A

SHORT SKETGH

THE LIFE AND WORK

THE 10TH AND LAST GURU OF" THE SIKHS, .

HHAGAT LAKSHMAN SINGH,

DI~TnI(:'l' I NSPB!:'l'0I1 01' SCHOOLS, L UDll lANA, LA'l'}':; PROl!'J

Pain gar! jab te tllmre, Tab'te kou allkh tUl'e tlaMn allgan.

. . ..

" Lord, since I took shelter at t,by feet, I have not noticed anyone !"

Eliai kaj dhUl'a IUlln jWUllIIam, Salll(U" leo Sad"lt sab -lila 1II1II1Il1ll, Dltm/It clw/Uwan sallt Ill/haran, Du,y/tt sltbltan ko mill "P(t1'(ltl. " F01' this purpose was I born, Underst.and all ye pious people! To inaugurate righteollsness, to lift ull tbe good, To destroy all evil-doers, 1'00t and branch!"

Kahiyo Pl"abhzi so bltak" llltil. ,

Kis" 1/(1 "all "ak" 111

Btt;O\Q~T B;o\!.MUKANll, B.;o\., U..B . (llied October 31"11, lOOt).

PLEADER, CHIEF COURT, PUNJAB.

Jeloueb Jrofb~r, For t.hy amiabili t.y and spcckl('~sly pm'!' life,

thy sdllc8R }mt.riotisJl1, and t.hy dl'Yont reg:nd for India's g-rcat. 1111'11, I takl' t.hc libt' rfy to dedicatc to thy s:l(~rcd memory Illy j his hl1l11ble effort to sketch the life /Iud wOl'k of (mp of tlle greatest. of IlIdil\'~ SOliS. III \iI'", though thon wast Ft hardly 30, thy "kathUs " from Hie Upuishads, and thc Maha-Bhltl'ata l'aiscd UIC ~pirits lind gladdelled the hClirts of thc eong regatious of t.hy towlISmcn Hnd tOWIIS-women. I trnst that, in death, through t.his hnmblo work, thou mayst heal' a message of hope Rnd cheer to the down-trodden lind the lowly of this unfortunRte faction-ridden land of sociRI and religious tyranny .and of superstition aml oppression.

March 10th, 1909, A. D. LAKSHMAN SINGH.

INTROD UOTION.

Bhngat Lak,hUlRn Singh, th" wliter of tho-JUI'moir, has ('h

aad the bad, the high and the low, and to keep his-head calm lind coo\. He hlld the choi,'e of perpetu-ating the succession of his fllmily, he hlld the option of ilworpol'lIting himself with the mightit',t of the Iml(l alld the times, he had tIll' temptlltion to wI'cek tIl(' work o[ generation,; what he ,lid a..tnally in 111 .. ,(' lIlaHer,.; is wpll lmow II HlHI need", 110 repetitiou, HIll'w IIIP a llIall ill th" histol'Y of t}\(O world ill snch II dif1i:lllt p,,,it iOIl allti wit h SII('h a spi!'IHli(1 r('('ol'd, 01' this 1I1111l Bha~'at f,,,k,,hrullU Sing'h writ",.; and wl'it ('.' a.' a h"li!'u'I', :'ILllly ot h!'r,; will I'ol\ow aud 'VI'it.!' piJiio,.;ophi!'all,l. "I'iti"all) a III I with more mat!'rial" at th"il' (lisl'"."d and .,how th"t nlll'u Govind Sill.!(h wa~ a :-;Hi Ll t~ Hdwlal', :o-:oldi(,I*, :--;taJt':-nnan Hnd

~:niollr, tIll' like 01' whi('h lIlay not ('Ollie agaill,

LA HOlm: ~ HIli .1lttJ'('h, WOO, ) HARJOSHKIILAL,

PllEFAO~. Of all works on Sikh hi~tory compiled by

Enropean authors not one contllins a comprehensive account of the life of Guru Govind Singh, the 10th and Inst Guru of the Sikhs. As It rule these writer'! hllve commenced ibcir works from the time of Bn ha Nltnak, t.he founder of t.he Silih ('['eed, and baye cneled thf'm with It hrit'f refe'rl'ne'(\ to !.lie politie~ftl "011-vlllsiollS of the perio(l in whie'h th" 1 Htlt Gllrll plnycd 1101, a mlall part. TIH'y hcli"n'el, Illong with tho majority of the ludiau wrile!' . , that. tlH' principal "'Ol'/( Clf till' Gllrll WIIS of a pol it i('nl natu!'l' nnd by giriug him ClI'e'lIil fell' this th,'y thonght that t.hey had said all jhat, ('ould he ~l\id of hilll. This, I snlJlllit, i" tOCI POft1' II trihute to the nWlllOl'y oj' the Guru. I han' h'i",l to show, ill thi" 1Il111110il', that IIi. militnl'y It('hicvclll('nhl were Clnly a ..tln-pt",]! in hi . .; iiI',' a1111 t hat. hi, gr"nt and lasting' wOIk was to pr('a('h th" ]

.aid all t.hat could be said about. the Guru, or that I have exhausted all sources of information in writing this work. I have only attempted to place ill the hands of the English knowing public a handy book containing a simple narrative of the life of one who is regari!ed as SavioUL' by millions of men, inhabiting the land of the Five Waters. I fed confidcnt that my humble effort will stimnlatc fin

intere~t in t,i1e work of the Divine Poet" Sage, Refoi'mel', Patriot find Martyr, an(l that abler and better informed men will feel ell(~onragc(l t.o write a con]prph(,llsin~ acconnt, of hi, life.

The P"rsiHn l'a"Hge on pages 51 and 52 and its trllnslHtion have been taken fl'om a paper ('ontributed to the" Tribune", SOllle 3 yellrs ba('k. Thc Persian extl'act. ou JlRge 4,t 11118 been inserted on the authority of II Muslim frieud. I have not been able to .. crify the Huthorship of these pllssagcs. Some friends haH' just told me that Snndri Devi, and not .Titoji, WH.; the Guru's first wife. The suggestiou has come too late fot t.iw institution of lin enquiry. The bllttl" of llhnng'llli hilS been purposely described along with other batt.!es of the Guru with the hill Rajas, for the sake of t.he tenor of the story. Though it had taken place sometime before the foundation of the" Pauth," its cnuse WHS the same-the resentment of the hill Rajas at the Guru's efforts to infuse military spirit into his followers and to march, at times, in milit.ary array.

LAHORE: LAKSBMAN SINGH.

Jiareh IOtA, 1909.

INTRODUCTION.

"God ercates slIints from age to Itge", say our Sl'l'iptnrl1s, .. mIll preserres rirt'lle."* The history of the humlln 1'11('(' bear" Itbundant. testimony to the truth emhodied in these worlh. How Galltltlll Buuha 1ll'(,Hehed 10H' nnd sympathy, how Christ was ('I'u!'ified whil(' stl'i"illg to h'aeh the ll'ssons uf ehllrity and rig!Jtrous dell ling, how, Ilgain, the Sufis ha ve l'lldellvoured to mollify the stuhhorn henrt, of 1lI1lny II follower of the CI'CS('('nt, :ue IIII1H('r, Qi' lliotory, Gurll Goriml Singh's mission was eXlldly the same. Hl-brought the RIIIIIp messllge and receired nunt~rdom whcn comlllllllil'ating' it. The sanl\' srene is enllcted in the drama of human life fl'OIll IIge to age, The plld played is the same, more or h.ss. Only the time, stage, lind lIetul'S are different"

The story of Guru Govind Singh's life is at onc. pathetic am!" heart-stirring. Bereft of his sllintly fathel', when yet II l.hild, trouhled hy jealous kinsmen, persl'cuh-d by unscrupulous foes, nnd hetl'RYl'd hy falsI' friends, Jill lived tu he ahle to procure freedom for his countrymen from the tyrRnllous IloliticRI yoke of the Mughal and the demoralizing sph'itual sub-jection of the Brahman. He swened not, from duty He ('ommunicated hi8 message holdly and fearlessly.

The times of his advent were very hard. The Hindn social ~ystem had deadenell the hearts of peopl Eaeh individual lived for himself, The feelings of

* Jug .Jug Bhagnt Upninda paij rakbdll aiyli.

2

manliness and sympathy wet'e gone, A desire t& avenge wrong was not felt, Even a wild mouse pre-sents a bold front to the enemy when he stands at hay, But, t hauks to the fl'aml'rS and administra-tors of the Hindu IIIW, the whole mnss of the humauity, within the Hiudu pnh" had hecome iUBlIiuUlh', H~ it W('l'P. It:-; 111('11 were takl'H into ('''pli,ily IIlld WOIll('1l 80Id ill Ihe frouti,'r mal'lid,,; hul il lIlovl'd not. In addilioll 10 Ih .. calamilil'" that th" Punjah Hindus sulrer!'d frolll Iwillg' ('xl'os!'d to th .. fl'("l'H'llt inroad., of the Muslim inHull'rs th,'y I,ad to put lIJl witl,' ('onslaut ill,uH" at the hlluds of tlw Muslim ollieiab and Ilohll's, I,ife and prOIH'rty

\l'1~l'e not ~af('. Y{HI1Ig'~ IllHllfll'l'ied, heautiful Biudll girl" w!'rl' for"ihly Inkl'n away from their parent sand glUlI'dians, Marl'ig!' padies Well' way-laid, llride-grooms were assa,sillat .. d aud their In'id,,s WH!' gnateh .. ,l frolll them. The Hiudu pla!'l's of worslli" IV!'!'!' dl'sl'(','aIL'" ; hut uo Iloti('!' was talit'll of n", ,'on,h]('t or n", rnJ1inus who did .'0, A rl'glllar ('lllllpHigll, 1I1Hl(,I' uf1i('ial pat-l'OlHtgc, was going 011 to Jor('ihly "OUYl'd thl' Hindus to th" Mnslim Faith; and, tllll,;, hroH ... r" \\'1'1'1' lorn fro III hrotlH'rs, fnUlIn's IImI Illuthl'l' .... frolH tIll'il' . ..;ou~ Hila ua.l1~:htPlS. 'l'ho~l" who rl'fused were tortured til death. All Hinull hellrths wcr,' house~ of 1ll01lrlling, A ('onstant wail went forth from the Biudu Pllnjab. 'I'h" unl'ortllnllt .. , oppressed' l)l''')l11' fOllnd ('omlllation ill t hpi!' religion, They Ilttrihllted their hOllhles til Fate IIud resigned them-sl,lvl's to Fall'. T1lt'y thuught they were being punished fur theil' Karmas', ill pl'c\'ious births, and Hlllt their o}llJrt'ssors IVl)rl' lIot to hlame! They wero

;}

only instrnments in the hands of God! What other-attitude could. be adopted by a people who had become mentally so low as to aeqnie.'lce iu tho belief that C\"eIl Par" Ralll, wll{) is sni(l to han' annihilatml fh(' whole Kshatrya raee, wa" an incllrnation of Yishnn lind was, as sneh. ('utitled til t111'ir homage!

011 this llPlll't-l'l'Jl(lillg S""Ill' GilI'll OllyilHl Singh apPl'arl'd, as a heale]'. to IlL'!'a"h " n"w UIl,!' .. 1 to the oppr(',,,cd hnmanity. HI' Illld thelll til disl'ar(1 theil' worthIes,.; oM helieY"t and til throw themsehes Oil tllP tIIel'ey of the Gra(ion.,.; P,'oridell(,p and they wllnld he SflYe(\. "Sin all(1 sllIT('I'ing appl'oll('h not those who llH'ditate on tllP Lord's IlHIIlP" wa.' 1111' message he hl'onght, II" mUlI(, thplIl I\ndcl'stllml that all su/fl1ring wall the r"",11 of thpi]' own failings, that God sellt no it'ouhlc, t.hat the oppresso],s werl' not IIis im!rnnwnts. that Ih!''y shllllld helil'rl1 ill OUl' Uo(l ant! shonld Ion' onc auotllPr as hrothel'H, that thpJ sllOnltl ris(, togetlH'r IIml fall togdhcr, that they ,honld rl'sist Rml root out nll eril-doers. that thl'Y ~ltollld not fl'lIr death, and that tlll'y shonld rl'garll lifl' only I\S 11 lIleallS to 1111 eutl-to attain heatitude at the fl,et of the Timell'ss One, Hl' died in Ol'dCl' t.lmt God's PCOlilc ,houhllin'. Thosl' who hl'lu'd the lIIl'ssagl' wert' san'{l. Himln hroth~r'. you have (lisowlll'd your Sayionl'!

