The Source Book On Sikhism

Guru Hargobind Ji (1595 - 1644)

The martyrdom of Guru Arjun, it is commonly believed, turned the tide of Sikh history and made them warlike instead of the pacifists that they were earlier. It is true, that when Guru Hargobind came to the Throne, he was only eleven and yet he chose to wear two swords at the time of being anointed as the Guru by Bhai Budha, the devout Sikh, who had seen the Sikh movement evolve ever since the days of Guru Nanak. Indeed, he trained the new Guru in the art of horsemanship, marksmanship, swordsmanship, wrestling and hunting. The Guru was called Sacha Padshah (the True King), as was the custom ever since Guru Nanak’s days, his audience-hall was known as Durbar as of old, and his accession to Guruship - the coming to the Throne. His was the Sacha Raj (True dominion or rule). A fly-brush waved over his head, as in the case of the other Gurus. And he built a place for congregation for his Sikhs called the Akal Takht or the Throne of the Immortal (opposite the Golden Temple in Amritsar), where, besides spiritual matters, secular affairs, affecting the community, were also discussed. He built up a small fortification also, called Loh Garh (the fort of iron) and kept a small-sized cavalry and army. He also sent word to his Sikhs that thereafter the offerings to be made to the Guru should be in the form of weapons and horses. Hunting expeditions were regularly held, as also symposia of martial music.

No wonder, in the eyes of the rulers, this was a departure from old pacifism. So it looked also in the eyes of the detractors of Sikhism. And yet, when we read that the terminology used in Guru Hargobind’s days was the same as in the days of Guru Nanak, that Nanak himself had protested against foreign rule, way of life, dress, language and diet, and even courted imprisonment at the hands of Babar, and that secular activity had always been an integral part of the Sikh faith, we do not see any essential difference in the outlook of Guru Hargobind from his predecessors except perhaps in emphasis which was of course the need of the times.

But Jahangir sensed danger in it for his rule. Without being provoked by the Guru in any way, imprisoned him in the fort of Gwalior. According to some historians, he was in jail for twelve years, but it is likely that he was released much earlier. Seeing the simple life of the Guru in the fort and his single-minded devotion to God, Jahangir not only remitted his sentence considerably, but even tried to befriend him. He would go out with him on hunting expeditions and paid a visit to him in Amritsar, even offering to complete the construction of the Akal Takht at his own expense which the Guru declined to accept.

Guru Hargobind, like Guru Nanak before him, now travelled throughout the country and visited Kashmir where he converted many people to his faith. A Gurdwara still stands to his memory there, and most of the Sikhs now residing in Kashmir derive their faith from those days. He also travelled in the Uttar Pradesh and went to as far east as Pilibhit, building shrines to the memory of his predecessors and creating Sangats.

Meanwhile, Jahangir died and his son, Shah Jahan, came to the throne. He prohibited the conversion of Muslims and ordered the demolition of many temples, including the Gurdwara Baoli Sahib at Lahore which was razed to the ground and a mosque constructed in its place. But the Guru held his hand 'til Shah Jahan struck the first blow against him in 1628, over a mere trifle, that the Sikhs had captured a hawk that had strayed away from the King’s party which was hunting near Amritsar and refused to part with it. The Guru’s property was looted, but the loss of life, including the general’s who led them, was all on the Moghul side.

The Guru, not wanting to prolong this struggle, retired to Kartarpur (in Jullundur district). But he did not want to be caught napping again and so kept his troops, which included Muslims, in good trim. For the sake of his Muslim troops, he built a mosque at Hargobindpur.

Another battle ensured with the Moghuls when two of the most precious horses that a Sikh had brought as an offering for the Guru were snatched from him on the way by the Moghul forces. The Guru deputed a Sikh, Bidhi Chand, to rescue these horses which he did by a clever device. This resulted in a major conflict and the Guru was attacked by a strong contingent of the Moghul forces. More than a thousand Sikhs were killed in this battle, as against many more on the other side, including the commanders.

One Painde Khan, who was a general in the Sikh camp, deserted to the Moghuls on his dismissal from service and came with a Moghul detachment to attack the Guru at Kartarpur in 1634. But Painde Khan, along with another Moghul general, Kale Khan, was killed and the Moghul forces scattered leaving behind a considerable number of the dead. The last ten years of his life, the Guru passed in meditation, preaching the Gospel and living a very austere life so much so that he even gave up the use of the pillow. He insisted so much on simple virtues of life that he severely reprimanded his sons, Atal Rai and Baba Gurditta, for performing miracles. Both these sons died before him, as well as another son, Anil Rai. Though he had two more sons, Suraj Mal and Tegh Bahadur, he appointed his grandson, Hari Rai, to be his successor.