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Guru Har Gobind (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ) (Born in Amritsar, Punjab, India on 19 June 1595 – 2 March 1644, Rupnagar, Punjab, India) was the sixth of the Eleven Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on 25 May 1606 following in the footsteps of his father Guru Arjun Dev.He was not, perhaps, more than eleven at his father's execution. ^[1]Before ascension, he nominated Guru Har Rai, his grandson as the next Guru of the Sikhs.

Guru Har Gobind, was combined in his personality a saint, sportsman and a soldier. His father Guru Arjun Dev was a true saint but the boy Har Gobind had perceived his father's saintliness suffer and erode at the brutal hands of Mughal tyranny. From the very beginning he was the deadly enemy of Mughals.^[2]

Contents 1 Early years 2 Relations with Jahangir and wars with Mughals 3 Peaceful demise 4 Affects 5 Summary 6 The Ten Gurus of Sikhism 7 References 8 External links

When yet a little more than a child Guru Har Gobind was convinced that for sustaining the Panth sword was as essential as sainthood.He put on two swords one of which indicated his spiritual authority and the other his temporal authority.^[3] He hence advocated that a Sikh Guru would represent both the Miri and Piri, the Shakti and Bhakti and the Tegh and Degh. He decided to wear on his waist two swords instead of one, to chastise the oppressor and to protect the innocent. He declared that the Guru's house would henceforth combine the spiritual and the mundane powers, his rosary would serve also as his sword-belt and an emblem of regality would crown his turban. He built the Akal Takht, the Throne of the Almighty.^[4]He would sit in a regular court with regalia around. Sikhs were commanded to keep a sword and maintain a horse.He enrolled a large number of armed volunteers and even Pathans were welcome to join him.He asked his followers to offer him horses and weapons, instead of money. ^[5]The aureole of Guru Nanak's Sikhism and the humming melodies of his sangats had with Guru Har Gobind combined with them the dazzling brilliance and the deafening sound of swords.

The reasons for Har Gobind to arm his followers were many.Both externally and internally the situation was changing and the policy of the Guru had perforce to be adjusted to new environment.The organistional development of Sikhism had mostly taken place during the tolerant days of Akbar who had never interfered with it; he had , on the contrary , even helped the Gurus in various ways.But the execution of Guru Arjun at the hands of Jahangir and imprisoning of Har Gobind definitly showed that sterner days were ahead and the policy of mere peaceful organisation no longer sufficed.Guru Arjun had forseen and Guru Har Gobind also clearly saw that it would no longer be possible to protect the Sikh community without the aid of arms.^[6]He had a stable of eight hundered horses; three hundered mounted followers were constantly in attendance upon him, and a guard of sixty matchlock-men secured his safety in person.^[7]Jahangir could not tolerate the armed policy of Har Gobind and consequently imprisoned him, and ultimately released him.The relations between the Guru and Jahagir became friendly and continued to remain so.During the reign of Shah Jahan , the relations became bitter again, for Shah Jahan was intolerant.He destroyed the Sikh baoli at Lahore.The quarrels which originally started over hawks or horses between the Mughal officials and the Sikhs subsequently led to risings on large scale and were responsible for deaths of thousands of persons on both sides.^[8]Battels were fought at Amritsar, Kartarpur and other places.He defeated the Imperial troops near Amritsar.The Guru was again attacked by provincial detachment, but the attackers were routed and their leaders slain^[9] Har Gobind grasped a sword and marched with his devoted soldiers among the Troops of the Empire, or boldly led them to oppose and overcome the provincial Governers or personal enemies.^[10].

A childhood friend of Har Gobind,whose mother was the nurse of the Guru, Painda Khan, had become his enemy. The cause given ,in some accounts ,is a valuable Hawk of a follower of the Guru which was taken by Khan and when asked for, was resented by him, and in others Khan's vainty and his pride.This opportunity was used by Mughal officials, who saw Har Gobind as ever present danger.Painda Khan was appointed leader of provincial troops and marched upon the Guru.Har Gobind was attacked;but the warlike apostle slew his friend with the stroke of his own sword and proved again a victor.^[11].