LAHORE; }

Dall'd .1/(/1'('" 10th, 1909. LAI(SHMAN SINGH.

t Phokat dhal'm na kandi kamau,

THE AUTHOR'S OBLIOATIONS.

I am indebted to my esteemed friend, Hon'bl. Lala Harkishen Lal, B. A., Barristel'-at-Law, Cantab. tIll' great pioneer of iudustrial progress in the Pnnjab, for the conception and publication of this work, It WIIS he who, eight ,P'III'S back, put the idea into my hea(l to record what I knew of the Guru and it is, IIg'ain, he who has horne the expense" of it~ puhlication aud Ims Ilrranged for it, sale 011 ('ost price. The major portion of the book was 'Vl'ilten, six years haek, when Illy time was my own and it would llllve heen puhlished the sallll' year; but it was my dl'sirl' to th'st show it t;o some ft'iPIHls with a ri('w to gd language and style improved, so far as possible. My friends, Indillns and Europeans both, 11IlHl not., for some rl'l\SOn or othel', ht'en lwlpflll in this matter. So tIH' hook appl'ars h.'fore the puhlic lllainly liS it. was written. The only Sikh who 11118 been of SOllle IIssistance to llle in going through the proofs nnd giving seveml useful suggestions is my young friend aud pupil, Bhai .Jodh Singh, M. A ,Professor of Divinit.y, Khalsa College, Alllrit.sar, to whom my acknowledgments are due. Ul\(!t,r the cil'l'umstanl'!'s it must be full of imperfe('-tiow. ; but if till' IIdlllil"I'l'H aud disciples of the Guru kindly fll\'lllll' me with their snggestions the 2nd oditioll lllay Ill' cOlllparlltin'ly II f1awlcss one.

LAllOln: ; 1 Jlurch lUt", 190!I A. D. f I,.\I{SHl\IAN SINGH.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Birth-childhood and mRninge

CHAPTER II.

Hi. father's llIarlyrdum

CHAPTElt III.

Boyhood, youth nEd daily avoctltiolls

CHAPTER IV.

Remarilnble presenls-Masallds Pnnished

CllAPTER V.

The st"te of Hinduism ill the time of Guru Govind Singh

CHAPTElt VI.

Guru Govino Singh's aims allo methods

CHArTER VII.

The foundalion of the Khalsa Panth

CHAPTER VIII.

The Founde.'s creed

CHAPTER IX.

" . 6 tl) 19

.. . 22 to 2t

. 2.) to 29

. .. :30 to 31

... 82 to 35

... 36 to 38

... 39 to 46

The propagation of the Gospel-Visit of the hill Raju and the GUI'Ii'S address to them-slory of an aS8 in a tiger's skin-testing the Sikhs incoonito ... 47 to 56

CHAPTER X.

Str.uggle with tho hill Rajas ... ... 57 to 59

ji

CHAPTER XT.

'Second marriage-reconcilintiol1 of the Raju of Nahan and GhRrwRI-foundation of the fortreos

Rni and

Paget.

of Paunta-meeting wilh :;>odhi Ram Budhu Shah-employment of P"lllltns ... tiO to 61

CHAPTER XII.

'The origin of ~il'ln"ln Salll'ns-,helter to Rajpllt rebels-denth of Sodhi R'm Rai-punishment of his Mllsanus-birth of prinCe Ajit Singh ... G2 to (j.j.

CHAPTER XIII. Struggle with the I.il! ltlljas rellewed .. , (i,'j tG ti7

CHAPTE.{ XIV. Battle of Bhangani ... f,S to 72

CHAPTER XV.

Reward. to Budhu Shah IIl1tl Kil'p'] Das-arl'iv,,1 at Annndpur-!luslilll pel's~cutioll ami conseqnant discontent alld oppo"it:ou-lhe founding of a workshop-dealll of ""allaki-reconciliation with lhe hill Rajas-ereetion of fortresses-testing the Sikhs. 73 to 7G

CHAPTER XVI.

The Rajas suppliant-defe,rt of Alif Khan-birth of prince Jujhar Singh-def.at of Shaur Khan-invaoion of H usaini and his death at Goler-2nd invasion of Shaur Khan-prince Munzzam's march ngainst the hill Rajas-another Muslim invasion of Aoandpur-Nand Lal's mission-brief peace and encouragement of literature; molestation of the Sikha-c!tastisement of Bajrnr 77 to 86

CHAPTER XVII. Sb'lIsgle with *he hill Rlljaa renewed ... 87 to 92

iii

CRAPTEU xvrrr.

Peace-telum to Anandpul'-slury of Jog Singh-visit to Raw"ls.r "nd exllOrtaUoII to the hill Hajas-the building of a golden temple-disregard of riches-treasure thrown into the river-sharp

Page8.

fight near Cltamkaut !l3 to!J7

CIIAPT~U XIX.

Relurn to An"ndpur-plllnder of Bassi-the ltill Itnjas appeal tf) the l1Jtnperor-:ulvunce of the Imperial Army-siege of Anandpur-evllcua-tioll of Auu,ndpul'-oceupation of Chamlmur-siege of Chamkaur-mart.Jrdom of prinCeS Ajit Singh "lid Jnjhar Si"gh 9810107

CHAPTER. XX.

Escape from Chamkal1r-trnvelling incoynito-murder of princes Zorawll.r Singh and ~latah Singh and the tragic elltl of moUler Gujri nt Sirhind-I'alt at Deen,,-epi,tle 'v Aurangzebe 108 to 115

CII A PTE R. XXr.

mne dress cast off-Ihe discourtesy of lhe founder of the Jfaridkot Stllte-c,,"version of a Sodhi-the Manjha Siklts mal,e overtures for recon. ciliaUon-the hattie of Muhtas"r-Pardon to recalcilrant M"njill" SiidJs

CHAPTER XXIf.

The Jals demand P"y-collversion of " Syad-Rai Dalla.'s fidelity-tite Guru'~ mnl'vellou3 memol'y-ill\litntion from Aurnngzebe-march

116 (0 119

to Ihe Dec"an 120 10 12~

i.,

CHAPTER XXIII

'F Pagtl. Death of Aurangzebe-atruggle for Ihe throne-

million from prince Muazzam-Iucces. of the million-!lrince Azam faUs-coronation of prince Muazzam Babadur Shah. The Guru as a date guelt-visit to NanMd-conversion of Bairagi BandR-Ballda's punitive expedition-fall of Sirhind, Samana and Mustafabad-Wa.ir Khan and' Such" Nand die ignomi. niously-':Excessel by . Banda aDd 'his capture and death-allaasiDation of the Guru ... 124 to 181

CHAPTER XXIV.

A Retrospect ... 18~ to 140

CHAPTER XXV.

A contraIl-the Gnru'. catholicism-His cosmic sym-pathy-the Sikhs wrest a position fur themselves 141 to 148

CllAPTER XXVI.

Non.interference with other people's True idea of nationality

CHArTER XXVIl.

A .,iew of modern Sikhism

CHAPTER :XXVIII.

What the future may bring

CHAPTER XXIX.

mether the Guru performed miracl

CHAPTER Xxx.

la ~ fo_t.,. of Baba Nanall:

beliefs-... 149 to 158

... 159 to 16~

... 170 to 175-

. .. 176 to 181'

... 182 to 18"

OHAPTER-I. ~_ URU GOBIND SINGH was born on Friday the lath V of Poh, Sudi 7th, Salllvat Vikrillladitya 1723, ac-cording to 1666 A.D. at Patna, a large town of historic renown; in the Province of Behar, His father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, WRS ahsent at tbe time, at Kamrup, in Assam, wherc Ill' had gone with Raja Bishen Singh of Jodhpur whom he had helped in the conquest of that Province and who subsequently becallle his very ardent follower. Both at Patna and Kamrup great rejoicings took place to mark this auspieious event. From RII parts of the counh'y the Gnrlt's :followers floeked to Patna to see t1wil' future Guru IIml to nlHke their offerings in (,Rsh and kiIid. Gobind Singh's UlaternHI nIHle, Kirpal Chand, received them kindly ami sent them bRck lORded with favours. After the lapse of eleven months Gm'u Tegh Balutdur halted at Patna to sec his family and t,he newly-born bHbe wit,h whom the Providem'c had blessl.d him 1111(1 who was destined :to add lustl'e to his alr('Hdy illustrious name. After ,a brief sojourn he l)roposed to his mother IlIld to bis wife that they sbould rcturn to Anandpnr whieh he had himself built, for his residence, on thc "pm's {If the HimRlayas; but, the ladies preferred thD quiet ~f Patna wherc no ill-feeling eould be exl'ited in the breasts of their jealous kinsmen aud where the plots and intrigues of Ram Rai and other Sodhi claimants to the (huldi ('(mld (10 them no

Arr,OIdilll! 10 .toml? mrifers fl'e GIIl'1/ wenf to Blllltmi and IIl1t to A.asam.

2

harm. So the Guru returned alo11.e- to Anandpur .to the ' great dismay of the men who had consoled themselves with the belief that he had left thll Punjob for good and. who were making- strenuous efforts to prevail upon Aurangzebe to confer the vacant (]mldi on Ram Rai, and' t.o the boundless joy of his adherents who came in large numbers to welt'ome him back iu their midst Rnd to receive from him the solace of religion." The devoted worship-pers.brought with them the offeringsthey had deposited for years aud built spacious mansiohs for the visitors and the. Guru's family.

Anandpur, in those days, WRS eXRctly the place of bliss, IlS its name implies. Guru Tegh BRhadur was a sai1.lt immensely rieh in t.he love of God and man. His days and nights were mostly spent either in .. meditation or in preaehing t~ all who cnme to him that this world and its ties were trRnsient, that only t.he .Lord's name was real and. that real happiness lay not in the enjoyment .of gross earthly pleasures but in losing one's self in the contemp-lation of the Creator. His writings are throughout imbued with transcendental spirituRlity. No sooner the eye rests on them, or the ear heRrs them l'ecited, a thrill runs through one's whole frame. The grosser nature seems then to be entirely subdued in the holy presence; and though when this sacred influence is removed it may recover its power over the frail man, it ,may be said with justice that for the time t.he sacred influence lasts the worshipper feels, as it were, complet!Jly purified .and fit .to be received into the bosom of the Father. When this, is the influence

3

of the G'uru's "writings the for('c of his presence eRn well be imllgined. No wonder, then,' thRt the 'whole of Northern IndiR hRnkering Rfterspiritual 'knowledge should have sought, relief in pilgrimage to Amllldpur; Rnd if it can be supposed that God incarnates or sends his ('hosen into this world to better the (,ondition of the fallen humanity' Guru Tegh B",hadur (,ert.ainly deserved to be favoured .with a SOD worthy of being entrusted with a divine mission.

When the Guru was engageiI in miIiistering to the spirituRI wRnts of his followers at Anaudpur his son, Govind Singh, was being brought up at Patna, under t,he care of his mother, grandmother and uncle Kirpal Chand. He remained here about five years. The writers of . Sikh ehronides say that; when R' ehild at Patua, Govind Singh developed features which showed unmistakahly thnt he WRS destined to be a . lender of men. He . gnthered round himself boys of his Rge lIud plR.yed val"iou. gRIlleS with them. He organised boat rRees, arrllnged mImIC fights nnd handsomely r(lWllrded those who won. In a word he hnd mnde himself so fnmou., even as n dlild, and' had endeared himself so mueh to all who came in ('ontact. with him that, when pressed by the importunities of his followers; Guru Tegh BRhadur sent for him to Anandpur, the men and women of Patna, youug aud. old, be(,nme dis('t-llsolate. Lit.tIe did they think, perhaps, that the dlild, who in pRrtiug from them paiI}ed them 80 deeply, would grow to be so fltmous nnd that 'Pllttia, 88

, .' .' I .

his 'blrt,' place, .would be assot'iated with his name

4

a8 long as Sikh history lasted and' .'W.outtl" bet'oine .S Beat of pilgrimage for ages to come. At Anandpur Govind Singh's arrival was hailed with joy. Immense multitudes thronged on the roads and in the telllple to haye the priYilege of casting first glance on him. Guru Tegh Bahadur solemnised this occasion by offering thanksgiyings to the FRt.her Almighty and feeding thousands of the poor. The news of Goyind Singh's arrival soon spread far and '):)e,ar 'and dis-ciples from Multan and Sindh, Kabul and KRndhar, DhRui Rnd Pot.hoha!" Rnd oth~r parts of the Punjab brought for him al\ sorts of presents. These ho distributed alllongst his playmates. The gifts inrluded horses of the dlOieost breed from Khorasall and Persia and R.rrows and weapons of the rarest make from Kabul and KRudhar. The future' founder af the Sikh military power pl'ized these gifts most and even at that age he took spedal delight in organising an army of inegulars and in roaming about the jungles at t.hilir bQRd in Beardl of Sldkm. His hRndsome face, his prineoly bearing. his kind look, his sweet Patna dialect, made still sweeter when it. proceeded from his sweet lips, his pleasing ma.nnClS and his winning smile made him a universHI faYOluite. The calls. on his time were so many that hiB mothel' and grand-mother often complained that he st.ayed out for the great.er part of the day. At the age of seven be was placed under the tutelage of Sahib Chand Granthi to learn Gurmukhi in company with Manya who, under the name of Mani Singh, subsequently played nn important pnrt in Sikh history anA:~ed' as a martyr, Nand Chand, his future eo1tlllJiI.lor and

his other playmates. Gifted a,s he ",as with aD extIoordinalY genit:s l!e ccmpJetely 1"111 nt, He Ad Granth in a ~hort time, lind bis reeitlltions elidted populllr appllluse. In the slime yellr Qllzi Pi1' Mobammed WIIS IIppointed to telleh him Persian lind an expert Rajpuf was entrusted with the duty of /r"in-ing bim in horsemamhip and in the use of weapons.

