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He was only nine years
old when he was entrusted to shoulder the heavy responsibilities of
Guru ship, after Guru Teg Bahadur Ji
Sahib's martyrdom, which he himself had sent to Delhi to oppose the
tyranny of the rulers. The Tenth Guru felt the need of strengthening
the Indian Nation. He implored his Sikhs to bring with them good
quality weapons and horses while coming to see him. He started
recruiting the Khalsa Army, equipped it with up-to-date armaments and
imparted training of all tactics.
The psychology of the
superstitious and slavery stricken people was also to be overhauled.
This the Tenth Master achieved by introducing a new form of Baptism,
the water used in baptism, instead of being stirred with the Guru's
toe, was now to be stirred with Khanda (a double-edged sword), and the
Sikhs initiated were to be called SINGHS (Lions) or KHALSA (the
Master's own); they were to wear in future the same five signs all
beginning with letter "K' - Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (a comb),
Kachhera (short drawer), Kara. (An iron bangle) and Kirpan (a sword).
The first five who came forward at the call of the Guru, to get new
birth, belonged to different parts of the country and totally
different castes. They were Bhai Daya Ram Ji, a Khatri of Lahore; Bhai
Dharam Dass Ji, a Jat of Hastnapur-Delhi; Bhai Mohkam Chand Ji, a washer man
of Dwarka; Bhai Sahib Chand Ji, a barber of Bidar and Bhai Himmat Rai Ji, a
water-carrier of Jagannath Puri. After the initiation; all these five
SINGHS were described by the Guru as "PYARAS" (his beloveds).
The baptism with the double-edged sword infused a new life into the
almost dead masses, dying under the yoke of tyranny and persecution.
The Khalsa thus born was inspired by a sense of divine mission to
right the wrongs of the world; and in the discharge of his duties, no
fear of earthly power was to stand in the way. This raising of the
Indian spirit from servility, which had dominated it for centuries,
brought about a great change in the tone of the national character:
Even those people who had been considered as the dregs of humanity
were changed, as if by magic into something rich and strange, the like
of' which India had never seen before. The sweepers, barbers and
confectioners, who had never touched the sword, became under the
stimulating leadership of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, doughty warriors,
who never shrank from fear, and who were ever ready to shed their own
blood where the safety of a least creature of God was in danger. Even
their outward appearance underwent a marvelous change. They came to be
regarded as the models of physical beauty and stateliness of manner as
much as they were respected for the truth and honesty of character.
Throughout his life, Guru Gobind Singh Ji fought against injustice and
tyranny. The manner in which he sacrificed the lives of his father,
his mother, his beloved associates whom he regarded his own flesh and
blood and all the four sons at the altar of duty towards his
Motherland is an example which will remain unparalleled in history for
generations to come. His elder two sons were martyred while fighting
with the enemy in Chamkaur battle, while the younger two, aged eight.
and six were bricked alive under the orders of the Governor to Sirhind
in the X'mas week of 1704. Guru Sahib never considered any sacrifice
too great for a noble cause. He bore all the calamities and atrocities
patiently and boldly, and on hearing the news that all his four sons
have been killed, he never lost heart but on the contrary thus uttered
in thankfulness to the Almighty Lord:
"Today, I have discharged thy Trust to thee. My son's lives have been
sacrificed for the sake of Dharma. "The Dasmesh Guru fought as many as
fourteen battles with the imperialist forces and except two, won in
all triumphantly. But it is to be noted that he did not fight for any
territory or worldly power, or against any religion or sect, but had
set himself against injustice, oppression and intolerance. Among his
followers and admirers were Hindus as well as Muslims. Many staunch
followers of Islam had aligned themselves with him against the
imperial forces. Fighting on his side, Pir Budhu
Shah sacrificed four of his sons and a number of his disciples in the
battle of Bhangani. The Muslim ruler of Malerkotla, Nawab Sher
Mohammad Khan raised a strong protest against the execution of Guru
Sahib's two minor sons at Sirhind. Thus people of different faiths
were attracted to the Guru whose teachings were that all men were
equal and that, though the outer forms different, the fundamental
truth was the same everywhere.
As a great social and religious reformer, Guru Gobind Singh Ji kept up
the tradition of Sikh Gurus who had launched a crusade against
superstition, polytheism, idolatry, infanticide, caste system,
addictions and host of other evils. Apart form agitating the minds of
the people against social maladies and malpractices, Guru Ji retained
& fostered positive values like the spirit of service (Sewa) and
sacrifice as inculcated by the previous Gurus. Guru Sahib strictly
exhorted his followers to lead pure and pious life. In his
compositions he has stressed on ""Character Building". He was a man of
principles. He gave a certain thought after practicing the same in his
own life. In the toil and troubles of war even the Guru did not forget
the moral virtues of peaceful times. He preached strict conjugal
fidelity.
