Guru Gobind Singh Ji (1666 – 1708)

Guru Gobind Singh Ji was the 10th and the last human Guru of the Sikhs. He was the son of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, the 9th Guru, and became Guru in 1675 at the age of 9. He held the Guruship for 33 years until he passed away in 1708.

He was a scholar of Persian, Sanskrit, Brig Bhasha, and Arabic, as well as a military genius. He fought tyranny and stood for religious freedom. Guru Gobind Singh Ji fought twelve battles, during which his four sons, the Char Sahib Zaday, were martyred:

Baba Ajit Singh (18 years old)
Baba Jujhar Singh (14 years old)
Baba Zorawar Singh (8 years old)
Baba Fateh Singh (6 years old)

Khalsa

On April 13, 1699 (Vaisakhi), Guru Gobind Singh Ji founded the Khalsa Order. He called for five volunteers to offer their lives — each from a different caste:

Dharam Das – Jat (farmer)
Daya Ram – Khatri (soldier)
Mokham Chand – Dhobi (washerman)
Himmat Rai – Jhir (water carrier)
Sahib Chand – Nai (barber)

He initiated them with Khanday Di Pahul (double-edged sword ceremony), reciting the five sacred prayers while stirring water with a Khanda:

Jap Ji Sahib
Jaap Sahib
Tavprasad Sawaiyas
Chopai Sahib
Anand Sahib

Mata Jeeto Ji added sugar to the amrit, symbolizing humility and sweetness with courage. These five became the Panj Pyarey (five beloved ones). Guru Gobind Singh Ji then received amrit from them, renaming himself from Gobind Rai to Gobind Singh. The Panj Pyarey became:

Bhai Daya Singh
Bhai Dharam Singh
Bhai Himmat Singh
Bhai Mohkam Singh
Bhai Sahib Singh

He gave Sikhs the greeting: Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh, meaning “The Khalsa belongs to God; all victory is the victory of God.” Males received the name Singh (lion) and females Kaur (princess).