View source for Sri Satguru Hare-Gobind Sahib ji

{{Sikhism_sidebar}}

{{Short description|Sixth Sikh guru from 1606 to 1644}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox religious biography
| religion           = [[Sikhism]]
| name               = Guru Hargobind
| image              = Contemporary painting of the sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind. Provincial Mughal school, Deccan, mid-17th century.jpg
| caption            = Contemporary painting of the sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind. Provincial Mughal school, Deccan, mid-17th century
| birth_name         = Hargobind
| birth_date         = {{Birth-date|19 June 1595}}
| birth_place        = Guru Ki Wadali, [[Amritsar]], [[Subah of Lahore|Lahore Subah]], [[Mughal Empire]] <br /> {{small|(present-day [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[India]])}}
| death_date         = {{Death-date and age|28 February 1644|19 June 1595}}<ref name=eos>{{cite book |chapter=HARGOBIND, GURU (1595–1644)| chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/TheEncyclopediaOfSikhism-VolumeIiE-l/page/n245 |author=Fauja Singh |title= Encyclopaedia of Sikhism|publisher=Punjabi University, Patiala|access-date=8 December 2019|year=2009}}</ref>
| death_place        = [[Kiratpur Sahib]], [[Subah of Lahore|Lahore Subah]], [[Mughal Empire]] <br /> {{small|(present-day [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[India]])}}
| nationality        =
| other_names        = The Sixth Master<br />Saccha Paatshah<br />The Master of Miri Piri<br />Sixth Nanak
| known_for          = * Building the [[Akal Takhat]]
* Founder of the [[Akal Sena]]
* First Guru to engage in warfare
* Advising the Sikhs to take part in military training and martial arts
* Establish the [[Miri piri]]
* Founding [[Kiratpur Sahib]] and Hargobindpur
* Started [[Gatka]], a Sikh martial arts 
* Supervising the creation of the [[Taus (instrument)|Taus]]
| predecessor        = [[Guru Arjan]]
| successor          = [[Guru Har Rai]]
| spouse             = [[Mata Nanaki]], Mata Damodari, and Mata Marvahi
| children           = [[Baba Gurditta]] (1613–1638) <br />Baba Suraj Mal (1618–1698) <br />Baba Ani Rai (1633–1678) <br /> Baba Atal Rai (1619–1627)<br />[[Guru Tegh Bahadur]] (1621–1675) <br />Bibi Veero (1628–1705)
| parents            = [[Guru Arjan]] and [[Mata Ganga]]
| office1            = 6th Guru of the Sikhs
| native_name        = ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿਗੋਬਿੰਦ
| native_name_lang   = pa
| native name lang   = pa
| signature          = Autograph of Guru Hargobind.jpg
| battles            = Wars:
* [[Early Mughal-Sikh Wars]]
Fighting the following battles:
* [[Battle of Rohilla]]
* [[Battle of Kartarpur]]
* [[Battle of Amritsar (1634)]]
* [[Battle of Lahira]] or Gurusar
* [[Battle of Phagwara]]
* [[Battle of Kiratpur]]
(For detailed list see [[List of Battles of Guru Hargobind]]
}}
{{Sikhism sidebar}}
'''Guru Hargobind''' ([[Gurmukhi]]: ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿਗੋਬਿੰਦ, pronunciation: {{IPA-pa|gʊɾuː ɦəɾᵊgoːbɪn̯d̯ᵊ|}}l 19 June 1595 – 28 February 1644) was the sixth of ten Gurus of the [[Sikhism|Sikh religion]]. He had become Guru at the young age of eleven, after the execution of his father, [[Guru Arjan]], by the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperor [[Jahangir]].<ref name=hssyan>HS Syan (2013), Sikh Militancy in the Seventeenth Century, IB Tauris, {{ISBN|978-1780762500}}, pages 48–55</ref>

Guru Hargobind introduced the process of militarization to [[Sikhism]], likely as a response to his father's execution and to protect the Sikh community.<ref>{{cite book|author=John F. Richards|title=The Mughal Empire|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HHyVh29gy4QC&pg=PA97|year=1995|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-56603-2|pages=97–98, 177–178}}</ref><ref name=britannicahargobind>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hargobind Hargobind: Sikh Guru], Encyclopedia Britannica, Quote: "Guru Hargobind, sixth Sikh Guru, who developed a strong Sikh army and gave the Sikh religion its military character, in accord with the instructions of his father, Guru Arjan (1563–1606), the first Sikh martyr, who had been executed on the order of the Mughal emperor Jahangir."; "After Jahāngīr’s death (1627) the new Mughal emperor, Shāh Jahān, persecuted the Sikh community in earnest. The Sikhs under Hargobind Sahib defeated Shāh Jahān’s armies four times, crushing the myth of Mughal invincibility. To the Sikh ideals of his predecessor, Guru Hargobind thus added another: the right and duty of the Sikhs to defend their faith by the sword if necessary."</ref> He symbolized it by wearing two swords, representing the dual concept of [[Miri piri|''mīrī'' and ''pīrī'']] (temporal power and spiritual authority). In front of the [[Harmandir Sahib]] in Amritsar, Hargobind constructed the [[Akal Takht]] (''the throne of the timeless one''). The Akal Takht represents the highest seat of earthly authority of the [[Khalsa]] (the collective body of the Sikhs) today.

