Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth Guru of the Sikhs. He was born at Patna, now the capital of Bihar State, in December 16664. D. His father, Guru Teg Bahadur, had gone thither on a long tour. What was the object of his tour? His object was to persuade the people to follow the path of Love, Service and Devotion. As preached by Guru Nanak. He had taken his family with him; He was accompanied by a large number of his followers too. On reaching Patna, he made arrangements for his family’s stay there. Leaving his family at Patna, he went further east to visit Bengal and Assam. He was in Assam at the time of his only son’s birth.
The tenth Guru’s mother, Mata Gujri names him Gobind Rai. Some people say that his first name was Gobind Das. We shall see later how he came to be called Gobind Singh.
The first five or six years of his life were spent in the city of his birth. During these years he gave Clear signs of the sort of life he was to lead later: He was active and full of mirth. He loved to play the soldier. He had an army of playmates at his heels. They all looked upon him as their leader. Usually, he used to divide them into two groups. He placed himself at the head of one of the groups. The other group had a captain of their choice; He made the two groups engage in games and matches requiring skill, courage, strength and patience.
He was fearless and brave. One day he was playing with his friends in a part of the city. The chief officer or Nawab of Patna came that way. The Nawab’s servants called upon the boys to salute the Nawab. Hearing this, Sri Gobind Rai said to his comrades, ‘No, brothers, we are not going to salute or say Salam to the Nawab. We shall all make faces at him. We shall jee rat him. Be Ready.’ As the Nawab approached, all the boys made faces at him; they clapped their hands in fun. The Nawab’s servants tried to catch them. But they all ran away, shouting, clapping and laughing.
Sti Gobind Rai was a charming child. His conduct and manners won him a large number of admirers. He came to be loved by many—young and old, rich and poor, learned and simple, Hindus and Muslims. Among his Hindu admirers was a learned Brahmin named Pandit Shiv Das. Raja Fateh Chand Maini and his wife also loved and admired him. Among his Muslim admirers of Patna were two brothers named Nawab Rahim Bakhsh and Nawab Karim Bakhsh. They made an offering of a village and two gardens to the charming child.
Another Muslim admirer of his was Pir Bhikhan Shah. He was a Sayyid. He lived at the village Thaska in the district of Kamal, now in Haryana. On the day when Gur Gobind Rai was born at Patna, the Pir did something unusual for a Muslim. He looked towards the east, in the direction of Patna, and then he made a deep and respectful bow. This act was queer for a Muhammedan. As we know, Muhammedans bow to the west, in the direction of Mecca. His disciples and servants felt surprised. They asked him why he had bowed to the east. The Pir replied, “Far away in the east is a city named Patna. In that city God has appeared in human form. He is to perform wonders. He will destroy the evil and wicked people, He will fight against sin, evil and false religion. He will champion the cause of virtue and true religion. I have bowed to God in that human form. I am going to that sacred city in order to get a sight of Him. The sight will be a blessing for me.
Pir Bhikhan Shah set out for Patna. He had some disciples and servants with him. In due course, he arrived at that city. He went to the house where Sri Gobind Rai then lived. He bowed and sat near the door of that house. He was asked what he wanted; why he sat there in that way. He replied, ‘1 come from a far off place. I have come to have a look at the holy child born and living in this house, He is God in human form.’
Mata Gujri was informed of the fakir at her door, she was told what he wanted, at first she hesitated a bit; she made some excuses to put him off. But the Pir said, ‘I have traveled hundreds of miles to have a look at the holy child. I will not move from this place until my wish is granted, I will neither eat nor drink anything till then.”
His wish had to be granted at last. As soon as he saw the child, he made a deep, respectful bow. He had with him two earthen pots. They contained sweetmeat. One of them had been bought from the shop of a Hindu confectioner. The other had been bought from a Muhammedan confectioner’s shop. The Pir placed the two pots before Sri Gobind Rai. Having done that with hands folded and eyes fixed on the holy child. Sri Gobind Rai covered one of the pots with his left hand. He covered the other pot with his right hand. Then he smiled and looked at the Pir, at this Pir Bhikhan Shah made a longer and deeper bow.
The Pir’s disciples who had come with him said to him, ‘O Pir, we are unable to understand what we have sent. Kindly explain it to us.” The Pir replied, ‘I wanted to know whether this man of God or God” in man will favor the Hindus or the Mussalmans. Thad said to me, “If he is to favor the Hindus, he will put his hand on the pot got from the Hindu shop. If he is to favor the Muslims, he will put his hand on the pot got from the Muslim shop.” He has read my thoughts, He has covered both the! Pots. It means that both Hindu and Muhammedans will be equally dear to him. He will help the Hin3) dues, if they need his help. He will help the Muslims if they are in need of his help. This has glad» dined my heart immensely.’
The Pir then returned to his home) in the Panjab, He remained a loving admirer of Guru Gobind Singh? All through his life. Courtesy: Stories from Sikh History, Book V, Hemkunt Press.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 6, 1995
