Guru Gobind Singh: Sachcha Patshah

Sachcha Patshah, was a firm believer in one Supreme Being. He asserts the unity of all creation. The Guru, addressing the Supreme Being, says, “Thou appearest in all forms and beholdest everything. Thou art like an ocean rippling with countless waves unbroken and mysterious. Thou art quintessence of all things yet unformed of the elements. Thou makest all things flourish, and then scatterest away; to Thee I bow again and again. Thou art almighty creator, whose hand is in all concerns of the world. To Thee I bow again and again. Thou art multifarious and yet One (anek hain phir ek hain).” In all his writings, Guru Gobind Singh emphasises on inclusiveness and universalism.

Guru Gobind Singh strongly condemned the practices of rituals, superstitions, use of horoscopes and ceremonies. Instead he preached a life devoted to the Supreme Being, based on love, devotion, right conduct, sacrifice, bravery and kindness. The Khalsa are enjoined to help the helpless and fight the evil. Guru Gobind Singh, in order to re-establish dharma and to save the downtrodden, defends the use of the “sword”. When all other means have failed, it is righteous to draw the sword, says the Guru. The Khalsa is “Akal ki Fauj”, God’s own army, created to fulfil the divine mission of the Gurus — dharam chalavan, sant ubaran, dusht sabhan ko mul uparan — to uphold dharma, protect the saintly and uproot the wicked. Guru Gobind Singh’s life, philosophy, Khande-dipahul ceremony, “Degh Tegh-Fateh” was like a breath of fresh air for the disheartened people. Kulbir Kaur teaches sociology at Shyama Prasad Mukherji College, Delhi University