==Early life==
Guru Hargobind was born in ''Gurū kī Waḍālī'', on 19th June (Hāṛh Sudi 1) of 1595, in a [[Sodhi]] [[Khatri]] Family in a village {{convert|7|km}} west of Amritsar,<ref name=eos/><ref name=hssingha>HS Singha (2009), Sikh Studies, Book 7, Hemkunt Press, {{ISBN|978-8170102458}}, pages 18–19</ref> the only son of [[Guru Arjan]], the fifth Sikh Guru. A massive well was built to commemorate his birth, [[Chheharta Sahib]]. He suffered from smallpox as a child.<ref name=":14">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Prithi Pal |title=The History of Sikh Gurus |publisher=Lotus Press |year=2006 |isbn=9788183820752 |pages=69–70}}</ref>

According to Sikh hagiographies, Guru Hargobind survived multiple poisoning attempts by his uncle [[Prithi Chand]] and his wife, Karmo, as well as another attempt on his life, when a [[cobra]] was thrown at him by Prithi Chand.<ref name=":14" /> The first poisoning attempt involved Karmo dispatching her personal nurse to pretend to be interested in looking after the child Hargobind.<ref name=":14" /> However, the nurse placed poison around her nipple which was to harm Hargobind as he suckled her but the young boy refused to latch onto her and thus the nurse's plan failed and she became ill to the poison herself.<ref name=":14" /> Prithi Chand reported to revenue office of the province of Lahore, Sulhi Khan that Guru ji killed the nurse. Prithi Chand would later do continued to conspire against Guru Arjan to Chandu. Prithi Chand hired another women to go murder the child but she killed a different one and was killed by the people who witnessed the event again Prithi tried to say Guru ji killed this woman as well to Sulhi Khan but after the obviousness of assassination this case but cases where overlooked

The next poisoning plan involved a snake-charmer being sent by Prithi Chand and his wife to assassinate the young Hargobind by releasing a snake onto him but the young boy is said to have grabbed the snake in his hand by its head and squeezed it and dragged it on the ground until it died.<ref name=":14" /> A third attempt on his life was by a Brahmin directed again by Prithi Chand and his wife, the Brahmin planned to blend poison with curd and feed the child Hargobind with it but when he attempted to do so, Hargobind knocked the curd out of the Brahmin's grasp and it fell onto the floor, where a dog - named Pista; then ate some of it and died as a result revealing its dangerous contents.<ref name=":14" /> The Brahmin then died of abdominal afflictions.<ref name=":14" /> 

Guru Hargobind studied religious texts with [[Bhai Gurdas]] and was trained in swordsmanship and archery.He was also instructed on various languages, religious philosophy, astronomy, medicine, horse-riding, and administration.<ref name=":14" /> Hargobind spent a good deal of his early years engrossed in hymns being sung at the Harmandir Sahib complex in Amritsar.<ref name=":14" />

== Guruship ==
On 25 May 1606, Guru Arjan, five days before his own death, selected his son Hargobind as his successor and instructed his son to start a military tradition to protect the Sikh people and always keep himself surrounded by armed Sikhs for protection.<ref name=pashaura/> Shortly afterwards, Arjan was arrested, tortured and killed by order of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir.<ref name=pashaura>Pashaura Singh (2005), [http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/journal_12_1/3_singh.pdf Understanding the Martyrdom of Guru Arjan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620214905/http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/journal_12_1/3_singh.pdf |date=20 June 2010 }}, Journal of Philosophical Society, 12(1), pp. 29–62</ref><ref>Louis E. Fenech, Martyrdom in the Sikh Tradition, Oxford University Press, pages 118–121</ref> Guru Hargobind's succession ceremony took place on 24 June 1606, <ref name=hssyan/><ref name=hssingha/> where he put on two swords instead of traditional guruship rites: one indicated his spiritual authority (''pīrī'') and the other, his temporal authority (''mīrī'')<ref name=hssyan/><ref name=mah>{{cite book |title=Muslim Rule In India|author=V. D. Mahajan |year=1970|publisher=S. Chand, New Delhi, p.223}}</ref> and sat on the new [[Akal Takht]] throne. Then according to Gaini Gain Singh (1892), using [[Dhadi_(music)|musical minstrels]] ordered the Sikhs for Chandu's murder.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Giani Gian |title=Naveen Panth Prakash |date=1892 |publisher=Guru Gobind Singh Press |location=Sialkot |pages=436 |url=https://archive.org/details/twarikh-guru-khalsa/page/n435/mode/2up?view=theater |chapter=History of Guru Hargobind ji}}</ref> He followed his martyred father's advice and always kept himself surrounded by armed Sikhs for protection. The number fifty-two was special in his life, and his retinue consisted of fifty-two armed men.<ref name=eos/> He thus founded the military tradition in the Sikh faith.<ref name=hssyan/><ref name=pashaura/>

