Guru Gobind Singh became tenth guru at a young age after his father's martyrdom. The Guru engaged in warfare fighting the tyranny and oppression of Islamic Mughal rulers who sought to suppress all other faiths and obliterate the Sikhs. He married, raised a family, and also founded a spiritual nation of saint soldiers. Though the tenth guru's lost his sons and mother, and countless Sikhs to martyrdom, he established a method of baptism, a code of conduct, and a sovereignty which survives until today.
Timeline of Tenth Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708)
Born at Patna in 1666, Guru Gobind Rai became tenth guru at age 9 following the martyrdom of his father, Ninth Guru Teg Bahadar. At age 11 he married and eventually became the father of four sons. The guru, a prolific writer, compiled his compositions into a volume known as Dasam Granth. At age 30, the tenth guru introduced the Amrit ceremony of initiation, created the Panj Pyare, the five administers of initiation rites, established the Khalsa, and took the name Singh. Guru Gobind Singh fought important historic battles which robbed him of his sons and mother and eventually his own life at age 42, but his legacy lives on in his creation, the Khalsa. Before his death, he compiled the entire text of Adi Granth Sahib from memory. He infused the scripture with his light passed to him from First Guru Nanak through the succession of subsequent gurus, and ordained the scripture his everlasting successor Guru Granth Sahib.
Guru Gobind Singh's Birth and Birthplace
The birth of Gobind Rai destined to become tenth Guru Gobind Singh, took place during the light phase of the moon in the town of Patna located on the River Ganga (Ganges). Ninth Guru Teg Bahadur left his mother Nankee and his pregnant wife Gujri in the care of her Brother Kirpal under the protection of the local Raja, while he went on tour. The event of the tenth Gurus birth sparked the interest of a mystic, and brought his father home.
Guru Gobind Singh's Langar Legacy
When living in Patna as a toddler, Gobind Rai had a favorite food prepared for him daily by a childless queen who fed him while holding him on her own lap. Gurdwara Bal Lila of Patna, built as a tribute to the queen's kindness, is a living langar legacy and serves the tenth guru's favored langar of Chole and Poori to visiting devotees every day. A very old poor woman shared all she had saved to cook a kettle of Khichri for the Guru's family. The tradition of Mai Ji's selfless service is continued by Gurdwara Handi Sahib.
Guru Gobind Singh and Legacy of Sikh Baptism
Guru Gobind Singh created the Panj Pyare, five beloved administrators of the immortalizing nectar Amrit, and became the first to request initiation by them into the Khalsa nation of spiritual warriors. He made his spiritual consort, Mata Sahib Kaur, mother in name of Khalsa nation. Belief in the baptism ceremony of Amrit Sanchar, as established by Tenth Guru Gobind Singh, is essential to the definition of a Sikh.
Decrees, Edicts, Hukams and Hymns of Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh instructed initiates writing letters, or hukams, indicating his will that the Khalsa adhere to strict standards of living. The tenth guru outlined a "Rahit" or code of ethics for the Khalsa to live and die by. These edicts are the foundation on which the current code of conduct and conventions are based. The tenth guru also wrote hymns praising the virtues of Khalsa living which are included in a volume of his poetry called Dasam Granth. Guru Gobind Singh compiled the entire Sikhism scripture from memory and infused his light into the volume as his eternal successor Guru Granth Sahib.
Historic Battles Fought by Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh and his Khalsa warriors fought a series of battles between 1688 and 1707 against Mughal imperial forces advancing the Islamic policies of Emperor Aurangzeb. Though vastly outnumbered valorous Sikh men and women fearlessly served their Guru's cause with an undying devotion to their last breath.
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