From tbe worldly point of view this IllRy be regarded RS tbe hllPpiest period of Govind Singb'. life. All that mRn ('mIld desire was his. His fRther was the spirituRI l'uler of men or Sacha PlIdsl"d" the real King, by whi('h ' name he was remembert'd by the Sikh dis('ipl"8. His mother Rnd grRnd-mother W(1re adored by millions of men Rnd women. His mornings Rnd evenings were .pent, in devot,ion and dRYS in Sldkm' Rml ot hel' manly gRmes. At night befOt'e he went to bed, in the palRtial residen('e set apart fOl' him, nunH'rous aUendRnts sang for him hymns from Granth Sahib and made a paradise, as it, were, of his home. But it was not for these cllltMy blessings and worldly enjoyments that God had sent him into this world. So before he ('on: pleted his ninth year all this vista of humRn bliss unished lind the stern Providen('(' {'aUed him to duty.

6

CHAPTER-II. ~ . ..... "

. ALAMGlR AURANGZEBE, the Moghal Emperor~ co:me 'to'the throne by imprboning his nged father; ~nd to se('ure it to himself he hnd the saintly Dara Sbikoh, bis . elder brother, nnd the timid Murad, his younger brother, cruelly mrirdered'. TIle third brother~ Shujah, fled to Arakan where he died miserably, These crimes, though not .so ,mCOlnmon in t,hose days, . (,rested indignatipn . t.hroughout the Muslim

" . " ' . , , ') .. .

world. For the murder of Dara Shikoh he put f~f~ard ih~' eicuse 'thnt he had be(,ome a Sufi and had died the death of a heret.i{. But for other mis-deeds he could render ~o 8atisfa{'tory explimation. Discontent, therefore, brewed near his throne and iii the 'remote provinces. The Moghal officers in' Deccall, Bengal, Oudh, Punjab and Kabul lost fait.h in the o('(mpnnt of the Delhi throne and began til' "devise ways and means for shaking off their allegiimce. "The Sheriff of Mecca refused to re-ciJive his envoys a\t.hough they brought. him money presents. Shah Abbns of Pm'sia hated Auraugzebe, and severely condemned him for his treatment of his father' and his breth~en; He scoffed at the title which Aurangzebe had nssumed of "Conqueror of the World"; and he threatened to mnrch an Ilrmy to Delhi, Aurllngzebe wns in the utmost nlllrm ".-

In this plight, Aurangzebe took shelter with Ulemaa and professors of his religion and by tlleir sympathy, which he purchased hy the tree

; ,' g bestowal of royal favours, he began to play the rOle of the Defender of Islam. To pander to the prejudices of the fanatical mob, quite , agRin~t the conciliatory ' policy of ' his t,hree ill\l8trious. pr~ dece~sors, he be'gan to rule his vast empir!;l, i,n~ habited by R population of diverse creeds and races, by -organising a regular Jehad against all non-Muslim~, Orders were issued that thenceforward no non-Muslim should be appointed to any Civil or Miiitary offi~e ; that ,

, ' " i . "

LambRrdRrs and ZRildars should all be 'Muslims ; that ,j . :

Sanskrit should not be taught; t.llRt Hindus 8hO\~ld not be allowed to go on pilgrimage to their time_

, , ,

honoured shrines.' All sorts of oppressive taxes. were levied on non-Muslims and" wl;ent.h~se8odl,'c~s ~'f , tyranny were exhausted, he ordered the forcible 'conc version of the Hindus. The worship of idol& W,as,

" .\ " ' .

made a crime. The temples of the non-Muslim~ were demolished and mosques were , substituted , i':l their place, some of which, may , still be seen ill different parts of India. "Inste,ad of permiHjllg the followers of other religions to worship God in t,h~ir. own way, Aurangzebe ,songht to for('e t,hem into be:"' comiug MuhammadRlls. He began by , destroyi~g idols and pagodas within his own tel'l'itories, and building up mosques in their room. He burnt down a great pagoda near Delhi. He converted a mRgnifh,ent temple at Mathra into a mosque. He drove religiousmendicallts,'of"every idolatrous sect ~ut of HindustRn. He ordered the Viceroys of provinces to carryon the same ,work , throughout the Empire. At the same time he prohibited the celebration of the Hindu festivRis. He required all Hindu servant,s of

tile Mgglud Government to become ,~uhammadan~ nude" pRin of losing their appointments. _ He im-posed the Jezy~ on all his ~ubject8 who refused to become Muhammadans. Eve)} the English,!\nd Dutch residents in India were 8,ubjeeted to the same .obnoxious impost. The Rana, of Udaipur was .ordered to allow cows to be sbmghtere,d in his "territories".- , ,

When this was the attitude or tIu' head of the Empire the atrocitie~ committed, in the name of re-

II r

ligion, by petty potentates in the provin('es, may w"n ,be imagined. Kltlimlt or the swo~d w'a. the option

~iveu to uon-Muslims. A story, somewhat exag-g .. rated, is told that iu those days, Aurangz"b" had resolved 1 hat 'he wou.ld' ~ot takl' his breakfast uu-less one arid a quarter" maund 81wred threads were bro'ught to him daily and their wearers made Mus-lims. In Kashmere the Gove~rio'l' Sher Afgan forl'-

I , , L

ibly converted half the population to' Islam, The chosen few . among the r,,~t took shelter with Guru Tegh Bahadur. It is stated by some that the Kashmiri PUlldit,s were advis .. d to seek the Guru's aid by the deity presiding over the shrine of AmRr Nath, in the north-west of Kitshniir: and by others that the Gu'ru's kinsmen, burning with the fire of envy and labonring under the mortificRtion they had experienced in the ('ompl .. te 'failure of their ~01't8 to obtain tlie Gltddi, put this idea into the liea1 of th~' defenceless Kashiniris fo involve Guru

Talboy's Wheeler, a shmt Hi,ytm'.'1 of I nt/j't pages 177-78.

9

'l'egh Bahadur into a quarrel with the gl'eat Moghal 'whose migllt would llltiumtely ('rush him'Rnd 'lIIake it impoSilible ' for his descendMuts to retain, 'bold (H'e .. tbe (hl/ltti. Be that as it mlty, the Guru received them most kiJidly. Their tale of woe nre]t.ed runi. int,o tears. For a long time Iw remnined speeeh-less. When at lnst, he (,om posed himself he gravdy replied that, until some virtuous persoll sacrificed himself at the alt,at" of Fait,h. God's people would find no rest. Silence prc\'ailed in the audience. Govind Singh WI\8 then nine yenrs old. Respedfully leaving t,he lap of his fat,her and kneeling before him he snid" Su.'e, thon art all embodinllOnt, of virtue. Give t,hy life for thesl' poor lleoille. Who else will protect them?" These brave WOl'ds ft'om It child of nine years nddressed t.o the parent into whose lnl' he had been plnyiJlg a few minutes pre-vions, spread a feeling of wonder Rlld Rmazement into t,he whole audience. They stnrcd now iuto the fac" of the father mul then into t.hnt, of the son and began t,o feel a sort, of ~nperllat,nt'al awe in theil' l,resence. There was, however, litt.le cau"tl for wondel'ment, in what t.lleY witnessed. Bot.b tbe~ll, fat,her and son, had been sent into this world for It specilll purpose" the fulfihnellt of which lieces-sitated ext.ro.ordiuary ('onrage aud Slwl'ifi('e. With these manly 'Virtues t,hey were most thol'onghiy e~jlowed. ~th were consdol1s of the mighty re-voltttions that, the Divine Ruler had ordained through them and both were ('omplet,ely resigmld.to His will.

HI

The ~peedl of Govind Singh re(~eived a l'eady response. Guru Tegh 13ahadal' asked the Kashmiri Pundits to writ.e to t.he Emperor that in ('ase His Majest.y prevailed upon their leader, Gur'u Tegh 13ahadur, t.o become a Mus8alman t.hey would all

8(~cept the Kulimu of t.he Prophet; otherwise they should be allowed t.o worship t.heir gods AS - before .. 'fhe Kashmiri. Pundits, reduced to desperation' though they were, for a while hesitated hi 8ub-' mitt-ing sudl a petition. They had, of course, ('ome t.o ",ek the Guru's aid; but nothing was furt.her from their intention t.han t.o involve a saint like the Guru into such a serious difficulty. Super-stitions t.o the extreme they had thought. thAt by some miraculous agency the Guru would avert t.he calamity that. fU(~ed them. aut t.o t.lwh horror the blessed saint recommended a course whidl simply meant deat.h to him. At length, pressed by the Sodhi enemies of the Guru, to whom his death was Illost welcome, they yielded. The petition was Ilccord-ingly sent to the Imperial PotentAte t.hrough Zalim Khan, Subah of t.he Punjab. On re('eipt of it Aurangzebe ('alled a meeting of t.he lflelf/.a.Y Ilnd Qazis of his (~Olll't and asked their opinion. All were agreed that it. would be a matter for (,on-gratulation if by one man's conversion millions of infidels entered the fold of Islam. As a result, of this deliberation two special messengers wel'e' serit to bring Guru Tegh 13ahadar to Delhi. The GUl'U; however, preferred not to go with the Imperial guards. He sent back the emissaries of Aurangzebe with the reply that he would come attended by his own men.

11

Very Boon after he made preparations fOI' his departure and gave instructions to Govind Singh as to how the work was to be

12

HR"Han Ali; an impe('unions BYRd, old Rnd decrepit. heRring, thRt a IUIIl(bome rewnrd wns set on the. Guru's heRd prRy"d that . if, as people said, the Guru . WRS a friend of . the poor Rnd knower of heRtts, insteRd of s'lrrendering himself t.o> the Moghal Empel'or he would come to him so thRt, by handing him OH'r to the ImperiR! iiut~s" he might get the promised t'eward Rnd thereby re-lieve the burden of his old Rge. To sRtisfy the ('.rnving of these two persons , the Guru went to Agra, where he was arrested in a garden, in the subn,rbs, of AgrH, and was imprisoned in the 101'f11 flll,tress.

When the inddent was 'reported tI. AurHngzebe he was overjoyed at the thought that. now, throngh the Glll'U of the Hindus, he would 8t1l'-"eed iiI ('On \'Ijoting ('ounth-s" llwn to the ('I'el,d of IslRm, The 'Guru WIlH tHk .. ti to Ddhi undel' Imperial es('ort. Through the advil'e of the HeRd Qazi hewlIs lodged in 11 dilllPidated building, 8UII-posed to be haunted by evil spirits wlwre, Il('('ording to the populllr belief, many persIIl18hRd been t()1'melltetl to denth. But uo evil genius molested the Guru, Next mOl'ning th .. Glll'U wns presented to' Aurangzebe who received him with honour and im-plored him to lend the ' weight of his . influence in his poli('y of ('omersion. The IndiRn peoples, he sRid, were hopelessly divided into numberless creeds. whid. "

ta

peet of his people gIVIng up idols and belie.-ing in one God. Should the G'Jru proffer him the ' re-, quired assistance he woltld give him a lady of tlu~ royal household in marriuge, make him N awab of the Punjab or, if he so elel'ted, he would issue R' decree that the -whole of Muslim India should-re. gard him a.8 their premier Pil". He felt ('onfident that even if the Guru did not feel indined to accept the Kaliullt he would H('knowledge the Prophet for the sake of the millions of the Hindus who were-suffering no end of persel'ution -on aCcOlUlt d their refusal to a\'Hii themseh-es of the blessings of Islam. Men of his stHmp laid down their lives for the sake of othm's. In Uw present instlUH'e RO de-mllllli WHS made on his life. A little in('onvl'nil'nce-to him would r('slIlt in 1\ blessing to millions of hi!!. fellow-men who would obtHin peal'e in this life and paradise in the next. Should he, hOWt'yt'r. ('\\Oose to refnse the offer he would lIleet dt'ath Ht the-hauds of the public. ex('('ntioner.