Hargobind had three wives: Damodari, Nanaki, and Marvahi.<ref name=eos/><ref>Fenech and McLeod (2014), Historical Dictionary of Sikhism, 3rd Edition, Rowman & Littlefield, {{ISBN|978-1442236004}}, page 145</ref> He had children from three wives. Two of his eldest sons from the first wife died during his lifetime. [[Guru Tegh Bahadur]], his son from Nanaki, became the ninth Sikh Guru.<ref>{{cite book |author=W. H. McLeod |title=The A to Z of Sikhism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vgixwfeCyDAC&pg=PA88 |year=2009 |publisher=Scarecrow |isbn=978-0-8108-6344-6 |page=88 }}</ref> The Sodhis of Anandpur Sahib<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Fenech |first1=Louis E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xajcAwAAQBAJ&dq=suraj+mal+sodhi+anandpur+sahib&pg=PA296 |title=Historical Dictionary of Sikhism |last2=McLeod |first2=W. H. |date=2014-06-11 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4422-3601-1 |language=en}}</ref> are the descendants of Baba Suraj Mal Sodhi, one of Guru Hargobind's sons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Suraj Mal - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia. |url=https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Suraj_Mal |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=www.sikhiwiki.org}}</ref>

The Guru was a martial artist (''shastarvidyā''); he encouraged people to maintain physical fitness and keep their bodies ready for physical combat. He had his own [[Durbar (court)|Darbar (court)]]. The arming and training of some of his devoted followers began. The Guru came to possess seven hundred horses and his Risaldari (cavalry) grew to three hundred horsemen and sixty musketeers.<ref name=grewal62>Grewal, J.S. ''Sikh History from Persian Sources: Translations of Major Texts'' {{ISBN|978-8185229171}}, p. 62 "Guru Hargobind, son of Guru Arjan, ate meat and took to hunting. Most of their [the Guru's] followers adopted his practice."</ref>

=== Building Akal Bunga (The Eternal Throne) ===
After ordering the Sikhs of various nations to bring him good weapons and horses Guru ji amassed a wide treasury at Goivandval, Khadoor Sahib, Taran Tarn and Ramdaspur (Amritsar), Guru then called out for brave solders to stay with him. They began hunting and training in arms. This all happened within a very short duration and bought peace to the Hindu populous against the harsh Mughal rulers and the rulers began to fear.

In June 1609 Guru ji established the Akal Bunga (now called Akal Takht) and began to hold court there. This was meant to be a throne of the eternal spirit called Mahakal and where the Harimandar was supposed to endue peace this structure was to create ''[[Rajas|Raja guṇ]]'' (passion) and the structure itself was meant to be worshipped alongside as the Harimandar<ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Bhagat |title=Gurbilas Patshahi 6 |date=1718 |chapter=Chapter 8 Part 2}})</ref> As more and more wealth reached the Guru he began amassing more and more army. Even hundreds of Muslims joined.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Giani Gian |title=Naveen Panth Prakash |date=1892 |publisher=Guru Gobind Singh Press |location=Sialkot |pages=438 |url=https://archive.org/details/twarikh-guru-khalsa/page/n437/mode/2up?view=theater |chapter=History of Guru Hargobind ji}}</ref> 

The Guru always listened to Dhadi minstrels and even added 9 tunas to Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji. The dhadis bought lots of courage to the Sikhs and on a routine by 1612 Sikhs would daily do [[Rehras Sahib]], [[Ardas]], recite [[Shabads]] and then attend the court.

==== Visit to the center of Lahore ====
In 1612 on Lahore ''Sangat''s request the Guru stayed in Jeevan Turkhan's house for three months which was just inside the city walls. At this time the guru built a gurdwara in memory of Guru Arjan and numerous esteemed personalities of the region visited him everyday including Chhajju Bhagat, Pilo, Bhairavnath, Sobha Gir, Shah Hussain, Mian Meer.

==== Creating Lohgargh ====
After returning from a few month stay at Lahore in 1614 the Guru build Lohgarh fort in Amritsar to protect the city and began amassing weapons there. The Guru stayed in the area for 7 months and stayed at Kartarpur Sahib and visited the nation of Doaba turning hundreds of people into Sikh devotees. The Guru setup up markets and gardens there as well as a held a Vaisakhi festival which continues today. The Guru would hunt daily with his birds and dogs.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Bhagat |title=Gurbilas Patshahi 6 |date=1718 |chapter=Chapter 8 Part 2}})</ref>

==== Holding court at Amritsar ====
The Guru at this time had 12 villages in charge which he used for distribution of Langar and had an army overall the Gurus land had a big population and income was great. Th conflicts that would happen in this land would be resolved by the Guru and would not reach the royal Mughal court, The Guru began wearing king-like clothes and began administrating justice.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Giani Gian |title=Naveen Panth Prakash |date=1892 |publisher=Guru Gobind Singh Press |location=Sialkot |pages=442 |url=https://archive.org/details/twarikh-guru-khalsa/page/n441/mode/2up?view=theater |chapter=History of Guru Hargobind ji}}</ref> [tools]

=== Enmity of Meharwan and Chandu ===
When Meharwan, son of Prithi Chand, heard the news o the splender and power of the Gurus court he bgan reporting the Mughal rulers, however it did add to their awareness At this time Chandu want to make amends with the Guru and have him marry into the family but listening to Guru Arjan's advise the Guru wanted to harshly punish Chandu. According to Kavi Santokh Singh (1843), the Guru felt it was a mans duty to avenge his fathers death.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh Aulakh |first1=Ajit |author1=Kavi Santokh Singh |title=Suraj Prakash Granth |date=1843 |location=part 5 ras 4 adv 47 |isbn=81-7601-685-3 |page=63 |edition=Second Edition, 2015 |chapter="Life of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahip Ji, Part 1"}}</ref>

