It is generally believed that the date of birth of Guru Gobind Singh is Poh Sudi Saptmi, 1723 Bikrami (22 December 1666, A.D.)
Recent researches establish that the correct date of birth of Tenth Master is Poh sudi Saptmi 1661, A.D.
18 December 1661,A .D.)
In arriving at this conclusion the following primary source materials have been depended upon:
Bhatt Vahi Entries
“Guru Kian Sakhian” by Bhai Sarup Singh “Bansavali Nama Dasan Patshahian Ka” by Kesar Singh Chhibbar “Rehat Nama” Chaupa Singh Jassa Singh Binos” by Ram Sukh Rai.
Bhatt Vahi entries: According to Dr. Ganda Singh
“The entries in the Bhatt Vahis are really very important sources of information for our history like those of the old ballada, Kalyan and Var composed and sung by professional genealogists Bhatt’s, Jheewars and Mirasis like the Khayal and Pawdda composers of Rajasthan and Maharashtra the Bhatt’s of the Punjab and Malwa are genealogy specialists. Who move about from village in their respective areas, recording important events connected with the families of their Yajmans. As such, the Bhatt Vahi records are not only contemporary but also first hand, and can, therefore, be safely relied upon” (Punjab past and present April 1976)
Bhatt Vahis were rough to light by Garja Singh during 1960-70
According to “Bhatt Vahi Purbi Dakhni”, Gobind Das was born at Patna on Poh Sudi Saptmi, 1718 BK (18 December 1661)
Guru Gobind Das son of Guru
Tegh Bahadur the Ninth guru,
Grandson of guru Har Gobind, Sodhi Khatri, resident patna City (on banks of Jamana was born on Poh Sudi Saptmi Wednesday night (last quarter) in Sampat 1718.
(Bhatt Vahi Purbi Dakhni) “Guru Kian Sakhian
The work was completed in 1790 A.D. by Bhai Sarup Singh of Bhads on who had drawn upon his family records of late seventeenth and early eighteen centuries; It covers a period of over seventy years from 1692 BK to 1765 BK up to the death of Guru Gobind Singh. The book edited by Giani Garja Singh and Prof. Para Singh Adam, was published in 1986.
As mentioned in the book:
Guru Gobind Singh was born at Patna on Wednesday, 18 December 1661 A.D.
He passed away at Nander on 7 October 1708, at the age of 46 years 9 months, 14 day:
Dr. Fauja Singh writes:
To sum up, it may be said that Bhatt Vahis and Panda Vahis area source of great historical importance. They may solve many of our problems involved in the study of our Gurus and hence deserve a careful investigation on the part of our writers. ….The evidence of Bhatt Vahis is corroborated by many other sources such as guru Kian Sakhian, Bansavalinama, Mehma Parkash and Badahah Baranjis of Assam
(The Sikh Review, January 1976).
These original sources throw abundant light on many an obscure spot in our understanding of the guru period. Their evidence in the reconstruction of life sketch of Guru Tegh Bahadur has been of tremendous help.
(Guru Tegh Bahadur Introduction).
At the age of 35, in 1713 BK, Sri Tegh Bahadur left Sri Har Rai, on pilgrimage at the time of Sri Har Rais departure for his heavenly abode; he was at Patna with his family. Here in 1718 BK on the 18th in the month of Poh, on Wednesday, Guru Gobind Singh was born. As he was in a distant land, he could not know in time about the death of Guru Har Rai. Therefore in 1721 BK, he came to Delhi to condole and then went back to Bhadar Des.
Sikhi about Gurus departure to his heavenly abode
In 1765 BK, in the Month of Kartak at the age of 46 years, nine months and a few days, he (Guru Gobind Singh left his world Sakhi Sri Ram Rai and Sri Tegh Bah to Bhadar Des
Kesar Singh Chhibbars Bansavali Nama Dasan Patshahian Ka was completed in 1826 BK, (A.D.1769)he tells us there in that he had consulted for his writings the records in the Gurus house at Anandpur where his grandfather Dharm Chand and great grandfather Dargah Mall had been Diwans to Guru Gobind Singhs ancestor belonged to Kariala, in the district of Jhelum.
According to him, Guru Tegh Bahadur set out on pilgrimage in 1713BK, and after visiting various holy places arrived at Patna in 1718 BK when Guru Gobind Singh was born.
Rehat Nama Chaupa Singh (Chaupat Rai)
Chaupat Rai accompanied Guru Tegh Bahadur throughout Gurus first journey to Paina, where he was present at the birth of Gura Gobind Singh. He was inconstant attendance to child Gobind Des. Chaupa Singh was killed at Delhi along with 60 other Sikhs in 1723 AD. It is mentioned in the Rehat Nama that Guru Gobind Singh was born at Patna in 1718 BK.
