Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti 2024: 357th Birth Anniversary Guru Gobind Singh Ji

PWOnlyIAS January 17, 2024 02:44 3406 0

Blogs UPSC Blogs

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti or the Prakash Parv of the tenth Sikh Guru is celebrated on January 17, 2024.

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti 2024: 357th Birth Anniversary Guru Gobind Singh Ji

Context:

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti or the Prakash Parv of the tenth Sikh Guru is celebrated on January 17, 2024.

2024, will commemorate the 357th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

About Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti 2024

Birth: Guru Gobind Singh Ji was born in Patna, Bihar, on December 22, 1666, according to the Julian calendar (no longer in use).
- As per the Hindu Calendar, Guru Gobind Singh ji was born on Saptami Tithi of Shukla Paksha 1723 Samvat in the month of Pausha.
- Takhat Shri Harimander Ji Patna Sahib is the current location of Guru Gobind Singh’s birth.
Mother of Guru Gobind Singh: Mata Gujri
Early Life: Aurangzeb killed Guru Tegh Bahadur, the father of Guru Gobind Singh.
Anandpur Sahib: The family of Guru Gobind Singh ji relocated to Chak Nanaki, in the Shivalik Hills of the Himalayas, in March 1672.
- Education: Gobind Singh Ji had an education there.
- He studied military arts, Sanskrit, and Persian to become a warrior.
Proclamation: At the age of nine, Gobind Singh Ji was proclaimed the tenth Guru of the Sikhs on Baisakhi in 1676.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji: Contribution

Philosophy and Beliefs: Guru Gobind Singh Ji created the revered khalsa Vani “Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh”.
- Ek Onkar: There is only One God (Ek Onkar “Ek” is One and “Onkar” is God). He is the same God for all people of all religions.

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti

Khalsa Panth: He created Khalsa in 1699. Khalsa adhered to a rigid spiritual discipline under Guru Gobind Singh’s watchful eye.
- He introduced the five Ks (Kesh, Kara, Kanga, Kachera, Kirpan) to the community.

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti

Literary Work: Guru Gobind Singh Ji was a brilliant poet and writer who produced a variety of literary works.
- He codified Sikh law, wrote martial poetry and music, and was the author of the Sikh work called the ‘Dasam Granth’ (“Tenth Volume”).
- He also compiled Guru Granth Sahib (Adi Granth), the holy scripture of Sikhism, and declared the Guru Granth Sahib to be the permanent Sikh Guru.

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti

He passed away in 1708.

Important Gurudwaras in Sikhism

Panj Takht: There are five Takhts and these Takhts are five gurudwaras which have a very special significance for the Sikh community.

Akal Takhat Sahib (Eternal Throne): It is a part of the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar.
- Its foundation was laid by Guru Hargobind Ji, the sixth Sikh Guru.
Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib: It is situated at Anandpur Sahib, Punjab.
- It is the birthplace of the Khalsa, which was founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
Takht Sri Damdama Sahib (Damdama Sahib Bir): It is situated in the village of Talwandi Sabo near Bathinda.
- Guru Gobind Singh stayed here for about a year and compiled the final edition of Guru Granth Sahib, in 1705.
Takht Sri Patna Sahib: It is situated in Patna city.
- Guru Gobind Singh Ji was born here in 1666 and he spent his early childhood here before moving to Anandpur Sahib.
Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra.

Important Gurudwara in Pakistan

Nankana Sahib (Pakistan): Birth place of Guru Nanak Dev.
Gurudwara Darbar Sahib (Kartarpur, Pakistan): Guru Nanak Dev spent the last 18 years of his life.