After Chandu was rejected he first slandered the Guru amongst everyone and then sent a report to Kasam Begh Kahn, the governor of Lahore, which he reported the entire Punjab was under his discipleship and he should be stopped because he has lots of bandits and dangerous people also saying he needed to repay the money owed for his fathers death??.
At the end according to Giani Gian Singh, Emperor Jahangir sent Begh Kahn to summon the Guru to Delhi, Gain Singh says the Guru himself wanted to go meet the emperor to tell him of his atrocities.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Giani Gian |title=Naveen Panth Prakash |date=1892 |publisher=Guru Gobind Singh Press |location=Sialkot |pages=442 |url=https://archive.org/details/twarikh-guru-khalsa/page/n441/mode/2up |chapter=History of Guru Hargobind ji}}</ref>

=== Departure to Delhi ===
On May 1616 Wazir Khan was sent to summon the Guru, and the Guru accepted preparing to leave. Leaving Baba Budha Sahib, Kalyana, Bhai Gurdas, Behailao, Bhagtu and other Sikhs in charge Guru with 100 horsemen, including Biddhi Chand and Bhai Jetha, with the permission of Mata Ganga left the city. Wazir Khan returned to his home in Lahore and the Guru on the first day stayed at Taran Tarn, Then on the second day rested at Khadur, Goindval, Sultanpur Drauli, Akoi, Kamlpur and nearby villages, and on the way distributing wealth to the poor.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Giani Gian |title=Naveen Panth Prakash |date=1892 |publisher=Guru Gobind Singh Press |location=Sialkot |pages=442 |url=https://archive.org/details/twarikh-guru-khalsa/page/n441/mode/2up |chapter=History of Guru Hargobind ji}}</ref>


*

=== Building Haregobindpr/Rohillaa? ===
In one month the Guru began building various sites, including a mosque, bazaar, nice streets, various buildings, and numerous mandirs to deities, to establish the city under the command of Medavi (said to be an incarnation of [[Vishvakarma]] <ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Bhagat |title=Gurbilas Patshahi 6 |date=1718 |chapter=Chapter 15 Part 3}})</ref>
When the Guru was in Rohila Bhai Gurdas, Baba Budha, and their armies and notable Sikhs Bhai Ajita, Bhai Jodha, Bhai Jeeva (who toke care of Bhai Gurdas and Baba Budha) from they visited him, and Bhai Gurdas then stayed with the Guru while the others returned.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Bhagat |title=Gurbilas Patshahi 6 |date=1718 |chapter=Chapter 15 Part 3}}</ref>

Guru started holding diwans and did discourses on various topics and holding kirtan diwans. Sangat from [[Kashi]] visited shortly after developing city.

=== Holding recitation of Bhagvatam (16&&)===

The Guru requested Pundit Nitanand from bitala to recite [[Srimad Bhagvatam]] for him in 7 days with discourse running around 9 hours a day, including Krisnas Kushatar jung in particular while sangat listened (ch 15)

One notable event after a complaint from the pundit about Sikhs mocking the time it takes to cross the path to jamraj,  the Guru said the punishments listed do not affect the devout Sikhs in the same ratio because they are under the Gurus blessing. After this discourse Pundit Nitanand received charan pahul and become a disiple of the guru. After this the katha became much more raas diyak (enjoyable to the soul) and sangat was much more absorbed. When he finished the guru as well as Sangat gave wealth enough wealth to last generations to the Pandit.

== Relations with other rulers ==
[[File:Guru Hargobind is released from Gwalior Fort by Jahangir's order.jpg|thumb|Guru Hargobind is released from Gwalior Fort by Jahangir's order]]
Guru Hargobind led the Sikh response against Mughal power after Guru Arjan's execution. He nominally accepted [[Shah Jahan]]'s authority but resisted the Islamic persecution, fighting four wars against Shah Jahan's armies. His attempts to transform the Sikh community brought him in conflict with the Mughal authority.<ref name="britannicahargobind" /><ref>{{cite book |author=HS Syan|year=2013|title=Sikh Militancy in the Seventeenth Century|publisher=IB Tauris|isbn=978-1780762500| pages = 48–49, 98|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9RzzxcEL4C0C&pg=PA48}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/47024480 |title=Sikh history from Persian sources : translations of major texts |date=2001 |publisher=Tulika |others=J. S. Grewal, Irfan Habib, Indian History Congress. Session |isbn=81-85229-17-1 |location=New Delhi |pages=4 |oclc=47024480 |quote=Even Guru Hargobind was sent as a prisoner to the fort of Gwalior on account of the arrears of fine imposed upon Guru Arjan. However, this was not the only cause of Guru Hargobind's difficulties. He had begun to wear the sword and adopted the appearance of a soldier; he used to hunt and to maintain servants. He came into armed conflict with the gumashtas (officials) of Shah Jahan and had to leave Ramdaspur for Kartarpur in the Jalandhar Doab. There too he had to fight quite a few battles before he moved to Phagwara and then to Kiratpur in the territory of the refractory hill chief Tara Chand. There too, Guru Hargobind maintained seven hundred horses in his stables, three hundred horsemen, and sixty musketeers. His headquarters served as a place of refuge for refractory individuals. The Dabistan, thus, provides extremely useful evidence on the change in the attitude of the Mughal Emperors towards the Gurus and the change in the attitude of Guru Hargobind towards the State.}}</ref>

