Lives of the Gurus ยท 10th Guru
Guru Gobind Singh Ji (1666โ1708): Poet, Warrior and Guide โ Patna to Nanded, the Dasam Granth, Paonta, Machhiwara and Bahadur Shah
Guru Gobind Singh Ji's life is often told through the Khalsa and the sacrifices of his family. This guide looks at the whole person โ the scholar who kept a court of fifty-two poets, the author of the Dasam Granth, the planner of Anandpur's forts, the traveller who met emperors, and the guide who ended the line of personal Gurus. It complements our separate guide on the Khalsa of 1699 and the battles of 1704โ05.
Life at a glance
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Original name | Gobind Rai |
| Born | December 1666, Patna |
| Parents | Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and Mata Gujri |
| Wives | Mata Jito, Mata Sundari, Mata Sahib Kaur |
| Sons (Sahibzadas) | Ajit Singh, Jujhar Singh, Zorawar Singh, Fateh Singh |
| Guru | 1675โ1708 |
| Passed away | October 1708, Nanded |
| Final act | Guruship vested in the Guru Granth Sahib and the Khalsa Panth |
Childhood at Patna
Gobind Rai was born at Patna while his father was travelling in Assam. Takht Sri Patna Sahib stands at his birthplace. He spent his first years there, learning Gurmukhi and enjoying games of mock battle with local children. Tradition remembers the childless Raja Fateh Chand Maini and his queen, who loved the boy; their house is now Gurdwara Bal Lila Maini Sangat, Patna.
In 1672, the family moved to Chakk Nanaki (Anandpur Sahib). There the boy studied Persian, Sanskrit and Braj, and trained in riding and arms. After his father's martyrdom in 1675, he became Guru at nine.
A scholar's court
As he grew up, the Guru gathered around him a court of 52 poets (darbari kavis). They translated and retold works from Sanskrit epics and Puranas into Braj and Punjabi, aiming to make learning available to ordinary people. Among the well-known poets were Senapati and Bhai Nand Lal, whose Persian poems are still sung in gurdwaras.
Paonta Sahib (1685โ1688)
At the invitation of the Raja of Nahan (Sirmaur), the Guru moved for some years to Paonta Sahib on the Yamuna. This was a period of intense literary work, hunting and military training. His eldest son Ajit Singh was born here in 1687.
Battle of Bhangani (1688)
The hill chiefs, led by Raja Fateh Shah of Garhwal and encouraged by Raja Bhim Chand of Kahlur, attacked the Guru at Bhangani, near Paonta. The Guru won. Some Pathan soldiers who had deserted him were punished, while the Sufi saint Pir Budhu Shah of Sadhaura, who joined the Guru with his sons and followers, lost two sons in the battle.
Return to Anandpur
After Bhangani, the Guru returned to Anandpur and strengthened it with five forts: Anandgarh, Lohgarh, Holgarh, Fatehgarh and Keshgarh.
- In the Battle of Nadaun (1691), he helped the hill rajas against a Mughal commander, Alif Khan.
- In 1699 he founded the Khalsa at Keshgarh (covered in detail in our separate guide).
- In 1701 he started Hola Mohalla at Holgarh, turning Holi into a day of martial exercises, mock battles and poetry. It is still celebrated at Anandpur Sahib.
He also abolished the masand system, as many masands had become corrupt; Sikhs were told to bring offerings directly to the Guru.
His writings: the Dasam Granth
Many compositions attributed to the Guru are collected in the Dasam Granth ("Book of the Tenth Master"), compiled after his time, traditionally by Bhai Mani Singh. The best-known parts are:
| Composition | Language | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Jaap Sahib | Braj, Sanskrit and Persian words | Praise of God through hundreds of attributes; part of the morning Nitnem |
| Akal Ustat | Braj | Praise of the Timeless One; unity of humanity |
| Bachittar Natak | Braj | Autobiographical account of his mission and early battles |
| Chandi di Var | Punjabi | Heroic ballad; its opening lines begin the Ardas |
| Tav-Prasad Savaiye | Braj | Part of Nitnem; rejects empty ritual |
| Zafarnama | Persian | Letter to Aurangzeb |
The line "Manas ki jaat sabai ekai pehchanbo" ("recognise all humankind as one race") from Akal Ustat is among his most quoted words.
1704โ1705: Machhiwara and the forests
After leaving Anandpur and the battle of Chamkaur (December 1704), the Guru escaped alone at night into the Machhiwara forest. Sleeping on bare ground with a stone as his pillow, he composed the hymn "Mitr Pyare Nu", a message of longing to God, written in Punjabi. Gurdwara Charan Kanwal Sahib, Machhiwara, marks the place.
Two Pathan brothers, Nabi Khan and Ghani Khan, former horse-traders who had dealt with the Guru, carried him through Mughal-held territory in a palanquin, dressed in blue as the "Uch da Pir" (holy man of Uch). Their house in Machhiwara is preserved as a memorial.
Dina and the Zafarnama
At Dina (Moga district), the Guru wrote the Zafarnama in Persian verse to Aurangzeb, condemning the broken oaths at Anandpur and reminding the emperor of God's justice. Bhai Daya Singh and Bhai Dharam Singh carried it south. Gurdwara Lohgarh Sahib, Dina, marks the site.
