Guru Hargobind
Topic: Regional Resistance: Rajputs, Ahoms, Sikhs · NCERT: Class 8, Ch 2 "Reshaping India's Political Map"
Meaning
Guru Hargobind (1595–1644) was the sixth Sikh Guru and the son of Guru Arjan. The Mughal emperor Jahangir had Guru Arjan tortured to death. Guru Hargobind responded by giving Sikhs martial training (training in fighting) and forming the first Sikh army. He followed the idea of miri-piri, meaning that he held both worldly power and spiritual authority. This marked the change of Sikhism from a purely spiritual movement into a community ready to defend itself.
Example
Guru Hargobind built the Akal Takht, a seat of worldly authority, facing the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar. His Sikh army fought several battles against Mughal forces.
Don't confuse with
- Guru Gobind Singh: Guru Hargobind formed the first Sikh army. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, founded the Khalsa in 1699.
Related concepts
- Guru Angad
- Guru Amar Das
- Guru Ram Das
- Masand system
- Guru Arjan
- Harmandir Sahib
- Guru Granth Sahib
- Miri-piri
- Akal Takht