The Tenth Guru was the only son of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and Mata Gujari Ji. He was born at Patna Sahib in 1666 and was named Gobind Rai. There he spent his childhood while Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was on his journeys to preach Sikh faith in the northeastern regions of India. The family was reunited at Anandpur Sahib (Punjab) after 1672. Gobind Rai was only 9 years old when Guru Tegh Bahadur sacrificed his life at Delhi to defend the right to life and faith of helpless Kashmiri Brahmans who were being persecuted by the then fanatic foreign rulers of India. The severed head of the father was brought to Gobind Rai by Bhai Jaita from Delhi. Gobind Rai became the Tenth Guru under such trying circumstances. He vowed to carry on the struggle against oppression and injustice for righteousness, He said, “I will turn the sparrows into hawks, make one Sikh challenge thousands of opponents and bestow Knighthood on the low and downtrodden.” He called upon his followers to use weapons when all other means of persuasion failed. Along with the sword to protect human rights, the pen was used to create edifying literature, 52 renowned writers used to attend his court at Paonta Sahib. He himself was a scholar and writer of Punjabi, Braj, Sanskrit and Persian languages.
Guru Gobind Singh made the Baisakhi of 1699 a landmark in the history of mankind by giving the form of Khalsa to the philosophy and concept of the Gurus. On that day Sikhs from all over India assembled at Anandpur Sahib. There at Keshgarh Sahib, the Guru selected the Panj Piaras (Five loved ones) who had offered their heads for the Gurus’ ideals. He prepared and gave them Amrit which he himself afterwards sought from those five, thus the initiator and the initiated became equal. In a few days thousands joined this community of the saint soldiers. They quit Brahminical rituals and caste system. The Guru also gave them Five Kakars or symbols, Khalsa, the embodiment of Gurmat, represent human equality and dignity.
Feeling jealous of the power and popularity of Khalsa, the neighboring hill chieftains and the Mughal forces conspired against the Guru, though he had no territorial ambition. The Sikhs accepted their challenge and dealt hard blows to these forces of oppression in several battles, the struggle claimed the lives of the Gurus mother, 4 sons and many followers. Yet nothing could subdue the indomitable spirit of the Guru and the Khalsa. The Guru wrote Zafarnama or Epistle of Victory to Emperor Aurangzeb: exposing the crafty ruler’s wickedness and moral bankruptcy, The Guru also told him that none could extinguish the flame of Khalsa.
In 1705, at Damdama Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh Ji prepared the final edition of Guru Granth Sahib for which Bhai Mani Singh acted as the scribe. The 10th Nanak merged with God in 1708, at Nanded in South: India. This place is now known as Hazoor Sahib. Before leaving, the Guru ordained that Guru Granth Sahib will be the Eternal Guru of the Sikhs onwards. Jaap Sahib, Akal Ustat, Swayyias, Chaupai are among the popular Banis of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
(Provided by: Prof. Pritam Singh Grewal, Ontario Canada) WSN regrets the ommission of this article in our anniversary issue.
Quote: “Hitler will strike where he believes the element of surprise is most in his favor, for he wants pictures of burning Americans cities to show his people.”
Civilian Defence Director James Landis, warning citizens not is complacent about preparing for potential attacks on American cities.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 5, 1993
