WHY A TRUE GURU IS REQUIRED,,,,must read this plzz

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WHY A TRUE GURU IS REQUIRED

I . A human since his birth till his death needs company. Mother, father, brothers, sisters, relatives, sons, daughters, grand children are the best example of this. All these relatives, when their own interests vary from each other, prove to be selfish at one stage or the other. In the words of 9th Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur "In this world, I have not found any true friend. The whole world is attached to its own pleasures, and when trouble comes, no one is with you." (Sri Guru Granth Sahib - page 633)




II. The cause of all sufferings is the man's ego, lust, and greed. When greed is not fulfilled desire rises, when desire is not fulfilled anger develops. Ego is the main cause of all sufferings. Man can be happy, if he gives up his ego. But then how and whom to give up him self - his own ego. He must be a really true friend, a well wisher, believable, protector, powerful and great. So is the need of the True Guru.
 
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WHO CAN BE A TRUE GURU?




A person, in whom resides the "Word of God" - the eternal knowledge of God; who is one with God; who knows what is the Will of God; who is not affected of sorrow, happiness, praise, insult, fear, threat; who loves all equally irrespective of friends, foes, relatives, young, old, rich, poor etc, is a true Guru. It is not his body in flesh and bones that is Guru, instead, it is the knowledge of God. "Word of God" which resides in him is the Guru. For Sikhs "Word of God" resided in the ten human Gurus. After the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, in his own words, the 'Word of God' resides in Gurbani, The holy scriptures called " Guru Granth Sahib." And now for Sikhs all over the world, the present and everlasting Guru is "Guru Granth Sahib" (The Holy Book). By the Grace of the Guru, man lives a purposeful life and attains the values and virtues as that of God, and then amalgamates with the Supreme.
 
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Status of a true sikh




(In the words of Saint Ravidaas in Sri Guru Granth Sahib -Page 345)

Baygumpura, 'the city without sorrow', is the name of the town.
There is no suffering or anxiety there.
There are no troubles or taxes on commodities there.
There is no fear, blemish or downfall there.
Now, I have found this most excellent city.
There is lasting peace and safety there, O Siblings of Destiny.
Pause
God's Kingdom is steady, stable and eternal.
There is no second or third status; all are equal there.
That city is populous and eternally famous.
Those who live there are wealthy and contented.
They stroll about freely, just as they please.
They know the Mansion of the Lord's Presence, and no one blocks their way.
Says Ravi Daas, the emancipated shoe-maker:
whoever is a citizen there, is a friend of mine
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Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Guru Arjan Dev Ji , the Vth Guru of the Sikhs composed Guru Granth Sahib in the year 1603-4 AD and Bhai Gurdaas, a learned devoted sikh penned it down.

People wonder - a holy book of the Sikhs, and it does not mention about the Sikh Gurus. Yes - It is not a history book of the Sikh Gurus. Though the Sikhs treat their Gurus as immortals but the Gurus treated themselves as mortals and the Guru Granth Sahib does not talk about mortals. The Gurus did not praise themselves. They called themselves as humble servants of God and worked in the service of mankind. It were only the successive Gurus who praised and appreciated the works of the predecessor Gurus. It were the Bhutts (singers) in the time of Guru Arjan Dev who praised the Gurus. While writing about the Guru's greatness, one "Bhatt" (singer) by name "Mathura" wrote in the praise of Guru Arjan Dev : "Whoever meditates on Guru Arjun Dev, shall not have to pass through the painful womb of reincarnation ever again.
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib -page 1409).


It was a praise for a living Guru, perhaps it is for this reason that the Guru gave up his mortal life in sacrifice to become Immortal.

1. Guru Granth Sahib praises only God. It praises the true holy actions and virtues of different personalities as manifestations of God, irrespective of to what religion they belonged. It explains to mankind that Truth is Eternal and from whichever source it comes, it is acceptable. It is on this principle that along with the words of Sikh Gurus, Guru Arjan selectively accepted, according to the Sikh doctrine, bani (writings) of 19 other blessed saints from Hindus and Muslims and the Bhatts who were singing in the praises of God in Guru Darbaar(court) at the times of Guru Arjan Dev. The Guru Granth Sahib is composed of 5867 hymns (Shabads) in 31 musical notes (Ragaas).

2. Guru Granth Sahib is a living Treasure. It tells us about :
1. How to be True?
2. How to attain God?
3. How to pray?
4. How to get rid of all the sufferings and live?
5. How to realize God?
6. How to see God in the whole universe?
7. How to serve all creatures in the universe?
8. How to love all?
9. How to be simple, real and un-hypocrite?
10. How to get rid of the superstitious, meaningless customs which wasted man's energy, money, time and still kept the man always worried and depressed ?

This is not the least. It teaches many virtues of life. It teaches that 'truthful living is higher than truth." It is an ocean. One can only feel and realize while going through this holy book. It is a religious book of the whole world. Science cannot contradict it and science learns from it.

In the words of famous writer and Noble Laureate Miss Purl Buck: "I have studied religious books of almost all the religions of the world. The comfort, peace and solace available here is not available anywhere else. It gives the way for better living to all, believers or non-believers."
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SHORT HISTORICAL ASPECTS AND THE SIKH RELIGION - GURU NANAK DEV JI, GURU ANGAD DEV JI, GURU AMARDAS SAHIB JI, GURU RAMDAS SAHIB JI




Hindu society was divided in four groups. They were given the name as castes viz: Brahmin, Kashatri, Vaish and Shudra. People in general and especially the high castes in particular became very rigid and started hating and mistreating the low castes, with the result that they were terribly divided and lost co-operation among each other. The low castes had no right even to pray, worship, to go to temples, sit near a high caste, bathe or drink water from a common well or pond or a sacred river. In fact the low castes were given inhuman punishments for offending such rules. Like cutting off tongue if he prays to gods or putting melted lead in the ears if he listens prayers to gods.

