Guru Hargobind 19 June 1595 – 28 February 1644) was the sixth Guru of Sikhism, assuming the role at the age of eleven following the execution of his father, Guru Arjan, by Mughal emperor Jahangir.
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| 6th Guru of the Sikhs | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Hargobind 19 June 1595 |
| Died | 28 February 1644 (aged 48) Kiratpur Sahib, Lahore Subah, Mughal Empire (present-day Punjab, India) |
| Spouse | Mata Nanaki, Mata Damodari, and Mata Marvahi |
| Children | Baba Gurditta (1613–1638) Baba Suraj Mal (1618–1698) Baba Ani Rai (1633–1678) Baba Atal Rai (1619–1627) Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621–1675) Bibi Veero (1628–1705) |
| Parent(s) | Guru Arjan and Mata Ganga |
| Known for |
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| Other names | The Sixth Master Saccha Paatshah The Master of Miri Piri Sixth Nanak |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Sikhism |
| Religious career | |
| Period in office | 1606–1644 |
| Predecessor | Guru Arjan |
| Successor | Guru Har Rai |
In response to his father's martyrdom and to safeguard the Sikh community, Guru Hargobind introduced the concept of militarization into Sikhism. He symbolized this by carrying two swords, representing the dual principles of mīrī (temporal power) and pīrī (spiritual authority). Additionally, he constructed the Akal Takht (the Throne of the Timeless One) in front of the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar. The Akal Takht now stands as the highest seat of temporal authority for the Khalsa (the collective Sikh community).
Early Life
Guru Hargobind was born on 19th June 1595 in Gurū kī Waḍālī, a village located 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) west of Amritsar, in a Sodhi Khatri family. He was the only son of Guru Arjan, the fifth Sikh Guru. As a child, he suffered from smallpox.
Sikh hagiographies recount several attempts on his life, primarily orchestrated by his uncle Prithi Chand and his wife Karmo. The first assassination attempt involved a nurse sent by Karmo, who laced her nipple with poison intending to harm young Hargobind while he suckled. However, the infant refused to latch, causing the nurse to ingest the poison herself, which led to her illness. The second attempt involved a snake-charmer sent by Prithi Chand, who unleashed a cobra on Hargobind. However, the young boy is said to have grabbed the snake by its head and squeezed it until it died. A third attempt involved a Brahmin, also hired by Prithi Chand and Karmo, who mixed poison with curd intended for Hargobind. However, when the Brahmin tried to feed it to him, the boy knocked the curd from his grasp, where it fell and was eaten by a dog named Pista, which died after consuming the poisoned food. The Brahmin later died from severe abdominal pain.
Guru Hargobind received his education from Bhai Gurdas and was trained in swordsmanship and archery by Baba Budda. He also learned languages, religious philosophy, astronomy, medicine, horse-riding, and administration. During his early years, Hargobind spent a significant amount of time listening to the hymns being sung at the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar.
Guruship
On 25 May 1606, five days before his own death, Guru Arjan selected his son Guru Hargobind as his successor and advised him to establish a military tradition to protect the Sikh community. Arjan also instructed his son to always keep himself surrounded by armed Sikhs for his protection. Shortly after, Guru Arjan was arrested, tortured, and executed by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Guru Hargobind's succession ceremony took place on 24 June 1606.
Following his father’s guidance, Guru Hargobind wore two swords during his succession: one symbolized his spiritual authority (pīrī), and the other represented his temporal authority (mīrī). Guru Hargobind adhered to his father’s advice and always kept himself surrounded by armed Sikhs. He had a special connection with the number fifty-two, and his retinue consisted of fifty-two armed men, thus marking the foundation of the military tradition in Sikhism.
Guru Hargobind had three wives: Damodari, Nanaki, and Marvahi, from whom he had several children. Two of his eldest sons from Damodari passed away during his lifetime. His son from Nanaki, Guru Tegh Bahadur, later became the ninth Sikh Guru. The Sodhis of Anandpur Sahib are descendants of Baba Suraj Mal Sodhi, one of Guru Hargobind's sons.
A skilled martial artist (shastarvidyā), Guru Hargobind encouraged physical fitness and readiness for combat. He established his own Darbar (court) and began arming and training his devoted followers. Over time, he amassed seven hundred horses and built a cavalry of three hundred horsemen and sixty musketeers.
