Guru Gobind Singh Ji

Introduction:

I book can be read in days, a person can be explained in months but a lifetime is not enough to know or study about Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Born as Gobind Rai on 22 December 1666 (often changed over the years) in a Sodhi Khatri family in Patna, Bihar (Takht Sri Patna Sahib). Guru Ji spent the last days of his life in Nanded, Maharashtra (Takht Sri Hazur Sahib) & on 07 January 1708 he died (called Joti Jot by the Sikhs worldwide).

Born For Humanity:

It is said that because of a devine light from the east Pir Bhikan Shah started performing his prayers facing the eastern side (towards Takht Sri Patna Sahib) instead of western side (Towards the holy shrine Mecca) & he started travelling towards it. He insisted to meet young Gobind Rai & sat at the entry after several refusals & told the guards that he will starve to death if he will not meet this Prophet. When he was allowed to meet young Gobind Rai, he took two bowls with him. One was filled with Water & other with Milk, depicts one for Hindus & other for Muslims. He wanted to know whom he has come for. Young Gobind Rai smiled at him & put his hands on both the bowls & Pir bowed down & now he know that this new prophet is here for humanity.

Their is another incidence in the history that once young Gobind Rai lost or threw one of his gold kangan (bangle) in a river while Guru ji’s family was in Patna, Bihar. When Mata Gujri Ji asked where is the bangle? Guru ji threw the second one in the river & said there. This depicts that Guru ji has no affection or greed for the materialistic things.

Early life:

Guru ji was born to Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib the ninth Guru of Sikhism & Mata Gujri Ji. Guru ji’s father was in Bengal & Assam during those days. After spending his early childhood days in Patna, Bihar the family moved to Punjab in 1670 & two years later in 1672 started living in Chakk Nanaki, Present day Sri Anandpur Sahib (Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib) where Guru Ji was joined the school. 

Young Gobind Rai started sacrificing for humanity when Guru Ji was not even 9 years old in 1975. Kashmiri Pandits petitioned Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib for protection from Iftikar Khan, the governor of Kashmir under Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib wanted to meet Aurangzeb in a peaceful way but his life might be at risk told the advisors. That is when Young Govind Rai advised Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib that there is no one worthy than you to lead & make a sacrifice than you. And for refusing to convert into Islam after he made an attempt to help Kashmiri Pandits, Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib was beheaded in Delhi on 11 November 1675 under the order of Aurangzeb.

After the Martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib, Sikhs decided & Young Gobind Rai became the tenth Guru 1676.

Apart from the reading, writing & Guru Ji learnt the martial art (commonly said as Gatka) & also the horse riding.

Personal life:

He has been married thrice but one the marriages was a spiritual marriage.

1. At the age of 10 years in 1677, Guru ji got married to Mata Jito ji. They had 3 sons Sahibzada Baba Jujhar Singh ji in 1691, Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh ji in 1696 & Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh ji in 1699 from this marriage.
2. At the age of 17 years in 1684, Guru ji got married to Mata Sundari Ji. They had a son Sahibzada Baba Ajit Singh ji in 1687. 
3. At the age of 33 years in 1700, Guru ji got married to Mata Sahib Devan. After refusing the marriage proposal for the first time as Guru ji was already married & had 4 sons but Guru ji’s family & the sangat agreed to the marriage. But it will a spiritual marriage not physical, Guru ji made it clear as the time of the marriage. Guru ji proclaimed her as the MOTHER OF KHALSA.

Khalsa Panth:

After Guru Nanak Sahib ji founder Sikhism & the eight gurus took care of the religion & gave the teachings, Sikhs needed to safeguard their religion as the Mughals were looting & killing Hindus & Sikhs for not adopting Islam.

On the Vaisakhi of 1699, Guru Ji requested Sikhs to congregate at Anandpur Sahib (Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib). According to the Sikh tradition, Guru ji asked if anyone can volunteer to sacrifice his head for Sikhism. Guru Ji took the first one who came forward in the tent & came back without the volunteer but with a bloodied sword in his hand. The gathering started to gossip about this, but one by one three more came forward and Guru Ji repeated the drill. But when the fifth one came forward, he took him in the tent & returned with all five of them safe & wearing a very different dress. Guru Ji called them Panj Pyaare, the first Khalsa in Sikh tradition.

Names of Panj Pyaare before becoming Khalsa Sikhs with Singh surname:

Bhai Daya Ram, Shopkeeper from Lahore, Punjab (present day Pakistan)

Bhai Dharam Das, A Jat from Hastinapur (Present day Meerut, U.P.)

Bhai Mohkam Chand, Tailor from Dwarka, Gujarat.

Bhai Himmat Rai, Water-carrier from Puri, Orrissa.

Bhai Sahib Chand, Barber from Bidar, Karnataka.

Guru Ji prepared Amrit by mixed mater & sugar with a double-headed sword in an iron bowl. Guruji then administered this to the Panj Pyaare, performed baptization ceremony (commonly called Khande Ka Pahul) of Khalsa (a warrior community).

Guru Ji also gave them a new surname SINGH (lion). Guru ji also gave a surname for female as KAUR (princess).

After the first five Khalsa were baptised, Guru asked them to baptise Guru ji.

This made Guru ji the sixth Khalsa & Guru Gobind Rai ji’s name changed to Guru Gobind Singh ji. It is often said, “WAH WAH GOBIND SINGH AAPE GURU CHELA” means HIMSELF THE MASTER & HIMSELF THE DESCIPLE.

