The founder of Khalsa Panth  Prakash Utsav

Gobind Rai was the solitary son of 9th Guru Sri Teg Bahadur and Mata Gujar Kourji, who saw light of the day at Patna Sahib on Dec 22, 1666. His father was on his missionary   tour in Assam and Bengal and the divine couple had to wait for twenty six long years after their married life to see the face of their first born child. Gobind Rai spent his childhood with his playmates at Patna. Then Guru Sri Teg Bahadur shifted his headquarters to Anandpur Sahib (Punjab).

From the age of 16 years, Guru remained busy in wars. For ten years 1675 to 1685, he devoted to educational activities and inspiring people. In 1685, Guru, left Anandpur and stayed at Poanta Sahib. He founded it on 6th August. 1685 on the request of Raja Medni Prakash of Nahen. The hilly rajas turned hostile to Guruji out of jealousy on his growing power and popularity. But none could distract and deviate him from his divine mission.

Guruji sacrificed his father, mother, four sons and suffered tremendously, but remained firm in his mission with stoic resignation to fulfil his divine mission to save the community and country from the tyranny of the evil forces of the day.

Guruji tried to prepare the hilly Rajas to fight against the Mughal tyranny but they turned hostile out of jealousy at the growing power and popularity of the Guru. On 13 April 1699 the day of Baisakhi, Guruji founded the Khalsa Pant at Anandpur Sahib. He welded the different castes of the country by removing the barriers of distinctions between them. Guruji prepared five beloveds or Panch Piaras- Daya Singh a 30 year old Sikh Khatriya of Lahore, Dharam Singh 33 years old a Jatt of Delhi, Mokhan Chand a 36 year old washerman of Dwarika, Sahib Chand 37 year old Barber of Bidar (Karnataka) and Bhai Himmat 39 year old waterman of Puri (Orissa). Guru changed the practice of Charan Pahul with Amrit Paan to baptise the Sikhs into formation to the Sikh community by changing the docile timid lambs into ferocious lions to tear and devour the callous and sworn enemies of the Khalsa. Guruji took Amrit Paan from the five beloved ones and changed himself from Govind Rai into Govind Singh. "He is of the Khalsa who speaks ill of none, who is faithful and loyal to Guru, receives the enemies; steel on the front; aids the poor and destitutes, slays the evil doer, ever mounts the war horse and remains ever ready to fight for a noble cause''. The Guru made it incumbent

upon the Khalsa to wear five K's- Kirpan (Sword), a Kanga (a comb) a Kachha (a pair of shorts or drawers), a Kara (a steel bracelet) and keep Kesh (unshorn hair) avoid any marital advances with Muslim women. He gave the salutation- Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh- Lord is the Khalsa and victory to the Lord. He forbade the Sikhs to call him Prophet. He who would worship me, would perish in the fire of hell. I am a slave of the Almighty to witness the divine play of things.

Guru was a great poet, scholar and a man of letters who wrote Shastra Nama Mala, Chandi Ki Var, Vichitra Natak, Akal Ustad, Jaap Sahib, Charittar Krishna Avtar and Ram Avtar. Guruji dictated Bhai Nand Lal to incorporate 117 hymns of Guru Teg Bahadur in the Granth Sahib.

Guruji wrote ‘‘Zafarnama to Aurungzeb and it mollified the callous and cruel qualm of his conscience and he invited Guruji to meet him. But Aurungzeb died on March 3, 1707. Guruji met Banda Bahadur in the Deccan and made him the head of Khalsa. Guruji met Banda  Bahadur in the Deccan and made him the head of Khalsa. Guruji lived a total age of 41 years 9 months and 15 days and enjoyed Gur Gaddi for 32 years, 10 months and 26 days. He was stabbed by a Muslim fanatic-Jamshed Khan and he left his mortal coil on October 7th, 1708 at Narded.  Guruji bowed before the Holy Grant Sahib and made it the future Guru of the Sikhs. It was the farsightedness and wisdom of the 10th Guru that saved the Sikh community from the mushroom growth of self-styled avaricious Gurus.

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Courtesy: The Daily Excelsior: 16th January, 2024