Gobind Singh (1666–1708)

Indian religious leader, the tenth and last guru (teacher) of Sikhism, 1675–1708, and founder of the Sikh brotherhood known as the Khalsa. Following his death, and at his request, the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy book), replaced the line of human gurus as the teacher and guide of the Sikh community.

During a period of Sikh persecution, Gobind Singh asked those who were willing to die for their faith to join him. The first five willing to risk their lives were named the Panj Pyares ‘five faithful ones’ by him and baptized as the first members of the Khalsa. He also introduced the names Singh (lion) for male Sikhs, and Kaur (princess) for female Sikhs.

Foundation of the Khalsa Gobind Rai was appointed guru at the age of nine, following the martyrdom of his father Tegh Bahadur for refusing to convert to Islam. He grew up to be both a skilled soldier and an insightful writer, and realized that the Sikhs would have to fight to defend their faith in the face of aggression from the Mogul emperor Aurangzeb, a Muslim fanatic.

The Khalsa was instituted as a militant order at the Sikh New Year festival of Baisakhi Mela in 1699. Standing before the large gathering, Gobind Rai drew his khanda (double-edged sword) and declared: ‘Let him who is ready to die for his faith and his guru step forward and give me his head!’ Daya Ram walked to the front of the shocked crowd and followed the guru into his tent. Gobind Rai came out alone with his sword dripping with blood and made his demand a second time. In all, five men went forward, prepared to be beheaded to prove their faith. The crowd waited in stunned silence, then the guru emerged followed by the five unharmed men. It had been a test of faith and commitment, and an example to the entire Sikh community of the necessary attitude if they were to maintain their faith. The men became known as the Panj Pyares (‘five faithful ones’).

The guru then baptized the Panj Pyares by offering them amrit (sweetened water), that had been stirred with the khanda. They were now members of the Khalsa (‘pure ones’). The Panj Pyares baptized Gobind Rai, who became Gobind Singh. Thousands more Sikhs came to be baptized on that day, fired by the vision of the unity and brotherhood of the Sikh Khalsa, and the hope of being able to stand up to oppressive regimes and continue their faith in freedom and peace. They were prepared to fight when necessary to achieve this. From now on, initiated members of the Khalsa wore the Panj Kakas (five Ks) as symbols of their belief.

Gobind Singh continued to be a strong leader of the Sikhs, negotiating with and supporting the authorities to solve political disagreements where this was possible. Before his death he named the Adi Granth to be the final guru, replacing the succession of human gurus. He said that the Adi Granth, which became the Guru Granth Sahib, contained all the guidance needed by the Sikh community. He was assassinated by a Muslim.