Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti 2024: 10 Interesting Facts That You Need to Know

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti 2024: Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth and last human guru of the Sikhs, who founded the Khalsa Panth, a brotherhood of saint-soldiers, and gave a new identity and direction to Sikhism. He was a warrior, a poet, a philosopher and a spiritual leader, who sacrificed his life for the sake of truth and justice. He is revered and remembered by the Sikhs and others for his teachings, his courage and his legacy. In this article, we will explore 10 interesting facts about Guru Gobind Singh that you may not know.

1. He was born in Patna, Bihar

Guru Gobind Singh was born as Gobind Rai on December 22, 1666, in Patna, Bihar, which was then under the rule of the Mughal Empire. His father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was the ninth guru of the Sikhs, who had left his home in Anandpur, Punjab, to travel across India and preach Sikhism. His mother, Mata Gujri, accompanied him on his journey. Guru Gobind Singh spent the first four years of his life in Patna, where he received his early education and learned various languages, such as Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Hindi and Braj. His birthplace is now a sacred shrine called Takht Sri Patna Harimandar Sahib.

2. He became the guru at the age of nine

Guru Gobind Singh became the tenth guru of the Sikhs at the tender age of nine, after his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was martyred by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1675. Aurangzeb had ordered Guru Tegh Bahadur to convert to Islam or face death, as he wanted to impose his religion on the people of India. Guru Tegh Bahadur refused to give up his faith and chose to sacrifice his life for the sake of religious freedom. He was beheaded in Delhi, along with his companions, who were also tortured and killed. Guru Gobind Singh was informed of his father’s death by his maternal uncle, Kirpal Chand, who brought his severed head to Anandpur. Guru Gobind Singh performed the last rites of his father and declared himself as the new guru of the Sikhs on Baisakhi in 1676.

3. He created the Khalsa Panth on Baisakhi in 1699

One of the most significant events in the history of Sikhism was the creation of the Khalsa Panth, a community of pure and devoted souls, who were committed to the service of God and humanity, by Guru Gobind Singh on Baisakhi in 1699. Guru Gobind Singh had invited thousands of Sikhs to gather at Anandpur on the occasion of the spring festival. He addressed the congregation and asked for five volunteers, who were willing to sacrifice their lives for their faith. He took them inside a tent and came out with a blood-stained sword, one by one, until all five were gone. The crowd was shocked and terrified, thinking that the guru had killed them. However, to their surprise, Guru Gobind Singh emerged from the tent with the five men, who were alive and well. He had slaughtered five goats inside the tent, and not the volunteers. He baptized them with the Amrit (nectar) of the double-edged sword and gave them the title of Singh (lion). He also asked them to follow the five Ks, the symbols of the Khalsa identity: Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (comb), Kara (steel bracelet), Kachera (cotton underwear) and Kirpan (sword). He also announced a code of conduct for the Khalsa warriors, which included ethical and moral values, such as honesty, compassion, humility, generosity and courage. He then asked the five men, who were called the Panj Pyare (the five beloved ones), to baptize him as well, and called himself Gobind Singh, the servant of the Khalsa.

4. He wrote many works of literature and compiled the Dasam Granth

Guru Gobind Singh was not only a warrior, but also a poet, a philosopher and a scholar. He wrote many works of literature in various languages, such as Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Hindi, Punjabi and Braj. Some of his famous compositions are the Jaap Sahib, the Tav-Prasad Savaiye, the Benti Chaupai, the Zafarnama and the Bachittar Natak. He also compiled the Dasam Granth, a collection of his own writings as well as the works of other poets and saints, such as Kabir, Ravidas, Namdev, Jayadeva and Sheikh Farid. The Dasam Granth contains hymns, prayers, historical accounts, autobiographical details, mythological stories and philosophical discourses. It is considered as a sacred text by the Sikhs, and some of its hymns are recited daily as part of the Sikh prayers.