The Gntu heard the speeeh of the astute Moghal wit,h perfect serenity. He ('ahnly replied that it was a . mistaken poli('Y to compel people to change their faith. A belief in this or that need did not ent,itle anyone to> a seat in Heaven. To God MU88almans lIud Hindus were all alike. It was blind fanaticism that led men to> believe that God was partial to one creed and inimical to Huotlwr. Entry into Heaveu rested ou oue's actions aud not ou lip professions. To him the pleasures of this life had \it,tle charm. He had no ambition to ('ouhal't mat.rimonial ti!)s wit.h Hie royal fRmily or to wi"Jd ~piritnal sway by the aid of au Imperial

14

decree. He was completely resignd to the will of God, and in Divine gl'a('e alone lay the fruit,ion of his desires. He WitS not Itfraid of deRth. Death was only the inevitable dissolution of the elements of whkh the body WRS composed. Rama had passed away. Rawan with his large offspring hRd met, a similar fate. The world was like a dreRm and nothing in it was stable. Anxiety necd be felt for wllllt WHS 1111 nuusullI catastrophe. Whoevel' was born mnst, 'die sometime or other. He had given up al\ worldly entanglements lIud had tllken to, the singing of the Lord's glory.

Finding that the Gnrn ("onld not he won O\'lH' by smoot,h spee("h Am'lIugzebe ordl'red his snhjedion to tortm'" in the vilest of dllllg!'on, so thllt {lhysi('HI snffering might. ("Olllpt'] him to 1'111 bl'l>("e Islam. DiwRn Mati Ram, Bhai Gnrdittn, Bhi DYIII", Ilncle of Mania, Bhlli Udai aud Bhai ,Jllita, Mazhnhi Sikhs. who lmd accolllpllnied the GIlI'U fro III AnRndplll' were ilu'ar('erat,ed in separRte IOOIllS. The duugeon-, keepers impl'essed hy the Gnrll's holy presence gave him no ttollble. They qllietly sat, outside Hnd the tlW8,cngers hom AIlIUldpur, sent by mother N anaki, and t,he Sikh disl'iples frolll Delhi wert. freely ad_ mitt .. t1 to pay tJwir hOlllage to the Gurn. A few days after, the Gm'u, togeUwl' with his cOlllpllnions, was talwn to the royal pl'esellce. AurHugzebe again ("ailed upon the pltrty to give up their flllse c~eed. Diwan Mati RRm sai,l, by way of retort, that it was Islam that was false and not the Sikh ereed. If God had viewed Islam with f"vour "he would )lIlYe ('rested all men l'ircumcised.

The Diwan's boldness cost him bis life. An in-

15 fernRI ma('hine WRS immediately erected in the Diwlln Khllna Hnd Mati Ram was forthwith ~awn into pie(,,., Aurangzebe and his hardened cour-

f,jer~ stood emotionless. Their diabolie looks, on the (~ontrRl'J, betrayed inward satisfaction. Bhai Dyaln, 111'" ble to- eontrol himself, gave vent to his feelings by ('alling Aurangzebe a tyrant. He cursed him for eommiUing sueh atroeities in the name of Go(1 and religion and predicted the rapid filII 'Of his dynasty. Aurangzebe WitS all wrath. The 'court parasites .WI more furious. The Bhai was dragge[1 ont of (\ourt ami thrown into a boiling 'Cltuldron. The royal Illonstm' then turned upon the GIll'n aud dismis,,

SQ. AurIRt,gzebe's .thre/tt f,med in its eft'~t, and the prospect, of the Guru' 8 ('ollversion was a8 remote RS ever. Sedate and calm he waited for his end patient-ly. One dlty when he was att.endillg to his toilette on the roof of bis uungeon, he cast R ,look> towards the south. The matter was brought . to the not.i(,e of Aurltngzebe. who sent, for him and H''''used him of looking at the ladies of the Imperial palace. The Guru is !laid to have cRlmly l"'plied thRt be hRd lie en looking in the direction of the sea from where a white rRce would coml', take possession of the Moghal throne Rnd violate till' sanctity of the ~oyal seraglio.

The prophecy exdted ' a furious uproar. Both the King and the "OIlrtiers showered impre(lttions em the ho~ry-heHdlld sHint. The I'ries of" down with the' inftdel!" "Kill the praHng Kafir!" filled the air. The Gm'u wag HI'l'OI,dihgly condemned to die Imd WR" beheaded publi('ly in Chandni Chunk on the 13th of Maglmr 17:t2 Vik., Sudi Ii, aC('ording to 1(;75 A. D. Tltekind hearted among the by-stRnders, Mnillims or non-Muslims, ('Onld not restrRin shed-4ing a t\lor of sympathy. The whole country WitS

~onvulseli, from one end to the other. In the words ~f Govind Sin~h" A Wlti! went fort,h from the denizens of the globe Hnd hail!, hail!, bail!, was heard from on high." And though the stRtement o()f the Sikh writers that when the - Guru died a strong wind blew, earthquakes sbook the globe, many hQuses feY Mnd the whole nature seemed to Bve Deen disturbed may savour of . exaggerat.ion

tD~ i8 no doubt that tiK, bei4eading of Guru Tegh ~dtll.. aUeB8ted UIt' SYmpAthies of millions of

nltlll iiud tile Em}lire of'tlhe Moghltls reeeieUlI l'ufle 8lioek. '-YO ~',

. ~ . , .

. '*. N01E.-A DUl'blll' wa.'\. held at ,Delhi, .. in honour of the eoronat,ioll of. His Mlljesty, King-Emperor l

is tioned as to his alleged crime he answered loudly '1 was uot looking towllrds the zenana, I was looking south for thl' white rll('e who are ('oming from beyond the "ea to teur down thy pardllhs IIud to destroy thine empire.' The words sealed his doom, He was token boek to the dnngeon and behellded by the ol'der of Hw illl'cnsed potentllte, But his words lived in till' melllOl'y of the )!Ill'seented Sikhs, His pl'oplllWY was slll'l'ad, far mHI wid", by Govind Singh, the ll1th II]HI gl'Plltcst (hll'n, who finally consolidated Mil' Sikh, into II religions aud, political power, destined to he('ollll' dominant, when t,h:, Moghal Empire ('l'lllllhll'd to pi",,,.", And on the day when .John Ni .. hobon led the IIs8auU on Delhi, which ended the MogllfIl reign for evet', the Sikh troops who helped to storm the hrl'/whes shonted nlond the )!rophe",y of t1"'ir Illl1l'tYI't,d Gurll, To-day WitS the Birth day of HmilHl Sillgh, an 011-niversnry held ga(,I'ed hy all Sikh", wlll'lI they nled in their temples to off!'r prayl'I" to hi, 1IIl'IIHll'y, It was decide(\ hy Hill It'ading Sikh Mahnrnjl\8 now nt the Illlpl'rial n88elllhlngl' to 1(0 in 80lell111 pro-cession to tlc 8hr;II" of Tegh Bnhadlll' ,tIlti to do homage to the lIame of G,,,inti Singh and renew their vows of loynlty to the King-Em)!l'l'OI' upon that venerated spot. FOl' the littl .. prison b now It temple Rlld plnee of pilgrimage, hallowed by the lleople, for wh08!.' snke the 8ailltly Gllru died, The eeremony wns witnessed by about, a dozen Euro-l)ean8 for it had not. been pllhli"ly annolln,'e(l. But thonsantis of Sikhs from nIl ovel' N orthet'n India were there, drnwn together by a cOllimon motive. It wa~ one of the most dranllltic events of this event--

ful gat,bering; For t.his Darbar marks t,he final ful-flhnent. of till' propltec'y, Hpl'e hI ' Imperial Delbi thl' monRrl'b of tltl' 'White RRce from over the Spa' has just. \ll'odnilllcd hi~ right to rule over 1\ vast.N' ('mpir(l HUIll thc Moglmls ever kllew, By t.he aid of Hu, galillut. Sikh~ t.J1lI predict.ion has been fulfilled to t.he leHer. And it was a sight wort.h seeing, t,hat of Hill Sikh, f\ockillg t.o do homage to Uw King-Empl'l'OI' upon till' vel~y spot where their leml!>r laid down his lifc for his faith. It was somet,hillg that rt Ilat.riotic EuglisllDlIUl remember-ing how ('lImpld,cly the vision of t,he Guru had been l"! !llisB'i, could not ('ont.emplatc without a thrill of pride ..... When you t.hought, of the martyred a"cetic', of his vi~ioll of the Whit,1) Race from over t,he Ol'I'Im, of' t,he gallant Sikhs fighting for Grent Bl'it.nin in HImsl)hes snlut,ing t.heir sn{'rl,d hook t.llllt llIol'uing with the British N ntiolllli Allthplll, you fP)t, thllt, here whi!'ll, ('ould they but see it, to HIl> (,llcmics of Ellglnnd."

wn~ It moving picture might well give pause

. .

, 20

CHAPTER-III. IN the midst of the "onfu.ion whidl WR8 eRu"ed,

when Guru Tegh Bahadur WIIS hehCllded, his head, whi"h IlRd fnllpn lit Home dishlll!,1' from the plRee of execution, WIIS nt OIH'" pi"ked up hy Bhai JHitn nnd taken to AUlludl'ul' where it WIIS !'l'elllllted WiUl ,lue honom',. . Hi, hody lay iu tlU' dung,on. Whl'n in th" dusk of the I'vl'Iling LHlntel' de",l" lind wou n name for a\l t.ime.

AecOl'ding to ~llother R('('Ollllt wbi('b, in pllrt, ligrees with t.hat, of the author of Sni1'-III-Mutakhh'iu Anrnngwhe hlld o1'd"1'"d that. the Gllru's hody be ('ut into four 'I"lIl'ter8 and exposed nt, Ihe fOUl' gRt.es of t.he town, To avoid t.his iguominous treatment

21 BhRi .JRita 8ngg~8ted to his rnthH tllRt the body be 1'lllUoved befOl'1l Auraugzche's lIIlln ~hould ('ome to tuke it, It WitS, howevel', not 1111 !lll'y tusk fo accolUplish, The sentinels peeped int.o t.he cell (\\'ny the minut,es to sathfy thelll~elv"8 thllt. nil w,, ~ rip Itt, Bhni ,T"ita proposed thltt he shollld dill, th" Gnl'n ', body be re-move:l lind his snh.lt.it.nfe:l ill it ... st!,"

22 efforts were direeted to bring Abont this res lilt.. Though young in yeArs he WRS wisc cnough t.o see thRt Rll t,he ills from whidl the Hindu eummullity suffered prm'eelled 1I0t, from WiUIOllt bllt. fl'OIll wit.hill Their OWll sOl'.iRI fabril' wa~ 1I0t. based 011 80111111 Ilrill-dples. Their religious cOllvi(tiOlIS were nut, ~lIflkil'IIt.ly strong. If relyillg solely on the Timeless One t,hey performed t.heir duties t.o them~eheA IllIII to their eonnt,ry properly no ext-ernnl foe ('(HlIll dnl'e do them harm, If, Oil the other hnlld, they were nil_orbed ill l'ompRssiug t.hl1ir illdividllltl ends Ilml di"reg'lIrded ('ommnuRI illterests they III II st, filII I\U ellsy Jll'('y iuto Hie hllnds of some foe or other, Therefore, he did 1I0t, !1ntert.l\iu prop08nl. for WHl' H,ud ('Omml'l}('ed I'ollst.rnet.in, work, The Illttl'r pllrt, of hi. life WIlS spent. OIt n Will' with the MoghAl., uo donht; hnt this Will' WIIS ('nt.irely due to Uti' int,rigne" 1\11(1 lIulI'hillAtiolls of RRjR Bhim ChRlld of Billlspnr, in th" 'outlw],11 HimRlyll.S, Rnd oHlIlr Rnjns of Hie ncig'hholll'ing hi!!" who fell ont. wiUI him fol' trivilll I'ellsons lind WllOs(' whole resonr('es W(1re exbausted in endeavonring to dest.roy bis growing inf\uen!'e, as would be sbown lat.er Oil,

