BOOK EXCERPTS (Feb 2026)

SANGAM - 25 STORIES OF GREAT SAINTS

                           
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GURU HARGOBIND SINGHJI :
THE SAINT-WARRIOR SIKH GURU

Sri Hargobind Singhji assumed the mantle of sixth Guru of the Sikhs at a very critical period in the history of Sikh religion. His father, Arjan Devji who was also the fifth Guru of the Sikhs, had attained martyrdom at the hands of Jahangir, the reigning Mughal emperor of India. Hargobindji himself was just ten years old when he became the Guru.

At this time, political power rested firmly in the hands of the Mughals and Sikhism was a new religion, having been founded by Guru Nanak only about a hundred years ago. Thus it appeared for a time that Sikhism would submit to the combined onslaught of unbridled political power and bigotry of the Mughal rulers on the one hand, and the inexperience of its’ new guru on the other.

But Guru Hargobind Singh, an incarnation of God that he was, successfully carried forward the legacy of his predecessors and established the new religion on such a firm foundation that neither the incumbent Mughal ruler, nor the ones that were to follow, were ever able to dislodge Sikhism from its’ high vantage point.

Hargobindji was born in 1595 AD at village Wadali (near Amritsar in Punjab), and was appointed the sixth guru of the Sikhs in 1605 AD. Some disgruntled elements in the guru-ghar (‘house of the Guru’), who considered themselves more suitable for the position, tried to harm the young guru through snake bite and poisoning, but the divine child escaped miraculously on each occasion.

The Guru received an all-round education which consisted knowledge of Astrology, Political Science, Agriculture, study of Hindu Scriptures, as well as training in martial skills like horse-riding, archery, tent-pegging and shooting.

Hargobindji girded two swords, one of Peeri (Renunciation and Meditation) and the other of Meeri (Power and Royalty). As a result, Guru Hargobind came to be known as the warrior-saint. He asked all his followers to get themselves armed and to offer only horses and weapons to him.

One day,  as the Guru and his companions were going to a certain village, a woman by the name of Sulakhani came and stood in front of the Guru’s horse. She was a resident of this same village and was issueless; when she heard that Hargobindji was on his way, she took a pen and paper and beseeched the Guru to bless her with a child.

The Guru replied that God had not written children in her fate to which Sulakhani said,
“My Lord! You are the writer of fate. If you can write fate There, you can also write it here.”

The woman handed over the pen and paper to the Guru, and as Hargobindji was about to write ‘1’, the horse shook its’ leg and ‘1’ changed to ‘7’. History is witness to the fact that Sulakhani, the childless one, gave birth to seven sons all of whom served the house of the Guru with great love and devotion.

The story of Bhai Gupala is another wonderful one. On a certain occasion the Guru was seated amongst his devotees and he was instructing them about the correct pronunciation of the Gurbaani (hymns in the Sikh holy scripture, Guru Granth Sahib).

The Guru asked the congregation whether there was anyone present who could recite the Jap Ji Sahib – the opening prayer of the Guru Granth Sahib - flawlessly and with concentration.

For a moment there was a stunned silence in the assembly. There were many Sikhs who knew the Japji Sahib by heart yet none felt confident enough as to its’ flawless rendition. Then Bhai Gupala stood up and he said to the Guru,
“I do not claim that I can recite it correctly, but I will try my best to do so. All know that on whom you bestow your grace, can recite the Gurbaani fluently.”

Bhai Gupala began the recitation and he continued with such devotion and concentration that an atmosphere of bliss prevailed all around.

When the recital started, the Guru was seated on his bed near the pillow and as it proceeded, he started to slip towards the feet side. At that time the thought in the mind of the Guru was that if Bhai Gupala completed Japji Sahib’s rendition with unbroken devotion and concentration, he would offer the Guru-gaddi to him!

On the other hand, Bhai Gupala, after reciting more than thirty stanzas of the prayer flawlessly, started to drift in intensity – his mind wandered to a very fine Arabic horse that someone had gifted to the Guru, and he began to think of asking the same for himself as a reward for his perfect recitation.

The Guru, well aware of the innermost thoughts of his devotees, moved back to the pillow side once again. On completion of the recitation, the Guru had these words of advice for Bhai Gupala and the audience:

“When you are reciting the Gurbaani or contemplating the name of God, never think about worldly affairs but strictly concentrate your mind on God alone. This concentration can be achieved only by hard practice.”


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