BY NIRMAL SINGH KALSI, Vancouver, B.C.
GURU GOBIND SINGH (1666-1708 A.D.), the tenth Master of the Sikhs was born at Patna Sahib when his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur was away from home on a tour to spread the Gospel of Sikhism in the East. He was proclaimed Guru when he ‘was about nine years, Guru’s philosophy being eminently practical, he exemplified in himself the model of a house-holder’s life. He elaborated the concept of God as furnished by the first Guru. He gave prominence to the belief in victory-Fatah.
At the tender age of nine, he inspired his father to face martyrdom for protecting the faith of Kashmiri Pundits, for the greater cause of religious freedom and freedom of conscience for all. The child Gobind orphan zed himself, Moreover, his mother, his four sons and many of his disciples and ‘even he himself were martyred for the sake of upholding justice and freedom,
‘There are many revealing facets of the life of Guru Gobind Singh. His achievements during his short life span of forty-two years are unparalleled in the history of the world. Sayyad Mohd. Let if (A History of the Punjab, Calcutta, 1890) eulogizing the merits of Guru’s contribution, writes:
“He was a lawgiver in the pulpit, a champion in the field, a king over his masand and a Faqir in the society of the Khalsa”. Thus, the Guru gave man the message of the whole man.
Guru Gobind Singh’s life was a life of struggle and strife but his accomplishments are marvelous and incredible as a universal spiritual teacher, as a leader of people, as a General of armed forces and as a literary artist, As a nation-builder he established the Khalsa Organization, which does not tolerate tyranny, humiliation or injustice but cherishes freedom, equality, brotherhood, love, fraternity, democracy and justice.
Brute forces have to be halted. One cannot stand with folded hands before a ferocious tiger. One has to be ready for self-defense, The Guru exhorted the people: “Fear not, frighten not”.
The Guru was extremely against all aggression and exploitation.
The history stands behind this fact that he never initiated a war; He never wanted or acquired even an inch of the enemy’s territory after his victories. He was not against any particular community or class. His was a fight against the forces of injustice, fanaticism, oppression, in humanity and repression of faith of others.
Guru Gobind Singh waged a ‘war against the corrupt elements even in his own community. His preachers and title-collectors called “Masands” exploited the in no: cent Sikhs. The leading “Masands” were called by the Guru and he punished those who were found guilty and abolished the “Masand” institution.
To accomplish his divine mission to harden the hearts of the people against injustice and tyranny, he took a firm stand that the threats of fear or force cannot deter him from “speaking the Truth”, The martyrdom of his holy father and his closest associates in a brutal manner was indicative of the temper of the state towards the Sikhs.
The hostility of the hill chieftains towards the House of Guru Nanak for rejecting of all distinctions of caste and creed added further to the difficulties of the young Guru, Such a formidable array of inimical forces could not overwhelm Guru Gobind Singh who was born with a Divine Mission which he explains in his autobiographical poem, Vachittar Natak.
“For this very purpose I was born: All you virtuous understand this in your heart, to spread the faith, to protect the saints, And to root out all evildoers”.
On Baisakhi Day of 1699 A.D, Guru Gogind Singh created KhaIsa Panth — the Order of the Khalsa. It was the first Sikh baptismal ceremony when five Sikhs, known as Five Beloved Ones, ‘were baptized and knighted as “Singhs”. Likewise, Sikh women on taking Amrit (Nector were the surname of “Kaur” (Lioness or Princess), the quality of the sexes was exemplified through the rehabilitation of women.
Guru’s Organization was on democratic lines, In fact, he was a great innovator of democracy into religion. Having administered Amrit to the first Five Beloved Ones, the Prophet of a Socio spiritual order begged of them with folded hand to baptize him and others likewise, Guru set their doubts at rest by declaring that he had merged his very soul in them, the Khalsa,
The Guru was baptized and. initiated into the Order of the Khalsa at the hands of his disciples, His name from Guru Gobind Rai was changed to Guru Gobind = Singh. This is a unique example in the entire history of mankind, = ‘more especially in its spiritual annals, that the Master (Guru) became the follower of his disciples. This was the height of democracy.
“Great is Guru Gobind Singh, who is the Guru and the disciple, rolled into one”?
Guru Gobind Singh converted the man of the world into a “Man of God” and this ideal became manifest in the triple personality of the Khalsa, the embodiment of a saint, a scholar, and a soldier Apart from the daily prayers and. other duties, the Guru made it compulsory for the Khalsa to wear the five symbols i.e. the five Ks: Kesh (Uncut hair), Kangha (Comb), Kara (Steel bracelet), Kirpan (Sword) and Kachhahra (Short drawers).