Re WIIS then merely a hill. To undertRke slU'h R great ta~k, at Hlllt Age, would have been silD)lly suiddRl. He gRve his whole timll Rnd nHention to self-l'uUurll, He bad in bis Imy tlozens of eminent, writm',j ;n verse wbo were attracted to his l'Ollrt from RU places of Il\Iu'lIing and whom he employed in prepRring vernRcular edit:ion~ of sOllie of t.he choicest, works in SRnskrit, Early Rt dRwn be rOse to perform ablut.iolls and After recit.ing Jnpji nnd pRying bis regRrds to his mqt,her Rnd grandmother

he attended tIw praym' meet.ing in t,he Gllrlltill'arfl wh ere his followers were already Ilssembled and whm'e aner hearing the singing of hymns in praise of t,he Lord he reeited n Katlla from GrRntIl Snhib Rud thereby satiatcd Uw ('rnving of large congregat,ion8 that. daily ('lime from the l'emotest regions of India nnd the N orth-West Fl'ontiel', This done he looked to the dist.ribution of food to the visitors and to the pO/ll', The l'I"t of UI(' day he spent at his pnlatinl residen!'c. If the weltlbel' was filiI' he went out fOl' sport, Hi" love for manly games necessitated Uw employment of lllany a bl'nve spirit. The sons and gl'Hmhons of Uw wltl'\'iol's who had served under Guru Hal' Govind wm'e sent for and ent.ertained, Among thelll were SlllIte who subsequently eal'ned gl'ellt fnllH' in Hikh hi"toI'Y. In blld wenthel' he stnyed nl home 111111 ""tinted his intelledunl appetites in select company. In the evening beror" it wns Il!u'k he went to the V/lr/lt/wllI1t nnd sat thel'e Inte in the night, The 1)l'og1'aulme of the morning was repented. In addition to the Kntb .. from the Ad GrAnth the hl'lu'ers were entertained slIInetimes with redilltions from RamRYlllln, Mnllltbha1'lIta . nnd Hnnllmnn N IItnk and sometimes with pnllsHges of his own ('oll1po"itioll.

All poet:; whose writing8 hltve infllleneed Ute all"!.ini"" of nation" WI']'e more 01' les" insph'ed; but. very few possessed Huru Govilld Singh'" power of exprc""ion. The forl'e lind I'athos of his poeh'y, the purity of his style and the sublimity of purpose that undel'iics his writings IIrc ,;imply dlllrllliug nnd to thb day cven if II poltroon heHrs them recited he is sure to be forthwith galvani~ed into action, It i~

:/4

thl. pOWet' of stlrl'ing IIp men's best, feelings t,hat, more than anything else, ellHb/cd him to wield 81H'h It vast, infiucn('e OVCl' their heHds_ And what is Jlarii('iIlllrly notewilrthy is thllt this }lowel' was utilised by him in ehlYatillg his follow'er. HlId not in eX('iting their gro", f('elillgs to attain lilly ullworthy objed,

25

CHAPTER IV. Kabnl, the Capital of Afghanistan, has always

been noted f01' the manly hearing amI large hcnrted-ness of its pe!Jplc. On a Besakhi fcstival Duni Chand, a trader from }{ahnl, pl'~sellted the Guru wah a woollen t,en!, which surpassed in excellence even the one helonging to Emperor Aurllngzebe. When if, WitS crec'tell in the ,,,"laidllll the spectators were rooted to the ground in Hstonishment. They saw thereon, emh1'oidered in gold and silver, represl'nt-aHons of all f,)lIIt was g1'I\1Hl anti heautiful in nature. Men looketlat th" artistic work with feelings of g1'cat delight, and ecstllcy alHlatimiret! Duni Chaut!and other disciples ,'om Balkh, Bokhara anti Kanllhar on whoso conjoint, expense and labondlHl gift, had been prepared. In the sallle yeat', on the occasioll of the Diwali festival, Raja Rattan Rai of Assam came on a visit to the Guru. He was the son of Raja Ram Rai, an admirer of Guru Tegh Bahat!ur. Raja Ram Rai hat! llO offspring and was consequently unhappy. Blessed by the Guru he got a son whom he lHtme[1 Rattail Rai. When he sncceedell jo the throne, Rattan Rai proposed to his mother that she should accompany him to Anandpnr to pay resped,,, to their benefad,or'8 son. The mother very glatlly expre1!sed her willingness. So taking with t~Wlll valuable presents 1t!!:I. IIccom-paniell by a lat'ge retinae they started for Anandpnr. On arrival there they were accommollated in the tent above-menf,ioned at the sight of which the Raja was lost in wonder and forgot the gl'andelll' of his owu court. Next day he bronght as lll'esents for the Gnru

26 an elephant named Pershadi with a forehead white

a~ snow, Il!Hl sa~ldle!1 with II sellt wrought. in gold, bmmtiful !lonie3, II curious weapon which when un-folded bec,amc by turns II spellr, sword, guu aud pistol, n Baldal wOld chow.'ei with ctwved stllnds, a gllrlllnd 01 pcal'ls, II wig bedecked in p)'ecious stones nllll several thallY of DaceR Muslin, The preseuts were gi'.dollSly ncceptml RlIlI t.he RRja WIIS assigued a place of hOllour in the reception 1'00111, After II1Rking nsual ellllllil'ies ('oncerllin,'5 the health of the royal yisitor the Gnru dcliH')'ecl a S(>l'1l10U ou t,he yarions aspeds of Dharma, The Guru's deep insight iuto the domain of religion Rstonished the Plludits who had accom-pllniell t!w i!nja aUlI his heavenly beaut,y dn~zled the Ra.j:t himself. The Rajtt's mother lIud Runi snw the G .lI'n next dtt)' RIllI received from him the solace of )'eligioll, AU the while the Raja stayccl with the Gnrn he was trelltl1l1 lIIost kindly. He was rcgnlnr in IIttending the diviue sl'rvicc e\'ery mornill!" nnd dncillg t.hc dBy he had the pleasurc of accompanying t,'1e Gm'u's sporting lmrties. At. Icngt.h dec ply illl-prJ;5s!ld with nil t.hat he hml seen aud expcrieu('ed th" Raj)t left AnRlldpllr for gooel, A temple WitS ('redocl by him Itt the s('at, of his GoYc)'llmcnt whcl'e to t,his day t.he Sikh \'i,it,~)r., rc('eive Rttelltioll,

The ordcr of Mas>llHis bcc'flmc It perfect scaudal in tlt~ tiliw of Guru Govind Singh. As agents of the GUI'Il i the ll1ns!t:Hls were highly respected by t.he

dj~c'ipleg in theil' rl)spective sphcres of work. To those who, for soalJ rJ;BO:) or other, were unable to ('ollie It:!l IlJraonally pay their respc('ts to the Gm'lls t.he)' were as gQod objects of veneration as the Gurus them.

27 selves, The majority of t,he MRSRUds snccnmbccI to ihe mRlly temptations to which they WeI'C tlxpo.,e:I and llmde thelll~elve8 obuoxious to tlw p~opJe, The dis-ciples, simple as most, of them were, CDuhllJ:l :, lllustel' COlu'agJ enongh.t.o report to the GUl'n the uameless obwenit.ies cl)mmitt.~d by t,lJ() M'l nU!l. ., O.l ~ ,] when th!) Guru was holdiug a Durbm', ~oclle it. jll~mut, dl'1\111aiists availed thmll~clvc.l of an OpilOl' tlluity t,o bl'ing t,he nefarious doing,; of hi., MRSAlII!s t fI hiR notice. A pet'son took the part of a MnsltlllI alH! allothm' of a dancing girl. With two male ntt.enriants and riding on hOl'seback the Ma811nd and his parltmonr visited the honse of It poor discipJll, Finding' the owner of the house abstlllt he cursed him in It 1011(1 t.one. The noise malle at.trltcted t.he disciple's wife t,o the door, 011 seeing the Mllsnnd she fcllat his feet nud asked for his blessings, She WIIS l'ewardm! with II I,;!'l, and was nskml to arrange for a I\lIlUbel' of bids. She hrought the best ones in the hou~e; bllt t.he 111 HSllnd

28 thee Ma~and wit,h a silVl'l" coin ' in his hand. This, coupled with his wife's iUCllpllcity to provide NellUri

for, the ponie." redoublell the Masand's linger. In fear, the mUll mortgaged his wife's ol'llllments lind pnrehasell provisiom to sel've dllinty dbhes to the Masllnd ami his paramoltl. But as these did not include meat and liquor they w{>re t,hrowll to the dogs. At length the faithful disciple mortgaged a plot of his land and, with the money thns obtained, he provided such IIrtide, of fOOl! as he was asked to do and mil de presents of m!llle] Ull!! clothes tf) the Masllnd and his plll'llm0 iU', liS wdll II; ta their mule IIHeudants. Next mnnill.~ when tlHl Musand prepared t,o leave he lI~kel! for the haUL! of one of the di.dple's daugh-ter,; for all attendant; bllt as she was alrelldy betrotlllld the Sikh WIlS not IIble to comply with the demand. For this l'efuslII he was rewllrded with It shower of impreclltion8. The poor matron wept, in distress aIHI wishe!l they ha!1 been rich enough to satisfy theil' gllests and d.,serve hettel' treatment. lit their hands. Her husband rem Ill' ked that the MRSRUd Wit. the Guru's represellt,ItHve Itud, therefore, what, Jill liaid am! did ought, to result ill lasting gootl to them.

The Guru was alreltdy sick of the Mltsltnds. Tlw heinous pictm'e drawn before him drew forth teal'S from his eyes. He dismissed the performers lltden with presents and thanked them for their enabling bim to come to It derision on a mlltter of such serious moment.. The messeuger~, sent throughout the country, brought the Masands bound in chains. They were tried and punished Ilccordiug to their

29

desert.s, Some were flogged; others were made to 'return their ill-gotten wealth to the owners; while the few who were' found innocent Wel'e released and sent back rewarded. The ordel' of Masands, however, ceased to exi~t from t,hat date, The Sikhs wert', thenceforward, forbidden to hold any intercoul's(I with them.

00-

CHAPTER V. The stElte of Hindubm in the time of Guru

Govind Singh was liS Imd 8S CRn possibly be eon-(eived. In Chaptm' III the meaSlll'eS that the Moglml Governors had taken to SUP!ll'J.33 Hin,lnism thl'oughout Hindu~tall have h~eu de3crib~d at some l!'ngth. But the PllUjau, hC'itl3' Hialastan's gats t.hrough which all inVltller." gl'ett. lin,} small, llllsse:l on theil' way h Delhi, hac} h~~ll r~~~,i71u3' tln braut of the Muslim iuvndon, for c;)utarie3 previolB. It was, t.llCreforc, coust.antly ill all uuset,t]ed COllditiou. Th.l aillcuitie.' of It ra.~ ' llal G;)f~I'nlD:lt, even of a tyrilll1lical one, wen not wit.hin tID r~ :teli of the

p~ojlle. The plll~J l or war31tip Of the Hin lln w~?n l'azed to, the g,;nnl. To bllilti new ones was a criminal act ..

Those were til?, day, of rnnk supel'st.i(.ion lind IIwful ignorllnce. As during the Dark Ages the whole Christendom was led to hJliev() that scat, in Heaven could be pUl'ehased (.hrough thJ intcl'velltion of the Popes, tlw Hindu; W' .. 1I taught to give all they had to t.he Brahmans and seck d~ath t.o l'each Heaven earlier. An infernal ulf\chine, caUe[i Kltlwiltl'lI, was erected in B~nar~3. ThoBalHh or pilgl'im, were sawn into pieces a~ld t.heir bJlonging3 weI''' appro-priat.ed by the craft.y prie3t.~. To sit in the mhht of h~au; of fir~, to st.ani fo? w"ek~ II'1:i 1ll0!lt!n ill , c')111 witter, brea.t. de?p, to lie down 011 iron nails and t.o canse bo[lily pain to one's self by similar de-vices, to b:1rll alive W()!ln :l Wl the pyre3 of their husbands, t.o offer human sacrifices at. the IIltllr of

t,he so-eaUetl deities and nBU] othcr barbarou8 praetices wer';)' regarded ad" or merit, Thus the bl1uight.e(1 humanity WII~ En.reiel'ell, robbed ami plundere:I by it., own p!'ie.i~ L HCl'e anri thero Hindu amI Sikh Sadhu8 Il,d ["'lll'IIe(i Pandits ill-cuicatell hig1n'r it!lla~; bllt n 1 sud. instances were rare they did no hl~!;jllg goo:!.

