Guru Gobind Singh: Difference between revisions

Guru Gobind Singh (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ) (Patna, Bihar, India, December 22, 1666 – 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 Guru Teg Bahadur. His mother Mata Gujri was killed along with his younger sons Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh for refusing to convert to Islam. Before he died, he nominated the Guru Granth Sahib as the next perpetual Guru of the Sikhs. This Granth is more than a holy book for the Sikhs.

Guru Gobind Singh (also sometimes transliterated as 'Govind') was the last of 10 Sikh Gurus. Guru Gobind Singh played a monumental part in the development of the Sikh faith. The First Guru was Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion.

Guru Gobind Singh exemplified the teachings of Sikh principles during his lifetime. He not only taught the teachings, but he 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 the Islamic emperor of the time, Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb demanded that all Sikhs either convert to Islam or be killed. It was in this fight for spiritual survival the Guru Gobind Singh felt the pain of loss.

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. However, it was only spiritual authority that was bestowed upon the Guru Granth. He compiled the Dasam Granth Sahib, Guru Gobind also established the Sikh baptism ceremony, the partaking of amrit.

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 autobiography Bichitra Natak
• Built various Gurdwaras - Keshgarh Sahib etc.
• Developed Anandpur Sahib as a Sikh Centre of Excellence.
• Enhanced the structure of Sikh society by introducing various administration systems.
• Extreme personal sacrifice for society: Father martyred for protection of Kashmiri Hindus, all four sons sacrificed to the Islamic Mughal Forces.
• Sent Zafarnama to Aurangzeb.

On 14 April 1699, an open air mass gathering was held at Keshgarh Sahib in the town of Anandpur Sahib where hundreds of thousands of people gathered in excitement. The tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh walked on the platform at the front of the assembly and drew his sword. There was silence as the Guru's kirpan shone in the morning sun. Then the Guru in a thundering voice said," I want one head, is there any one who can offer me their head?"

This was a most unusual call. A shiver of uneasiness spread through the crowd. Some were terrified while others were stunned. Soon, there was dead silence. The Guru made a second call. Nobody came forward. There was still more silence. On the third call there raised Bhai Daya Ram, a khatri of Lahore who said, "O true king, my head is at your service." The Guru took Daya Ram by the arm and led him inside a tent. A blow and thud were heard. Then the Guru, walked out of the tent now with his sword dripping with fresh blood. There was oin-drop silence in the crowd. The Guru loudly said, "I want another head, is there anyone who can offer me another head?" Again on third call Bhai Dharam Das, a Jat from Delhi came forward and said," O true king! My head is at your disposal." The Guru took Dharam Das inside the tent, again a blow and thud were heard. Again the Guru came out with his sword dripping with even more fresh blood and repeated," I want another head, is there any beloved Sikh who can offer it?"

One hearing this for the third time, some people at one side of the assembly remarked that the Guru had lost all reason and went to his mother to complain. Bhai Mohkam Chand, a washerman of Dwarka (west coast of India) offered himself as a sacrifice to the Guru. He took was taken inside the tent and went through the same process. When the Guru came out again and made a call for the fourth head, some Sikhs began to think that he was going to kill all of them. Some of Sikhs at the rear of the assembly slowly slid away from the gathering. Bhai Himmat Chand, a cook of Jagan Nath Puri, offered himself as the fourth sacrifice. Then the Guru made a fifth and the last call for a fifth head. Bhai Sahib Chand, a barber of Bidar (in central India), came forward and the Guru took him inside the tent. A blow and thud were heard. At this point the Sikhs who had slid away from the gathering could be seen running away from the assembly while many hung their heads down in fear!

When the Guru went back with the fifth sacrifice, he stayed longer in the tent. People began to breathe with relief, hoping that this was the end of the killing. Eventually, the Guru came out from the tent followed by the five Sikhs who were now cladded in splendid garments. When they were standing the the bright morning sun, they looked a most radiant picture. There were exclamations of wonder and the sighs of regret on all sides. Now people were sorry for not offering their heads to the Guru. The Five had offered their heads to the Guru, and the Guru had now given them himself and his glory.

The Guru proceeded to initiate them into his new order (Khande di Pauhal) by asking these five faithful Sikhs to stand up. He put pure water into an iron vessel or Bowl (Batta of Sarbloh) and stirred it with a Khanda (two edged small sword). While stirring the water with Khanda, he recited the Five Banis (Japji, Jaap Sahib, Anand Sahib, Swaiyas, and Chaupai). Sugar crystals called 'Patasas' which the Guru's wife, Mata Sahib Kaur had brought were mixed into the Bowl.

The Guru then stood up with the sacred Amrit (nectar) prepared in the iron bowl. Each of the five faithful, turn-by-turn, each kneeling upon his left knee, looked up to the Guru to receive the amrosial necter - Amrit. He gave five palmfuls of Amrit to each of them to drink and sprinkled it five times in the eyes, asking them to repeat aloud with each sprinkle, "Waheguru Ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh." (Khalsa belongs to God and all triumph be to Him). Then he finished with five sprinking of Amrit to the hair on the head. In this way Amrit was administered to the five faithful ones from the same bowl. After that he asked them to sip Amrit from the same bowl to signify their initiation into the casteless fraternity of the Khalsa. All the five faithfuls were baptized in this way by the Guru who then called them 'PANJ PYARE' or Five Beloved Ones. He gave them the appellation of SINGHS or lions and they were named from Daya Ram to Daya Singh, Dharam Das to Dharam Singh, Mohkam Chand to Mohkam Singh, Himmat Chand to Himmat Singh, and Sahib Chand to Sahib Singh. The Guru then addressed them as the supreme, the liberated ones, pure ones and he called them THE KHALSA.

He then ordained them to do the following:

I. They must all wear the following articles. The name of each article begins with 'K':

1. Kes - unshorn hair. This represents the natural appearance of sainthood. This is the first token of Sikh faith.

2. Kanga- A comb to keep the hair clean and free from tangles.

3. Kachha - An underwear to indicate virtuous character.

4. Kara - A Iron bracelet on the wrist, a symbol of dedication to the Divine Bridegroom.

5. Kirpan - A sword symbolising dignity, power and unconquerable spirit.

II. They must observe the following guidelines:

1. Not to remove hair from the body.

2. Not to use Tobacco or other intoxicants (alcohol).

3. Not to eat any meat of an animal.

4. 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)

(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', Moolmantar- the preamble of Japji, and recite 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.

After the Guru had administered Amrit to his Five Beloved Ones, he stood up in supplication and with folded hands, begged them to baptize him in the same way as he had baptized them. He himself became their disciple (Wonderful is Guru Gobind Singh, himself the Master and himself the disciple). The Five Beloved Ones were astonished at such a proposal, and represented their own unworthiness, and the greatness of the Guru, whom they deemed God's Vicar upon earth. They asked him why he made such a request and why he stood in a supplicant posture before them. He replied, "I am the son of the Immortal God. It is by His order I have been born and have established this form of baptism. They who accept it shall henceforth be known as the KHALSA. The Khalsa is the Guru and the Guru is the Khalsa. There is no difference between you and me. Accordingly the Five Beloved Ones baptized the Guru with the same ceremonies and injunctions he himself had employed.

The Guru was then named Gobind Singh instead of Gobind Rai. Guru Gobind Singh was the first one to take Amrit from the Khalsa, the Five Beloved Ones. About 80,000 men and women were baptized within a few days at Anandpur. "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." (Miss Pearl, S. Buck)

• 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

• Sukhmani Sahib Mp3,Real Audio, Real Audio download

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