Sikhs can never forget the many personal sacrifices of Guru Gobind Singh. These began perhaps at birth when his father Guru Teg Bahadur could not be present while making a diplomatic tour of four years duration.
Prince Gobind Rai became guru at the age of nine with the beheading of his father by the Mogul Emperor, when Guru Teg Bahadur sacrificed himself to prevent forced conversion of Hindus to Islam.
Guru Gobind Singh's eldest two sons achieved martyrdom in battle with Mogul tyrants at the ages of 14 and 18.
Shortly afterward, the Moguls captured and imprisoned the Guru's mother and youngest two sons in an open tower. The young princes achieved martyrdom at ages 9 and 7 when their captors had them bricked alive. Upon their demise the captors beheaded the children and delivered their heads to Mata Gujri, their grandmother, who suffered heart failure at the sight.
Illustration of Guru Gobind Singh From the "Royal Falcon" by Jessi Kaur
Photo © [Courtesy IIGS Inc.]
Guru Gobind Singh and Grief
When is Guru Gobind Singh's Birth Observed in 2012?
Well this comment is not limited to this post but to all those that I was able to read in about 60 minutes. Thanks to you for doing such a service to the community. I’m also trying to do so, would love if you guide me a little bit..and at last thanks to you again
Thank you, Navjeet Singh
It’s nice to be appreciated. I think we can’t do enough to support our fellow Sikhs and educate the world about who we are.
Wow! That is quite a history. It truly is amazing what suffering people endure.
Satnam WaheGuru Ji
I read, with much interest, your post about Christmas and Christmas trees and the tragedy the Sikh’s suffered at this time of year. Our Christmas holiday has certainly become very secular with much of the focus on gifts and not on what I consider the main focus of the holiday, the birth of Christ ( the Christian persepective ). Of course, other religions have their own feasts at this time of year and it would be nice if our schools taught about them as well. In CA, we certainly have multiple cultures and ethnicities and, one way for children to learn respect for all, is to learn about these and to share in each others celebrations.
very well commented Carmen,thank you.
I think our gurus make sacrifices for us and we also need to follow their rules that they made for us be proud of our culture don’t do bad things that don’t belong to our culture sat sri akal.