Guru Gobind Singh

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An artist's impression of Guru Gobind Singh

Guru Gobind Singh (Punjabi: )(Born in Patna, Bihar, India, on December 22, 1666 as Gobind Rai – October 7, 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. 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 either convert to Islam or be killed. 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 refusing to convert to Islam. 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 for refusing to convert to Islam.

Guru Gobind Singh also finalised 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.

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 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
• Gyan Prabodh
• Chaubis Avtar
• Mehdi Mir Budh
• Brahma Avtar
• Rudra Avtar
• Shabad Hazare
• Sri Mukh Baak Savaiye
• Khalse di Mehima
• Shastra Naam Mala
• Pakhyaan Charitra
• Zafarnama
• The Hikayats

Popular hymns/compositions by Guru Gobind Singh

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

External links

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

Audio

• [Sukhmani Sahib Mp3,Real Audio, Real Audio download]

Chronology of the Main Events in Guru ji Life

 Topics in Sikhism   

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