Damdama Sahib (1706)
After the Battle of Muktsar, the Guru spent about nine months at Talwandi Sabo. Here:
- with Bhai Mani Singh as scribe, he dictated the final version of the scripture, adding his father's hymns โ the Damdami Bir;
- he trained many Sikhs in reading and interpreting the scripture, which is why the place is called "Guru ki Kashi";
- Mata Sundari and Mata Sahib Kaur rejoined him.
Bahadur Shah and the journey south
Aurangzeb died in 1707. In the war of succession, the Guru supported Prince Muazzam, who won the Battle of Jajau and became Emperor Bahadur Shah. The two met at Agra, where the emperor honoured the Guru. The Guru then travelled south with the imperial camp, discussing justice for the wrongs done to the Sikhs.
Nanded (1708)
At Nanded on the Godavari, the Guru met Madho Das Bairagi, who became Banda Singh Bahadur and was sent to Punjab. Soon after, two Pathans, said to be agents of Wazir Khan of Sirhind, attacked the Guru; one wound was stitched but later reopened.
Before passing away in October 1708, the Guru declared that there would be no more personal Gurus: the Guru Granth Sahib would be the eternal Guru in spiritual matters, and the Khalsa Panth would act collectively in worldly matters. Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib stands at Nanded; its present building was built under Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the 1830s.
Titles and remembrance
- Sarbans Dani โ "the one who gave his all", having lost his father, mother and four sons.
- Dasmesh Pita โ "the Tenth Father".
- Kalgidhar โ "wearer of the plume", and Chitte Baajan Wala โ "master of the white hawk".
- His 350th Prakash Purab was celebrated in 2017 at Patna.
Exam traps
- Bhangani (1688) was against the hill rajas; Nadaun (1691) was against a Mughal commander.
- Mitr Pyare Nu was composed at Machhiwara; the Zafarnama was written at Dina.
- The Damdami Bir was written by Bhai Mani Singh; the Adi Granth (1604) by Bhai Gurdas.
- The emperor he supported in 1707 was Bahadur Shah (Prince Muazzam).
Key points to remember
- Born 1666, Patna; to Anandpur 1672; Guru at 9 in 1675.
- 52 poets; Bhai Nand Lal; Paonta Sahib; Bhangani 1688; Nadaun 1691.
- Five forts of Anandpur; Hola Mohalla 1701; masands abolished.
- Dasam Granth: Jaap Sahib, Akal Ustat, Bachittar Natak, Chandi di Var, Zafarnama.
- Machhiwara โ Mitr Pyare Nu; Nabi Khan and Ghani Khan; Dina โ Zafarnama.
- Damdama Sahib โ Damdami Bir; Bahadur Shah; Nanded 1708.
Practice questions
Q1. Guru Gobind Singh Ji's original name was:
- (a) Gobind Das
- (b) Gobind Rai
- (c) Tyag Mal
- (d) Jetha
Show answer
Answer: (b) Gobind Rai โ He was born Gobind Rai at Patna.
Q2. The Battle of Bhangani (1688) was fought against:
- (a) The Mughal governor of Sirhind
- (b) Hill chiefs led by Raja Fateh Shah of Garhwal
- (c) Ahmad Shah Abdali
- (d) Alif Khan
Show answer
Answer: (b) Hill chiefs led by Raja Fateh Shah of Garhwal โ The Guru defeated the hill chiefs at Bhangani near Paonta Sahib.
Q3. 'Mitr Pyare Nu' was composed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji at:
- (a) Anandpur Sahib
- (b) Chamkaur Sahib
- (c) Machhiwara
- (d) Talwandi Sabo
Show answer
Answer: (c) Machhiwara โ He composed it in the Machhiwara forest after Chamkaur.
Q4. The Pathan brothers who carried the Guru as 'Uch da Pir' were:
- (a) Nabi Khan and Ghani Khan
- (b) Painde Khan and Alif Khan
- (c) Wazir Khan and Sucha Nand
- (d) Sher Mohammad Khan and Khizar Khan
Show answer
Answer: (a) Nabi Khan and Ghani Khan โ Nabi Khan and Ghani Khan carried him through Mughal territory.
Q5. Hola Mohalla was started by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in:
- (a) 1699
- (b) 1701
- (c) 1704
- (d) 1708
Show answer
Answer: (b) 1701 โ He began Hola Mohalla at Holgarh, Anandpur, in 1701.
Q6. Guru Gobind Singh Ji supported which prince in the war of succession of 1707?
- (a) Azam Shah
- (b) Kam Bakhsh
- (c) Muazzam (Bahadur Shah)
- (d) Farrukhsiyar
Show answer
Answer: (c) Muazzam (Bahadur Shah) โ Prince Muazzam won at Jajau and became Bahadur Shah.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Dasam Granth?
A collection of compositions attributed to Guru Gobind Singh Ji, including Jaap Sahib, Akal Ustat, Bachittar Natak, Chandi di Var and the Zafarnama.
Where is the Zafarnama said to have been written?
At Dina in Moga district, Punjab.
Why is Guru Gobind Singh Ji called Sarbans Dani?
Because he sacrificed his father, mother and all four sons for righteousness.
Official sources
- Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)
- Punjab Digital Library
- Encyclopaedia Britannica โ Guru Gobind Singh
Rules, dates and figures can change. Always check the latest official notification or government release before relying on a detail.