List of Sikh Guru

Sikh Guru	Contribution
1. Guru Nanak (1469- 1539)	The First Sikh Guru, revered as the founder of Sikhism, introduced its teachings and principles, leaving a lasting spiritual legacy. Guru Nanak Dev, first of the 10 gurus, founded the Sikh faith, introducing the concept of one God. He started the institution of Guru Ka Langar. Langar refers to the common kitchen where food is served to everyone without any discrimination. He emphasized the equality of women and rejected the path of renunciation and he rejected the authority of the Vedas. He was the contemporary of Mughal emperor – Babur.
2. Guru Angad Dev (1504-1552)	Guru Angad, the second Sikh Guru, compiled the writings of Guru Nanak and his own compositions in the Gurmukhi script, which became the exclusive medium for Sikh sacred texts, including the revered Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Angad Dev, second of the 10 gurus, invented and introduced the Gurmukhi (written form of Punjabi) script. He compiled the writings of Nanak Dev in Guru Granth Sahib in Gurmukhi Script. Popularized and expanded the institution of Guru ka Langar which was started by Guru Nanak Dev.
3. Guru Amar Dass (1479-1574)	The third Sikh Guru played a pivotal role in fortifying the Sikh movement through the establishment of institutions such as Manjis and Piris, which served to strengthen and expand the Sikh community. He introduced the Anand Karaj marriage ceremony for the Sikhs, replacing the Hindu form. He established Manji & Piri system of religious missions for men and women respectively. He strengthened the tradition of Guru Ka Langar. He completely abolished amongst the Sikhs, the custom of Sati and purdah system. He was the contemporary of Mughal emperor – Akbar.
4. Guru Ram Dass (1534-1581)	Guru Ram Das, fourth of the 10 gurus, founded the city of Amritsar. He started the construction of Golden Temple at Amritsar, the holy city of the Sikhs. He requested the Muslim Sufi, Mian Mir to lay the cornerstone of the Harmandir Sahib.
5. Guru Arjun Dev (1563-1606)	As the fifth Sikh Guru and the son and successor of Guru Ram Dass, he constructed the Sri Darbar Sahib also known as Golden Temple in Amritsar. He compiled the Adi Granth, the scriptures of the Sikhs. He founded the town of Tarn Taran Sahib near Goindwal Sahib. He became the first great martyr in Sikh history when Emperor Jahangir ordered his execution. He was hailed as Shaheedan-de-Sartaj (The crown of martyrs).
6. Guru Hargobind (1595-1644)	Being the sixth Sikh Guru, he constructed Akal Takhat, also referred to as the Throne of the Immortal, and designated it as the focal point of Sikh temporal power and authority. He was the son of Guru Arjan Dev and was known as a “soldier saint”. He organised a small army and became the first Guru to take up arms to defend the faith. He waged wars against Mughal rulers Jahangir and Shah Jahan.
7. Guru Har Rai (1630-1661)	Though he was a man of peace, he never disbanded the armed Sikh warriors who were earlier maintained by Guru Har Gobind. He gave shelter to Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Mughal Ruler Shah Jahan, who was later persecuted by Aurangazeb. He cautiously avoided conflict with Emperor Aurangzeb and devoted his efforts to missionary work. As the seventh Sikh Guru, he carried forward the mission initiated by his predecessors, diligently advancing the principles and teachings of Sikhism.
8. Guru Har Kishan (1656-1664)	As the eighth Sikh Guru, he earned renown for his remarkable healing abilities, having cured smallpox-afflicted individuals in Delhi. His profound impact is acknowledged in the daily Sikh prayer, where he is revered as the alleviator of all miseries through his mere presence.
9. Guru Teg Bahadur (1621-1675)	He established the town of Anandpur. He opposed the forced conversion of the Hindu Kashmiri Pandits by Mughal ruler Aurangazeb and he was consequently persecuted for this. He referred to himself as “Sachcha Badshah.”
Guru Govind Singh (1666-1708)	He became Guru after the martyrdom of his father Guru Tegh Bahadur. He created the Khalsa in 1699, changing the Sikhs into a saint-soldier order for protecting themselves. Last Sikh Guru in human form and he passed the Guruship of the Sikhs to the Guru Granth Sahib. He introduced the five symbols of Sikhism, which include Kangha (comb), Kesh (long hair), Kada (iron bracelet), Kachcha (underwear), and Kirpan (sword or dagger).
Guru Granth Sahib	Guru Granth Sahib (also known as the Adi Granth) is the scripture of the Sikhs. Granth was written in Gurmukhi script and it contains the actual words and verses as uttered by the Sikh Gurus. It is considered the Supreme Spiritual Authority and Head of the Sikh religion, rather than any living person.

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti

Quotes and Teaching of Guru Gobind Singh Dev Ji

“When all efforts fail, it is righteous to take up the sword.”
He who trusts, however, in an oath on God, His Protection also in He; in need, He shows the Path.― Guru Gobind Singh, Zafarnama
He alone is a man who keeps his word, Not that he has one thing in the heart, and another on the tongue.― Guru Gobind Singh, Zafarnama
If you are strong, torture not the weak, and thus lay not the axe to thy empire.― Guru Gobind Singh, Zafarnama
Shed not recklessly the blood of another with thy sword, Lest the Sword on High falls upon thy neck.― Guru Gobind Singh, Zafarnama