Guru Hargobind
Guru Hargobind | |
|---|---|
ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿਗੋਬਿੰਦ | |
 Contemporary painting of the sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind. Provincial Mughal school, Deccan, mid-17th century | |
| 6th Guru of the Sikhs | |
| Personal | |
| Born | Hargobind 19 June 1595 |
| Died | 28 February 1644 (aged 48)[1] |
| Religion | Sikhism |
| Spouse | Mata Nanaki, Mata Damodari, and Mata Marvahi |
| Children | Baba Gurditta (1613–1638) Baba Suraj Mal (1618–1698) Baba Ani Rai (1633–1678) Baba Atal Rai (1619–1627) Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621–1675) Bibi Veero (1628–1705) |
| Parent(s) | Guru Arjan and Mata Ganga |
| Known for |
|
| Other names | The Sixth Master Saccha Paatshah The Master of Miri Piri Sixth Nanak |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Battles/wars | Wars:
Fighting the following battles:
List of Battles of Guru Hargobind |
| Religious career | |
| Predecessor | Guru Arjan |
| Successor | Guru Har Rai |
| Part of a series on |
| Sikhism |
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Guru Hargobind (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿਗੋਬਿੰਦ, pronunciation: [gʊɾuː ɦəɾᵊgoːbɪn̯d̯ᵊ]l 19 June 1595 – 28 February 1644) was the sixth of ten Gurus of the Sikh religion. He had become Guru at the young age of eleven, after the execution of his father, Guru Arjan, by the Mughal emperor Jahangir.[2]
Hargobind introduced the process of militarization to
Early life
Guru Hargobind was born in Gurū kī Waḍālī, on 19th June of 1595, in a Sodhi Khatri Family in a village 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of Amritsar,[1][5] the only son of Guru Arjan, the fifth Sikh Guru. He suffered from smallpox as a child.[6]
According to Sikh hagiographies, Hargobind survived two poisoning attempts by his uncle Prithi Chand and his wife, Karmo, as well as another attempt on his life, when a cobra was thrown at him by Prithi Chand.[6] The first poisoning attempt involved Karmo dispatching her personal nurse to pretend to be interested in looking after the child Hargobind.[6] However, the nurse placed poison around her nipple which was to harm Hargobind as he suckled her but the young boy refused to latch onto her and thus the nurse's plan failed and she became ill to the poison herself.[6] The second poisoning plan involved a snake-charmer being sent by Prithi Chand and his wife to assassinate the young Hargobind by releasing a snake onto him but the young boy is said to have grabbed the snake in his hand by its head and squeezed it until it died.[6] A third attempt on his life was by a Brahmin directed again by Prithi Chand and his wife, the Brahmin planned to blend poison with curd and feed the child Hargobind with it but when he attempted to do so, Hargobind knocked the curd out of the Brahmin's grasp and it fell onto the floor, where a dog - named Pista; then ate some of it and died as a result revealing its dangerous contents.[6] The Brahmin then died of abdominal afflictions.[6]
Hargobind studied religious texts with Bhai Gurdas and was trained in swordsmanship and archery by Baba Budda.[1] He was also instructed on various languages, religious philosophy, astronomy, medicine, horse-riding, and administration.[6] Hargobind spent a good deal of his early years engrossed in hymns being sung at the Harmandir Sahib complex in Amritsar.[6]
Guruship
On 25 May 1606, Guru Arjan, five days before his own death, selected his son Hargobind as his successor and instructed his son to start a military tradition to protect the Sikh people and always keep himself surrounded by armed Sikhs for protection.[7] Shortly afterwards, Arjan was arrested, tortured and killed by order of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir.[7][8] Guru Hargobind's succession ceremony took place on 24 June 1606.[2][5] He put on two swords: one indicated his spiritual authority (pīrī) and the other, his temporal authority (mīrī).[2][9] He followed his martyred father's advice and always kept himself surrounded by armed Sikhs for protection. The number fifty-two was special in his life, and his retinue consisted of fifty-two armed men.[1] He thus founded the military tradition in the Sikh faith.[2][7]
Hargobind had three wives: Damodari, Nanaki, and Marvahi.[1][10] He had children from three wives. Two of his eldest sons from the first wife died during his lifetime. Guru Tegh Bahadur, his son from Nanaki, became the ninth Sikh Guru.[11] The Sodhis of Anandpur Sahib[12] are the descendants of Baba Suraj Mal Sodhi, one of Guru Hargobind's sons.[13]
The Guru was a martial artist (shastarvidyā); he encouraged people to maintain physical fitness and keep their bodies ready for physical combat. He had his own Darbar (court). The arming and training of some of his devoted followers began. The Guru came to possess seven hundred horses and his Risaldari (cavalry) grew to three hundred horsemen and sixty musketeers.[14]
