Guru Govind Singh: A Great Man of Action and an Incomparable Protector of Dharma

The tenth Guru of the Sikh Panth (spiritual tradition), Guru Gobind Singh was a great champion of action, an unparalleled protector of dharma (righteousness and moral order), a rousing poet of the vira rasa (heroic sentiment), as well as a resolute warrior. Within him, bhakti (devotion) and shakti (power), jnana (wisdom) and vairagya (dispassion), the upliftment of human society, and a spirit of supreme renunciation and sacrifice for the defense of the moral values of dharma and the nation were imbued in boundless measure. It was the sublime preeminence of his unswerving devotion and resolute will that led Swami Vivekananda, after reflecting upon his sacrifice and martyrdom, to remark that the ideal of such a personality must ever remain before us.

The Guru did not bind his followers to archaic and rigid orthodoxies of religion, but rather charted new paths and demonstrated a practical approach to spirituality. Regarding the life of a sannyasi (renunciant), Guru Gobind Singh stated that for a Sikh, neither detachment from the world nor worldly attachment is essential; rather, it is of paramount importance to perpetually perform one's duties grounded in practical principles.

The Guru never fought battles for land, wealth, the acquisition of sovereign power, or the pursuit of renown. His struggle was waged against injustice, adharma (unrighteousness), oppression, and tyranny. His fight was one of principles and ideals, and to struggle unto death and attain the goal in this dharmayuddha (righteous war) of ideals, he implored the Divine for a boon: 'देहि शिवा वर मोहि, इहैं, शुभ करमन ते कबहू न टरौं' ('Grant me this boon, O Lord, that I may never falter from performing righteous deeds').

Guru Gobind Singh was born on 22 December 1666 CE (and 5 January 1667 according to the Nanakshahi calendar, on the twenty-third tithi of the month of Pausha in Vikram Samvat 1723) in Patna, Bihar, as the son of the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and Mata Gujri. His original name was 'Gobind Rai'. Gobind Singh inherited an affinity for the martial life from his grandfather, Guru Hargobind, along with an illustrious intellectual heritage.

At the time of Guru Gobind Singh’s birth, the country was ruled by the Mughals. Unbearable atrocities were perpetrated upon the Hindus by Aurangzeb. Seeking refuge from these persecutions, a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits once arrived at Anandpur Sahib to seek the protection of Guru Tegh Bahadur. Guru Tegh Bahadur journeyed to Delhi to converse with Aurangzeb on this matter, but Aurangzeb had him arrested and demanded that he embrace Islam.

Upon his refusal, Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded at Aurangzeb’s command. This event took place on 11 November 1675 CE at Chandni Chowk in Delhi, and today that site is known as Gurdwara Sis Ganj.

Following the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur, 'Guru Gobind Rai' was anointed to the Gurugaddi (seat of the Guru) at the tender age of 9. To uphold the exalted dignity of the Guru, he deepened his erudition, mastering Sanskrit, Persian, Punjabi, and Arabic. Gobind Rai also mastered archery, swordsmanship, spearsmanship, and the martial arts. He trained other Sikhs in weaponry as well. He instilled in the Sikhs a solemn resolve to defend their dharma, their motherland, and their own honor, founding the Khalsa Panth with the explicit objective of forging a martial vanguard within Hindu society.

Khalsa signifies 'khalis'—that is, one who is pure, untainted, and devoid of any corruption. Beyond this, we may affirm that the Khalsa is an emblem of our maryada (righteous conduct and ethical boundaries) and Bharatiya culture, one that remains ever mindful of the Divine under all circumstances and, regarding righteous action as its dharma, confronts tyranny and the tyrant head-on.

According to the Guru, the foremost dharma of the Khalsa is to sacrifice body, mind, and wealth in defense of the nation, dharma, and humanity. It is to stand ever in the forefront for the protection of the poor, the helpless, and the orphaned. Whoever does so is pure; that person alone is the true Khalsa. By administering amrit (nectar of initiation), Guru Gobind Singh imbued these samskaras (sacred impressions) into those who embraced the Khalsa Panth.

How splendidly has a poet described this—

To sever the heads of a hundred and twenty-five thousand foes by one,
Guru Gobind forged the Khalsa Panth.
Father and sons all attained martyrdom for the land,
Never did there linger any craving for comforts or riches.
Zorawar and Fateh Singh were immured alive in brick walls,
While the world stood witness to this gruesome atrocity.
The Guruji made sparrows fight the hawk,
And hung over the Mughals like the dark shadow of Kaal (death).

Beyond being a spiritual master, Guru Gobind Singh was also an eminent scholar. He patronized 52 court poets in his darbar. Among Guru Gobind Singh’s most momentous compositions are the Zafarnama and the Bachittar Natak. He was himself a soldier and a sant (saint). He nurtured these very sentiments within his Sikhs. To avert any future dispute over the Guruship among the Sikhs, he conferred the status of Guru upon the Guru Granth Sahib.

Guru Gobind Singh was fundamentally a spiritual preceptor, yet for the defense of truth and justice and the re-establishment of dharma, he was compelled to take up arms. He articulated this unequivocally in his Zafarnama addressed to Aurangzeb. He wrote: Chun kar az hameh heelate dar-guzasht, halal ast burdan ba-shamsheer dast—that is, when all other avenues have failed to defend truth and justice, it is entirely righteous to draw the sword. These words of his are an immortal treasure of Sikh history, continuing to inspire us to this day.

In the glorious history of Bharat, two epistles have attained world renown. The first was penned by Chhatrapati Shivaji to Raja Jai Singh, and the second was addressed by Guru Gobind Singh to the cruel and despotic Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, known as the Zafarnama, or the 'Epistle of Victory'. Without doubt, this letter of Guru Gobind Singh is an extraordinary triveni (confluence) of spirituality, diplomacy, and valor. In truth, Guru Gobind Singh’s Zafarnama is not merely a letter, but the poetry of a hero that epitomizes the ethos and spirit of the Bharatiya psyche.

From the past to the present day, countless patriots have drawn inspiration from this epistle. A profound reflection of Guru Gobind Singh's personality and achievements is revealed through his Zafarnama. This letter was not a plea for conciliation, but a clarion call to battle. At the same time, it is an affirmation of peace, the defense of dharma, deep faith, and unshakeable self-confidence. This epistle infuses new life and a sense of pride into a tormented, despondent, despairing, and benumbed society. It stands as a testament to moral and spiritual triumph over the heinous misdeeds of the tyrant Aurangzeb.

In his final days, Guru Gobind Singh assembled all the Sikhs and counselled them to lead disciplined lives of righteous conduct, to cherish their land, and ever to succor the afflicted and downtrodden. He then proclaimed that henceforth there would be no living, corporeal Guru after him, and that the Guru Granth Sahib alone would serve as their Guru and beacon for all time. Guru Gobind Singh passed away on 7 October 1708 CE at Nanded, Maharashtra. In the face of the tribulations humanity grapples with today—selfishness, cynicism, strife, violence, terror, injustice, and tyranny—the life-philosophy of Guru Gobind Singh can illuminate our path.

– Vishal Agarwal (The author is a profound scholar of Bharatiya history and culture, an educationist, and an advocate for national interests. The author’s Rashtra Aradhak series on great Bharatiya luminaries is highly recommended reading.)

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