(19 June 1595-3 March 1644)

Born: 19 June 1595

Place of birth: Guru ki Vadali, district Amritsar

Parents: Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Mata Ganga Ji

Spouses: Mata Damodri Ji, Mata Nanki Ji and Mahadevi Ji

Children: Baba Gurditta Ji, Baba Ghani Rai, Surajmal Ji, Baba Attal Ji, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and Bibi Veero

Period: During the reigns of Emperor Jehangir and later Shahjehan in Delhi

Main battles fought: Amritsar, Sri Hargobindpur, Guru Sar Marajh and Kartarpur

Died: 3 March 1644

The sixth guru, Guru Hargobind Ji occupies a special place in Sikh history because, after Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s martyrdom, he gave a new direction to the course of events. Along with his spiritual authority he exercised temporal authority too by expounding the concept of Meeri and Peeri (the temporal and the spiritual). In Indian history the advent of Sikhism and the establishing of Mogul Empire took place at the same time. Sikhism was not against Islam at all. It was against the feudal and imperial set up that was encouraging injustice, oppression and exploitation. The scourges of caste divisions, religious discrimination and superstitions had made life hell for an ordinary person. The oppressors would shield behind Islam as well as Hinduism. Guru Hargobind Singh Ji used both the powers of worship and of the sword to fight this oppression.

Guru Ji was born on 19 June 1595 to Mata Ganga Ji and Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji in village Vadali of district Amritsar. He was merely eleven years old when Guru Arjan Dev Ji was martyred under Jehangir’s orders. At the time of his installation as the guru, Guru Ji asked Baba Budha Ji to discard the earlier tradition and arm him according to a new tradition. Baba Ji armed him with a three feet sword but it was put on the wrong side by mistake. When Baba Budha Ji tried to change the side, Guru Ji asked him to let it be and put another one on the other side instead. Baba Budha Ji acceded to his request and Guru Ji announced the purpose of two swords. One was to signify the temporal power and the other, the spiritual power. His purpose was not to mix religion with politics, but to take up the cause of the exploited and defend them against the oppression of the rulers. The Moguls had already entangled religion with politics and as a result the people were being subjected to persecution and injustice. History shows that politics always dominates religion and the ruling classes oppress the people from behind the shield of religion. That is why the politicians have always played the game of entangling religion with politics.

According to the chronicles, Guru Arjan Dev Ji did not beget a child for a long time and Mata Ganga Ji sought Baba Budha Ji’s blessings for an offspring. Budha Ji had told her that she would give birth to an extraordinarily chivalrous son. Guru Hargobind Ji was born after that. Guru Hargobind Ji issued many edicts after he was installed as the sixth guru. He set up an army, acquired arms and horses, hoisted the Sikh flag and used large drums (nagaras) to make announcements. In 1663 he had the Akal Takhat built in front of Harimandir Sahib. Seated here he would listen to the woes and complaints of people and issue edicts.

He was married thrice. His first wife was Mata Damodri daughter of Narain Das of village Talla. She gave birth to Baba Gurditta, Bibi Veero and Ghani Rai Ji. The second time he was married to Bibi Nanki daughter of Hari Chand of village Bakala. She was the mother of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. His third marriage was to Bibi Mahadevi daughter of Daya Ram of village Jandiyali, district Shekhupura (Pakistan). She gave birth to Suraj Mall Ji and Baba Attal Ji.

In Gwalior Fort: Alarmed by the spreading glory of Guru Hargobind Ji, all the ill-wishers of the community joined hand with the rulers of Lahore and went to Delhi to complain against him. They told Jehangir that Guru Hargobind Sahib was gathering an army and amassing arms to avenge his father’s death. It would be advisable to suppress his efforts at the earliest. Jehangir summoned Guru Ji to Delhi to assess his ideas and then had him confined in Gwalior fort where fifty-two rulers were already imprisoned. After spending some time in Guru Ji’s company in the jail, these potentates came under his influence and became his followers. Meanwhile Chandu, an ill-wisher was hatching conspiracies to have Guru Ji killed in the jail. Nevertheless Guru Ji’s following amongst the people was increasing despite his incarceration. Sayin Mian Mir counselled Jehangir to release Guru Ji and he accepted his advice. But Guru Ji said that he would leave the fort only if the other fifty-two would also be released with him. Jehangir accepted this condition too and the fifty-two imprisoned rulers were released along with him. That is why Guru Ji is referred to as the Liberator (Bandi-chor) in history. When Guru Ji reached Amritsar his Sikhs lit lamps to welcome him. Since then the festival of Deepmala (lighting of lamps) is celebrated to commemorate the occasion.

From Amritsar he went to Lahore where Kaulan, daughter of Kazi Rustam Khan and a follower of Sayin Miyan Mir came into his contact. She shifted to Amritsar and led a pious life there. On Guru Ji’s command, Baba Budha Ji had Gurudwara Kaulsar built in Kaulan’s memory in 1681 of Bikrami calendar. On the invitation of Sikhs he travelled to central India and had Gurudwara Nanak Matta completed there. Later he visited Kashmir and secured many followers there. He returned to Punjab via Gujrat. In reply to the four questions of Jehangir, disciple of Shah Tola, Guru Ji had said:

1.The woman is the honour of a man

2. A son is the mark of a man

3. Money is transient

4. A sage is neither a Hindu nor a Moslem

Guru Hargobind Sahib fought four battles in his lifetime. Emperor Jehangir died in 1684 Bikrami and his son Shahjehan ascended the throne. The ill-wishers renewed their conspiracies and incited him too against Guru Ji. Otherwise also Shahjehan was insecure about the increasing influence and power of Sikhs. Sikhs trapped a falcon belonging to Shahjehan and a conflict with imperial bandits ensued. On the 22 day of Jeth month in Bikrami 1685, Sikhs won this battle. After winning it, Guru Ji married off Bibi Veero. In 1687 a battle was fought near village Ruhela where Moslem army and Turk chieftains were defeated. Guru Ji renamed this village as Hargobindpur. The third battle started when Bidhi Chand stole Guru Ji’s horses from Lahore fort; this battle too was won. The fourth battle took place near Kartarpur with Said Khan in Bikrami 1691. Lahore province was on Said Khan’s side. Said Khan and his fellow chieftains were killed and the Guru’s army won the battle. In 1701 Bikrami Guru Ji called his followers and passed on the mantle to his grandson Sri Har Rai Ji in their presence. The very same evening he passed away .It was the third day of March in year 1644.