Relations with other rulers
Guru Hargobind led the Sikh response against Mughal power after Guru Arjan's execution. He nominally accepted Shah Jahan's authority but resisted the Islamic persecution, fighting four wars against Shah Jahan's armies. His attempts to transform the Sikh community brought him in conflict with the Mughal authority.[4][15][16]
Jahangir
Along with the execution of Arjan by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, Hargobind from the very start was a dedicated enemy of the Mughal rule. He advised Sikhs to arm and fight the Mughals.[9] The death of his father at the hands of Jahangir prompted him to emphasize the military dimension of the Sikh community. He symbolically wore two swords, which represented miri piri. He founded the Akal Sena, the first Sikh army. He built a fort to defend Ramdaspur and created a formal court, Akal Takht.[17]
Jahangir responded by jailing the 14-year-old Guru Hargobind at Gwalior Fort in 1609, on the pretext that the fine imposed on Guru Arjan had not been paid by the Sikhs and Hargobind.[18] It is not clear as to how much time he spent as a prisoner. The year of his release appears to have been either 1611 or 1612, when Hargobind was about 16 years old.[18] Persian records, such as Dabestan-e Mazaheb suggest he was kept in jail for twelve years, including over 1617–1619 in Gwalior, after which he and his camp were kept under Muslim army's surveillance by Jahangir.[1][19]
It is unclear why he was released. Scholars suggest that Jahangir had more or less reverted to tolerant policies of Akbar by about 1611 after he felt secure about his throne, and the Sunnis and Naqshbandi court officials at the Mughal court had fallen out of his favour. Another theory states that Jahangir discovered the circumstances and felt that Guru Hargobind was harmless, so he ordered his release.[17][18][20]
According to Surjit Singh Gandhi, 52 rajas (kings) who were imprisoned in the fort as hostages for "millions of rupees" and for opposing the Mughal empire were dismayed as they were losing a spiritual mentor. Guru Hargobind requested the rajas to be freed along with him as well and stood surety for their loyal behavior. Jahangir ordered their release as well. Hargobind got a special gown stitched which had 52 hems. As Hargobind left the fort, the captive kings caught the hems of the cloak and came out along with him.[21]
After his release, Guru Hargobind more discreetly strengthened the Sikh army and reconsolidated the Sikh community.[18] His relations with Jahangir remained mostly friendly. He accompanied Jahangir to Kashmir and Rajputana and subdued Tara Chand of Nalagarh, who had continued for a long time in open rebellion and all efforts to subdue him had failed.[22][23][24] During Jahangir's reign, Hargobind fought a battle against the Mughals at Rohilla. The battle was in response to the militarisation of the Sikhs. The Mughals who were led by Governor Abdul Khan were defeated by the Sikhs.[25]
Shah Jahan
During the reign of Jahangir's son and successor
Hargobind's army fought battles with the Mughal armies of Shah Jahan at
Painde Khan was appointed the leader of the provincial troops by Shah Jahan and marched upon the Guru. Hargobind was attacked, but he won this battle as well.[28] He also fought the Battle of Kartarpur. Chandu Shah, who had ordered Guru Arjan's death, was killed through torture by the Sikhs of Guru Hargobind: a thick iron ring was put around his nose and he was dragged on the floor until the man who tortured Arjan, and had since become a Sikh, poured hot sand on him from the same ladle used on Arjan.[30][31]
Guru Hargobind lost his eldest son
Samarth Ramdas and Guru Hargobind
According to Sikh tradition based on an old Punjabi manuscript Panjah Sakhian,
Death
He nominated his grandson to succeed him as the seventh
Battles and skirmishes
- Battle of Sangrana (1628)
- Battle of Rohilla (1630)
- Battle of Amritsar (1634)
- Battle of Lahira, 1634
- Battle for Maham
- Battle of Padiala
- Battle of Kiratpur
- Battle of Kartarpur, 1635
- Battle of Phagwara, 1635[33]
Popular culture
The animated Punjabi movie Dastaan-E-Miri Piri is about Guru Hargobind and his contribution to the Sikh faith and community.[34]
The life story and teachings of Guru Hargobind influenced the 2023 season theme and artwork of the Dallas Cowboys football team.[35][36][37]
Gallery
-
Guru Arjan (seated, middle) with a young Hargobind (left). -
Guru Hargobind depicted alongside Ani Rai and Atal Rai. -
Guru Hargobind out riding. -
Bhai Rupa Chand (right) with Guru Hargobind (left). -
Fresco artwork of Guru Hargobind (seated). -
Ancient Painting of Guru Hargobind -
Mid-17th century portrait of Guru Hargobind holding a bird of prey
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Fauja Singh (2009). "HARGOBIND, GURU (1595–1644)". Encyclopaedia of Sikhism. Punjabi University, Patiala. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- ^ ISBN 978-1780762500, pages 48–55
- ISBN 978-0-521-56603-2.
