Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth and last human Sikh Guru. He was a warrior, poet, and philosopher. In 1675, at the age of nine he was formally installed as the leader of the Sikhs after his father Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed by Emperor Aurangzeb.
Why in the news?
Every year, Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is observed on January 6 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru. It is one of the most significant festivals for the Sikh community.
This day also commemorates Guru Gobind Singh’s leadership and influence in developing Sikh identity and principles such as equality, justice, and community service. This year marks the 358th birth anniversary of the Sikh Guru. According to Drik Panchang, he was born on Paush Shukla Saptami in Patna Sahib.
Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh was named the tenth and last Guru of the Sikhs at the age of nine, following the death of his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru. Guru Tegh Bahadur was martyred by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb for refusing to convert to Islam.
Guru Gobind Singh was an accomplished poet, philosopher, and spiritual leader, and founded the Sikh warrior community known as Khalsa to combat oppression and promote justice in society.
His teachings influenced the thoughts and lives of many. He is known to have introduced the five ‘K’s, the Five Articles of Faith that the Sikhs abide by:
📍Kesh: uncut hair
📍Kangha: a wooden comb
📍Kara: an iron or steel bracelet worn on the wrist
📍Kirpan: a sword
📍Kacchera: short breeches
Guru Gobind Singh has also contributed many beautiful hymns and prayers to the holy scripture of Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib. These hymns, known as Shabad, are recited and sung during Sangats, or gatherings, with fellow believers.
Guru Gobind Singh declared the Holy Scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib as the permanent Guru of Sikhs. He passed away in 1708.
Panj Pyare
Guru Gobind Singh established the institution of Panj Piare while founding the Khalsa on the day of Baisakhi in 1699. Addressing a large gathering, he asked for five heads for sacrifice. Five men responded to his call and the Guru baptised them and called them Panj Piare.
The Panj Piare were from different castes and states of India. While Bhai Daya Ram hailed from Lahore, Bhai Dharam Rai was from Hastinapur in Uttar Pradesh, Bhai Himmat Rai came from Jagannath in Odisha, Bhai Mohkam Rai from Gujarat and Bhai Sahib Chand was from Bidar, Karnataka.
In return, Guru Gobind Singh made them drink Amrit (sweet water prepared by reciting Gurbani) from one utensil. Then he suffixed Singh with their names and renamed them Bhai Daya Singh, Bhai Dharam Singh, Bhai Himmat Singh, Bhai Mohkam Singh and Bhai Sahib Singh.
Apart from defining the religious and social protocol for the Khalsa by dictating it to the Panj Piare, Guru Gobind Singh himself got baptised from them at the same stage to tell the Sikhs that Panj Piaras have higher authority and decision making power than anyone in the community. The Panj Piare are also seen as a manifestation of the Guru himself.
Any baptised Sikh can become a Panj Piare. The unanimous decision taken by Panj Piare has to be followed by everyone in the community. Akal Takht Jathedar also can’t take any decision unilaterally and every diktat from the Akal Takht has to be signed by all the five Jathedars of the five Takhts (Temporal seats) or their representatives.
Veer Bal Diwas
Veer Bal Diwas is annually observed on December 26. Translated into ‘Day of Brave Children’, Veer Bal Diwas is a national commemoration honouring the bravery and sacrifice of the tenth Sikh guru— Guru Gobind Singh’s youngest sons.
On this day, we commemorate the brave events that took place at Anandpur Sahib Fort, where Guru Gobind Singh, along with his family and disciples, were compelled to flee as the Mughal Army encircled the Anandpur fort.
During the chaos, Guru Gobind Singh’s youngest sons, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, were captured by the Mughal forces and pressured to convert to Islam. The two young boys courageously refused to abandon their faith, and consequently, Wazir Khan ordered them to be bricked alive around December 26, 1705.
Exemplifying bravery and loyalty to their religion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022 declared to mark December 26 as Veer Bal Diwas annually to honour and remember their sacrifice.