This weekend we will celebrate the anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Birth! We should go back into our history and recognize what our Guru Ji taught us and celebrate Guru Ji’s coming into the world. As each year goes by I add more to these posts.
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| Sri Patna Sahib |
Our 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji was the son of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and Mata Gujar Kaur Ji (Mata Gujri Ji). He was born December 22, 1666 at Patna Sahib. This is one of our 5 Takhts and is in a state called Bihar. Due to the sacrifices of the Sahibzaade we celebrate Guru Ji’s birth in January instead of December.
Guru Ji’s early education in Punjabi, Braj, Sanskrit and Persian was in Anandpur Sahib. Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Shaheedi occurred when Gobind Rai was only 9 years old. He had not hesitated in telling his father to make this important sacrifice stating, “None could be worthier than you, father to make a supreme sacrifice.” At such a young age, Guru Ji’s connection to God allowed him to give up his worldly relationships without question for a greater justice and purpose. Guru Ji went on to write great works such as Jaap Sahib and Chaupai Sahib which we read in our morning paath.
Guru Ji was married to Mata Jito. There different theories- one is argued that Mata Jito was renamed Sundari, as women’s names would change after they got married and the name change to Sundari reflected her beauty. The other is that Mata Jito was a different person. Mata Jito was married to Guru Ji 1677. Meanwhile according to this theory Mata Sundri (Sunder Kaur) married Guru Ji in 1684 and her son was Baba Ajit Singh born in 1687. Mata Jito then had three sons- Baba Jujhar Singh (1691), Zorawar Singh (1696) and Fateh Singh (1699- the same year as the formation of the Khalsa). It is said that Mata Jito saw the future of what was to happen to the family, including the martyrdom of her sons, and she asked permission from Guru Ji to leave her body, thus leaving in December 1700. Her last rites were performed at Anandpur Sahib. Mata Sundari Ji was separated at Sarsa Nadi later, with Mata Sahib Kaur and travelled with Bhai Mani Singh to Delhi, rejoining Guru Ji at Talwandi Sabo in 1706 where she heard of the merging of Mata Gujri and the Sahibzaade with the eternal light. She went back to Delhi and adopted a boy she named Ajit Singh. She provided guidance after the Jyoti Jyot of Guru Ji, and issued her own seal and Hukamnamas, these still exist and date from 1717 to 1730. Eventually her adopted son was convicted for murder and put to death. Mata Sundri left this world in Delhi in 1747 where her last rites were performed. Mata Sahib Kaur was the spiritual wife of Guru Ji, not a physical marriage. Mata Sahib Kaur's family had proposed and in those times, a refused proposal meant that you would never be married. Guru Ji then agreed to a spiritual, not physical marriage. She became the mother of Khalsa, and we as the Khalsa are her children. She left this world in 1708 at Delhi. These two theories have been researched by different individuals- see Sikhiwiki for more information.
Guru Ji was known as Kalgiyan Wale, as they wore a Kalgi on their Turban. It is made of feathers. Here are some pictures of Guru ji's Kalgis. Guru Ji is also known as Shaheshahnshah- the King of all Kings.
Guru Ji also famously had a Neela Ghora (Blue Horse). Guru Ji was talented in horsemanship. This lineage of horses is now kept today at Hazur Sahib. Guru Ji had a Baaj, a white falcon. This is depicted in many paintings of Guru Ji. For this Guru Ji is also referred to as Cittay Bajanvala (keeper of the white falcon). There is a great website that shows original belongings of Guru Ji. Some of them are depicted below but you should also check out the link for the histories behind them: https://www.sikhiness.com/sri-guru-gobind-singh-ji-s-personal-belongings/ Below are pictures of Guru Ji's dastaar, sword, shoes, and arrows.