=== Jahangir ===
Along with the execution of guru  Arjan Dev by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, Guru Hargobind from the very start was a dedicated enemy of the Mughal rule. He advised Sikhs to arm and fight the Mughals.<ref name="mah" /> The death of his father at the hands of Jahangir prompted him to emphasize the military dimension of the Sikh community. He symbolically wore two swords, which represented ''[[miri piri]]''. He founded the [[Akal Sena]], the first Sikh army. He built a fort to defend [[Amritsar|Ramdaspur]] and created a formal court, [[Akal Takht]].<ref name="Phyllis2004">{{cite book|title= Holy People of the World: A Cross-cultural Encyclopedia, Volume 1|author= Phyllis G. Jestice|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=H5cQH17-HnMC&pg=PA345|publisher= [[ABC-CLIO]]|year= 2004|isbn= 9781576073551|pages= 345, 346}}</ref>

Jahangir responded by jailing the 14-year-old Guru Hargobind at [[Gwalior Fort]] in 1609, on the pretext that the fine imposed on Guru Arjan had not been paid by the Sikhs and Hargobind.<ref name="mandair48" /> It is not clear as to how much time he spent as a prisoner. The year of his release appears to have been either 1611 or 1612, when Hargobind was about 16 years old.<ref name="mandair48" /> Persian records, such as [[Dabestan-e Mazaheb|''Dabestan-e Mazaheb'']] suggest he was kept in jail for twelve years, including over 1617–1619 in Gwalior, after which he and his camp were kept under Muslim army's surveillance by Jahangir.<ref name="eos" /><ref>{{cite book|title=The Sikh Review, Volumes 42–43, Issues 491–497|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1XPXAAAAMAAJ|year=1994|publisher=Sikh Cultural Centre|pages=15–16}}</ref>

It is unclear why he was released. Scholars suggest that Jahangir had more or less reverted to tolerant policies of Akbar by about 1611 after he felt secure about his throne, and the [[Sunni Islam|Sunnis]] and [[Naqshbandi]] court officials at the Mughal court had fallen out of his favour. Another theory states that Jahangir discovered the circumstances and felt that Guru Hargobind was harmless, so he ordered his release.<ref name="Phyllis2004" /><ref name="mandair48">{{cite book|title= Sikhism: A Guide for the Perplexed|author= Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=BEP0Ty-GuVEC&pg=PA48|publisher= [[A & C Black]]|year= 2013|isbn= 9781441117083|page= 48}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title= The Sikhs : Their Journey Of Five Hundred Years|author= Raj Pal Singh|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ra19YSPDliQC&pg=PA21|publisher= Pentagon Press|year= 2004|isbn= 9788186505465|pages= 22, 23}}</ref>

According to Surjit Singh Gandhi, 52 [[Raja|rajas]] (kings) who were imprisoned in the fort as hostages for "millions of rupees" and for opposing the Mughal empire were dismayed as they were losing a spiritual mentor. Guru Hargobind requested the rajas to be freed along with him as well and stood surety for their loyal behavior. Jahangir ordered their release as well. Hargobind got a special gown stitched which had 52 [[hem]]s. As Hargobind left the fort, the captive kings caught the hems of the cloak and came out along with him.<ref name="surjitgandhi">{{cite book|title= History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1606–1708 C.E|author= Surjit Singh Gandhi|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=vZFBp89UInUC&pg=PA505|publisher= Atlantic Publishers & Dist.|year= 2007|isbn= 9788126908585|page= 52}}</ref>

After his release, Guru Hargobind more discreetly strengthened the Sikh army and reconsolidated the Sikh community.<ref name="mandair48" /> His relations with Jahangir remained mostly friendly. He accompanied Jahangir to [[Kashmir]] and [[Rajputana]] and subdued Tara Chand of [[Nalagarh]], who had continued for a long time in open rebellion and all efforts to subdue him had failed.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=3sApBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA28|title= The Sikh Shrines in Jammu & Kashmir|author= Jasbir Singh Sarna|isbn= 9788186741306|page= 28|year= 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=vZFBp89UInUC&pg=PA506|title= History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1606-1708 C.E|author= Surjit Singh Gandhi|publisher= Atlantic Publishers & Distributors|isbn= 9788126908592|page= 506|year= 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FdPFkAsDJVgC&pg=PA57 |title= A History of the Sikhs from the Origin of the Nation to the Battles of the Sutlej|author= [[Joseph Davey Cunningham]], H.L.O. Garrett|publisher= [[Asian Educational Services]]|isbn= 9788120609501|year= 2012|page= 57}}</ref> During Jahangir's reign, Hargobind fought a battle against the Mughals at [[Battle of Rohilla|Rohilla]]. The battle was in response to the militarisation of the Sikhs. The Mughals who were led by Governor Abdul Khan were defeated by the Sikhs.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jaques|first=Tony|title=Dictionary of Battles and Sieges|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sbMFCZyAcnQC|access-date=31 July 2010|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-33536-5|page=860|year=2007}}</ref>