Apart fro III this tlw oh,CnaIH'/l of ('astc I'ulcs Im(i l!:iIIed fellow feeling frllm th3 minds of the HilHiu8 and hall ll1'llle th~'ll ('rnel t.o aUlI suspicions of OliO another,

The Sikhs in thosc days dilTcr('tl from the Hindus only in dodrinnl matters mostly, In ev('1'Y othm' I'C-spect they were ullllistinguishnble from the Himlu8 ill thought and (icclL The tcaching.; or the previolls nine Gurns hat!, no doubt, millie thcm deront, more or less, but the inelllstic Hiudu social ('O(ie still swayed thcm lind forbade their existcnce liS lin indepenuent com-lI1uuit.y with powel' to frallHl lll,.'s for HlCir own IHll'llIoni()l.~ dlwelopmsll', They still belicvetl in Hindn Avatal's IIIHI m]thologit'1I1 lll'l'ocs, Still the Hindu Stlpcl'st,itions IImi customs gO"crned their daily lives, They realiily permitted themselves to be invohed in !lny brawl 01' fray in whil'h the Hindus h!lppened to

b~ ollgngelirightly or wL';mgly, TiH'Y were thorough-ly aud complctely irlentilic1 wiUI tho Hindus in IIIl agitations IIgainst the ruling rlW(', No wondcl', then, that they' should have cpnlly snffered with their Hindu kin81l1(111 from hoth internal nnu cxternul trouhle"

32

CHAPTER VI. , Guru Govind Singh sought to organise his

followers .. who were seattered far and wide nnd who belonged to the various grades and eastes of the Hindus, into a real bl'otherhood united by not only a community of beliefs but by that of other worldly interests. Mere singing of hymns and recita-tion of the scriptures did not satisfy him. He yearnt for the adoption of tho means wherewith he could inspire his people with the feelings of love, manliness and sacl'iflce.

It was when he was engaged in such meutal pursuits that, the Pnndit whose duty was to recit.e Katlws frol11 Maha Bhllrlltll, while lect.ul'ing to the Sikhs, dwelt on the mllnifold advantages thllt re-sulted from the performance of 'Hllvan.' The mighty Kshat,rya princes of yore, said he, owed their strength and valour to the performance of 'Havan.' From Rama and Lakshmana down to Bhim and Arjun all the great warriors were blessed by the goddess Kali, invoked during the performance of this cCl'emony. The Guru had no faith in ,such superstitions; but pressed by a number of disciples lind pllrticularly to show the absurdity of the notion he gave his consent to the performance of the ceremony. Pre-parations were elaborate and expenditure profuse. Days, weeks and months passed, but the goddess did not appear. Some ingenious reply or ot,her was giTen to the Guru's impatient enquiries. At length thll cunning old priest, Kesho Dall, who preside4

,",. '. ' . . ' ~.

at the ceremony declared. that the goddess would' not appear unless t,he Guru sacrificed some sacred persou at her altar. The Guru underst,anding what. was plissing in the man's mind observed that ilO far as he could think the presiding priest himself was th~ only pel'son qualified to receive the'distinc- . tJon suggested. The night following the Pmidit took. all< that he could and fied for ,his lifil. The G,uru, thereupon, threw the' whole samigri (ingre-dients) of 'Havan' into the fire. The night was pitch dark. The fiames . rose high and their frngl'nnce pervnded the whole ntmosphere. People on the distnnt hills nSl'ribed this unusual illumination to the nppenrnnce of t.he goddess. Large crowds IJoured into Annndpur to congratulat.e the Guru On the suceessful termination of the ceremony.. No time was, however, lost in making the proper explanation nnll exposing the deecitfl1l behavioUl' of the run-away l)l'ie~t.

By this time n complete change came on the , GUI'U. He was no more a jolly, communicat.ive, dashing prince. His smiling face gave place to sadness Rnd gloom. He shunned societ,y and loved letirement. His admirers were filled with a feeling of alarm. The Masands who inwardly disliked him for the repriIn,ands they had so often received rejoiced at the, change which they thought would soon lead to insanity . But the Providence had decreed otherwise. The patient, if so he may be called, was, all this while,. in communion with t,he Creator. He was snffering. from an acnte pain at the sight of so many of ' his

35

ill time thet'i' wa'-no kllo'wing 'how -m'any lllOI'(l Ih'e" wOllill h~lost, ,The goou lally WitS' nlltu1'lt1ly paim.\(I to he:w nil this ; hnt" before hm' JJ\l'ssenget',-; 'dl'rh'",l' to fill:l out what the' 1ll1lttpI' WIIS', thl'ee :lll()l'e " IlL'III'O' n1O,n ,', lIillllllftt, water "al'riel', Sahibll, h1.rhm, a!lll' Mohkalll, wMherlllftll, hatl offered them'elve . ., to h, . >lat'l'itiel'll aIHI hall hm'lI ii'PRtmi like Daya Ram mill Dllnl'ma. A few millut.t'.'l 1ll0l'C "hIPSPIl. The the bl'ave m~'l1 stooll in new nttire hefore theh' hewiI!ler",l hrethren. The Glll'n followNI and seatl,d tlw Fh ,,'

P,If!tj'it.~ (Ihe lorell om's) a' tlll'neeforwlU'!l they m'm tle.,I.in!'!1 to h:. l'l,ml'lllhlll'IHI in Sikh histol'J, on the' dai" Il\ong.;ille of him'l'lf. He congl'atnlatd litH assemhleu Sikhs on tlwir po.',.;e.'lSing sl~ch l}l'llYe .,01111':1 mea, He Wit, Sl1!'e thHt.t!Il";e Ii,'e Wel'e not tlwonly gem, they pO;SC,;H'11. ,WIIl'n so lIlany , were I'ell:ly' to . give aWAY theil' \'[')'Y lin'." for , the sake of ,zltw'jW" Sikhism' WA' It real fUI'I'" de,t,incll to work wOll(lm'", They K'tW t.Jm!, in'll.~a!l of taking the live; or the Fim P!JlII"In he had. J

36

CHAPTE,R-VII. -The mo.rning after the incidents related at th"

clo.se o.f the la&t chapter, i.e., o.n the 1st o.f Baisakh, Sam vat 1756 , Vik., acco.rding to. 1699 A. D., the dis:" ciples mustered in fo.rce o.n the terrace o.f K-esgarh, in response to. an invitatio.n. Dressed in pure white-the Guru came and seated himself on the thro.DI'.

~ 'l'he Five PYUYCtll wel'e sent fo.r and marshalled iiI frnnt nf the Guru. They were asked to. prnnounc" W ah-i-GurI1 ! (nail t,he Divine Teacher !), Wah-i-Guru!, Wah-i-Gm'u !, in audible toues and to fix their minds on the Lord. An irnn bnwl was sent for and some wat!'1' mill sugar wel'e put into. it. The Guru stirred the wllt .. r, tllll~ mixetl, with the pnint of the t,Wo. edged dagger he II .. ld in his right hand, All thi,'! while to. Sflnctify the watl'l' he recited hymns in praise nf the .Lnrd of Hnsts.

Thus the wllter WIIS ('o.nverted into Amritu, the water that when drunk made immortals of tlU' mortals. It was then, by hll'n~, administered to. the Five P!Jaras who were thereupon lllRtle to shout aloud "W ah-i-Ouru ji ka Khalsa, Sri Wah.i-Guru ji ki fnteh!" (The Khalsa is of the Divine Teacher! Vidol'y is nf the Divine Tl'!H'hel'!) 'They were further required to recite some hymns in praise of the" Lnrd, and then tlll'Y all pnrt,ook nf Kttrait Ptlraitad (a cooked , fOOll comp08!'d nf equal quantities nf sugal', Hnur ~nd g!we amI' n" llluch wat .... ) fl'om the same vessel t,o. show that tlwy rellOIllH'ell ('aste prejudices, so. far a'!-t,hl'se l\1'fprt.pd inter-dining. The GIll'n bade them to. rl"mllmbprtlmt t11('U('efol'ward thl"y 'IV~re all brotherl!o

and members of one churllh called KhalIl' (unalloyed. pure). They Wel'e to regard him as their spiritual father and his wife Sahib Devi as their mother. 'They were to preach the brotherhood of man and were to believe in one God alone. They were all to assume the name of 'Singli' (lion) and to ('arry arms on their persoll. They, were to wear garments suited to the life of a "soldi~r: T.hey were . to abhor tobacco and tither intoxicants in any form. 'They were to stRnd by one allother ill time of trouble and Illstly ill all that t IlI'Y did they were to be fair amI upright. The Guru then drank A,nrifn from the same ,'essd Rnd pllrtook of KIIltl/. Plt1'slwd offered by the Five Pyttrtll.

The, baptislll of the spirit lind the sworll thus admin-i.terml inaugurated a lIew era in HII' histOl'y of Indiau refol'm. Before Guru Goyiml Singh not oue person of stwh a high des('ent aIHI stauding had taken SUdl R' bold stell IIml faced the consequent risks. With on(' sh'ok .. the illustrious GUI'n (lid ItWIlY with distinriions that had engendered selfislllll'8S and man-hlltred and had mude spil'itual and politienl slaves of the Hindus. The new eOll11l1nnity with ,~ueh beliefs and aspirat.ions I .. d by II person 80 august lind brave stal'ted on its caleer. Men belonging to the lowest orders of tIm Hindu societ.y and lI'eated as helots ill Greece and PI~beans in Rome, became gl'eat leaders and brave warriors. Peasants, hitherto never mentioned in history and kept in ignorance deliberately, became preachers of. the new Gospel Rnd holdly entered into discussions-with the advocates of the old, dead and dying beliefs N 01 unlike the English Puritans their simple ideas' , simple garb, pure lives and sincere regftrd aud earnest:

38

nes~ for the establishment. of the reign of ,'irtllil'" won' them IInivel'~al ndUliration, Th~i~ H'ry "collfllct,' IIny Hie nwy sight of , them serve(1 as a ' spell. In spite of theUlsehl" Ulen fl.It'1t sh'ong ctnl'ing to be allmiltetl into the new PIII/t" (foM). lit Il worll, "the hithlll'to uegiectml 1l11l1 dowlI-trolltiell hlltll/luity nil of a .nrIll('1I ' WAs r0I1S1111. into, ndhity" It bi'('lIlue coilscion' of it_ sh'cngth Itml eag,'riy 80nght fOl' 0PllOI,t!lll'ities to di,-play it." The vnt.all'il'" of tllC Ill'W creed wOI'ke(l, linl:i ' nUll,li"ll fOl' whAt they con~idl"'lHl to he g011l1 nnd lJOllourablt', ' Rtl'lIight.fol'wnl'd, ollt,spoken, gllilcll'~S nIH\ confhling, stHllneh fl'il'llIl, of t.\", wpnk mHl t,he defencele.s liml hllplncnble fill'" of the strong' >HHl th,, ) oppressive they wel'l' I'''"p"dml IIml fefllled whpr(,I'I!I' t,hey went, 1111(1 Whl'reYN' they liv ()(I. 'fill',\' \VI'I'e Ill) ,longer '1'11et, timill, h/'nm siIlgill,l(' devot.ees with littl" tnlllhitioll IImlstill 'iess "pil' it, 'l'h,\,v no 11)ll/ol"'I' ,, "hUlit- . cd }lllssivdy to Hie Hlin, >elfish "ull IJI'ivi\I'gP

CHAPTER VIII Guru Gol'ind Singh taught lll'lil'f 'in OlW gre"t

Hod, "the 'fimelesM Olll'," "8 be ('"11(,(1 Him, A('cord-illg to him God i,. .Tn,t, Mel'('iflll, AlI-Po\vl'rful. Ollllli"'il'nt Iwd All-Loling. He dol" lIot take 'hirth II, Hindus nud Cllli,.tinll" beliPH'. 'Coll,idl'l'ing thAt Hindu" W('I'e.tOO m)1('11 Ill'one to I'I'g1l1'd tlll'it" gl'l'Ht weu 118 illl'nruntiow' of tIl(' Dpily HIllI tllllt lIis followl'I" wllo lllO~jJy "lime fl'OIII tllllt ,,/tJl'k migbt Jlo! f,,11 iuto this 1'1'1'01' he told th"lII ill till' ('Il'url"t po"sih\" Illngullge tiull those who wHult1 ('JIll him Gml wOllld 1)(' llJl'(HI'U iuto 11('11. Enjoin" h,' :-

" Bill I\I,rtlir I a ~il 1:!JU HUtl 0, Aa njOll njui UUllt\J,iJi tell P(ume&llfll' j:lIlO, Kalla bhniyo jo all j'lgnt me!). oasak Asul' Har gL,ie ; Adhnk pnrpal)ch ,lil

was not able to sine \tiw8elf frow the blow struck by the Angel of Death; How can he take across any one who himself was drowned in the Sp/\ of Fear? Those who desire t.o escape from the noose of death" should take shelter with the Lord of the U lliverse. " .. Numerous such passRgell .alC extant over .his w:ritings which all tend to show unmistakably that Gnru Goviud Singh did not believe in the theory of God's incarnation.

