hair from any part of the body (hair was declared sacred by the Guru).
• Not to use Tobacco or other intoxicants (e.g., alcohol).
• Not eat meat--this includes Halal or Kosher Meat - ADVANCED STUDIES IN SIKHISM by Jasbir Singh and Harbans Singh.: Hukamnama written by Sri Gobind Singh ji:

"Sarbat sangat Kabul Guru rakhe ga Tusa ute asaadee bahut khusi hai Tusi Khande da Amrit Panja to lena Kes rakhne...ih asadee mohur hair; Kachh, Kirpan da visah nahee karna SARB LOH da kara hath rakhna Dono vakat kesa dee palna karna Sarbat sangat abhakhia da kutha Khave naheen, Tamakoo na vartana Bhadni tatha kanya-maran-vale so mel na rakhe Meene, Massandei, Ramraiye ki sangat na baiso Gurbani parhni...Waheguru, Waheguru japna Guru kee rahat rakhnee Sarbat sangat oopar meri khushi hai.

Patshahi Dasvi Jeth 26, Samat 1756

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(To the entire sangat at Kabul. The Guru will protect the Sangat, I am pleased with you all. You should take baptism by the sword, from the Five Beloveds. Keep your hair uncut for this is a seal of the Guru, Accept the use of shorts and a sword. Always wear IRON KARA on your wrist, Keep your hair clean and comb it twice a day. Do not eat Halal (Kosher) meat, Do not use tobacco in any form, Have no connection with those who kill their daughters Or permit the cutting of their children's hair. Do not associate with Meenas, Massands and Ram-raiyas (anti-Sikh cults) Recite the Guru's hymns Meditate on "The Name of our Wonderful Lord", Follow the Sikh code of discipline I give the entire sangat my blessing)

Signature of 10th Guru Jeth 26, 1756 Bikrami (23rd May 1699 A.D)

• Not to commit adultery- 'Par nari ki sej, bhul supnehun na jayo' (Never enjoy, even in dream, the bed of a woman other than that of your own wife or husband)

(A supplementary ordinance was issued that anyone who did not observe any of the above four directives must be re-baptized, pay a fine, and promise not to offend any more, or she/he must be excommunicated from the Khalsa.)

III. They must rise at dawn, bathe, meditate on Gurmantar-'Waheguru', Mool Mantar- the preamble of Japji, and recite the five banis- Japji, Jap Sahib and Swayas in the morning; Reh Raas in the evening; and Kirtan Sohela at bed time at night.

IV. They must not worship cemeteries, or cremation grounds, and must believe only in One Immortal God. The Guru further spelled out that they should practice arms, and never show their backs to the foe in the battlefield. They should always be ready to help the poor and protect those who seek their protection. They were to consider their previous castes erased, and deem themselves all brothers of one family.

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The legacy of Guru Gobind Singh

The Khalsa's impact on the socio-political scene of the Punjab

The long-term effects of the creation of the Khalsa on the socio-political scene of Northern India in general and the Punjab in particular was immense. Pearl S. Buck says that "The creation of the Khalsa was the greatest work of the Guru. He created a type of super-human, a universal servant of God, casteless and country less. The Guru regarded himself as the servant of the Khalsa. He said, "To serve them pleases me the most; no other service is so dear to my soul." The Khalsa was the spearhead of resistance against tyranny." Khushwant Singh in his 'A History of the Sikhs - Volume 1' records that "Within a few months of the famous baptismal ceremony, a sect of pacifists was suddenly transformed into a militant brotherhood of crusaders. The hills around Anandpur began to echo to the beating of wardrums and military commands. The Guru had dinned into the timid peasantry of the Punjab that they must 'take the broom of divine knowledge and sweep away the filth of timidity.' Thus did Gobind 'train the sparrow to hunt the hawk and one man to fight a legion.' Within a few months a new people were born - bearded, beturbanned, fully armed, and with a crusader's zeal to build a new commonwealth."

