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Background:
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Before we start reading the manifold account of Sri Guru Gobind Singh
Ji, the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs who sacrificed his father, mother, all
his four sons, his beloved associates and even himself for the sake of
establishing Dharma and upholding 'Righteousness’, it would be better
if we could know in brief the background of Sikh Religion founded by
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Fifteenth Century and flourished by his eight
successors before Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji took command. |
Lord Krishna describes in Bhagwad Geeta: -
"Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practices and
a predominant rise of irreligion-at that time I descend Myself.”
It is an established truth that whenever the Dharma has been in peril
and un-doings of the evil-doers have multiplied to the extreme, then
the almighty God has sent his emissaries to land in order to nullify
the negativity: As such Lord Rama emerged in Treta Yug, Lord Krishna
in Dwapar Yug and likewise Guru Nanak Dev Ji appeared in the arena in
Kali Yug.
Guru Nanak Sahib (1469-1539) was born when strife and oppression were
rampant in our country and he gave his clarion call to, end all strife
and devote to Nam Simaran and be at peace with the people all the world
over irrespective of any distinction of caste, colour, creed,
community, sex or financial status. He traversed the very Globe a
number of times to preach the Divine Mission. Humanism was his
religion. He sang the gospel of Love. May he be Baber - the Mughal
King; Kauda - a Raksha (demon); Wali Kandhari - the Muslim Saint;
Qazi of Mecca or Madina, Pandit of Haridwar or Jaggannath Puri;
whosoever came in his contact; became his disciple. His teachings were
of universal appeal.
He stressed on sharing one's earnings with the needy. He declared that
none was low or high by birth but only by one's actions. Guru Nanak
Sahib Ji practiced what he preached, that is why the Sikh Religion
founded by him just five centuries ago has flourished by leaps and
bounds.
Guru Nanak Sahib's torch was taken up by his nine devout successors
who further added to its glory. Guru Angad Dev Ji (1504-1552)
strengthened the unifying institutions of Sangat and Pangat and gave a
concrete shape to the Gurmukhi (Punjabi) script. Guru Amar Das Ji
(1479-1574) who got the Guruship at the ripe age of 73 years was a
great social reformer of the time. He held women equal with men. The
ancient custom of Sati was checked and stopped by him and widow
marriage was introduced and encouraged. He also opposed the practice
of Pardah (the veiling of women). He organized the "Langar" (Free
Kitchen) and made it compulsory for every one. Even Akbar-the Great
Mughal King, had to dine in the common Langar before seeing the Guru.
Guru Ram Das Ji
(1534-1581) founded the Amritsar City and constructed holy tank
therein.
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Guru Arjan Dev Ji
(1563-1606) constructed the Golden Temple of Amritsar with four
entrances in different direction whereby suggesting that the
people of all classes are welcome to his Divine Shrine (at that
time the Hindu Temples were having only single entrance and open
to only high class.) Guru Arjan Dev Ji also established a hospital
for the lepers at Taran Taaran, first of its kind in India and
compiled (Guru) Granth Sahib- the Holy Book of the Sikhs, whereby
he included hymns not only of the Sikh Gurus but also of several
Hindu and muslim Saints viz - Sheikh Farid Ji, Bhagat Kabir Ji,
Bhagat Ravidas Ji and Bhagat Namdev Ji etc. Since the fanatic
Rulers could not tolerate thousands of Hindus and even Mohammedans
coming into the fold of Sikhism, |
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as such Guru Sahib was
subjected to cruel inhuman tortures. He was made to sit in a
cauldron of boiling water, made to sit on a red-hot iron plate,
and burning sand was poured over his body. Guru Arjan Dev Ji bore
all these atrocities patiently and achieved unique martyrdom. And
his son Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji (1595-1644), who followed him, had
to resort to the use of Sword. He fought and won four fierce
battles with the Mughal forces. |
Guru Har Rai Ji (1630-1661) and Guru Harkrishan Ji (1656-1664) also
made distinctive contribution in the field.
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Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji (1621-1675), the Ninth Sikh Guru was the 2nd
Master who met with marvelous martyrdom. He was executed in Chandni
Chowk, Delhi with the orders of Emperor Aurangzeb when
he had gone there to espouse the cause of Kashmiri Pandits and
advocate for the grant of religious freedom to the Hindus. His son Sri
Guru Gobind Singh Ji has described the great event of his father in
these lines: |
"The Lord protected their sacred thread and the mark on the forehead,
He performed a great event in the KALYUG...
Breaking his earthly vase (body) on the head of the
Emperor of Delhi.
He departed for the abode of the God. No one has done
this duty so uniquely as Guru Tegh Bahadur......."
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