"Stick to this resolve; my son! till the last breathe of your life:
your love for your wife should grow from day to day. But never even in
dream you think of getting into the bed of another woman" - was his
sincere advice.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji had a very distinctive personality. Besides being
a fearless soldier and far sighted Commander in the battlefield; an
intellectual and philosopher in the company of sages and seers;
national patriot to the core that happily he may sacrifice his whole
family at the altar of Mother-land,he was a versatile writer, prolific
poet and renowned scholar. He was master of flawless style in Persian,
Arabic, Hindi Brij, Prakrit, Sanskrit and Punjabi. He chose a wide
range of themes to inspire new spirits in the hearts of those who had
remained the very "dregs of Society' for a number of centuries.
Guru Ji has 52 renowned poets at his Royal Court and got the old Puran
& Shastras and deeds of ancient heroes translated into Hindi and
Punjabi. To create a martial spirit and love for sacrificing oneself
for the sake of faith and religion, used to have the stories of the
ancient heroes narrated by the bards, in a musical inspiring tune and
powerful voice in daily congregation. He wrote his autobiography in
verse entitled "Bachitra Natak'. Jaap Sahib, Akal Ustat, Chandi Di
War, Choubis
Shah sacrificed four of his sons and a number of his disciples in the
battle of Bhangani. The Muslim ruler of Malerkotla, Nawab Sher
Mohammad Khan raised a strong protest against the execution of Guru
Sahib's two minor sons at Sirhind. Thus people of different faiths
were attracted to the Guru whose teachings were that all men were
equal and that, though the outer forms different, the fundamental
truth was the same everywhere.
Avtar, Shabad Hazare, Gyan Prabodh are some of his famous poetic
works. Zafar-Nama (Epistle of Victory), the letter written in Persian
script, which was despatched, to the Emperor Aurangzeb, is still read
with great reverence. It is the "Zafar Nama' whereby is enshrined the
great Thought of the Great Divine Master :
"When all the peaceful efforts fail to give you justice, it is
legitimate to resort to the Sword."
The blessings that the Guru Sahib had sought from the Almighty God
were as described here under (in his own words):
"Grant me this boon "O' God, from Thy Greatness.
May I never refrain from righteous acts:
May I fight without fear all foes in life’s battle.
With confident courage claiming the victory.
May my highest ambition be singing Thy praises.
And may Thy Glory be grained in my mind;
When this mortal life reaches its limit,
May I die fighting with limitless courage!"
Guru Ji had commenced Southward journey on the personal invitation of
Emperor Aurangzeb, but Guru Sahib was on the way when he heard the
news of Aurangzeb's death. King Bahadur Shah, the elder son of
Aurangzeb ascended the throne with the assistance of the Sikh Army in
the battlefield of Jaju. Tara Azam; the younger brother of Bahadur
Shah was killed with Guru Sahib's golden-tipped arrow. Bahadur Shah in
Return held a special Royal Darbar at Agra on July 23, 1707 and
acknowledged the timely help of Guru Sahib and, presented the latter a
rich address of honor and various other valuable gifts, which included
""SAIF" (a double-edged broad sword)' of Arab origin which was used by
the Khalifas of Islam in at least five battels at Karbala and was
presented to Aurangzeb by the Arab Chiefs.
Now the Guru was guest of Emperor Bahadur Shah and accompanied the
latter to his march to the South; to suppress the rebellion of his
younger brother` Kam Bakhsh. The Guru was anxious to solve the problem
of the struggling P unjab
some how with peaceful talks with the emperor but before the
negotiations could come a successful turn, he was fatally, stabbed at
Nanded by the agents of the Nawab of Sirhind and left for Sachkhand
Gaman on October 7, 1708. But before this Guru Ji proclaimed that
"from today onwards; Guru Grantha Sahib Ji (The Holy Book of the
Sikhs), is the Guru and it should be regarded as the embodiment and
visible form of all the ten Gurus."
Guru Gobind Singh Ji was a true son of India who through out his life
span thought for the country, fought for the country and sacrificed
his all for the country: He strived hard for achieving his goal of
establishing Dharma and uprooting the evil forces. It was his strong
desire to see his country free, prosperous and peace loving and it was
his Khalsa Panth, who fulfilled his ambition later on and accomplished
the noble work set-forth by the Tenth Master. The country is deeply
indebted to this great .son of India. Great Indian Historian Prof.
Indu Bhushan Bannerji rightly counts him "among the greatest of
Indians of all ages.” |
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Born at Patna Sahib (Bihar) in 1666 A.D., Gobind Rai (the name of Sri
Guru Gobind Singh Ji before initiation to the’ order of the Khalsa)
had his early education there and came to settle at Anandpur Sahib
(Punjab). 
