Guru Gobind Singh(December 22, 1666 – 7 October 1708) was the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs. Guru Gobind Singh was born as Gobind Das (but usually known as Gobind Rai) in Patna to the ninth Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur and his wife Mata Gujri. He was born while Guru Tegh Bahadur was touring Assam to spread his teachings. According to a legend, the birth of Gobind Rai was prophesized by Pir Bhikan Shah, a fakir from Thaksa village (now in Karnal District of Haryana).
One day, Bhikan Shah bowed towards the east during his prayers, contrary to the standard Islamic practice of bowing in the direction of Qibla. When the villagers questioned his strange act, he stated that a special child, the savior chosen by the God, would be born in Patna, which lay to the East. He placed two bowls of sweets before the newborn; one bowl was purchased from a Hindu's shop, and the second from a Muslim's shop, thus signifying the two major contemporary religions in India.
He had many admirers, including a learned Brahmin called Pandit Shiv Dutt (or Shiv Das). Once, Raja Fateh Chand of Patna and his Rani, a childless couple, visited Shiv Dutt, and asked him to bless them with a child. Shiv Dutt suggested that if an innocent child like Gobind Rai prayed to God, their desire would be fulfilled. The couple then asked young Gobind Rai to visit their palace, where the Rani asked Gobind Rai to pray to God to bless her with a son like him.
Gobind Rai smiled and said that there can be nobody like him, so the Rani should call him her son. From that day, the Rani started calling him Bala Pritam ("child god"), a name that is used even today to refer to the Guru. The royal couple allowed Gobind Rai and his friends to freely play in their palace, and also built a big dining hall for the children. |
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