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| Sri Kesgarh Sahib |
Guru Gobind Singh Ji created the Khalsa in 1699, and this is celebrated on Vaisakhi every year. This is present-day Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. Thus came the image of the Sikh you see today, with the 5 symbols of faith (Kesh, Kangha, Kara, Kirpan, Kacchera) and ready to give their life to defend the innocent at any time. Guru Ji writes in the Zafarnama “When all other means have failed, it is but lawful to take to the sword.” The Rajput chiefs of Silvalik hills were disturbed by the formation of the Khalsa as the Sikhs did not believe in their system of discrimination based on caste. They felt threatened and tried to force Guru Ji out of Anandpur Sahib but were unsuccessful for five years. They got help from Emperor Aurangzeb and in 1705, and laid siege on Anandpur Fort in May (see picture of Qilla Sri Anandgarh Sahib). During this siege, 40 Sikhs left Guru Ji and said they were no longer his Sikhs. By December, Sikhs ran out of food and ammunition. Aurganzeb promised the Sikhs, on an oath of the Quran, that they would be allowed a safe exit if they left Anandpur Sahib. The Mughals betrayed their promise. The family was separated at the Sirsa Nadi (river). Many Sikhs, including Guru Ji’s four sons, Ajit Singh Ji, Jujhar Singh Ji, Zorawar Singh Ji and Fateh Singh Ji were martyred. He lost his mother Mata Gujri Ji at the same time as well. Many manuscripts were lost while trying to cross the Sarsa river.
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| Qilla Sri Anandgarh Sahib |
Guru Ji spent time in Dina where he received a letter from Aurangzeb asking him to come to Deccan to meet him, however Guru Ji rejected his offer and wrote him the Zafarnama in response, delivered to Aurangzeb by Daya Singh and Dharam Singh. In the battle of Muktsar on December 29, 1705, Guru Ji, Mai Bhago, and 40 Sikhs who had previously deserted the Guru Ji (as mentioned above), faced the Mughal army led by Wazir Khan. These 40 became known as the 40 Mukhte (saved ones).
Guru Ji spent 9 months at Damdama Sahib (Talvandi Sabo) finishing the Sri Guru Sahib Ji. This is another of our Takhts. It is said that the Zafarnama touched Aurangzeb and he invited Guru Ji for a meeting, however Guru Ji had already left for the south, and Aurganzeb died. Guru Ji then helped Bahadur Shah gain the throne after the death of Aurangzeb. Nawab Wazir Khan (the same person who ordered the killing of the young Sahibzaade) ordered the murder of the Guru Ji to be carried out by Jamshed Kahn and Wasil Beg. One of them stabbed Guru Ji, however Guru Ji killed the attacker. With the help of the Emperor’s surgeon, he was on the path to recovery. Several days later the wound burst open and started bleeding, but was again treated. Knowing that these were his last days, Guru Ji declared the Guru Granth Sahib Ji as his successor and became Jyoti Jyot. This was at Hazur Sahib (another of our Takhts) in 1708. This Takht is in Maharashtra state.
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| Sri Hazur Sahib |
Guru Ji describes his coming into the world in this shabad in the Sri Dasam Granth Page 132.
Now I relate my own story as to how I was brought here, while I was absorbed in deep meditation.
The site was the mountain named Hemkunt, with seven peaks and looks there very impressive.
That mountain is called Sapt Shring (seven-peaked mountain), where the Pandavas Practised Yoga
There I was absorbed in deep meditation on the Primal Power, the Supreme KAL.
In this way, my meditation reached its zenith and I became One with the Omnipotent Lord.
My parents also meditated for the union with the Incomprehensible Lord and performed many types of disciplines for union.
The service that they rendered the Incomprehensible Lord, caused the pleasure of the Supreme Guru (i.e. Lord).
When the Lord ordered me, I was born in this Iron age.
I had no desire to come, because I was totally absorbed in devotion for the Holy feet of the Lord.
But the Lord made me understand His Will and sent me in this world with the following words.
The Words of the Non-temporal Lord to this insect.
Guru Ji was a warrior, a poet, a musician, leader, and took on so many other roles. He showed us what it truly means to be united and merged into the realization of God, by sacrificing his parents and children, and still remaining in chardi kala for all the Khalsa that is his family. He served as a brave and courageous warrior as well as a saint. May we remember Guru Ji’s contributions to our history as we celebrate the Prakash Divas of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who brought us our identities as Khalsa.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zafarnama_(letter)
https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/301952349992275590/?lp=true
Igurbani
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Kalgi
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/White_Falcon
http://news.ukpha.org/2009/07/sgpc-for-chemical-test-of-kalgi/
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/The_Blue_Horse_and_the_‘Neelay_ghoray_they_swaar’
https://www.punjabidharti.com/punjabi/sikhism/kalgi-shri-guru-gobind-singh-ji/
https://www.punjabidharti.com/punjabi/sikhism/dastar-kalgi-guru-gobind-singh-ji/
https://www.punjabidharti.com/punjabi/sikhism/kalgi-of-guru-gobind-singh-ji/
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