INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL OF COMMERCE, ARTS AND SCIENCE ISSN 2319 – 9202 An Internationally Indexed Peer Reviewed & Refereed Journal Shri Param Hans Education & Research Foundation Trust WWW.CASIRJ.COM www.SPHERT.org Published by iSaRa Solutions CASIRJ Volume 9 Issue 3 [Year - 2018] ISSN 2319 – 9202 Life and Philosophy of Guru Gobind Singh Ji Ramanpreet Kaur Research Scholar, Department of History, Desh Bhagat Uni. Mandi Gobindgarh [email protected] Life-Guru Gobind Singh was born at patna on Dec.22,1666.1 On that propitious day, Guru Gobind Singh was born to Mata Gujari, wife of Guru Tegh Bahadur, Patna was touched with eternal holiness.2 Guru Tegh Bahadur named him Gobind Das. He lived there for about five years, and come to Punjab in 1672. He was brought up like a prince. He was taught Persian, Sanskrit, Hindi, Gurmukhi, Arabic, Arithmetic Granth and History by competent teachers.3 The tiny Gobind passed first five years of his life at Patna. Many stories have been related by chroniclers about his childhood.4 In the early childhood Gobind Singh was bold and fearless. Living at Patna Gobind was eager to join his father at Anandpur as soon as possible. The family left Patna after received letter of Guru Tegh Bahadur ji. News of the child Guru’s departure spread like wild fire. His maternal uncle Kirpal recruited a small force of Sikhs for the protection of the young guru. More and more daring young men began to visit Anandpur, and prolonged their stay to keep inspiring company of the Guru.5 Anandpur was a paradise on earth. For Gobind Singh this was the happiest time of his life. The greatest blessing was the affection of his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur. The mornings and evenings he spent in meditation and in receiving instruction and the rest of the time of day in hunting and other manly sports.6 In those days early marriage was the rule. At the time of marriage Jito, who was the daughter of Harjas Subhikhi, a Khatri of Lahore, was seven and Guru was eleven. At the age of nine Gobind Singh had his father sacrificed in the cause of religious freedom. Between the age of nine and thirty nine, in thirty years he had to fight as many as twenty battles, nine before the creation of khalsa and eleven afterwards.7 Sometime after the execution of his father, the young Guru began to assert himself. An official newsletter of 1677-79 A.D. says: “News from Sarhind . Gobind declares himself to be Guru Nanak. Faujdars ordered to prevent him from assembling (Sikhs).8 The ceremony of Guruship was performed by Bhai Ram, the youngest son of Baba Bhuda ji on Baisakhi, samvat 1733, March29,1676. “ At that time Sikhism was threatened with extinction, root and branch and it has been said that the Sikhs would have been left alone if they reverted to their earlier path and relapsed into purely religious community of quiestists.”9 There are so many difficulties which was created by Mughal Empire and inherent problems faced by the young guru. Evil had to be resisted, so the people had to be prepared for the International Research Journal of Commerce Arts and Science http://www.casirj.com Page 307 CASIRJ Volume 9 Issue 3 [Year - 2018] ISSN 2319 – 9202 struggle: their attitude had to be stiffened and indoctrinated for the resistence.10So Guru realised that he had to turn the emasculated people in Punjab into a new nation of Soldier-cum-saints, strong in body and mind and soul, who could fight the tyranny of the rulers with faith and confidence.11 A army of poets and scholars was collected by Gobind Singh. Although the Guru was a very tender age, but he chalked out a complete programme of action in the coming years. He made his plans with such firmness and thoroughness that no time in his life was there an occasion when this policy was not carried out.12 the first battle of Anandpur was fought between Guru Gobind Singh ji and ruler of Bilaspur Raja Bhim Chand. The Raja decided to assert his authority over the Guru. This took place in 1682 when Gobind was hardly sixteen years of age.13 Relations between the Anandpur and kahlur remained tense. Bhim Chand formed a alliance with the Rajas of Kangraand Guler. The allies attacked Anandpur in the beginning of 1685, but they were repulsed.14 Mata Gujri was anxious to have a grandson as early as possible. So Guru Gobind Singh’s second marriage was decided with Sundri ji and one month later the Guru left Nahan. Sundri became the mother of Ajit Singh in 1686 at Paonta.15 The warlike activities of Guru Gobind ji alarmed the Hill Rajas. They were frightened of the growing power and popularity