The light of God has descended on Earth

In the year 1666 on Diwali day, a great and revered Muslim holy man, a Sayyid, Pir Bhikam Shah, at Thaksa (Haryana, India) was offering Namaz facing west towards Mecca, when he suddenly turned east towards Patna, bowed with great humility and offered Namaz.

He explained to the stunned crowds,  "God's light has descended on earth, I must leave, to go there immediately." Guided by a divine light Pir Bhikam Shah  set off for Patna about 1100 kms (700 miles) away.


Travelling by foot he arrived in Patna after 8 months, at the residence of Guru Tegh Bhadur ji, the 9th Sikh Guru. He requested to see the child that had arrived recently, for he was not an ordinary child but the light of God.

Pir Bikham Shah meeting infant Gobind Rai

Bhikam Shah offered two pots filled with sweets, to Gobind Rai. One purchased from a Muslim and the other purchased from a Hindu  eager to see which faith the child would choose.

The infant Gobind Rai, pushed down simultaneously both pots breaking them causing the sweets to mix. Pir Bhikam Shah interpreted this to mean, that Gobind Rai did not belong to any faith but to the one true God who is the benefactor of all. He payed obeisance to the infant, kissed Gobind Rai's feet and set off for home a delighted Pir.



Gobind Rai was 5 years old when his father the Guru returned back to Patna to meet his son for the first time, in the meanwhile, Gobind Rai ji had grown and flowered. He was already fluent in Panjabi, Sanskrit, Farsi, Bhojpuri and Hindi. He was an expert horseman, archer and could wield a sword with great skill and balance. He already demonstrated remarkable intelligence, compassion, wisdom and leadership qualities far greater than even great men. 

Soon after the Guru's return, he accepted the request of Gobind Rai, to be permitted to  attend the discourses and meetings which his father held daily at the congregation hall to guide people on spiritual and worldly matters. 

In May 1675 when he was just 9, Gobind Rai was present when a delegation of Kashmiri Hindus led by Pandit Kirpa Ram ji called upon Guru Tegh Bhadur ji. 

They implored the Guru to help and save them, for they were terrified by the rampant abduction and rape of their sisters and daughters, the high taxes, looting, killing and destruction of all they held precious, and the looming end of Hinduism. They saw no merit in Islam and were not willing to embrace it, but they did not want to die either.

Guru Tegh Bhadur ji decided to confront Aurangzeb to stop the atrocities. He challenged Aurangzeb to convert him failing which Aurangzeb would leave the Kashmiri's in peace. It was a case of noble divinity, challenging satanic cruelty.

After Aurangzeb agreed,  Guru Tegh Bahadur ji knew he would be going towards certain physical death, but the soul never dies. Anointing his young son The light of God, Gobind Rai as the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bhadur ji left for Delhi accompanied by 500 Sikh disciples on 11 July 1675.  

497 of the Guru's companions grew terrified and retracted their claims as being Sikhs. Three great souls proudly claimed they were Sikhs of the Guru's. For their refusal to yield to Aurangzeb and Islam they were horribly tortured, and finally martyred. 

Guru Tegh Bhadur ji had promised to save the Hindus and to vanquish evil and injustice.   He refused to yield to both inducements and tyrannical pressure. He remained as a true Guru does, fearless and dignified.
When all attempts physical and emotional, to convert the Guru failed,  at the place called Chandni Chowk (Delhi) the great Guru Tegh Bhadur ji was publicly beheaded on 24 Nov 1675. on instructions of Aurangzeb.

Guru Gobind Rai ji knew, that his father would not return, but when he came to know of all that had transpired, the greatness of Guru Tegh Bhadur ji, the 3 noble Sikhs, and the cowardly behaviour of the 497 so called Sikhs he thundered, 

"I will create a race of people, so courageous, that they will fear nothing and even face death with joy.
I will fill them with such nobility and valour, that they will always fight for righteousness and destroy evil everywhere. They will always protect the weak, the oppressed, the hungry. 
I will give them an identity, so unique, that they will never again be able to hide themselves".

Shri. Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

He meditated for many years on how to build a new and noble humanity. Then in 1699 at the age of 33, hundreds of thousands of Sikhs gathered at Anandpur Sahib on Baisakhi (New year day, 14 April) as per the wishes of the Guru.

