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Bring
me Arms and Horses
Once
when Guru Arjan's wife was serving Bhai Buddha, he said, "As you have given
me food to my heart's content, so shall you have a son to your heart's content.
He shall be very handsome and brave and shall possess power on earth and in
heaven. He shall wear two swords and be mighty in battle. He shall sit on a
great imperial throne. He shall be both a great warrior and an exalted
Guru."
In time, a beautiful son was born to Guru Arjan and Mata Ganga and he was named
Hargobind. His childhood was full of trials because his uncle Prithia wanted his
own son, Mihrban, to be the next Guru. He survived these trials and at the
proper age received his education from Bhai Buddha. He instructed Hargobind in
the Guru's hymns, the sciences, reading and letters, offensive and defensive
weapons, sports such as swimming, administration and many other skills that he
would need to be a great ruler in the future. He grew up in the court of Guru
Arjan and watched his father compile the Guru Granth.
When Hargobind was 11, the emperor imprisoned and tortured Guru Arjan. Shortly
before the end of his life, he said to his Sikhs, "I have mastered my
life's test. Go to my son, the holy Hargobind, and give him my consolation.
Instead of grieving, let him sing God's praises. According to ancient custom,
let him put the mark of the Guruship on his forehead. Let him sit fully armed on
his throne and maintain an army to the best of his ability. Other than this, let
him embrace the practices of all the other Gurus. Let him hold Bhai Buddha in
honor and treat his Sikhs with respect. Do not cremate my body, but let it flow
into the river." The Guru's body, having suffered so much, then washed into
the river, while his spirit merged with the Sach Khand.
Hargobind, upon receiving the news of his father's death, caused the Guru Granth
to be read for ten days. When the last rites were finished, Bhai Buddha dressed
him in fine clothes and sought to install him as Guru. Rather than wear the seli,
or woolen cord worn by the other Gurus, he said, "My seli shall be the
swordbelt and I shall crown my turban with the emblem of royalty." The new
Guru then sent out a call to all faithful Sikhs in the land: "Bring me
offerings of arms and horses!" By this call was Bhai Buddha's prophecy
fulfilled. Guru Hargobind wore two swords and earned the title, "Meeri
Peeri da Malik" - king of the spiritual and temporal realms. Thus was the
character of the Sikhs changed forever. Soldier-saints now incorporated the
military determination necessary to protect as well as to serve their faith.
Source:
sikhnet.com
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