- ^ a b Hargobind: Sikh Guru, Encyclopedia Britannica, Quote: "Hargobind, sixth Sikh Guru, who developed a strong Sikh army and gave the Sikh religion its military character, in accord with the instructions of his father, Guru Arjan (1563–1606), the first Sikh martyr, who had been executed on the order of the Mughal emperor Jahangir."; "After Jahāngīr’s death (1627) the new Mughal emperor, Shāh Jahān, persecuted the Sikh community in earnest. The Sikhs under Hargobind Sahib defeated Shāh Jahān’s armies four times, crushing the myth of Mughal invincibility. To the Sikh ideals of his predecessor, Guru Hargobind thus added another: the right and duty of the Sikhs to defend their faith by the sword if necessary."
- ^ ISBN 978-8170102458, pages 18–19
- ^ ISBN 9788183820752.
- ^ a b c Pashaura Singh (2005), Understanding the Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Archived 20 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Journal of Philosophical Society, 12(1), pp. 29–62
- ^ Louis E. Fenech, Martyrdom in the Sikh Tradition, Oxford University Press, pages 118–121
- ^ a b V. D. Mahajan (1970). Muslim Rule In India. S. Chand, New Delhi, p.223.
- ISBN 978-1442236004, page 145
- ISBN 978-0-8108-6344-6.
- ISBN 978-1-4422-3601-1.
- ^ "Suraj Mal - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia". www.sikhiwiki.org. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ISBN 978-8185229171, p. 62 "Guru Hargobind, son of Guru Arjan, ate meat and took to hunting. Most of their [the Guru's] followers adopted his practice."
- ISBN 978-1780762500.
- OCLC 47024480.)
Even Guru Hargobind was sent as a prisoner to the fort of Gwalior on account of the arrears of fine imposed upon Guru Arjan. However, this was not the only cause of Guru Hargobind's difficulties. He had begun to wear the sword and adopted the appearance of a soldier; he used to hunt and to maintain servants. He came into armed conflict with the gumashtas (officials) of Shah Jahan and had to leave Ramdaspur for Kartarpur in the Jalandhar Doab. There too he had to fight quite a few battles before he moved to Phagwara and then to Kiratpur in the territory of the refractory hill chief Tara Chand. There too, Guru Hargobind maintained seven hundred horses in his stables, three hundred horsemen, and sixty musketeers. His headquarters served as a place of refuge for refractory individuals. The Dabistan, thus, provides extremely useful evidence on the change in the attitude of the Mughal Emperors towards the Gurus and the change in the attitude of Guru Hargobind towards the State.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link - ^ ISBN 9781576073551.
- ^ ISBN 9781441117083.
- ^ The Sikh Review, Volumes 42–43, Issues 491–497. Sikh Cultural Centre. 1994. pp. 15–16.
- ISBN 9788186505465.
- ISBN 9788126908585.
- ISBN 9788186741306.
- ISBN 9788126908592.
- ISBN 9788120609501.
- ISBN 978-0-313-33536-5. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
- ^ Sikhism Origin and Development By Dalbir Singh Dhillon, p121 "In the year A. D. 1632, Shah Jahan revived his religious policy and issued ... of his policy, the Gurdwara and a Baoli at Lahore was destroyed and a mosque was erected over its place"
- ^ ISBN 9781441117083.
- ^ a b Cunningham, Joseph Davey. A History Of The Sikhs (1853 ed.). London: John Murray. p. 55.
- ^ Cunningham, Joseph Davey. A History Of The Sikhs (1853 ed.). London: John Murray. p. 53.
- ^ Gujral, Maninder S. (19 December 2000). "CHANDU SHAH". The Sikh Encyclopedia. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ "Chandu Shah - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia". www.sikhiwiki.org. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ISBN 978-8172052768.
- ISBN 9788176293006.
- ^ "Dastaan-E-Miri Piri". IMDb.
- ^ Monet, Jazz (7 September 2023). "Carpe omnia: Dallas Cowboys intend to 'seize everything' in 2023". Inside The Star. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ Kaur, Kamaljit (7 September 2023). "ਅਮਰੀਕਾ 'ਚ ਨੈਸ਼ਨਲ ਫੁੱਟਬਾਲ ਲੀਗ ਦੀ ਟੀਮ Dallas Cowboys ਨੇ ਜਰਸੀ 'ਤੇ ਲਗਾਈ ਜਰਨੈਲ ਹਰੀ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਲੂਆ ਦੀ ਤਸਵੀਰ" [Dallas Cowboys team of the National Football League in America put the picture of General Hari Singh Nalua on the jersey]. Rozana Spokesman (in Punjabi). Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ Gehlken, Michael (7 September 2023). "What is Carpe Omnia? Mike McCarthy's 2023 theme for Cowboys is about seizing everything". Dallas News. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
Further reading
- Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer (2012), SIKH HISTORY in 10 volumes, Sikh University Press.
External links
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