ADVERTISEMENT

5. He fought many battles against the Mughals and their allies

Guru Gobind Singh was a fearless leader, who fought many battles against the Mughal Empire and their allies, who wanted to suppress the Sikhs and impose their religion on the people of India. He also faced the treachery of some Hindu kings, who sided with the Mughals against him. He fought 21 battles in his lifetime, in which he displayed great courage, skill and strategy. Some of his famous battles are the Battle of Bhangani, the Battle of Nadaun, the Battle of Anandpur, the Battle of Chamkaur, the Battle of Muktsar and the Battle of Khidrana. He never fought for personal gain or revenge, but for the sake of truth and justice. He also never took captives or damaged anyone’s place of worship. He believed in a Dharam Yudh, a righteous war, which is fought as a last resort, and not for any destructive or selfish motives.

6. He lost his four sons, his mother and many of his followers in his struggle

Guru Gobind Singh faced many hardships and sacrifices in his struggle against the Mughals and their allies. He lost his four sons, his mother and many of his followers in the course of his battles and sieges. His two elder sons, Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh, were killed in the Battle of Chamkaur in 1704, when they fought bravely against a huge Mughal army. His two younger sons, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, were captured and executed by the governor of Sirhind, Wazir Khan, in 1705, when they refused to convert to Islam. His mother, Mata Gujri, also died of shock and grief after hearing the news of her grandsons’ death. Guru Gobind Singh himself was wounded and separated from his family and followers during the evacuation of Anandpur in 1704, when the Mughals and their allies attacked the fort. He managed to reach Chamkaur with a few of his men, where he fought a fierce battle. He then escaped to Machhiwara, where he disguised himself as a Muslim saint and reached Talwandi Sabo, where he reunited with some of his surviving followers.

7. He wrote the Zafarnama, a letter of victory, to Aurangzeb

One of the most remarkable works of Guru Gobind Singh is the Zafarnama, a letter of victory, which he wrote to Aurangzeb, the Mughal emperor, in 1705. He wrote this letter in Persian, in the form of 111 verses, in which he challenged Aurangzeb to a moral and spiritual duel, and exposed his hypocrisy and injustice. He also declared that he had won the war, even though he had lost his family and his army. He asserted that he was the true servant of God, and that God was on his side. He also reminded Aurangzeb of his oath on the Quran, which he had broken by attacking Anandpur. He also invited Aurangzeb to meet him in person and settle their differences. The Zafarnama is a masterpiece of literature and diplomacy, which shows the courage and the wisdom of Guru Gobind Singh.

8. He met Bahadur Shah, the successor of Aurangzeb, and sought justice

After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, his son Bahadur Shah became the new Mughal emperor. Guru Gobind Singh met him in Agra, and sought justice for the atrocities committed by the Mughals and their allies against the Sikhs. He also asked for the return of the Sikh lands and properties, which had been confiscated by the Mughals. Bahadur Shah agreed to fulfill the demands of Guru Gobind Singh, and also offered him a high position in his court. Guru Gobind Singh declined the offer, and instead accompanied Bahadur Shah to the Deccan, where he was engaged in a war with his brother Azam Shah. Guru Gobind Singh hoped to influence Bahadur Shah to adopt a policy of religious tolerance and reform.

ADVERTISEMENT

9. Assassination Attempt on Guru Gobind Singh: Wazir Khan’s Plot Unveiled

Khan, the governor of Sirhind Guru Gobind Singh was stabbed by a Pathan assassin, who was hired by Wazir Khan, the governor of Sirhind, who had ordered the execution of his two younger sons. The assassin, Jamshed Khan, managed to enter the camp of Guru Gobind Singh at Nanded, Maharashtra, in 1708, and attacked him with a dagger, when he was resting in his chamber. Guru Gobind Singh fought back and killed the assailant, but he was seriously wounded in his abdomen. He forgave his attacker, and asked his followers not to seek revenge. He also instructed them to obey the Guru Granth Sahib as his living word, and to regard it as their guide and leader.

10. He is regarded as the eternal guru of the Sikhs and the father of the Khalsa

Guru Gobind Singh passed away on October 7, 1708, at Nanded, Maharashtra. He was cremated on the banks of the river Godavari, where a gurdwara, called Hazur Sahib, was built in his memory. He is regarded as the eternal guru of the Sikhs, who follow his teachings and his example. He is also revered as the father of the Khalsa, who gave a new identity and direction to Sikhism. He is remembered and celebrated by the Sikhs and others on his birth anniversary, which is called Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti, and on his death anniversary, which is called Guru Gaddi Diwas.

FAQs