A divine messenger, a warrior, a poet, and a philosopher, Guru Gobind Singh Ji moulded the Sikh religion into its present form, with the institution of the Khalsa fraternity, and the completion of the sacred scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the eternal guru.
Before leaving his mortal body in 1708, Guru Gobind Singh decreed the Guru Granth Sahib as the next and perpetual Guru of the Sikhs. It may not be out of context to consider that throughout the chronicles of human history, there has been no individual who lived a life more inspirational than Guru Gobind Singh Ji. He is variously revered as Sarbans Dani (the merciful donor, who sacrificed his all), Mard Agamra (man without any parallels), Shah-e-Shahenshah (emperor of emperors), Bar do Alam Shah (ruler of both worlds). Guru Gobind Singh was born on December 22, 1656, in Patna (present-day Bihar), as Gobind Rai, the son of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Nanak, and Mata Gujri Ji. His birth coincided with the festival of Makar Sankrant, the harvest festival, celebrated on the first day of Magh, when the sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn. Gobind Rai, who was the first child of the couple, was named after the festival, which was most auspicious in nature and was meant to welcome the good and drive away evil.
Gobind Rai was a precocious child and, right from his early childhood, showed signs of a very profound nature. He could be seen sitting in deep meditation even when he was barely five years old. Guru Gobind Singh left an inspiring mark on the Sikh ethos, philosophy, and religion. His life was an embodiment of the highest moral, spiritual and ethical values. He was an embodiment of selfless service and sacrifice offered by a true leader. He was a divine messenger who, as he grew up, had to face the hardest of challenges. His very childhood was steeped in bloodshed. He saw the massacre of his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, at the hands of the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb, and witnessed the death of his two elder brothers, his mother, and his uncle, Chandu. He had to flee from one place to another, along with his mother and three younger sisters, to save his life. His life was of great hardships and intense spiritual struggle.
Right from the beginning of his life, Guru Gobind Singh had the urge to establish an order of Truth, Unity and Purity, and create a society where men, who were pure in spirit, could co-exist. This led to the creation of the Khalsa in 1699, when, after a long and arduous spiritual journey, he administered the Amrit (baptism) to five distinguished men (Panch Pyare) and initiated them into the Khalsa. The Khalsa is the spiritual, moral, and social order created by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, with the help of his Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib. It is the order which is meant to realize the dream of a society where there is no place for falsehood, selfishness, and greed. The Khalsa is the embodiment of the three virtues of Sat (truth), Sant (contentment), and Sahaj (simplicity).
The members of the Khalsa have special duties towards society. They have to defend it against evil, injustice, and ignorance. They have to protect their people from exploitation and tyranny. Guru Gobind Singh Ji wrote the last chapter of Indian history by creating a mighty force, the Khalsa, which, under the command of Banda Singh Bahadur, broke the back of Mughal rule in north India. The emperor, Shah Alam, was forced to flee Delhi and seek refuge with the Persian emperor. The Sikhs, under the supreme command of Banda Singh Bahadur, ruled the Ganges Valley from Saharanpur to Varanasi for about two years. Banda Singh Bahadur’s military campaign was one of the most significant events in the history of India. In one stroke, he removed the two major problems that had been troubling the country for several centuries: the Mughal rule and the menace of the caste system that had been dominating the people. The rule of the Mughal dynasty in India came to an end as a result of Banda Singh Bahadur’s daring exploits. Guru Gobind Singh Ji has left behind an immortal legacy. His teachings have given a new dimension to the lives of millions of people all over the world. His life is a source of inspiration for all those who aspire to lead a meaningful and fulfilling life. The impact of Guru Gobind Singh’s life and message has been so profound that one can see his influence in every walk of life, in almost every religion and in every country.
He has provided the world with the essence of all religions and has given people a way to lead meaningful and fulfilling life. He has left behind a legacy that has earned him the highest place in the hearts of people. Guru Gobind Singh left behind a legacy that is worth emulating. His teachings have given a new dimension to the lives of millions of people all over the world. His life is a source of inspiration for all those who aspire to lead a meaningful and fulfilling life. He has provided the world with the essence of all religions and given people a way to lead meaningful and fulfilling life. He has left behind a legacy that has earned him the highest place in the hearts of people. He was a divine messenger who lived a life full of hardships and intense spiritual struggle. He had to face the hardest of challenges in his childhood with the tragedy of losing family members. However, he still led his people and inspired many to fulfil righteous life. The life of Guru Gobind Singh Ji has been a source of inspiration for many centuries. His teachings have given a new dimension to the lives of millions of people all over the world. His life is a source of inspiration for all those who aspire to lead a meaningful and fulfilling life.
He has provided the world with the essence of all religions and the people has been given a way to lead meaningful and fulfilling life. He has left behind a legacy that has earned him the highest place in the hearts of people.