He was not /\ worshipper of images. On the contrary he oppnly ('ondemned image worship. Says he:-

Kahn lni I IIha" I uj uhnrio .i .. kal.u Ini li';g gllre Inll:!, Simrila, SlIaatn, Bed salmi 1.0"011 bloed hbf.! IInm ok na janlO~, Bed, Purdo, Kllteb, Qur"" auu l Dirrall snbb .. i PRC" I,o\ro, BIled na pu I.kyo Anbbed ko klle.lnlloai Ancioloed p"Ure.

41

Rag, n& r{lp 118. l'ekh un ral}g l~a sak na sog nn. 8n~g telnire. Ad, An .;d, Aglil1h, Abhekl., AdlVaikh japyo tin hi kul tare ...... Bed kl\leb utk he Har mihi \1 . Jan leho IInr jR,n mlln IIlilhil,l.

" Since I have tnken RheUm' at Thy feet O. Lord! , I have lIoticed 110 oue. Rama, Rahim, the Pnranss, Qurau, talk of UIlJll

42

Samnjh Iiyo sab i"n man mahi;), Dlljlll uan .tneJ.l Pai'mealmr nahlJ).. Je je kllrnm kit,. dimbh diklHii. Tin P"ubh logan me.) gat mibi.). JiwAt c\oalllt jngnt ke ki.j.i, S\.RQg d.kh knr pujnt Roijol, S\'Vilngnn m8~1 P.lrmesllfir unlit!), Khoj pilirni sabhi ko kithh), .Apno man kat" mo jill aliA. Pur Orninna ko tiHr pncllhana.

Bheleh diklllt. jognt ko log"" leo bas kin, AI)t kal ki\ti kllty0 bas narale mo.) lill, Nasa mUl]d knl'ai pnl'lltuna. Phoknt dGnnn no. kaudt '",ma, Hilth hiltie surg lU'L jill':, J8 man jit sRk:'t un. luh"l.

"He who pretends RnIHtHy by (Iosing ilis eyes shall attain tIle position of tile bllt. By elosed eyes one can not feel his wily. How, then, elln the Endless Qne be seen by so doing? God's people do not att.a('h any yalue to those who Ilppeul' in the vurions garbs of saintliness, Understllnd ye lleople God ('an not be obtained by resorting to hypocriticnl ways, Those who act hypocritil'nl\y nre not respected by godly men. As long as such persons liYe, their worldly objects are gained; for kings and princes, deceived by appearances, worship such persons; but God can not be seen in men who pose 8S HiS' representatives; thongh all may search for them anywhere. TbQse alone know God who control their' minds. Those who wear saintly garbs and enslave

43

hell. The belief of those who close their nostrils and perform Prulluyum is false alld worth not a shell. The moving of hands will take none to heaven llnle,'I ,~ p't~s ioll' are sllblncll." III allother placl/ says he;-

N ... jafti mlwd ,1II1tto~, n" mUlluml!!; 81V.\ro~, Japo lai mimn. sfLtoai sarb 1camfl., Nu. nainal} rn"\clu\u'} nao llhimbhfu.L dikll:l.t1.:), No. kllkat'tlffi ki\mMt \~ nn. bhekhi kah{LuIJ.

"I wear not matted hair 01\ my heMl. I; do lIot adorn Illy ear" with ear-rilllo\'s. I repent t.ho namo of the 01l~ who II~Si>;t,.; ill nil things. I sit, Ilot~with eyes half clo~e[l. I deceive nil ouc. No evil deetl;do I perform, uo spuriolls garll do I wear. "

To escapc frolll sin IIlllI suffering lind t.J1II" to aUaill to 8alvlltioll he pointed ont 1111 easy way, 'I!IZ., repenting the nllllle of the Lora. Rays he;-

Jill jill ntUll tilltLrO tlhi[Lya, Dukh p{'p till "ikat na ,\y'\, Bin Ha,' ",\m "It b,\clmll pai Imi, C[",uh 10', 'j:itie b"s 1

een worlds? Ram~ and Rahim whose names thou epeatest c~n not raist, thet'. (Have they not nil

beeome victims of Death? COIll!' and take shelter-wit,h the Lord of Lords hefore whom the mightiest of t.he mighty bow their hea

41i

"There is no Lovell Oue is Ilot,

place wherl' the lustre of th~ What i~ thCl'c in Ka'alm, I

~ ,1., ,,"oUlII'r, which is not in a Pagodll ? We lire the sun of the same hellveu aud .iewels of the sanw mine. WI' are all mutual friends uot, one is II strangm'," The gospel of love prelleiw(l by this greut suint WI\S not acceptable to the Uleln(l,v of the cOlllmunity to which he WIIS cOllneded by the lIIel'!, aC!'itlent of hirth amI which hlld Hourishell nlllinly hy the aJlpli-('ation of fore I'. For his out:;poken advocacy of the pl'ineiple of toleration in lIIattl'rs of helief the Moulanll WIIS hounded to dellth. GIIl'U Govillll Aillgh 1Il'l'IIched the samll principle lHul rI'c{'ived till' sallie hl'ntmellt fl'om the people in whose intel'('st Ill' \vOl,k-I'd all his lifl'. Aays he :-

Kou bl,niyo m(l'~dY

46

mistakenly." "Temple and Masjid are the same; .' Puja "and "N atuaz "-the same; mOe!! are all of -0 ne essence; though they appeRr different. Demtns.

A~urs. Yakshyas, Gaudlmrms. Turks and Hindus are so called on accoilllt of local consideraf.ion" of different climes and cOlllltrie8. They nre RII brothers and nre all equally the emltnat.ions of tIll' Great Spirit that enlivens ull."

He scouted the idcu of this Ol" that l'uce being tIll' chosen Ilcople of GOlI, 01' that, t.here was anyl,hillg inherent. in any c1uss of llIen that, IIIH.de I.helll incapable -of aSllirillg aft-ct' higher life. He conllclIlnCl\ wit,1t great force I,he pructiee of IlIflking God responsibl" for Ihe vltrions so cullt~11 holy wars t,hut were wagell to enslave or exterlllinute weaker l'III"-l8. Oil no point he hu! luid so linch stress in hi" writings a" on tho aU-loving nRture of God. 8'1\y" ho :-

RogR.n te nr sogan le jlll logan le banh blait,~t bnc1l1lWl\i, Sn.tru nnel,;: chnln.wni ghnw tnn tan ek Ill\. lagan pawai, Rlikhat 1m; apno k"r ue k"r pAp Bab\' nhan bhe~ na p,byai: .

"The Heavenly FRthm' prllt.ecl-s from si('kness and ' sorrow, I\IId from se,," llloll8ters ill many ways. N nmerous foes m'e .. Iw,,"ys Iyillg ill wait to strik,. thee, 0, mltu ; but thou receivest 110t, olle blow! B" eKtends thee His helping hand Itud Rll malevoleut iufluences approach Hlee not ,"

47

CHAPTER IX, . The new .creed was named "Khalsa Pauth"

(pure way), The persons buptised were called Khalsas-(pure ones). According t.o till' Guru "th" man who meditates day and nigbt on the Ever Shining Light Hnd doe" not give plaee in hi" heal't to any OIIll except the One; who adorns himself with the belief in t.he love of the Perfect One; who discards fasts nnd tomb worship; who in ahus-giving, cOllllnisscration, asccti-chnll . nnd contillenec reeogllises lIot nlly other sa\re

the One ; in whose henrI, blll'ns Uw light of tlIll Pel'feet One alone deserves to be known H" a true KhHI8a.. "

The baptism of the spit'it and the sword did produee sueh nll~ll. Pm-lsesscd of Ull iron-will the haptiscd easily conquered Uwir pH"iollS and t.lm" a('quil'illg snpreuuH'y oyer th? elleluy within thClll they became conquerors of Hw world out.side. In ,'espOl"e to a pro('lamation issued by the Guru multI-tndcs of people came to Anandpm' to receive bapt.ism and parties of the disciples were sent all round the '''Hlntry to spreaa the new Gospel.

These itinCl'Hnt pl'eachers met with considerable sucee"" aIHI not many years elapsed berOl'e a band. of earnest lIlen gathered round the bRImel' of the new creed.

The rise of the new creed, however, failed to elicit a feeling of gratitude or even of admirat.ion from the breast.s of high caste people generally. On the contrary it provoked hostility in all conservative centres. For a t.ime this opposition was not a pr~

__ .L! _ _ _ __ J.1.. ................... \,. ..... ,.,

48

converts to the new Gospel increased t.heir open disregard of old beliefs and rituals engendered " bitterness wbich soon assumed" serious form. People forgot the blessings they had received from the Sikh DispellsRtioll. The purit.y and soundess of its 1>",,11 principles was ignored. They regarded the new doetrim'" as heresies and thought. it an aet of merit to do All they could to prevent their getting hold over mens minds. But as has been Ute ease evcrywhel" the opposition of the eonservat.ive clement. strength-ened still 1IIore tho heoU"ts of the reformers Ami bouml them more ("Io.ely togetlJer. The mere sight of It Sikh glad(\ened anoUlCr Sikh. A Sikh way-fnrt'r llnding, a co-religionist, lying wearied am\ exhausted ilu"the l~ondsicle at. onee laid down Ilh; things, sham-pooed the. man and shared with him Ule loaf of hre.,,\ ,or r(msted .orn that he ("a!"riel\ with him for his own use. In" word, the Sikhs of those t.imes share.\ tllPir '80l'OW' ami pleasures with one , another and a" tlwy were dcl'OuUy religious, 8acrifking and .onfiding, th,y were Able to take ullitNl fwt.ion in mRny a ('Ol1l't'l'll of lif(.

Spedal festivals were organisml whi,'I, W("re Iltrgdy attended. Men CAme from distant lands to Jneet in "H COllllllOU"wo}'ship and share in n l'OllllllOll_ amusement; ntHl just a8 t,heBe great, llationlll gat/wr-ings were of "e;-11]("11. "

At thist.ime the Raja of Bilaspur vi8ited Allaudpnr accompanied by several othel' hill chieftains. The Guril received them in 1\11 open Dnrbar RlHl in an eloquent speech Rsked them Rnd othm' higli-caste Hindu leaders, assembled on the GccRsion, to join hRnds with him in his cRmpaign of reform, " Theil' nncesf.ors " said hc, " wcre t,he Lor'd's Paralllount ill f.h e country. They madc and ndministered lRw; accorlling to their re-quirements, FL'om time imillcmoriltl they were RC-.

