In 2022, Guru Govind Singh Jayanti falls on Sunday, 09 January 2022.
Guru Govind Singh Jayanti is
dedicated to the 10th Sikh Guru Govind Singh’s birthday. He was born on
December 22, 1666, in Patna. The annual celebration of the Guru’s
birthday is based on the Hindu Lunar calendar. This is an important
festival for Sikh Religion. This Special day witnessed a large rally &
special prayer gatherings in Gurudwaras. Special free langar is distributed in
Gurudwaras & people volunteered themselves for the services in memory of
the tenth Guru.
Early Childhood
Guru Govind Singh was the
10th Sikh Guru of Nanak. He was born in Patna, Bihar, India on December 22,
1666. The annual celebration of the Guru's birthday is based on the Nanakshahi calendar. They
initially used to stay in Patna. The place where they stayed is now marked as a
shrine called Takht Sri Patna Harimandar Sahib. His family returned to Punjab
in 1670, and two years later they moved to Chakk Nanaki in the Himalayan
foothills of north India where he had completed his school education. Govind
Singh's father Tegh Bahadur founded the city of Chakk Nanaki, also known as
Anandpur Sahib, in 1665. In 1675, Guru Tegh Bahadur – his father was beheaded
on the orders of Aurangzeb for refusing to convert to Islam.
Contributions of Guru Govind
Singh To The Sikh Community
He became Nanak (Sikh
Guru) at nine years of age; when his father Guru Tegh Bahadur sacrificed his
life to protect the religious freedom of Hindus. He followed in his father’s
footsteps and became one of the greatest spiritual leaders and warriors of
ancient India. He fought fourteen wars against the Mughal Empire with great
objectives like neither out of a wish for revenge nor for greed nor for any
destructive goals. His four sons died during his lifetime in Mughal-Sikh wars;
two in battle, two executed by the Mughal army. It was his dedication to God,
his fearlessness, and his desire to protect the people from being oppressed that
led Guru Govind Singh Ji to establish the “Khalsa” which followed a strict
moral code and spiritual discipline. Apart from spiritual & military
leadership; he was a gifted poet & philosopher. He wrote lots of devotional
and inspirational songs to motivate Sikhs against injustice. He declared the
Guru Granth Sahib as Sikhism’s Holy Scripture to be the permanent Sikh Guru.
Before his death in 1708, he declared the Guru Granth Sahib, which is Sikhism's
Holy Scripture to be the permanent Sikh Guru. Guru Govind Singh had three
wives. At the age of 10, he married Mata Jito. They had three sons: Jujhar
Singh, Zorawar Singh, and Fateh Singh. At the age of 17, he married Mata
Sundari. The couple had one son, Ajit Singh. At the age of 33, he married Mata
Sahib Devan who played an influential role in Sikhism. Guru Govind Singh named
her the Mother of the Khalsa.
Many people follow his believes and consider him as their guide and
teacher. Hence, the birthday of Guru Govind Singh is celebrated with a lot of
pomp and show.
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