Priyanshi Pareek
The birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh is January 17, 2024. The timings for this year are –
Saptami Tithi Begins – January 16, 2024 – 11:57 PM
Saptami Tithi Ends – January 17, 2024 – 10:06 PM
Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhism, is honored annually on his birth anniversary. This year marks the celebration of his 357th birth anniversary. According to the Hindu Calendar, Guru Gobind Singh Ji was born on the Saptami Tithi of Shukla Paksha in 1723 Samvat during the month of Pausha.
History
Takht Shri Harimandar Ji Patna Sahib stands at the present site of Guru Gobind Singh’s birth. His family returned to Punjab in 1670, and later, in March 1672, settled in Chak Nanaki amid the Shivalik Hills of the Himalayas, now called Anandpur Sahib. It was in Chak Nanaki that he received his education, delving into military arts, Sanskrit, and Persian, preparing him to become a skilled warrior.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji later established the Khalsa Panth, a community that followed strict spiritual discipline under his guidance. Members courageously fought against the Mughal emperors. Guru Gobind Singh, a brilliant poet and writer, crafted a diverse range of literary works. Prior to his passing in 1708, he declared the Guru Granth Sahib as the permanent Sikh Guru, now revered as a sacred text for Sikhs.
Significance
Guru Gobind Singh Ji was born in Patna, Bihar, on December 22, 1666, according to the outdated Julian calendar. The demise of his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, came at the hands of Aurangzeb. Mata Gujri was Guru Gobind Singh’s mother. Aurangzeb executed Guru Tegh Bahadur in 1675 for resisting conversion to Islam. At the tender age of nine, Gobind Singh was declared the tenth Guru of the Sikhs on Baisakhi in 1676.
Celebration
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is universally observed in Sikh communities, with people from various backgrounds celebrating by visiting Gurudwaras, sharing teachings, exchanging greetings, and participating in Langars. Gurudwaras are adorned with candles and lights, and some locations also share stories about Guru Nanak Vani. It’s a day marked by unity and communal celebration.
The revered khalsa Vani, “Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh” was created by Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Quotes by Guru Gobind Singh Ji
“Recognize all of humanity as one.”
“I do not ask for a life of luxury, but for the strength to face my sorrows.”
“He who has no faith in himself can never have faith in God.”
“God is one, but he has innumerable forms. He is the creator of all and He himself takes the human form.”
“Recognize the whole human race as one.”