Yesterday at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Sri Anandpur Sahib pic.twitter.com/HXi5O9WRU5

— In the Service of Guru Gobind Singh Ji (@dashmeshpita) March 22, 2019

The Khalsa need to follow lots of rules & stay in discipline.

Guru Gobind Singh ji Five K’s as the tradition of the Khalsa.

Kesh, uncut hair.

Kangha, a wooden comb.

Kara, an iron or steel bracelet worn on the wrist.

Kirpan, a sword or dagger.

Kacchera, short breeches.

Also Read: https://www.sikhmissionarysociety.org/sms/

Tobacco, eating halal, fornication & adultery were forbidden. The Khalsa also made it sure that it will follow the principle of equality in Sikhism, regardless of one’s caste or gender.

Guru ji indirectly challenged the pilgrim tax & other taxes paid by the non muslims for shaving their head called as Jizya & declared the Khalsa doesn’t need to practice that as they won’t shave their head.

As the Masand system become corrupt, Guru ji abolished them & introduced a more centralised system.

The people who are baptised called as Khalsa Sikhs & the ones who are not are called Sahajdhari Sikhs.

Different Names:

Guru ji is known by many names for sacrifice for humanity & contribution in Sikhism. Gobind Rai was his birth name given by his parents & Guru ji changed his name to Guru Gobind Singh when Khalsa Panth was established as a common surname SINGH was given to the male. Sarbans Daani as Guru Ji sacrificed his whole family for Sikhism & humanity. Kalgiyan Wala(as Guru ji use to put a crest on his Turban), Baajan Wala(as Guru ji had an Eagle), Pritam Pyare(Very close to the heart), Dasam Pita(tenth Guru/Father), Dasmesh Pita(tenth Guru/Father), Neeley Ghorhe Wala(Blue Roan/Horse).

Notable Works:

Guru ji has written a lot such as Jaap Sahib, Chaupai Sahib, Chandi Di Var, Zafarnama, Tav Prasad Savaiye, Nitnem (daily prayers), etcetera. 

Guru Gobind Singh ji is also known for compiling & finalising the Kartarpur Pothi (manuscript) of Guru Granth Sahib ji as primary scripture & the Eternal Guru of the Sikhs. Guru ji finalised Guru Granth Sahib ji after reaching Talwandi Sabo, District Bathinda, Punjab (Takht Sri Damdama Sahib) after the Battle of Mukatsar. All the holy scriptures were lost while Guru Ji’s family was cross River Sarsa (Gurudwara Parivar Vichora Sahib) & after passing through Forests of Macchiwara, district Rupnagar, Punjab. It is said that when Guru asked for Baanis(Scriptures) from the people who had the copies. They said if you are the Guru, you should know it by heart. Then Guru ji finalised & compiled Guru Granth Sahib ji as Guru ji knew the scripture by heart.

Wars:

Battle of Bangani, Paonta Sahib, Punjab (Present Day Himachal Pradesh)

18 September 1688

Battle of Nadaun (Present Day Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh)

04 April 1691 (The date is said to be written differently by many authors)

Battle of Guler (Near Kangra Present Day Himachal Pradesh)

1696

First Battle of Anandpur (District Rupnagar, Punjab)

1700

Second Battle of Anandpur (District Rupnagar, Punjab)

1701

Battle of Nirmohgarh (Kiratpur, District Rupnagar, Punjab)

1702

Battle of Basoli (District Kathua, Jammu & Kashmir)

1702

Battle of Sarsa (Near River Sarsa, Gurudwara Sri Parivar Vichora, District Rupnagar, Punjab)

December, 1704

Battle of Chamkaur (Chamkaur Sahib, District Rupnagar, Punjab)

December, 1704

Battle of Mukatsar (Khidrane Dee Dhab, Mukatsar, Punjab)

January, 1705

Last Days:

After losing the two elder sons in the Battle of Chamkaur & the two younger sons, who were killed by Nawab of Sirhind (Present day District Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab), Guru ji wrote Zafarnama (a letter in Persian) to Aurangzeb. After reading it, Aurangzeb invited Guru ji for a meeting but Guru ji was left already towards Deccan via Baghor, Rajasthan. After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, the successor’s war started against Bahadur Shah(the worth one) whom Guru ji was helping. Guru ji specially went to meet Madho Das (later become Baba Banda Singh Bahadur) in Nanded, Maharashtra, where Guru ji gave Madho Das the responsibility to safeguard & stand for humanity & fight against the cruelty of Mughals in the north of India.

It is around that time when two pathan assassins Jamshed Khan & Wasil Beg sent by Wazir Khan (Nawab of Sirhind) got access to the tent of Guru ji & one of them got killed by a single stroke of sword by Guru ji but the other one stabbed Guru ji very deeply. Bahadur Shah sent the expert European surgeon to the attend Guru ji in the camp. Guru ji was stitched & the wound was healing, Guru had a good recovery. Guru ji tugged at a hard string bow & the wound started bleeding again. Guru ji was treated again but Guru ji knew that father from heaven has called. Guru ji prepared the sangat for his departure & gave main sevadaars the responsibility of delivering the last message to Khalsa that Guru Granth Sahib ji will be the successor & will the eternal Guru.

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA

WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

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