Jassa Singh Binod BY Ram sukh Rai
According to this manuscript guru Gobind Singh was born at Patna on Poh Saptmi 1718 BK.
A son was born to guru Tegh Bahadur in 1718 BK in the month of Magh in Krishna Prakash, Sapimi Ravivar (Sunday) in the 3rd quarter of the night, From then he came to Madha Desh,
In 1718 Poh Sudi Saptmi, on the night of Sunday (third quarter), was born a son to Guru Tegh Bahadur and Mata Gujri.
Sri Jassa Singh Binod Patra 27 (Manuscript)
First Journey to Patna
Guru Tegh Bahadur undertook tow journeys to Patna the first journey being in 1661 A.D. before he became Guru, and second in 1666 A.D. after he became Guru,
In the first journey he was accompanied by his mother Nanki his wife Gujri, his brother in law Kispal Chand and Chaupat Rai,
The pilgrimage party Ste out from Kiratput in June 1656, reached Hardwar in December 1656 and was present there on the Baisakhi day 29th March 1657.
It reached Prayag in early A. and was present there on the full moon day of Baisakhi 1718 Bikrami (April 1661). After a few months stay at Prayag the party reached Banaras in June 1661. Gorm Banaras, travelling Via Gaya, the Pany reached Patna. It was during the stay at Patna that Guru Gobind Singh was born to Mata Gujri on Poh Sudi Saptmi 1718 Bikrami (18 December 1661).
Second Journey to Patna
Guru Tegh Bahadur had to return to Punjab temporarily for offering condolences on the death of Guna HarRai. His wife Gujri, her brother Kirpal Chand, child Gobind Das and Caupat Rai stayed back at Patna. This is borne out by the relevant Bhatt Vahientryat Prayag. It is mentioned therein that following persons came to Prayag from Patna along with Guru Tegh. Bahadur on his return journey to Punjab in January 1663,
Mata Nanki Mata Hari Dewan Durgamal A number of Sikh Fakirs.
The Guru arrived on 3rd January 1663. He reached Delhi on March Ath, 1663.
Guna Harkishan died on 30th March 1664, Tegh Bahadur was proclaimed Guru on 11th August 1664.
Guru Tegh Bahadur was under tension at Delhi for about two months November, December 1665. After release he set out on his second journey to Patna, It could be relevant to add that there were no ladies with this time, Mata Gujri was already at Patna, Mata Nanki had gone to her parents” house at Bakala,
After his return to Patna in May 1666 A.D. the Guru a remained there for some time, Thereafter he went ————; Assam an yrand Assam and finally to Bet pack to Delhi in June 1670, Jury Gobind Singh (child Gobind bas) with his mother Mata Gujti her brother Kirpal Chand and Caupat Rai reached Lakhnor (Ambala) in September 1670.
Summarizing, it is evident that
One his first journey to Patna in 1661 A.D. Guru Tegh Bahadur was accompanied by his wife Gujti her brother Kirpal Chand and Chaupat Rai
(ii) Guru Gobind Singh was born at Patna on December 1661.
(iii) Mata Gujri her brother Kirpal Chand, Chaupat Rai and child Gobind Das stayed back at Patna leave for Punjab in 1663 A.D. He came back to Patna in 1666 A.D.
The Discrepancy.
The widely prevalent belief that Gura Gobind Singh was born on Poh Sudi Saptmi, 1723 Bik (22 December 1666 A.D.)
Actually the Guru undertook two journeys to Patna, the first being in 1661 A.D. before he become Guru, and the second in 1666 A.D. after becoming Guru. Guru Gobind Singh was born during the course of the first visit. About a year after the birth of Gobind Das, Guru Tegh Bahadur left for Punjab reaching Delhi in early 1663 A.D leaving behind Mata Guji, Kirpal Chand, child Gobind Dasand Chaupat Rai at Patna.
It would be relevant to compare the various versions about the date of birth of Guru Gobind Singh in their proper sequence as given in the primary as well as secondary sources detailed below:
Primary Sources:
These are discussed below:
Bhatt Vehies, Guru Kian Sakhian, Bansavali Nama and Rahat Nama mention 1718 bikrami as the year of birth of Guru Gobind Singh. They have been dealt with at length in the write up “Correct date of birth of Guru Gobind Singh”.
Hukamnamas” of Guru Tegh Bahadur bear no dates and are subject of different interpretations. “Bachitar Natak.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 6, 1992