Relations with Other Rulers
Guru Hargobind's Response to Mughal Rule
After the execution of his father, Guru Arjan, by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, Guru Hargobind became a steadfast adversary of the Mughal empire. He emphasized the importance of arming and defending the Sikh community against Mughal persecution. His efforts to transform the Sikh community into a militarized force led to conflicts with the Mughal authorities. Guru Hargobind fought four wars against Shah Jahan's forces and initially resisted his authority while nominally accepting it.
Jahangir's Response and Imprisonment at Gwalior Fort
In 1609, Jahangir responded to the growing Sikh resistance by imprisoning Guru Hargobind at Gwalior Fort, under the pretext that the fine imposed on Guru Arjan had not been paid. Although the exact duration of his imprisonment is unclear, it is believed that Guru Hargobind was confined for about 12 years, possibly from 1611 or 1612, until his release in 1617-1619.
Several theories suggest why Guru Hargobind was eventually freed. Some scholars propose that Jahangir's policies became more tolerant after he secured his throne and distanced himself from his previous Sunni and Naqshbandi court officials. Another theory posits that Jahangir realized Guru Hargobind posed no threat and thus ordered his release.
The Release and the Liberation of 52 Rajas
According to Sikh tradition, 52 rajas (kings) who were imprisoned in Gwalior Fort, also for opposing Mughal rule, were dismayed at the loss of their spiritual guide. Guru Hargobind, demonstrating his leadership, requested the rajas’ release and stood as surety for their loyalty. Jahangir consented, and Guru Hargobind had a special gown stitched with 52 hems. As Guru Hargobind left the fort, the imprisoned kings held onto the hems of his cloak and were freed alongside him.
Post-Release Actions and Relations with Jahangir
After his release, Guru Hargobind focused on strengthening the Sikh army and consolidating the Sikh community. Despite the previous conflict, his relations with Jahangir remained mostly amicable. Guru Hargobind even accompanied Jahangir on campaigns to Kashmir and Rajputana, where he helped subdue Tara Chand of Nalagarh, who had long been in rebellion.
In addition to these diplomatic engagements, Guru Hargobind also led the Sikhs in a military victory over the Mughal forces at Rohilla. The Mughal army, led by Governor Abdul Khan, was defeated by the Sikh forces, further solidifying Guru Hargobind's position as both a spiritual and military leader.
Relations with Shah Jahan
Conflict with Shah Jahan's Reign
After Shah Jahan succeeded his father Jahangir in 1627, relations between the Mughal ruler and Guru Hargobind became increasingly hostile. Shah Jahan's policies were marked by intolerance toward the Sikh community. One of the first signs of tension was his destruction of the Sikh stepwell in Lahore. In 1628, Shah Jahan's hunting party plundered some of Guru Hargobind's property, which led to the first armed conflict between the Sikhs and the Mughal forces.
Battles Against Mughal Forces
Guru Hargobind's army clashed with the Mughal forces at Amritsar, Kartarpur, and other locations. Notably, in 1634, the Sikhs achieved a significant victory in the Battle of Amritsar, where they defeated Mughal troops. Following this, a provincial detachment of Mughal forces attacked Guru Hargobind again, but the Sikhs routed the attackers and killed their leaders. Guru Hargobind continued to lead his forces against various provincial Mughal governors, preparing for further confrontation.
As the Mughal threat grew, Guru Hargobind retreated into the Shivalik Hills to strengthen his defenses, establishing a base in Kiratpur, where he remained until his death in 1644.
Battles with Provincial Troops and Political Intrigue
Shah Jahan appointed Painde Khan to lead provincial forces against Guru Hargobind. Despite these attacks, Guru Hargobind was victorious in battles against Painde Khan's troops. He also fought the Battle of Kartarpur during this period. Chandu Shah, who had ordered the execution of Guru Arjan, was captured and tortured to death by Guru Hargobind’s Sikhs. The manner of his death—being dragged with an iron ring around his nose—was a symbolic act of justice for Guru Arjan's martyrdom.
