Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti 2013

(CHAKRA) Guru Gobind Singh Ji Jayanti is a special day in Sikhism and is celebrated by Sikhs around the globe. Guru Gobind Singh Ji jayanti falls on January 5th, 2013. Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is the birthday of Sikhism’s 10th and last guru and this day witnesses’ large processions and special prayer gatherings at all Gurudwaras which are Sikh temples.

Gobind Singh was born in Patna, Bihar in India, he was also a warrior, poet and philosopher. He succeeded his father Guru Tegh Bahadur as the leader of Sikhs at a young age of nine. He contributed much to Sikhism; most notable was his formalisation of the faith which the first Sikh guru Nanak Dev had founded almost three centuries ago. He transformed Sikhs into Khalsa (pure) in 1699.

In addition to his spiritual and military leadership, Guru Gobind Singh was a gifted intellectual and had many poets in his court. He was inspired to write many powerful spiritual compositions that infused a martial spirit in the people. This included the Jaap Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh’s writings have been collected in the Dasam Granth. When he passed away he instructed his Sikhs to regard the Guru Granth Sahib as their teacher.

The Chakra team wishes all Sikhs and followers of Guruji a happy and blessed Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti!

Guru Nanak Jayanti

Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti or Gurpurab is also referred as Guru Nanak DevJi’s Prakash Utsav, marks the birth anniversary of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak. This is one of the most sacred festivals for followers of the Sikh faith. Nanakpanthi Hindus and many North Indian Hindus also celebrate this Sikh festival.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the 1st Guru and the founder of Sikhism. He was born in in Nankana Saheb during 1469 in present day Pakistan before India and Pakistan were separated. The birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji falls on Kartik Poornima (full moon day) in the month of Kartik. In the Gregorian Calendar, the birthday of Guru Nanak usually falls in the month of November and in 2012 it is on November 28th.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji Jayanti is marked by prabhat pheris, known as early morning processions that begins from the Gurdwaras (Sikh temples) and then moves to different localities singing hymns or shabads. The celebration lasts for 3 days in heavy celebrated areas. In the evening, the Gurdwaras are filled with lights and many Sikhs attend. People also light their homes with candles and lamps.

The Chakra team wishes all Sikhs a Happy Guru Nanak Jayanti and Gurpurab.

Guru Ram DasJi

Guru Ram Das Ji was the 4th of the 10 Sikhism Gurus and became Guru in September 1574 following in the footsteps of Guru Amar Dasji. Guru Ram Das was born on October 9 1534 in Chuna Mandi, Lahore, Punjab. The Guru’s original name was Bhai Jetha. Before Guru Ji died, he nominated his youngest son as the next Guru of the Sikhs – Guru Arjan Dev.

The Guru contributed a total of 688 Shabads/hymns to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Some other contributions of Guru Ram Dasji included being the author of Laava (the hymns of the Marriage Rites), designing the Golden Temple, planned & created the township of Ramdaspur (Amritsar) and creating the organization structure of Sikh society.

The Chakra Team wishes all Sikhs and followers of Guru Ram Das best wishes on the Birthday of Guru Ram Das Ji.

Here is a video and spiritual song based on Guru Ram Das:

Guru Arjan Devji Sahib sitting on a burning plate as torture by the Moghuls

Every June 16th (according to the Nanakshahi calendar) since 1606 has been very auspicious for followers of Sikhism worldwide since they have commemorated the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Devji, the 5th Guru and the 1st Sikh Martyr. Before the arrest, torture and Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Devji, the Sikhs had nothing to do with weapons or violence, as all the Sikh Gurus had taught the message of compassion, love, dedication, hard work, worship of one God and the commitment to peace and harmony for all the peoples of the world. During the Guruship of Guru Arjan Devji thousands of the native people had began to follow the teachings of Sikhism.

The Islamic Mughal clergy, who had long chaffed at the tolerance of Akbar, grew ever more angry of the popularity and the growing following of the Sikh Gurus, but after the death of Akbar in 1605, in his son Jahangir they saw their best chance to destroy the Sikh institution. Jahangir, unlike his father was a Muslim funamentalist who soon was influenced with the idea of turning the whole of India into an Islamic State. Over time Jahangir become determined in arresting Guru Arjan Devji, hoping to demoralize the Sikh population.

Many baseless allegations were soon levelled against Guru Arjan Devji and Sikh community and is claimed that the rebellious Khusrau, Jahangir’s son who Akbar and many nobles of his Darbar (court) saw as a more fitting Emperor, worthy of ruling India, had been aided by Guru Arjan Devji. But in the war of succession Jahangir had won and Khusrau had managed to hold onto Punjab alone.

In late May 1606, Guru Arjan Devji was arrested and brought to Lahore (which is now in the nation of Pakistan) where he was subjected to severe torture by Muslim Moghuls . Guru Arjan Devji was made to sit on a burning plate after which high temperature  sand was poured over his head and body. Guru Ji’s body was blistered and burnt, as he was subjected to extreme torture. After several days, Guru Arjan Dev Sahib was allowed to take a cooling bath in the nearby river, Ravi.

It is said that thousands watched the Guru enter the river never to be seen again. Thus Guru Sahib embraced martyrdom on Jeth Sudi 4th (1st Harh) Samvat 1663, (May 16, 1606).