There he first baptised 5 volunteers who offered to without question do as the Guru commanded including give up their life. Then he baptised tens of thousands that day, who made the same pledge. 


The Guru called them the 'Khalsa' the pure ones. He infused in them by divine grace, the strength and courage of Lions, that is why each of the Khalsa Sikh is called a 'Singh'. The Gurus also stressed on equality and respect for women and therefore, each Sikh female is given the title of 'Kaur', meaning princess.

Guru Gobind Rai ji baptising the 'Panj Pyare', (The beloved 5)

The Guru then requested the 'Panj Pyare' (the beloved 5) to then baptise Him. They baptised the Guru and gave him the name 'Guru Gobind Singh ji'. 

With this the Guru himself became the disciple of the 'path of the Khalsa'. To bind himself and all future Sikhs by the same traditions and values that he had ordained. A true democracy for a noble, humanity.

This is why the proud Sikhs have a distinctive look of long unshorn hair, do not shave, and carry a Kirpan (sword or dagger) at all times. The Sikhs are unimaginably courageous and loyal unto death, friends of humanity, and destroyers of injustice and evil.

Blessed by the Gurus and baptised into the Khalsa, the Sikhs have never looked back. They have excelled in every field, be it military, agriculture, academics, engineering, medicine etc. The Sikhs have served India and humanity with joy, nobility, courage, love and sacrifice. If India is today a free and prosperous land, its in no small measure due to the contribution of the magnificent Sikhs.

Next time you meet a real Sikh, take a good hard look, befriend and embrace the Sikh, for there can never be a greater and nobler people than the Sikhs and the Khalsa. The inheritors and custodians of a great and noble heritage.

What did Mahatma Gandhi really mean by Non Violence?

To commit an injustice is a sin, 

         but to tolerate injustice is also a sin.

                - Guru Gobind Singh ji

Ahimsa or non violence does not mean 'to do nothing'. It means not to not actively cause harm to others and to creation.

What Mahatma Gandhi ji advised the First Soldier of India?

In early 1947, India was rushing towards its date with freedom from British rule. However there loomed on the horizon a very dangerous storm of the threat of partition of India because of the differences between the two main egoistic leaders Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohamad Ali Jinnah.

Wiser counsel tried their best to prevent the partition. Amongst the sane, was the first soldier of India, Major General Cariappa, who suggested that Nehru and Jinnah  should sit down together and find an amicable solution to avoid partition.

Surprisingly, this suggestion was immediately condemned by Mahatma Gandhi in 'The Harijan', who frowned upon upon the expression of political views by a military man.

Gen Cariappa went to meet Gandhi ji. 

After some polite conversation the General came to the point. "Gandhi ji, I cannot do my duty well by my country If I concentrate only on telling my troops of non-violence all the time, subordinating their main task of preparing themselves efficiently to be good soldiers. So I ask you, please, to give me the child's guide to knowledge. Tell me please, how I can put this over, that is, the spirit of non-violence to the troops without endangering their sense of duty to protect themselves and the nation."

Gandhi ji, replied, "I myself am groping in the dark for the answer.  I will find it  someday and give you the answer."

The apostle of non-violence had no answer to give the first soldier of India. Gandhi ji, concluded that everyone must do their duty and to serve and to protect your country is the solemn duty of everyone, but more so that of the soldier.

Gandhi ji, was the first person to bless Brig. LP Sen before he left for Srinagar in Kashmir on his mission to repel the invading Pakistani forces.  

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Unfortunately India for long has been led mostly by small minded self serving leaders. Many leaders civilian and military lacking in spine and intelligence have conveniently twisted the words of Gurus, Mahatmas, and former military leaders to do precious little to protect the interests of India and her people.

If we have bad leaders, it is because we have voted them to be there. 

Let us imbibe the true spirit of liberty with dignity and prosperity. To become a great and responsible nation, who none other should fear unless they wish to deliberately cause India harm.

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The quotes of Mahatma Gandhi and Gen. Cariappa were taken from the book '**Mahatma Gandhi: The last phase**' written by Pyarelal Nayyar

Pyarelal Nayyar (1899–1982) was a ver active freedom fighter and the personal secretary of Mahatma Gandhi in his later years.