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Guru Gobind Singh
In 1670 Guru Gobind Singh returned back to Punjab with his family and later relocated with his family to Chakk Nanaki near Shivani hills in March 1672 where he completed his schooling. In 1675, the Kashmir Pandits asked Guru Tegh Bahadur to protect them from the oppression of Iftikar Khan, the governor under the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb. Tegh Bahadur accepted to protect the Pandits so he revolted against the cruelty of Aurangzeb. He was summoned to Delhi by Aurangzeb and on arrival, Tegh Bahadur was asked to convert to Islam. Tegh Bahadur refused to do so and he was arrested along with his companions and was beheaded publicly on November 11, 1675, at Delhi.
The sudden death of his father only made Guru Gobind Singh strong as he and the Sikh community got determined to fight against the cruelty shown by Aurangzeb. This fight was done to safeguard their basic human rights and the pride of the Sikh community.
The death of his father made the Sikhs make Guru Gobind Singh the tenth Sikh Guru on March 29, 1676, on Vaisakhi. Guru Gobind Singh was only nine years old when he took his father’s position as the Sikh guru. Little did the world know that this nine-year-old child with determination in his eyes was about to change the whole world.
Personal Life of Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh had three wives. He married Mata Jito on June 21, 1677, at Basanthgarh. Together they had three sons, namely Jujhar Singh, Zorawar Singh, and Fateh Singh. On April 4, 1684, he married his second wife, Mata Sundari with whom he had a son called Ajit Singh. On April 15, 1700, he married his third wife, Mata Sahib Devan. She played an important role in promoting Sikhism and was proclaimed as Mother of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh.
Guru Gobind Singh and the Khalsa
In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa which is considered to be his greatest achievement. One morning after meditation d Guru Gobind Singh asked the Sikhs to assemble at Anandpur on Vaisakhi. The guru with a sword in his hand called for volunteers who are ready to sacrifice their life. One Sikh named Daya Ram came forward on the third call. Guru Gobind Singh took him in a tent and after a few minutes returned alone with blood dripping from his sword. He continued this process with four more volunteers but after the fifth volunteer went inside the tent, Guru Gobind Singh Ji came out with all the five volunteers who were unharmed. Guru Gobind Singh Ji blessed the five volunteers and called them the Panj Pyare or the five beloved ones and announced them as the first Khalsa in the Sikh tradition. He did this to test the faith of the people.
Guru Gobind Singh and the Five K’s
He prohibited them from doing adultery, fornication, eating tobacco, and the consumption of halal meat.
Each of these five k’s has a definite function particular to themselves. For instance, The kanga is utilized to comb the long hair, the most commonly identifiable trait of a Sikh. Another such example is that of the kirpan, used by the Sikhs to protect the oppressed.
But, on a much deeper note, these five k’s also go on to perform a much more symbolic function. For instance, the uncut hair, symbolized by the kanga, points towards the natural state of human beings. Whereas, the kirpan symbolizes one’s complete surrender of the ego to his/her Guru. It is said to be the sword of knowledge that cuts the deep roots of the person’s ego by his/her complete submission to the One. Kara, on the other hand, suggests the renouncing of falsehood and practicing universal love. The circular geometry of the kara also symbolizes the eternal nature of God.