Guru Gobind Singh, carried out the Universality started by Guru Nanak, during Guruship for 33 years (1675-1708). Tenth Guru Gobind Singh’s contributions are far-reaching, very practical in nature and follow the Universality of the Sikh religion. For some odd reason, the doctrines, preached by Guru Gobind Singh are either not well presented or not well understood by the people. Some of the achievements of Guru Gobind Singh are given below:

1. GURU GOBIND SINGH AS ORIGINATOR OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Hundreds of Pundits from Kashmir came to Guru Tej Bahadur, father of Gobind, and told that the king is going to forcefully convert them into Muslim religion and you are our only refuge. Gobind Rai, only about 9 years old told his father Guru Tej Bahadur who could be better person than your self to convince King Aurangzeb to change his wrong policy. Guru Tej Bahadur went to Delhi to discuss with him but instead the King killed him by severing his head in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. Guru Tej Bahadur gave his life to protect the religion, not of his own, but of the Hindus. This is the sacrifice paid by our ninth Guru Tej Bahadur to save the lives of the innocent people. The present day Human Rights was really started during the period of 9th and 10th Gurus, Tej Bahadur and Gobind Singh, respectively.

2. GURU GOBIND SINGH AS CHAMPION OF INDIA’S FREEDOM

Guru Gobind Singh said, if people in power start killing innocent people and all peaceful means fail, then the only way to rectify is the use of force. This was not an easy decision coming from a very religious person. Thousands of years of plunder and killing by the foreign invaders to forcefully convert them to another religion, was the deciding factor, to use force. Some has misunderstood the use of force, and they resort to it for any reason they seem fit. However some background is very essential for the above major decision, to use force.

The persecution of India was going on for thousands of years before Christ and after Christ (as we use Christian era calendar) and there was no end in sight. People in India had become so weak that there was no organized resistant to the foreign invaders. There was no justice at all and killing was a daily occurrence. Most of the invaders were Muslims. They had two-prong approach to convert people into Islam. Sufis were doing by persuasion and the ruling Kings by force. Guru Gobind Singh tried all possible means to stress upon the Muslim rulers to change their ruthless killing of innocent people, which they refused. It was under these circumstances that Guru Gobind Singh used force to bring justice and peace to the people of India.

KHALSA OF GURU GOBIND SINGH

Guru Gobind Singh’s main objective was that India is for the Indians and for this end he decided that force is the only alternative left to end the tyranny. Guru Gobind Singh recognized the need, at that time, for an army of saint-soldiers to effectively fight the forces of evil. Communal hatred was prevalent along with the exploitation of people based on their caste, sex and religion. Guru Gobind Singh organized army to bring justice.

To achieve the objective of freeing India, by force, from all foreign invaders, Guru Gobind Singh created Khalsa. Guru Gobind Singh’s army besides Khalsa, were Sikhs who were not Khalsa, Hindus and Muslims. It clearly shows that Guru Gobind Singh accepted people other than Khalsa into the Universal Religion, thus maintaining its universality. This paved the way for others to join the Universal Religion Sikhism in large numbers.

This very effective force of Guru Gobind Singh repulsed the foreign invaders. If Guru Gobind Singh had not used force it was just a question of time, when most of India would have become Muslim, by force and or by persuasion.

Khalsa was unique being not only a soldier but also a very religious person. Khalsa should have five symbols that start with letter K in Punjabi language and also to recite daily five prescribed hymns.

The five K’s are:

Kachha (undergarment or short pants).

Kara (steel bracelet to remind of the commitment to one God).

Kirpan (sword as a weapon for defense).

Kangha(comb to keep the hair tidy).

Kesh (uncut hair).

Five prescribed religious Hymns for Daily recital are:

1. Japji of first Guru Nanak

2. Jap of tenth Guru Gobind Singh

3. Swayyas are ten verses of tenth Guru Gobind Singh

4. Chaupai collection of verses of tenth Guru Gobind Singh

5. Anand Sahib ten verses of third Guru Amardas

3. GURU GOBIND SINGH AS ORIGINATOR OF RED CROSS

As the fighting progressed, there were causalities on both sides. Bhai Kanaiya used to give water not only to our own people but also to the enemies who were wounded. Several people complained to Guru Gobind Singh about it and Guru asked Bhai Kanaiya to come and see him. Bhai Kanaiya said I give water to all people, as they all look same to me. Guru Gobind Singh was very pleased and told Kanaiya that, in future, in addition to water apply this ointment to all, friend and foe alike. This was the beginning of Red Cross as told by the person who started the Red Cross when he heard this incident.

4. GOBIND SINGH FOR EQUALITY AND SECULARISM

Guru Gobind Singh believed in secularism and equality for all. He had Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs in his fighting forces. He treated them alike. He was against the regime, which was forcefully converting people to Islam.

Universality of the religion was definitely continued by Guru Gobind Singh and he said very clearly as shown below:

Tenth Guru Gobind Singh, said

Temple and Mosque are the same.

Puja (Hindu worship) and Namaz (Muslim prayer) are the same.

All people are one and same.

It is through error that they appear different.

Our eyes are the same. Our ears are the same.

We are of one body and one built.

We are a compound of earth, air, fire and water.

Allah (God of Muslims) and Abhek (God of Hindus) are the same.

Puran (Hindu Holy Book) and Quran (Muslim Holy Book) are the same.

We are all alike. We all are the creations of the same God.

5. GURU GRANTH SAHIB THE GREATEST CONTRIBUTION OF GURU GOBIND SINGH

The greatest contribution of Guru Gobind Singh, for the Universal Religion, was making it mandatory for all people to follow, Guru Granth Sahib, as the Guru for all times to come. This was proclaimed by Guru Gobind Singh before passing away, in 1708 CE and cannot be changed. This was an extraordinary achievement. Guru Granth Sahib is the holy book for the Universal Religion Sikhism. Guru Granth Sahib is composed not only by Sikhs but also by Muslims and Hindus. Thus Guru Gobind Singh carried out Universality in a practical way. In this respect Guru Gobind Singh followed the Universal path laid out by Guru Nanak and the succeeding nine Gurus including himself.

I hope you all enjoyed this. If I have been able to convince you that Sikhism is a Universal Religion what are you going to do to propagate the universality?

Sikhism is a Universal Religion and I believe in it.