Guru Hargobind (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿਗੋਬਿੰਦ, pronunciation: l 19 June 1595 – 28 February 1644) was the sixth of ten Gurus of the Sikh religion. He became Guru at the age of eleven, after the execution of his father, Guru Arjan, by the Mughal emperor Jahangir.

He spent his early life with his father at Ramdaspur (Amritsar), while his tenure as guru involved him residing in Bhai Ki Daroli, Goindwal, Kartarpur (Jalandhar), Hargobindpur, Gwalior, Lahore, and Kiratpur, with travels to Agra, Nanakmatta, Kashmir, and Malwa (Punjab). He symbolized it by wearing two swords, representing the dual concept of mīrī and pīrī (temporal power and spiritual authority). In front of the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, Hargobind constructed the Akal Takht (the throne of the timeless one). The Akal Takht represents the highest seat of earthly authority of the Khalsa (the collective body of the Sikhs) today.

Amongst his social views, Guru Hargobind considered women to be the consciousness of mankind, promoted the lifestyle of a householder, discouraged asceticism, and promoted marriage as a pathway to self-realization. Beginning in 1606 and ending upon his death in 1644, his guruship was the second longest of all the Sikh gurus, surpassed only by Guru Nanak, whose founding guruship lasted 40 years.

Early life

thumb|Photograph of Gurdwara Guru Ki Wadali, Amritsar district, which was constructed at the birthplace of Guru Hargobind.

Guru Hargobind was born in Gurū kī Waḍālī, on 19th June of 1595, in a Sodhi Khatri family in a village west of Amritsar, the only son of Guru Arjan, the fifth Sikh Guru. However, Pashaura Singh suggests that he was actually born 19 June 1590. 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. 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. The Brahmin then died of abdominal afflictions. According to Pashaura Singh, the Bhatt Vahi Multani Sindhi records the date of birth of Guru Hargobind as 19 June 1590 (asar 21 sambat 1647 in the Bikrami calendar). 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.

As the inheritor of his late father's estate, Guru Hargobind was able to finance his undertakings from the property located in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Sri Hargobindpur, and Kartarpur. Guru Hargobind also inherited his father's collection of literature, the pothi mahal, with the being a Sikh library tradition consisting of gurbani comparable to the Mughal tradition of kitab-khana. As part of this inheritance, Guru Hargobind received the Goindwal Pothi, with him leaving his autograph on one of its folio to mark its transmission to him. In-addition, the guru kept in his court ragis (musicians), pathis (reciters), and dhadhis (minstrels). Two prominent dhadis of Hargobind were Mir Abdula and Natha, who performed at the Akal Takht. and Kaula. 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. The Sodhis of Anandpur Sahib are the descendants of Baba Suraj Mal Sodhi, one of Guru Hargobind's sons.

Reforms

Guru Hargobind's reforms to the Sikh faith made long-lasting impacts. No longer were the Sikh gurus relegated to spiritual affairs but now they became engaged more deeply in temporal happenings, fusing both the spiritual and temporal spheres together, and furthermore had adopted "regal civility".

Sikh beliefs hold that Guru Hargobind secured the release of fifty-two Rajput hill rajas during his exiting from internment at Gwalior Fort, an event that is celebrated on Diwali as Bandi Chhor Divas by Sikhs.

Jahangir

Along with the execution of Guru Arjan Dev by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, Guru Hargobind from the very start was a dedicated enemy of the Mughal rule. He advised Sikhs to arm and fight the Mughals.

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.

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.

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.

After his release, Guru Hargobind more discreetly strengthened the Sikh army and reconsolidated the Sikh community. 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.

Shah Jahan

During the reign of Jahangir's son and successor Shah Jahan that started in 1627, relations became bitter again. Shah Jahan was intolerant. He destroyed the Sikh stepwell at Lahore. In 1628, Shah Jahan's hunting party plundered some of Guru Hargobind's property, which triggered the first armed conflict.

Hargobind's army fought battles with the Mughal armies of Shah Jahan at Amritsar, Kartarpur and elsewhere. Hargobind defeated the Mughal troops near Amritsar in the Battle of Amritsar in 1634. A provincial detachment of Mughals again attacked the Guru, but the attackers were routed and their leaders slain. The Guru anticipated the return of a more significant Mughal force, so retreated into Shivalik Hills to strengthen his defenses and army, with a base in Kiratpur where he continued to stay till his death. 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.

Guru Hargobind lost his eldest son Baba Gurditta in 1638. Shah Jahan attempted political means to undermine the Sikh tradition by dividing and influencing the succession.

Marriages

Guru Hargobind had multiple wives, who are as follows:

  • Mata Damodari (1597 – 13 July 1631), married on 15 February 1605, who birthed Baba Gurditta (b. 1613) and Bibi Viro (b. 1615)
  • Mata Marvahi/Mahadevi (died 1645), married on 7 July 1615, who birthed Suraj Mal (b. 1617)
  • Mata Nanaki (d. 1678), married in April 1613, who birthed Ani Rai (b. 1618), Atal Rai (b. 1619), and Guru Tegh Bahadur (b. 1621)

Death

He nominated his grandson, Guru Har Rai, to succeed him. He died in 1644 at Kiratpur Sahib, a town on the banks of the River Sutlej, and was cremated on the banks of the river, where now stands Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib.

The animated Punjabi movie Dastaan-E-Miri Piri is about Guru Hargobind and his contribution to the Sikh faith and community.

The life story and teachings of Guru Hargobind influenced the 2023 season theme and artwork of the Dallas Cowboys football team.

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File:Guru Arjan with a young Hargobind.jpg|Guru Arjan (seated, middle) with a young Hargobind (left).

File:Guru Hargobind depicted alongside Ani Rai and Atal Rai.jpg|Guru Hargobind depicted alongside Ani Rai and Atal Rai.

File:Contemporary equestrian painting of Guru Hargobind with an orange-coloured backdrop, held in the collection of the Sodhi family of Kartarpur, circa mid-17th century.jpg|Guru Hargobind out riding.

File:Painting of Bhai Rupa Chand and Guru Hargobind seated together, circa mid-17th century.jpg|Bhai Rupa Chand (right) with Guru Hargobind (left).

File:Fresco artwork of Guru Hargobind.jpg|Fresco artwork of Guru Hargobind (seated).

File:Ancient Painting of Guru Hargobind Sahib ji.jpg|Ancient Painting of Guru Hargobind

File:Painting of Guru Hargobind seated against a bolster whilst holding a bird of prey, kept in the Bhai Rupa Chand collection.jpg|Mid-17th century portrait of Guru Hargobind holding a bird of prey

</gallery>

See also

  • Mata Kaulan
  • Akal Sena
  • Dilbagh and Gulbagh

References

Further reading

  • Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer (2012), SIKH HISTORY in 10 volumes, Sikh University Press.
  • Guru Hargobind (archived)