=== Shah Jahan ===
During the reign of Jahangir's son and successor [[Shah Jahan]] that started in 1627, relations became bitter again. Shah Jahan was intolerant. He destroyed the Sikh [[baoli]] at [[Lahore]].<ref>Sikhism Origin and Development By Dalbir Singh Dhillon, p121 "In the year A. D. 1632, Shah Jahan revived his religious policy and issued ... of his policy, the Gurdwara and a Baoli at Lahore was destroyed and a mosque was erected over its place"</ref> In 1628, Shah Jahan's hunting party plundered some of Guru Hargobind's property, which triggered the first armed conflict.<ref name="mandair49">{{cite book|title= Sikhism: A Guide for the Perplexed|author= Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=BEP0Ty-GuVEC&pg=PA49|publisher= [[A & C Black]]|year= 2013|isbn= 9781441117083|pages= 48–49}}</ref>

Hargobind's army fought battles with the Mughal armies of Shah Jahan at [[Amritsar]], [[Kartarpur, India|Kartarpur]] and elsewhere. Hargobind defeated the Mughal troops near [[Amritsar]] in the [[Battle of Amritsar (1634)|Battle of Amritsar]] in 1634. The Guru was again attacked by a provincial detachment of Mughals, but the attackers were routed and their leaders slain.<ref name="cunn" /> Guru Hargobind also led his armies against the provincial [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] [[Subahdar|governors]].<ref name="cun">{{cite book | last = Cunningham | first = Joseph Davey | title = A History Of The Sikhs | edition = 1853 | publisher = John Murray | location = London | pages = 53 }}</ref> The Guru anticipated the return of a larger Mughal force, so retreated into [[Shivalik Hills]] to strengthen his defenses and army, with a base in [[Kiratpur Sahib|Kiratpur]] where he continued to stay till his death.<ref name="mandair49" />

Painde Khan was appointed the leader of the provincial troops by Shah Jahan and marched upon the Guru. Hargobind was attacked, but he won this battle as well.<ref name="cunn">{{cite book | last = Cunningham | first = Joseph Davey | title = A History Of The Sikhs | edition = 1853 | publisher = John Murray | location = London | pages = 55  }}</ref> He also fought the [[Battle of Kartarpur]].  [[Chandu Shah]], who had ordered Guru Arjan's death, was killed through torture by the Sikhs of Guru Hargobind: a thick iron ring was put around his nose and he was dragged on the floor until the man who tortured Arjan, and had since become a  Sikh, poured hot sand on him from the same ladle used on Arjan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gujral |first=Maninder S. |date=2000-12-19 |title=CHANDU SHAH |url=https://www.thesikhencyclopedia.com/biographical/hindu-bhagats-and-poets-and-punjabi-officials/chandu-shah/ |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=The Sikh Encyclopedia |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chandu Shah - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia. |url=https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Chandu_Shah |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=www.sikhiwiki.org}}</ref>

Guru Hargobind lost his eldest son [[Baba Gurditta]] in 1638. Shah Jahan attempted political means to undermine the Sikh tradition, by dividing and influencing the succession.<ref name="mandair49" /> The Mughal ruler gave land grants to Gurditta's eldest son Dhir Mal, living in Kartarpur, and attempted to encourage Sikhs to recognise Dhir Mal as the rightful successor to Hargobind. Dhir Mal issued statements in favour of the Mughal state, and critical of his grandfather. Hargobind died at [[Kiratpur Sahib|Kiratpur]], [[Rupnagar]], [[Punjab region|Punjab]], on 28 February 1644, but before his death, he rejected his eldest grandson Dhir Mal's politics, and nominated Guru Har Rai (Dhir Mal's younger brother) instead to succeed him as the Guru.<ref name="mandair49" /> The pattern was repeated when Guru Har Rai chose his second son as his successor instead of his eldest son.

=== Samarth Ramdas and Guru Hargobind ===
[[File:Samarth ramdas & guru hargovindaji.jpg|thumb|Guru Hargobind and Samarth Ramdas]]

According to Sikh tradition based on an old Punjabi manuscript Panjah Sakhian, [[Samarth Ramdas]] met Guru Hargobind at [[Srinagar, Uttarakhand|Srinagar]] in the [[Garhwal division|Garhval]] hills. The meeting, corroborated in a Marathi source, Ramdas's Bakhar, by Hanumant Swami, written in 1793, probably took place in the early 1630s during Samarth Ramdas's pilgrimage travels in the north and Hargobind's journey to [[Nanakmatta|Nanakmata]] in the east. It is said that as they came face to face with each other,  Hargobind had just returned from a hunting excursion. He was fully armed and rode a horse. "I had heard that you occupied the Gaddi of Guru Nanak", said the Maratha saint Ramdas, and asked what sort of ''[[sadhu]]'' was he. 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 (illusion)|Maya]]".<ref name="sangat">{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Sangat |title=The Sikhs In History |date=2010 |publisher=Singh Brothers |isbn=978-8172052768 |page=48 |edition=2nd |url=https://archive.org/details/TheSikhsInHistory/page/n63/mode/2up}}</ref>

== Death ==
He nominated his grandson to succeed him as the seventh [[Guru Har Rai]]. He died in 1644 at [[Kiratpur Sahib]], a town on the banks of the [[River Sutlej]], and was cremated on the banks of the river, where now stands Gurdwara Patalpuri Sahib.<ref name="eos" />

==Children==
Guru Hargobind Singh ji married Mata Damodari ji 1604/1661 BK 
Mata Damodari ji give birth to Bibi Veero in 1611/1668 BK, Baba Gurdita 1613/1670 BK who became a notable Sikh in the Kartapuri Sodhi lineage and became head of the Udasi sect and whose son was Guru Hari Rai, and Baba Anrai Ji 1618/1675 BK,          

Guru Hargobind married Mata Nanaki Ji in 1613 AD at Amritsar
Mata Nanaki ji gave birth to Baba Atal Rai in 1619/1676 and Guru Tegh Bahadur in 1622/1679 BK, whose son Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa panth

He married Mata Madadevi in 1619/1676 BK
Mata Mahadevi ji gave birth to Suraj Mal in 1617/1674 BK, who became a notable Sikh in the Sodhi lineage under the title of the Sodhis of Anandpur.