There is an incident narrated by both Sikh and Muslim native accounts.During one of the battles ,Har gobind was rushed upon angerily by a soldier.He not only warded of the blow but struck and laid dead the soldier at his feet. "Not so, but thus is the sword used"; an observation from which the influece is drawn that "Har Gobind struck not in anger, but deliberatly and to give instruction; for the function of the Guru is to teach".^[12]. Har Gobind had many difficulties of the similar kind and occasionally reduced to great trouble,but his Sikhs always rallied around him, his religious reputation increased daily and immediatly before his demise he was visited by a famous saint of the ancient persian faith.

Guru Har Gobind breathed his last,peacefully, at Kiratpur in 1645.^[13].

During the period of Har Gobind, the Sikhs increased greatly in numbers, and the fiscal policy of Guru Arjun and the armed system of Guru Har Gobind had already formed them into a kind of seperate entity within the empire.The Guru was not unconcious of his latent influence but in his private life never forgot his genuine character, and always styled himself 'Nanak', in deference to the firm belief of his sikhs, that the soul of their great teacher was alive in each of his succesor.^[14].Har gobind had no regard for idol worship.One of his followers cut off the nose of an idol; on complaints from various neighbouring chiefs, he summoned the Sikh to his presence; the culprit denied the act, but added, ironically, that if the idol bore witness againest him, he would accept punishment willingly. "O fool" replied the chiefs "how will the idol speak". Replied the Sikh " if he can't save his head,than how will he avail you".^[15].

The following is a summary of the main highlights of Guru Hargobind's life:

• Transformed the Sikh fraternity by introducing martial arts and weapons for the defence of the masses following his father's martyrdom.
• Militarised the Sikh movement – Carried 2 swords of Miri and Piri.
• Built the Akal Takht in 1608 – which now one of five Takhts (“Seat of Power”) of the Sikhs.
• Founded the city of Kiratpur in District Jalandhar, Punjab.
• He was imprisoned in the fort of Gwalior for one year and on release insisted that the other 52 fellow prisoners be freed as well. To mark this occasion the Sikhs celebrate Diwali (bandi chod divas).
• The first Guru to engage in warfare.
• Fought 4 battles against the Mughal rulers.
• The strongest and the biggest Guru physically
• The city Hargobindpur,in majha region of Punjab, is named after him, which he won over from Mughals after defeating them in a battle.

#	Name	Date of Birth	Guruship on	Death	Age
1	Nanak Dev	15 April 1469	20 August 1507	22 September 1539	69
2	Angad Dev	31 March 1504	7 September 1539	29 March 1552	48
3	Amar Das	5 May 1479	26 March 1552	1 September 1574	95
4	Ram Das	24 September 1534	1 September 1574	1 September 1581	46
5	Arjan Dev	15 April 1563	1 September 1581	30 May 1606	43
6	Har Gobind	19 June 1595	25 May 1606	28 February 1644	48
7	Har Rai	16 January 1630	3 March 1644	6 October 1661	31
8	Har Krishan	7 July 1656	6 October 1661	30 March 1664	7
9	Teg Bahadur	1 April 1621	20 March 1665	11 November 1675	54
10	Gobind Singh	22 December 1666	11 November 1675	7 October 1708	41

• The Sikh Web Site
• The Sikh History Web Site
• AllAboutSikhs.com
• Learn more about Sri Guru Har Gobind Ji

Guru har gobind was the first warrior saint of the sikh religion. developing the first stlye of martial arts involving the movement of various weapons.

• Sukhmani Sahib Mp3,Real Audio, Real Audio download

Preceded by: Guru Arjan Dev (15 April 1563 - 30 May 1606)	Guru Har Gobind	Followed by: Guru Har Rai (26 February 1630 - 30 May 1661)
The Eleven Gurus of Sikhism
Guru Nanak Dev | Guru Angad Dev | Guru Amar Das | Guru Ram Das | Guru Arjun Dev | Guru Har Gobind | Guru Har Rai | Guru Har Krishan | Guru Teg Bahadur | Guru Gobind Singh | (Followed by Guru Granth Sahib, Perpetual Guru of the Sikhs)

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Gurus	Guru Nanak Dev • Guru Angad Dev • Guru Amar Das • Guru Ram Das • Guru Arjan Dev Guru Har Gobind • Guru Har Rai • Har Krishan • Guru Teg Bahadur • Guru Gobind Singh Guru Granth Sahib • Sikh Bhagats
Philosophy	Beliefs and principles • Underlying values • Prohibitions • Technique and methods • Other observations
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