50 as of yore. Evidently. therefore, the _ fault wa,s their's Dnd t,heir'" alone. They had ceased worsbipping God Almight.y and hEld t,alten to t.he w,orship of stocks and stones instead. This hatl deprived them of the only souree of goodness Elnd had consequently destroyed fellow-feeling in their minds. Their religion WEIS only an hallueinEltion, their BociElI system WEIS st.ill worse. It. was bElsed on selfish principles that brought, good to few I1IHI evil to many. Professedly intended to bind people into , one homogeneous whole, in relllity it en-gendered Elnd nurtured mEln-hElt.red. Did they not daily witness the sight of large crowds of Hindus over-Elwed by a handful of tIle conquering race? And did t.hey not notic" thnt the members of t.his _ rElce were powerful because their heads were united, while they, the Hindns, would not, snffer fOI' one .mother's t.roubles? If they st,jJ) desired t.o have a place IIlnong the living, .md pI'ogre8sive nations of the world, he would ask them to entm' the fold of the Khalsa Panth and be saved from the otherwise inevitable downfall and extinction,"

This pathetic appeal failell to move thc stonc-hearted hill-men, in whom all manliness had become dead. "The Guru," they I'eplied, "being gifted with miraculous power's could well afford to face the mighty Moghili. He was, mOI'eover, a Faqir having no land or country of his own. Wherever he liveu was his home' This wus not the ('RBC with them. They were lUen of the world having' much to lose. The Moghuls would not notice him s;ll'iously; for they knew they could not wrest from him ttny territory or trettsure. But

51

what would he their position ? They would he kicked and turned out from the land of their fathers lind wonld b[\ either killed or sold as slaves. They kuew full well the might of the Moghuls and r"gartied the expectations raisetl by the new Agitation AS mere idle drea?ls. The religious aud sodal propaganda of the Gura was still less acceptable to them. They refused to belil'Vtl that any ceremony could dri,'e ont, the brute from the base-born or that any good ronld come ont of promiscuous eating and inter-mingling with the low castes who fOl'med the major portion of his follow-ers. They saw no Imrm in the worship of idols, lind they did not see why they should not slirk to their old ways a11(1 beliefs. They had come to AllIlD d-pur out of mere cllriousity to see how the low castes looked in their uew garb. 'fhe previous nine Gurus had confined t,hcmselves to the preaching of God's name aud impressing upon the people the importllnc,e of Bhakti (devoutness) above all other things. They did not disturb the old order of things or introduce IIny l'evolutiolllU'Y mellsure. They wishml to be under-stood that these {'hllnges WCl'C not IIc('eptllblc to them."

Ghllillm Mohi-ud-din, It contemporllry Muslim historian, thus refer8 to the IIbove address of the Guru Rnd to the response with which it was met:-

Hama lut (Iar yak mllzhllb dar (Iyand ki Mil liZ dnrmiyan bnr khezlld wa hal' chllMr wllrn i Hllu(ld liZ Brahmall, WII KshAtrya wa S(ldra WII V nish ki hAl' yak ra dar Dharm Shllstra din i alnihda muqllrar list IhuIL

'tark dada bar yak tarik slIl(lk llumaYRud, wa hama

barabar and wa yake khnd ra bar dlgare tarjlh n/\ dihml wa tlL'ath luti mani~d i GIt~g wllgah'a lhlki ditr V (1(1 Sh(l~b\r t'ltlim i {mhlt Utkl,l i mazld raftlt Ilst liZ khMar badllr kllnaud wa sawlli oz Guru Nanak WII klmHflii 0 blu' digllr ItZ 8anadld i Honltd maRal R'lm,

Ki~lll\n, wa BI'lIhlll:\ WII Dewi wagair" i'tiqad lin ullIDniylllHl. W" Palllli i nUIlI gil'iftll mHl,t!llllllln i 1mI' ('Imhll!' baran (1)11' yak zltrltf bikhm'a))(l, Wit nz yllk (Jiglll' i81"h hlll'md. Hllm dll1ll1n Hllkhnnn bi.y,ir gl1ft,n~Hl, Chlll~ 1II!1l'dum~n hi~hini1IlI~

1'6tnoved ft'om tJw mind and with tile '&xoeptiou.iJ Garn NlIllllk 1I.1ul hi~ ~\l('I'l'~"OI''', none like RRIllII.,

Kri~hna, Bl'ahmll IIUIl DIWi, &('., shonld he blllil'\'ed in. And 1Irt.,,~ biking my Pltlllll (baptism), men of nil Hill. fou~ ca~te~ lI1ay- eat out of one vessel alHl nmy It'a~:) ;'0111 OlW Ilnothel. He (Guru Gobind Singh) slIid IL great. IlIll1ly t.hiug., like t.his. When the people 1ll'lld t.hem, many of t1w Hl'ahlllRllS nnd ClihRhis got np nlHl S:lill tllRt. t.Iwy wonld llllv"r nceept. a ('reed thnt was opposell to Hie Vedas nud Shllstras Rnd they wonld uot girl' np the old religion whi~h t.heir RUI'est:o!'s had h:.lieYlHI in, upon the IIdvil'e of Il yout.h (Guru Ho"ilHl Singh W.IS II YOllug maa CU:I). Sayiug thi., t.hey got up; bnt tWl'nty t.hollsH.n:1 p:'llpln nel'l'ptlHl tIll' 1'1'0-

Im~all[la a:d agrlll:1 t.1l nd up to jts pJituipllS." The Guru, finding it nsdess to nrgue lIuy fur-

ther wit.h 1IIen who were ment.nlly so low, changed t.he topic of th" di~eonrse I1nd tnl'nl'd to the lIlonstrons

gatherin~ of tho disciple:; to whom his mere look was life !tIllI his IDl're wortl hlW IlIHI in .tIl illlprIl8.~ive Hcr:UQ!l pl' epar :~d t.hmn for t.he coming shlIggle. LitUe dill the hill Rlljpllt.S who boasted their high lineage thiuk that. t.he t.ime \VIIS not very dist.nnt. wllPll t.llll vllry ~R.me low-('Rst.e .TRts, whom t.hey 'l' opllnly lli8cRrlh'l\ IIIHI for rpclnimiug whom tlll'! hllrbourl'll sinistel' ll1ot.ives RgRinst . .the GilI'll, woulll .hed t.heil' bloJ ~1 t.o ellllst.ise thcir Moslem oppressors, would res_ cne t.heir men 111111 WOIDen from iufRmy, and WOuld make t.he desecration of t.heir t.emples and the br!'ak_ ing of theil' idols a thing of t.he past. ! LiHlp did HI!'y know that not It century would elapse before these

low-castes would' rule over them; . nay would even employ them'as their gate-keepers and orderlies.

Oue day when the Glll"U went. out. for sftikIJ)' he b"ggetlll lllrge tiger. Au I\B Wil~ dr{J~setl in the skin of this tiger and let free to roam about in the fields. For several day,~ the as~ frMly gi'azed in the extensive farms and grew fat. Tlw farmers believing' him to be a rJal tigar dare 1 not g;) ID}U' him. Ollce in the course of his wanderings the ass thought of paying a visit to the house of his master who was a washermau. It was twilight. Men wero returning to their homes after the day's work. Shops and places of businoss were about to b~ closed. The sight of the ass, in the tiger's garb, a3 h3 g'lllutel'cl along the streets, inspired terror in-the mintls of the people who fled fOt their live, ill all dirJ~tions. The ass, however, took no notice of t.he agitation his presence in the village had caused and went straight to the washerman's house. The women and children of t.lw house ran upstairs and shrieked for help. Meant.ime the washermall returned from work. He, too, was at first alarmed ou seeing the brute; but not.idng t.hat the animal qnictly grazed he felt emboldened to go a little nearer. On seeing his old master the a98 braycd in way of recog-nition. Forthwith the washermall took a clnb and gave him a gool bsating. "ViciOlB brub," said he, ., why and where didst t.hon keep away so long? I see thou hast grown fnt. I shall plal'e donble load on thee henceforth." When it was made known in the village that the brute that. had e.t:J.sed 80 much fright to the entire populatioll was OJ1y /Ill ass there was great uproar lind laught.er. People cursed themselves for

155

having been so easily befooled and many were the men who regretted that they should have failed to approach the brute amI administer him kiekA to their heart's slItisfaction. N "xt moruing th" Guru relllted the last night's incident to the (lis('iples in the audience hall. The moral of the story, said he, was evident Flo long liS the ass kept IIloof from his past company the tiger's skin protected him from insults and enabled him to graze unmolested wlwrevel' it so pleasO!I him. He was, further, feared by hoth lllan and beast who all fled at the very sight of him. But he was, after all, an ass. The tiger's skin aided him temporarily hut ('ould not make a veritable figel' of him. Similarly those who assumed Sikh form, without imbibing Sikh spirit resemble(l the donkey WiUI the tiger's skin. They might, for a time, decoinl people and obtain tcmpOl'llry distindion; but, theil' exposure was inevitable, sooner 01' later, and thcy would not fare better than the donkey of the story.

As is the case nowadays, in the Guru's time, too, there were lots of blal,k sheep in the fold. The continued stay of the Guru ..t Anandpur had IIttracted a large number of diseiples from places near and remote. The more w()althy of the disciples established {angars (free kitehellf') from wherll the poor and the needy could get food. This free distribution of food was considered 1111 act of mcrit and those who per formed it won JloJlular ('steelll. SOUlO of the GUl'lt'S IIgents Rnd courtiers who traded ill the name of religion and whO,ll business was to delll with the visitors in their respective countries considered it incumbent on them to start ltll/gw's of their own. But

most of what, th!'y did was lllere show: On!' night the Guru, dressed as a Badhu, went rounti the town IIml asked for food from all the ltlll{Jllrs. Nobody recog-nised him. In most places hi~ request for food WIIS refused. Some gave him stale Rnd dried cl'umbs of bread 011 (,he plea t.\mt, HIe fresh food had been u~ed up: Ouly frolll the Lallgfl1"s of Diwall N 1l1l(1 Chand, Bhai~ N nnd Lal, RRln Kam' and S.lhib Chand ft'eslt alld ~ufficient food Wll~ obtaincd. The following day (,he Guru related the experience of the night and exhibited Ule crnmbs of brend. This public exposure of men who pret,ended virtuc hntl a salllt,nry en'ed ou the morals of the Sikhs.

57

CHAPTER 0X. The Guru's teachings were a menace to the

power of the hill Rajas, Such ciespots IlIlye yet to be born who woul(l allow in their own tm'ritorics the hoMing of conferences where men are t,flUght to ('hal-lenge the birth right, of priests and princes and wher~ the brotherhood of man is not only tRugl~t but pra('_' tised. The sight of the Sikhs eathlg from the SRn;~ illnKar (common kitchen), on the sallie Chowka, disre-gardful of the faet as to who ('ooked Uw food, w'ho . dishibutet! it nnd who sharea it with them exaspprated thc hill Rajputs who t,o this day Hre very cOlisel'vative in such matters and who would not for any 'consideration allow men of lower castes to sit with them on the samc couch. They regarded sueh prHdices HS an

, attack till old customs and usages; URY as prllliminliries to au uttHck on theil' own HutllOrity HS well.

At this time the number of immigrants into AnHlHlpur increased considerably. Some of them were attraded by tIwir love for SpOlt, while the great majority cOllsist()(1 of the refugees whom Aurang-zebe's persecution hHt! made hOllleI!,ss. The Gurn kuew well tllltt by Hccording )ll'oteeiiou to sueh llIen he WU8 giving Anrllngzebe II ('Huse for provocation; but the laws of chivalry, tltllt then obtained, and his position as II greut spiritual leader, left him no other IIlternative. For his own lind for their protection it was cOllsidered imperative to drill the r ew hundred attendants that he then had and to comtuntly remain prepared for an attack from outside. Thus It small standing corps was formed, the maintenance of which in II state of

liS

efficiency necessit_ated the adoption of military forms and usages. Whenever he went out for an excursion the men of I,his corps, of course, accompunied him. The beating of the drum, the martial array and the soldierly bearing of the party, excit,ed jealousy in the breast of Bhim Chaml, Raja of Bilaspm" in whose territory lay the cstate of Anandpur. He sent word to the Guru to disband the corps 01' else he would turn him out of Anandpur. This threat was accompanied with a demand fOl' Pershadi, Ute elepilltnt pl'esented hy the Raja of Assam. The Guru refused to comply. Messeugers aft,er messengers came fl'om the Raja to ask for the elephant; hut as presents made by the dis-ciples were inalienable the Guru stuck to his previous resolution. At leugth, advised by Pamma, his family priest, the Raja formally declared wal' against t,he Guru.

The news spread like fire. The veterllns in the Slll"l'icll of the Gm'u hailed the advent of an opportunity to win laurels in the field. But colour iled from the cheeks of the parasites who ouly knew to cllt and drink and to live upon the' offm'iugs of the disciples. Fearing their occupation would be gone in ease the Guru WIIS defellted and driven out from Anamlplll' they wllitOll upon his mother allfl grand-mother 'und requested them to pl'evuil upon him to yield. The ladies accordingly sent for the Guru and, in II' very loving tone, asked him to giv.ll up his active propagandll und lead the life of an ascetic like most of his predecessors. They told him that fOl' such beaks his grandfather, Guru Hargovind, had to leave

Amritsar and that if he, too, followed in blM grand-father's footsteps they were afraid they would havll to leave Anandpur too. Bhim Chand, as head of the princes who ruled over the southern Himalayas, would be a formidable opponent. Further, there was the danger of Aurangzebe's comiug to help the Rajas, in which case it would be simply impossib