The auspicious occasion of Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is being celebrated this year on January 9.(355th Jayanthi). It’s the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh 1666 to 1708), who was the 10th Sikh Guru and became the leader at the tender age of 9. He was a fearless warrior, a spiritual master and a philosopher as well.
The great spiritual master was born as Gobind Rai to parents Guru Tegh Bahadur and Mata Gujri. The Sikh guru was born in Patna, Bihar and he was the only son of his parents.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji founded the Sikh warrior community – Khalsa in 1699 and established the Five Ks – which hold utmost importance in Sikhism. He had four sons – Ajit Singh, Jujhar Singh, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh.
The Five Ks of Khalsa Sikhs: Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (wooden comb),
Kara (an iron or steel bracelet), Kirpan (a sword or dagger) and Kacchera (short breeches)
Guru Gobind Singh Ji is also credited with enshrining the sacred Guru Granth Sahib as the first and important holy scripture of the community and the eternal Guru. Most of his Bani (or sayings) are found in the Dasam Granth or Dasveh Padshah Ka Granth is given utmost importance has is considered to be the second most important religious book in Sikhism after Guru Granth Sahib.
He symbolises the Spirit of Righteousness, Bravery and Justice. He stood up against those who oppressed others. He is also remembered for the ultimate sacrifice which no living being can imagine. For this sacrifice, he is often known as ‘Sarbans Dani’ which means Supreme Sacrificer.
His whole family, including his father, mother and all four sons attained Martyrdom in their war for Dhrama against emperor Aurangzeb. This war was waged by emperor Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb demanded that all Sikhs should be converted to Islam otherwise they will be killed.
At the battle of Chamkaur in December 1705, the two elder sons of Guru Govind Singh, Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh were martyred in the battle. Guru’s younger sons Zorawar Singh (aged nine) and Fateh Singh (aged seven) along with Mata Gujari were captured by Wazir Khan, the governor of Sirhind.
The Trio were told to convert to Islam or face death but they remained steadfast in their convictions. And on December, 11 1705 the two sons were ordered to be bricked up alive in a wall, but, since the masonry crumbled before it covered their heads, they were executed the following day.
Mata Gujari ji were imprisoned on top of a tower which was opened from all sides without any warm clothes in the very cold month of December. She remained true to the tradition of Sikhism and without complaints left her body singing Guru Ki Bani. Mata Gujari ji attained martyrdom the same day as her grandsons.
In 1675 his father Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was petitioned by Kashmiri Pandits for protection from the persecution by the Mughals. Guru Tegh Bahadur tried for a peaceful resolution by meeting Aurangzeb but because of conflicts between Sikhism and Islamic empire Guru Tegh Bahadur ji was executed in Delhi on November 24, under the orders of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. After this martyrdom, the young Govind Rai was installed by the Sikhs as the Tenth Sikh guru in Vaisakhi 1676.
The period following the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur – the father of Guru Gobind Singh, was a period where the Mughal Empire under Aurangzeb was an increasingly hostile enemy of the Sikh people.The Sikh resisted, led by Gobind Singh, and the Muslim-Sikh conflicts peaked during this period.
Both Mughal administration and Aurangzeb’s army had an active interest in Guru Gobind Singh. Aurangzeb issued an order to exterminate Guru Gobind Singh and his family.
He believed in a Dharam Yudh (war in defence of righteousness), something that is fought as a last resort, neither out of a wish for revenge nor for greed nor for any destructive goals. To Guru Gobind Singh, one must be prepared to die to stop tyranny, end persecution and to defend one’s own religious values.
He led fourteen wars with these objectives, but never took captives nor damaged anyone’s place of worship. He led as many as 13 battles.
Wazir Khan, a Muslim army commander and the Nawab of Sirhind, against whose army the Guru had fought several wars, commissioned two Afghans, Jamshed Khan and Wasil Beg, to follow the Guru’s army as it moved for the meeting with Bahadur Shah, and then assassinate the Guru.
The two secretly pursued the Guru whose troops were in the Deccan area of India, and entered the camp when the Sikhs had been stationed near river Godavari for months. They gained access to the Guru and Jamshed Khan stabbed him with a fatal wound at Nandeed.
The Guru fought back and killed the assassin, while the assassin’s companion was killed by the Sikh guards as he tried to escape. The Guru died of his wounds a few days later. His death fuelled a long and bitter war of the Sikhs with the Mughals.