Gurgaddi Purab - Guru Har Gobind

Gurgaddi Purab - Guru Har Gobind Sahib Ji

Guru Har Gobind Sahib Ji is the Sixth Guru of Sikhs. Guru Sahib was born at village Guru Ki Wadali in district Amritsar on 19 June, 1595 and was the only son of Mata Ganga Ji and Guru Arjan Dev Sahib, whom he succeeded in 1606 at the age of only 11 years old.

The young Hargobind received his early education and training from the revered Sikhs leaders of the time Baba Buddha Ji and Bhai Gurdas Ji. Guru Hargobind Sahib was married in about 1610 to Mata Nanaki Ji. They were endowed by a large family of one daughter Bibi Viro ji and five sons - Baba Gurditta Ji, Suraj Mal ji, Ani Rai ji, Atal Rai ji and Tegh Bahadar ji.

On the 11 June 1606, Guru Hargobind Sahib became the sixth Sikh Guru at the tender age of 11. After the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Sahib, the Sikh Dharma experienced a marked change in direction. Until 1606, the Panth had been predominantly made up of unarmed religious followers, who relied on the local government and ruler for their defense and worldly protection. The main mission of the Panth was to concentrate on Spiritual awareness, improvement and implementation. On becoming Guru, Guru Sahib asked Baba Buddha Ji for TWO Kirpans and wore these on each side. Guru Sahib announced that from now on, the Sikh mission will advance on two fronts simultaneously and that these two kirpans of Miri and Piri represented this concept. Miri for Military Power and Piri standing for Spiritual Power. It was due to martyrdom of his father, Guru Arjan Sahib that the sixth Guru changed the Panth into an effective, brave and determined army of religious supporters.

From this time onwards, the Sikhs progressively took responsibility for their own worldly protection, the protection of their other followers, their immediate neighbor and any other weak person who was been attacked by an aggressor and asked for assistance. For the first time, the Sikhs became an army ready to challenge the mighty Mughal Empire in protecting the non-Muslim masses from the atrocities being committed by the fanatical rulers. Now the Sikh nation adopts both spiritual and political traditions simultaneously and the dual responsibilities were symbolized by the two Kirpans of "Miri & Piri" worn by the sixth Guru.

It is documented in historical literature of the time that the Guru Sahib kept several hundred cavalier and some sixty artillerymen. Painda Khan was made the chief of a group of special band of Pathan mercenaries who represented the Guru Sahib's Special armed forces. Guru Sahib asked the Sangat (Followers) for weapons, horses and other items of weaponry so that a credible army could be assembled. Guru Sahib also established martial and fitness-building sports so that the masses would be able to serve in these armed divisions as and when required. Gatka, wrestling, hunting were practised during this period. Many thousands of Sikhs took part in these exercises and announced their intention to defend their Panth from the barbaric Mughal and other aggressors.

Guru Sahib also established the art of singing martial songs like 'Vars', which were sung by the Dhaddi-players in the court of Guru Sahib to inspire the Sikhs to rise to heroic heights. The playing of other war oriented instruments like the Nagara (war-drum), Shankh (conch), etc.