Thus the Guru gave the Khalsa a well-defined ideology, a responsibility, and @ character He strictly prohibited the committal of the four grave breaches of disciples:
- Removing of hair from any part of the body.
- Eating of Koshar meat or that prepared by gradual and painful slaughter of the animal,
¢. Adultery
- Use of the tobacco and all other intoxicants and narcotics,
Even the war-ethics were emphasized by the tenth Guru, There was to be no looting, no killing of the innocent civilians, no raping, no Pursuit of the fugitive enemy and no ill-treatment of war prisoners, Bhai Kanihya’s humanitarian work, even for the relief of enemy-soldiers was allowed to continue unhindered, The mission of mercy and charity was never disturbed in times of war and peace,
Guru Gobind Singh Ji ended the institution of the Personal Gurus. The “Divine Word” enshrined in the holy Adi Granth by the Gurus themselves and 35 saints from all walks of life was installed as the perpetual Guru. In fact, Sikhism is the only religion in the World where the Holy Scripture has been given the status of a religious preceptor which is a lighthouse not only for the Sikh but also for all mankind.
The Guru was a great scholar and poet as well. His compositions are contained in his Dasam Granth; Moreover, there were 52poets in the court of the Guru. He fortified the institution of Langar (Temple of Bread) by ordaining at Anandpur that every disciple should keep his own langar to feed the pilgrims and passers-by and the orders were: None should be sent away disappointed.
Guru Gobind Singh, the embodiment of the highest spirits, proclaims:
“Recognize You The Whole Human Race As One”.
The tenth Master destroyed the physical, mental and social barriers between man and man. He prayed that love is the basis of egalitarian ‘and class-less society. The fear of punishment or rigor of the law can never be the basis of such a society. Love is the foundation of One World and is the answer to the question: “How Can man attain to God”. The Guru says:
“The Human Race, essentially, is a universal Brotherhood”.
“J tells you truly; hear you all, those alone who practice love shall find the Lord”.
Rejecting all distinctions of caste, color and creed, the Guru stands for the “Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man”. He elucidates his respect for all religions. “The same are the temple and the mosque,
Tis the same if one worshipped Him the Hindu way or the Muslim. For men are the same all over: the difference is only of the appearance, the seen”.
It is unthinkable that the Guru could ever harbor feelings of animosity towards any person, « much less a community or a class. He had an unbounded love for the poor, the down-trodden and the dispossessed, for whose sake he sacrificed his holy parents, his family. His closest associates and finally himself as well. Some of his most devoted disciples were Muslims who fought as resolutely on his side as the Sikhs because his was a War against forces of injustice ¢exploitation and aggression and not against any particular class or community. He described himself not only as the servant of God but also of the people.
“All the battles I have won, against tyranny, have fought with the devoted backing of these people”.
“I was born to serve them, through them I reached eminence”.
He thought he was playing a role like any other man in the universal drama. How could such a love fail to find an echo in the hearts of the people? He openly declared in “Vachittar Natak”:
“Whosoever regards me as God shall be damned and destroyed.
Know me as His servant only — have not the least doubt of that.
I am the servant of God, and have come to behold the wonders of the creation. What God told me, that I tell the world, I will not remain silent through fear of mortals”,
No Prophet in the world has ever avowed so complete an identification with the people. No touchstone has ever produced another touchstone as Guru Gobind Singh has done.
The Guru also won the love and the esteem from Muslims because it was entirely due to his practice of Universal Brotherhood based on equality and freedom that Sayyed Budhu Shah, a great Muslim Saint, sacrificed his two sons, a brother and 700 Muslim soldiers for the sake of the Guru in defending the dignity and “freedom of faith” of the people. There are many more such examples which show that even the Muslim leaders were convinced of the Guru’s bonfires and his humanistic qualities.
Guru Gobind’ Singh saw the light manifest in all, so did his Sikhs. Once, there was a comp Taint against Bhai Kanihya that was complained to him because he was administering water to the wounded in battle, irrespective of friend and foe. When the Guru asked why he was doing that, Bhai Kanihya replied, “O my Master! Since you have taught me to make no distinction between man and man, 1saw One God in them all in Hindu, Muslim and Sikh alike”. The Guru, the embodiment of charity and mercy, was so much pleased with this reply that he respected and embraced Bhai Kanihya and asked him to continue with his work and also give first aid where necessary.
Guru Gobind Singh’s message of universal humanism, if followed truly, is bound to be a clarion call in this age torn and tormented by discord, stark ignorance, corrupt socio-spiritual system, profiteering, exploitation, fanaticism and tyranny. In other words, it is a message of love, harmony, Catholicism of belief in One Universal God and war of righteousness. Let’s pray with the Guru:
“Grant me this boon O’ God, from Thy greatness that I may never refrain from doing righteous acts”.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 25, 1987
