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Revision as of 14:09, 19 May 2006 by GraemeL (talk | contribs) (Reverted edits by 212.135.1.185 (talk) to last version by 212.135.1.186)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Guru Gobind Singh (Template:Lang-pa) (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 little 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 teachings, but also felt the pain of sacrifice in upholding those beliefs and teachings. Guru Gobind Singh lost his father, mother, and all four of his 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 emperor Aurangzeb for refusing to convert to Islam. His two elder sons, Sahibzada Ajit Singh and Sahibzada Jujhar Singh died by being buried alive by having a brick wall built around them for no chance of escaping or of survival because they wouldn't convert to Islam. 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 -- a compilation of the ten Gurus' writings --as the eternal guru for the Sikhs.This Granth is thus, more than a holy book for the Sikhs.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 Padshah Ka Granth(the Granth 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 rules and guidelines for the Khalsa
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 Kakas(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 as the Sant-Sipahi(Saint-Soldiers)
- Kangha- A comb to manage the hair.
- Kachha - An warrior short trousers.
- Kara - A Iron bracelet on the wrist.
- Kirpan - A sword symbolising dignity and strength.
II.They must observe the following guidelines. These are known as the Rahatnamas(Codes of Conduct):
- Not to remove hair from any part of the body.
- Not to use Tobacco or other intoxicants (alcohol).
- Not to eat halal meat of an animal.(Meat itself is not forbidden but only halal meat shouldn't be taken)
- Not to commit adultery- 'Par nari ki sej, bhul supne hun 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 any one 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 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; Rehras in the evening; and Kirtan Sohela at bed time at night.
IV.They must not worship idols, 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 battle field. They should always be ready to help the poor and protect those who sought their protection. They were to consider their previous castes erased, and deem themselves all brothers of one family.
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
- Bichita Natak
- 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
(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
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
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 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 Raja Bhim Chand |
| 18 | December 1700 | Attacked by the combined forces of the 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 hill-chieftains |
| 25 | June 1704 | Repulsing the combined attack of 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 | February 1706 | Death of Aurangzeb |
| 34 | March 1706 | 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 Expired) |
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