of Gobind Das.16 They also felt that the Guru was trying “to establish a virtual principality and mountain fastness to serve as the base of his operations against Mughal Government.” They were also under instruction from Delhi to crush the Guru.17 So in sep.1688 battle of Bhangani was fought with the Hill Rajas. After battle of Bhangani Guru gobind Singh came back to Anandpur, Dec., 1688. In 1690, the battle of Nadaun, In 1693, the Hussains battle of Guler, two battle of Anandpur, 1694-96 was fought. Guru Gobind Singh came into this world with a special mission. He was sent by the Lord to perform certain duties for the emancipation of mankind.18 It was under these circumstances that the Guru decided to create the Khalsa – a great decision indeed! He sent letters to his Sikhs throughout the country to come to Anandpurfor the festival of Baisakhi. It was a Hukamnama for them. He called upon the Sikhs to come their with long hair. Once a man embraces Sikhism, he should never shave himself. He is not touch tobacco and should be baptised with the double- edged sword.19 A huge number of men and women and Children collected at Anandpur. The Guru was present in the pandal and listened attentively to be chanting of Asa di Var. He said “My devoted Sikhs, this goddess of power clamours for the head of a brave Sikh. Is there anyone among this huge gathering ready to sacrifice his dear life at this call?”20 Complete silences prevailed for some time. Bhai Daya Ram, a khatri of Lahore, Dharm Das, a jat of Delhi, Bhai Mukham chand, a washerman of Dwarka, Bhai Sahib chand of Bidar, a barbar and Bhai Himamat of Jaganath, offered his head one by one. Then Guru brought out the five Sikhs, he had taken into the tent, dressed in new clothes, with blue turbans on their heads and in loose long yellow shirts, with waist-bands, wearing underwear of a particular style, with swords hanging by their sides.21 They were named as Panj Pyaras. The whole International Research Journal of Commerce Arts and Science http://www.casirj.com Page 308 CASIRJ Volume 9 Issue 3 [Year - 2018] ISSN 2319 – 9202 congregation shouted loudly with one voice Sat Sri Akal- Victory to God. Individually each was called a Singh. While preparing the Amrit for Sikhs Guru Gobind ji recited Japji Sahib, Anand Sahib, Jap Sahib, chaupai Sahib and ten Swayyas. Gura ji said his Singhs would fight against the enemies of their faith and freedom like lions. They would be heroes in this life and would attain salvation and bliss hereafter.22 The Khalsa is the Guru and the Guru is the Khalsa. Guru Gobind singh had to fight twelve battles after the creation of khalsa. In the battle of chamkaur on 22Dec. 1704 were killed two of Guru Gobind Singh’s four sons. It was also a fatefull day of Dec27, 1704, when Guru’s two younger son were bricked alive by Nawab Wazir Khan of Sirhind. Guru’s mother also died to hear the news of younger grandsons. Having learnt about the fate of his family, the Guru did not consider if safe to stay there any longer. He marched on into the water less sandy tract of Bathinda and took up his abode at Dina sahib village.23 At Dina the Guru adressed letter to Aurangjeb in Persian poetry. This letter composed in a sterner strain. In this letter Guru Gobind Singh condemns the Emperor for his failure as a ruler, for his communalism, for his breach of faith and treachery against taking an oath on the Queen.24 Conspiracy had taken a strong hold on the minds of mughals against Guru Gobind singh ji. The Turkish Muslim was called Gull Khan and he along with his brother Atta-Allah-Khan, was in the service of Guru. On the forth of Bhadon of Samat 1765 (1708A.D.), finding the Guru asleep and unattended by anyone else, gull khan trust his dagger deep into the stomach. The wound was not very dangerous but had been inflicted in a very sensitive part of body. All efforts to heal the Guru’s wound proved unavailing. So on 15th of Kartik of Samat 1765, Guru Gobind Singh ji breathed his last the uttering the last words, “ Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa , Wahe-Guru ji ki Fateh”. Philosophy of Guru Gobind Singh ji The concept of an ideal man as established by the nine Guru was in a way extended by Guru Gobind Singh through the creation of khalsa. It was certainly not a departure from the concept of an ideal man as presented by the first nine Gurus and as is described in the Guru Granth Sahib.25 In the Guru’s philosophy, the forces of evil and good, vice and virtues were continuously at work in the world interceded in this endless cosmic drama from time to time in different ways, to sustain good against evils.