Dr. PP SINGH SUDAN
Guru Ji in his book (Bachitra Natak) wrote ” The Lord has sent me into the world for the purpose of spreading Dharma (Righteousness) everywhere and to destroy the evil-doers root and branch know ye holy men. I have come solely for the purpose of establishing Dharma, protecting the saints and completely uprooting the wicked men”.
Guru ji was born at Patna Sahib on 22nd of Dec,1666 AD. Gobind Rai (the name of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj before initiation to the order the Khalsa) had his early education there and came to settle at Anandpur Sahib (Punjab). During childhood Gobind Rai upto 7 years of age at Patna Sahib blessed Pir Bhikhan Shah, Pandit Shivdutt, Raja Fateh Chand Mouni, and his queen, Nawab Karim Bakhs and Rahim Bakhs on different occasions for their love, affection and godly affairs. Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s father Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib and Mother Mata Gujri Ji decided to leave for Anandpur Sahib to spread preachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji to the Sangat who was awaiting Guru Ji’s holy family at Anandpur Sahib (Punjab). Guru Sangat of Patna Sahib and Guru ji’s small children friends who used to play with Guru ji became sad and even wepted on holy family departure, Guru ji in return gave them lot of blessings.
After arrival at Anandpur Sahib people from in and around of ersts while Punjab started pouring in to Anandpur Sahib for glimps of Guru Ji’s holy family Darshan and would bring lot of gifts for them at Anandpur Sahib. Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib used to recite religious discourses to the Sangat morning and evening daily.
When Guru Gobind Rai Ji reached at 9 years of age. A deputation of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir led by Kirpa Ram approached Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib at Anandpur Sahib in the year 1675 and narrated that Mughals on the direction of Aurangzeb are hell bent for conversion of Hindu into Islam under the supervision of one of his Governor Sher Afgan (Eftikhar Khan). Sher Afgan started committing atrocities on Kashmiri Hindus by forcibly converting them into Islam and outraging the modesty of Hindu women. So after becoming helpless, these Kashmiri Pandits in the last, decided to approach Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib and prayed for saving the modesty and culture of Kashmiri Pandits. Guru Gobind Singh Ji got his early education from Munshi Mir Mohd. Qauzi in Arabi ,Persian. He also got education in Hindi, Sanskrit from Pt. Kirpa Ram of Matan and Punjabi Gurumukhi from Munshi Sahib Chand being Granthi means Head priest of Guru’s Dera. Guru Gobind Singh Ji also got early training in handling of arms, horse riding, swimming and in archery. He learnt all languages and military war training with in three years.
Guru Teg Bahadur Ji attained martyrdoms at Delhi on the 11th of Nov 1675 to save India’s culture and Hindu religion. Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself sent his father to Delhi to appose the tyranny of the rulers. The 10th Guru felt the need of strengthening the Indian nation. He wrote to 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 upto date armamments and imparted training of all tactics.
The baptism with double edged sword enfused a new life into the most dead masses dying under the yoke of tyranny and persecution.
Through out his life Sri Guru Gobind Ji fought against injustices and tyranny. The manner in which he scarified the lives of his father, his mother, his beloved associates whom he regarded his own flesh and blood and all his 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 enemy in Chamkaur battle, while the younger two, aged eight and six were bricked alive under the orders of the Governor of Sirhind in the X’mas week of 1704. Guru Gobind Singh Ji 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 his sons have been martyred 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 sons’ lives have been sacrificed for the sake of Dharma.”
As a great social and religious reformer Guru Gobind Singh Ji kept up the tradition of Sikh Gurus who had lauched a crusade against superstition, polytheism, idolatry, infanticide, caste system, addiction and host of other evils.
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji had a very distinctive personality. Besides being a fearless soldier and far-sighted commander in the battle, 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 alter of his motherland, he was versatile writer, prolific poet and a great scholar. He was master of flawless style in Persian, Arabic, Hindi, Brij Prakit, Sanskrit and Panjabi. He chose a wide range of themes to inspire new spirits in the heart of those who had remained the very ‘dregs of society’ for a number of centuries.
It is a ‘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.
Guru had commenced southward journey on the personal invitation of Emperor Aurangzed, but Guru Sahib was on the way when he heard the new’s of Aurangzeb’s death. King Bahadur Shah, the elder Son of Aurangzeb ascended the throne. With the assistance of the Sikh Army in the battels if ‘Jaju’, Tara Azam 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 23rd July, 1707 and acknowledged the timely help of Guru Sahib and presented the later a rich address of honour and various other valuable gifts, which included ‘Saif’ (a double-edged broad sword) of Arab origins which was used by Khalifas of Islam in atleast five battels at Karbala and was presented to the Aurangzeb by the Arab chiefs .
Now Guru Sahib was the Guest of Emperor Bahadur Shah and accompanied the later to his march to the south to suppress the rebellion of his younger brother Kambaksh. The Guru ji was anxious to solve the problem of the struggling Punjab, some how with peaceful talks with the emperors. Before negotiations could come to a successful turn, Guru Sahib was fatally stabbed at Nanded by the agents of the Nawab of Sirhind and left for heavenly abode (Sach Khand Gaman) in October, 1708 AD. But before this on 4th of Oct,1708 AD Guru Ji proclaimed that “from today onwards” Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the Guru of Sikhs and it should be regarded as the embodiment and visible form of all the ten Gurus”.