Not long after the death of Guru Gobind, Madhodas Bairagi, the man that he baptised at Nanded as Banda Bahadur, challenged the might of the Mughal Empire in Northern India. Eventually, he was captured and executed. But his example inspired many more. After his death, the Sikh Misls rose in the Punjab. The Misls clashed with the armies of the Persian invader,Nadir Shah and his successor in Afghanistan, Ahmed Shah Abdali. After Abdali's exit from the Indian scene following the Third Battle of Panipat, the Misls constantly fought Mughal forces and soon came to control the area between the Indus and the Ganges. They were however fractured. Until the last Sukerchakia Misldar united them and captured Lahore in 1799, a century after the founding of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind and established the Sikh Kingdom of the Punjab. He was Ranjit Singh, Maharaja of the Punjab.

The works of Guru Gobind Singh

The Dasam Granth

The collection of writings attributed to Guru Gobind Singh is known as the Dasam Granth. It consists of the following eighteen works:

• Jaap Sahib
• Akal Ustat
• Bichitra Natak (an autobiography)
• Chandi Charitra I
• Chandi Charitra II
• Chandi di Var or Var Sri Bhagauti Ji (includes Ardas)
• Gyan Prabodh
• Chaubis Avtar
• Mehdi Mir Budh
• Brahma Avtar
• Rudra Avtar
• Shabad Hazaray
• Sri Mukh Baak Savaiye
• Khalse di Mehima
• Shastra Naam Mala
• Pakhyaan Charitra
• Zafarnama
• The Hikayats

(From Khushwant Singh's 'A History of the Sikhs - Volume 1')

Popular hymns/compositions by Guru Gobind Singh

• Deh Shiva Var Mohe
• Khalsa Mero Roop Hai Khas
• Haal Muridaan Da Kahna

Chronology of the Main Events in Guru ji Life

#	Date	Event
1	December 22nd, 1666	Birth at Patna Sahib (Bihar)
2	May, 1673	Arrival at Anandpur Sahib
3	July, 1677	Marriage with Mata Jeeto Ji
4	1682	Repulsing the attack of Rajput Raja Bhim Chand on Anandpur
5	May, 1685	Maklaavaa of Mata Jeeto Ji (who adopted the name 'Sundari')
6	July, 1685	Guru Ji leaves Anandpur for Paonta Sahib
7	November, 1686	Birth of S. Ajit Singh Ji
8	October, 1687	Battle of Bhangani
9	November 1688	Return to Anandpur Sahib
10	1689	Battle of Naudan
11	March,1690	Birth of S. Jujhar Singh Ji
12	1694	Khanzada attacks Anandpur
13	1695	Battle with Hussain Khan
14	1697	Birth of S. Zorawar Singh Ji
15	1699	Birth of S. Fateh Singh Ji
16	Vaisakhi, 1699	Creation of the Khalsa
17	September 1699	Skirmishes with Rajput Raja Bhim Chand
18	December 1700	Attacked by the combined forces of the Rajput hill chieftains
19	January 1701	Leave Anandpur for Nirmoh
20	January 1702	Battle of Nirmoh
21	March 1702	Goes to Basoli April
22	June 1702	Occupation of Kalmot
23	August 1702	Return to Anandpur
24	February 1703	Repulsing the attacks of the Rajput hill-chieftains
25	June 1704	Repulsing the combined attack of Rajput hill-chiefs and Mughals
26	December 1704	Evacuation of Anandpur
27	December 1704	Battle of Chamkaur and martyrdom of S. Ajit Singh Ji and S. Jujhar Singh Ji
28	December 1704	Martyrdom of S. Zorawar Singh Ji and S. Fateh Singh Ji
29	May, 1705	Battle of Khidrana
30	June 1705	Battle of Mukatsar
31	July 1705	Reach Sabo-ki-talwandi (Damdama Sahib)
32	November 1705	Start from Damdama Sahib to meet emperor Aurangzeb
33	March 1707	Death of Aurangzeb
34	March 1707	Guru Ji receives news of death of Aurangzeb
35	July 23rd, 1707	Guru Ji meets Bahadhur Shah at Agra
36	November 1707	Moves towards Deccan
37	September 1708	Reach Nanded
38	October 7th, 1708	(Guru Ji passed on/ascension)

External links

• Biography with pictures on sikh-history.com
• The Saint - Soldier (Guru Gobind Singh) - eBook
• Complete website on Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji
• Learn more about Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji
• Video - Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji
• AllAboutSikhs.com
• Gurudwara Sri Sher Gah Sahib(Paonta Sahib)

Audio

• Sukhmani Sahib Mp3,Real Audio, Real Audio download