== Personality and Lifestyle==

Though young in age the Guru displayed courage, generosity, ''[[bhakti]]'', and strength. He'd wake up at amritvela and do bath, and sit in meditation, After wearing his clothes, weapons, and ''kalgi'' (crown ornament), with his Sikhs and disisples would arrive at the ''Darshani Deori'' (main gateway) from his house and bow down, and do a short and long ''parakama'' (circle) around Harmandir sahib and then sit on the Akal Bunga and hold congregation there. From [[Satta_Doom|Satta]] and [[Balvand_Rai|Balwand]] he would listen to [[Asa Di Vaar]] and other dharmic ballads and stories, and the give ''Updesh'' (advice) and ''[[Gurmantar]]'' to Sikhs by that time [[Langar]] was prepared and Guru ji would join [[Mata Ganga]] and eat.

In the evening he'd shower again, adorn clothes and weapons and in his hand a hawk and with his warriors they'd go hunting. Where they'd target practice, race horses, etc. When little day time remained he'd return and hold another congregation after doing darshan would do ''Rehras Sahib'', ''Ardas'', ''Chowki'', ''parkama'', and return to his house. When the Guru did not go to hunt he'd hold wrestling matches or do various martial exercises.

== Sikh scriptures ==
Guru Arjan instructed Guru Haregobind to add ''Dhuni'', traditional folk musical tunes, of his pleasing to the [[22 varan]] and to not write an Gurbani (scriptures himself). He added the following 9:

*Malak Mureed Tathaa Chandharaa Soheeaa kee Dhuni (Var [[Maajh]], SGGS 137).
* Raai Kamaaldee Mojdee Kee Dhuni (Var [[Gauri]], SGGS 318).
* Tunde Asraaje Kee Dhuni (Var [[Asa]], SGGS 462).
* Sikandar Biraahim Kee Kee Dhuni (Var [[Gujri]], SGGS 508).
* Lalaan Bahreemaa Kee Dhuni (Var [[Vadhans]], SGGS 585).
* Jodhe Veere Poorvaanee Kee Dhuni (Var [[Ramkali]] SGGS 947).
* Raai Mahame Hasane Kee Dhuni (Var [[Sarang]], SGGS 1237).
* Raanai Kailaas Tathaa Maalde Kee Dhuni (Var [[Malhar]], SGGS 1278).
* Moose Kee Dhuni (Var Kanra, SGGS 1312).

==Battles and skirmishes==
{{Main articles|List of Battles of Guru Hargobind}}
# [[Battle of Sangrana]] (1628)
# [[Battle of Rohilla|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<ref name="Harbans Kaur Sagoo">{{cite book |author=Harbans Kaur Sagoo |url=https://archive.org/details/BandaSinghBahadurAndSikhSovereignty/page/n1/mode/1up?view=theater |title=Banda Singh Bahadur and Sikh Sovereignty |publisher=Deep & Deep Publications |year=2001 |isbn=9788176293006 |location= |page=38}}</ref>

==Popular culture==
The animated Punjabi movie ''Dastaan-E-Miri Piri'' is about Guru Hargobind and his contribution to the Sikh faith and community.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10469048/?ref_=wl_li_tt | title=Dastaan-E-Miri Piri | website=[[IMDb]] }}</ref>

The life story and teachings of Guru Hargobind influenced the 2023 season theme and artwork of the [[Dallas Cowboys]] football team.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Monet |first=Jazz |date=2023-09-07 |title=Carpe omnia: Dallas Cowboys intend to 'seize everything' in 2023 |url=https://insidethestar.com/carpe-omnia-dallas-cowboys-intend-to-seize-everything-in-2023/ |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Inside The Star |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaur |first=Kamaljit |date=2023-09-07 |title=ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ’ਚ ਨੈਸ਼ਨਲ ਫੁੱਟਬਾਲ ਲੀਗ ਦੀ ਟੀਮ Dallas Cowboys ਨੇ ਜਰਸੀ ’ਤੇ ਲਗਾਈ ਜਰਨੈਲ ਹਰੀ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਲੂਆ ਦੀ ਤਸਵੀਰ |trans-title=Dallas Cowboys team of the National Football League in America put the picture of General Hari Singh Nalua on the jersey |url=https://www.rozanaspokesman.in/news/sports/070923/nfl-dallas-cowboys-are-wearing-hoodies-with-emblem-of-famous-sikh-warr.html |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Rozana Spokesman |language=pa}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gehlken |first=Michael |date=2023-09-07 |title=What is Carpe Omnia? Mike McCarthy’s 2023 theme for Cowboys is about seizing everything |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2023/09/06/what-is-carpe-omnia-mike-mccarthys-2023-theme-for-cowboys-is-about-seizing-everything/ |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Guru Arjan with a young Hargobind.jpg|Guru Arjan (seated, middle) with a young Hargobind (left).
File:Guru Hargobind depicted alongside Ani Rai and Atal Rai.jpg|Guru Hargobind depicted alongside Ani Rai and Atal Rai.
File:Contemporary equestrian painting of Guru Hargobind with an orange-coloured backdrop, held in the collection of the Sodhi family of Kartarpur, circa mid-17th century.jpg|Guru Hargobind out riding.
File:Painting of Bhai Rupa Chand and Guru Hargobind seated together, circa mid-17th century.jpg|Bhai Rupa Chand (right) with Guru Hargobind (left).
File:Fresco artwork of Guru Hargobind.jpg|Fresco artwork of Guru Hargobind (seated).
File:Ancient Painting of Guru Hargobind Sahib ji.jpg|Ancient Painting of Guru Hargobind
File:Painting of Guru Hargobind seated against a bolster whilst holding a bird of prey, kept in the Bhai Rupa Chand collection.jpg|Mid-17th century portrait of Guru Hargobind holding a bird of prey
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Mata Kaulan]]
* [[Akal Sena]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Giani Gian Singh (1892), ''Naveen Panth Prakash'', Guru Gobind Singh Press, Sialkot. 
* Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer (2012), ''SIKH HISTORY in 10 volumes'', Sikh University Press.