Succession Issues and Death
In 1638, Guru Hargobind suffered the loss of his eldest son, Baba Gurditta. Shah Jahan sought to exploit this situation by attempting to divide the Sikh community. He offered land grants to Gurditta's eldest son, Dhir Mal, living in Kartarpur, in an effort to make him the next Guru. Dhir Mal, however, aligned himself with the Mughal state and criticized his grandfather. Guru Hargobind rejected Dhir Mal as his successor and chose Guru Har Rai, Dhir Mal's younger brother, to succeed him.
Guru Hargobind passed away on 28 February 1644 in Kiratpur, Punjab. His death marked a significant moment in Sikh history, and the succession plan laid out by Guru Hargobind continued the line of leadership in the Sikh community.
Meeting with Samarth Ramdas
Guru Hargobind and Samarth Ramdas
An important event in Guru Hargobind's life was his encounter with the renowned Maratha saint Samarth Ramdas. According to a Punjabi manuscript called Panjah Sakhian and corroborated by Ramdas's Bakhar, the meeting took place in the early 1630s during Samarth Ramdas's pilgrimage travels. The two met in Srinagar in the Garhwal hills while Guru Hargobind was returning from a hunting excursion.
When they met, Guru Hargobind was fully armed and on horseback, which led Ramdas to ask about his spiritual identity. Ramdas inquired, "I had heard that you occupied the Gaddi of Guru Nanak. What sort of sadhu are you?" Guru Hargobind replied, "Internally a hermit, and externally a prince. Arms mean protection to the poor and destruction of the tyrant. Guru Nanak had not renounced the world but had renounced Maya."
This exchange highlighted the dual nature of Guru Hargobind's role as both a spiritual and temporal leader, symbolized by his carrying of two swords—one representing his spiritual authority and the other his temporal power.
Death and Succession
Guru Hargobind passed away in 1644 at Kiratpur Sahib, a town located on the banks of the River Sutlej. Before his death, he nominated his grandson, Guru Har Rai, as his successor, making him the seventh Guru of the Sikhs. Guru Hargobind was cremated on the banks of the Sutlej River, where the Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib now stands as a memorial to his life and legacy.
Birth Year
While 1595 is the commonly accepted year of Guru Hargobind’s birth, some historical sources, including Kesar Singh Chhibar and the Bhat Vahis, suggest that his birth year might have been 1590.
Battles and Skirmishes
Guru Hargobind was involved in several significant battles and skirmishes throughout his life as he worked to protect the Sikh community and assert the rights of his people. Notable battles include:
- Battle of Sangrana (1628)
- Battle of Rohilla (1630)
- Battle of Amritsar (1634)
- Battle of Lahira (1634)
- Battle for Maham
- Battle of Padiala
- Battle of Kiratpur
- Battle of Kartarpur (1635)
- Battle of Phagwara (1635)
These conflicts played a pivotal role in establishing the Sikh community’s military presence and the defense of their religious freedoms against Mughal oppression.
Popular Culture
Guru Hargobind's legacy has inspired various forms of popular culture. The animated Punjabi movie Dastaan-E-Miri Piri focuses on Guru Hargobind’s life and his contributions to the Sikh faith and community.
Additionally, the teachings and life story of Guru Hargobind influenced the 2023 season theme and artwork of the Dallas Cowboys football team, demonstrating the broad cultural impact of his philosophy and leadership beyond the Sikh community.
References
- (No date) Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. Available at: https://rabbibani.bhinderbadra.com/2017/09/guru-hargobind-sahib-ji.html (Accessed: 15 January 2025).
- 18, C. com J. (2022) Guru Hargobind Birth anniversary: Facts about the sixth sikh guru - CNBC TV18, CNBCTV18. Available at: https://www.cnbctv18.com/india/guru-hargobind-birth-anniversary-facts-about-the-sixth-sikh-guru-13862102.htm (Accessed: 15 January 2025).
- Guru Har Gobind (no date) Guru Har Gobind - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia. Available at: https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Guru_Har_Gobind (Accessed: 15 January 2025).
- Guru hargobind (2025a) Encyclopædia Britannica. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Guru-Hargobind (Accessed: 15 January 2025).
- Guru hargobind (2025b) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Hargobind (Accessed: 15 January 2025).
