When the news of Guru Asjan’s (Guru Hargobind’s father) martyrdom reached Amritsar, Guru Har Gobind was sad, but he did not give himself up to grief. He kept perfectly calm. He said, “Let the Granth Sahib be read. Baba Budha will do the reading. Let Ragis (musicians) sing the Guru’s hymns.” The singing of hymns and the reading of the Granth Sahib lasted for 10 days. Then prayers were offered and sacred food (karah Parshad) was distributed.
After that, the ceremony of seating Guru Har Gobind on the Guru’s throne was performed. Baba Budha dressed him in new clothes. He then led him to the throne. Guru Har Gobind took his seat on it. Then Baba Budha placed before him a seli. He requested him to wear it as a mark of Guruship. A seli was a woollen cord or string. Holy men used to wear it as a necklace. Some of them used to twist it round their heads. The first five Sikh Gurus had used the seli as a necklace or twisted it round their headdress. When Baba Budha placed the seli before Guru Har Gobind, the Guru said, “Times have changed. The seli will not do now. It suits those saints or holy men who want to worship God in peace. But there is no peace for us now. Our enemies are bent upon finishing us; they are determined to root out our religion. We have to defend ourselves. We have to defend our faith. From now on, the Sikhs should be not only saints, but soldiers also. They should be saint soldiers. They should worship God not only in homes and temples, but also in the field of battle. Hence, from now on, not the seli but the sword will be the mark of Guruship.
The Guru has to lead and guide you in times of war as well as in times of peace. He has to be your leader in worldly as well as in religious matters. As a mark of this twofold duty, I shall wear two swords. That on the right side will be the sword of Piri the mark of my being your leader and guide in religious matters. The on¢ on the left will be the sword of miri, the mark of my being your leader and guide in worldly matters. That was why my father had me trained as a soldier. Let my Sikhs learn riding and use of all arms. Horses and arms should be their offerings to the Guru.
Baba Budha did as desired. Guru Har Gobind put on the two swords of miri and Piri. He came to be called Miri Piri Da Malik or the Sikhs’ guide in worldly as well as in religious affairs. The seli was placed in the treasury.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 26, 1996