==External links==
{{Portal|India|Biography|Punjab}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081121001911/http://www.scys-online.org/site/G6.html Guru Hargobind]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| before = [[Guru Arjan]]
| title = [[Sikh gurus|Sikh Guru]]|years=25 May 1606 – 3 March 1644
| after = [[Guru Har Rai]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Sikhism|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hargobind, Guru}}
[[Category:1595 births]]
[[Category:1644 deaths]]
[[Category:17th-century Indian philosophers]]
[[Category:Sikh warriors]]
[[Category:Sikh gurus]]
[[Category:People from Amritsar]]


== Biography ==
=== Creation of Akal Bunga ===
Seeing Chandu insult Guru ji calling him a low lowly aesthetic Guru Haregobind under the instructions of Satguru turned the Sikhs into rulers and warriors wearing turbans symbolizing authority and high class. 

He ordered Sikhs from far and wide to distribute weapons and horses. 

Establishing the Akal Bunga and hiring another Nishan Sahib for ''piri'', politics and rule, to fly under the flag of spiritual rule symbolizing that that the later is more important and all politics and war should be fought dharmically.

=== Friendship with Jehanghir ===
They travelled to Agra together as well as many place and hunted together in which one occasion Satguru single handedly slayed a large lion. He still had conflict with Chandu who convinced Jahenghir to have him do bhakti at the Gwalior prisonment.<ref>Suraj Prakash (1843)</ref>

=== Doing Bandagi at Gwalior fort===
As per [[Chandu]]'s Instructions emperor Jahangir was convinced that a man of high spiritual merits should do bhakti for you to attain good luck and thus imprisoned Sri Guru Haregobind Seab ji.
Sikhs, including Bhai Jaita je in a dream or mystically came to scare Jahangir in a vision that had two lions as well as an image of Guruji to rescue him all in attempts to release Guru ji.<ref>Suraj Prakash Granth part 5 ras 4 pg. 163 Ajit Singh Aulakh 81-7601-685-3. RE 2005</ref> When the badshah told this event to the royal entourage they suggested that he was going crazy and he need help of the finest doctors and so the were bought forth from around the local. In them was Bhai Jaita je and his friend who told the Raja reaccounting in the guise of a medic what happened and further prompted him to go release Guru Sahib. When Bhai Jaita returned the Guru told them that what hey did was wrong and also accounted for little merit as the Guru's grace on the world is like a flowing river where taking a bucket out makes no difference bu since hey followed Mata ji, Guru ji mother, order to help get the Guru Sahib released quickly they should go forth. <ref>Suraj Prakash Granth part 5 ras 4 pg. 172 Ajit Singh Aulakh 81-7601-685-3. RE 2005</ref>

In the jail were also many rajas imprisoned. 
The rajas adored Guru Sahib and since he was a position to allow negotiations or not leave the fort he prompted for their release.

=== Release of Satguru ===
Coming to meet Guru ji he  found a place a very beautiful place where the Sikhs
were gathered there in the fort. The Guru was doing tapi and there was a heavenly atmosphere
all around. The emperor pled to the Guru to leave this place. 
'''"What have you come to plead this heavenly atmosphere should not diminish?"'''
The Badsh said some bad words in perhaps a unsteady tone
but the gist was thanking him for saving him
Badsha told his story and Guru was not surprised. 
The Bhadshah then set forth that all his doubt that the Guru was an enemy where banished 
and instead he was initiated 
as a great Pir. Guru was provided with Bhang mixed with Post and given way to Khadur Sahib saying
no government officials will oppose him.

===War with Jehanghir===

===Death===
Whilst ever pervading Guru ji's pyre was burning one of Guru ji's workers Raja Ram ji jumped into the pyre with his head placed at the Guru's feet until he burned. A similar man also followed suit other wanted to do so as well but Sri Guru Hare Rai stopped them.<ref>Pg. 338, Gurmukh Darshan - Jathedar Kirpal Singh, published by Manmohan Singh Brar, Amritsar (1984)</ref><ref>Pg. 83, Dabestan-e Mazaheb - Dan Mohsin Fani (1646)</ref>