Seeing such a weak society in India, Muslims from Arab and other Asian countries started plundering it. In eighth century AD Muhamad-bin-kasam from Arab, attacked India with very few soldiers and plundered whole of the country and opened way for other Muslim rulers to attack and loot India. In the beginning of 11th century, Mehmood Ghaznavi attacked India 17 times to loot wealth, honor and respect of unlimited young boys and girls and sold them in Ghazni and Kabul as slaves. From 1206 AD to 1526 AD Sultans and Pathans ruled India.

In the times of Guru Nanak, Mugals ruled India. The first Mugal King, Babur had direct confrontation with Guru Nanak. Descriptive heart rendering details of the attack of Babur in Emnabad in India (now in Pakistan), in which Guru Nanak himself was arrested, is given by Guru Nanak and is existing in Guru Granth Sahib at page 417-418, is worth reading.

Guru Nanak came in this world in India (now Pakistan) in the year 1469 AD. He preached for brotherhood of all humans. He believed in One God and asked to pray only to Him. He told Muslims to be good Muslims and Hindus to be good Hindus. He said that root cause of all the sufferings is - forgetting God, living in ego, lust, anger, greed and attachment to self.


Good parents cannot see their children suffering. Likewise Guru Nanak loved all the people of the world. He could not sit comfortably at home when the people of the world were suffering. He traveled whole of Asia for more than 20 years to get rid of the sufferings of the people of the world. The Sikhs have one after the other 10 Gurus (Masters) to give a complete Sikh doctrine for a better and purposeful living and peace to soul ever after.

Guru Nanak was bold enough to criticize the rulers. He said "The kings are tigers and administrators wolfs and dogs." Guru Nanak criticized even the people, who had lost their respect, language, religion and started pleasing the rulers. Out of their houses, they were Muslims and when inside the home, they were Hindus. The Muslim rulers, who followed the policy of live and let live, were friendly towards Sikh Gurus. But some rulers never liked that a society of fearless humans should come up, obviously such a society will not allow the ruler to be greedy, selfish and cruel.

Sikhism is based on virtues such as believe in God, believe in His Existence at all the places in all the lives, believe in the Guru, believe in the Guru's words, teachings, orders and giving up oneself to the Guru. It believed that "ONE WHO FAILS TO SEE GOD 'EVERYWHERE' CAN NEVER SEE HIM 'ANYWHERE'".

Bhai Lehna had utmost faith in Guru Nanak, not even the two sons of Guru Nanak could understand their father Guru. Guru Nanak gave up himself to Bhai Lehna and established him the 2 nd Guru of his followers in the year 1539 AD, naming him Guru Angad (part of his own body).


Guru Angad Dev continued the teachings of Guru Nanak in the same vigor. Guru Angad Dev married his daughter Bibi Amro to the son of the younger brother of Sri Amardaas. On one occasion Sri Amardaas happened to listen the sweet words (Gurbaani) of Guru Nanak, when Bibi Amro was reciting it. He was so impressed by listening Gurbani that he requested Bibi Amro to take him to her father Guru. At the age of 60 years, Sri Amardaas became sikh of Guru Angad. Sri Amardaas served the Guru and the Sangat (congregation) with full devotion for 12 years, and Guru Angad Dev was so impressed with his devotion and qualities that he bowed himself to Amardaas and established him as 3rd Guru of the Sikhs in the year 1552 AD.

Guru Amardaas ji, A Guru at the age of 73 years, made first Pangat (sitting in line for taking food in the common kitchen called 'Langar') and then Sangat (taking part in the prayers by sitting in the congregation) compulsory for all whoever came to the Guru Darbaar (court). It was so strictly followed that even the Emperor Akbar of India, when desired to see Guru Amardaas, sat in line (Pangat) with the poor and took food in the common kitchen (Langar). He had all praises for the Guru. The Guru did this to remove differences between the high and low castes telling that all humans are children of God.


In India, widows - young or old, were asked to sit on the pyres of their dead husbands to die along with them. The Guru opposed this vigorously, stopped this custom of 'Sati' and propagated for the remarriage of young widows. A woman is considered to have the same soul as that of man and she has an equal right to grow even spiritually and to attend religious congregations and recite divine hymns (Gurbani) in the Sikh places of worships. She is advised not to put on veil (Pardah). Dowry is not permitted. Divorce is discouraged. Wearing of clothes, which expose the body and breed lustful thoughts are considered dishonorable.

Guru Amardaas ji married his daughter Bibi Bhani to a poor orphan Bhai Jetha, who had lost his parents when young and was living with his poor grand mother in the service of the Guru. Even after his marriage Bhai Jetha ( Ramdas) served the Guru and congregation) with full vigor and devotion. He accepted all orders of the Guru with full faith and sincerity in spite of the objections of the haughty relatives of the son-in law Ramdas. Seeing Ramdas the most suitable successor, Guru Amardas at the old age of 95, bowed himself to Ramdas and announced him as the 4 th Guru of the Sikhs as Guru Ramdas in the year 1574 AD.


Guru Ramdas spread the message of the previous gurus. He founded the famous city of Amritsar in the year 1574 and initiated work for Golden Temple. He led and served the Sikh masses for 7 years, he gave Guruship to the youngest of his three sons, Arjan as 5 th Guru of the Sikhs in the year 1581 and departed from this world.
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Guru Arjan Dev ji

Guru Arjan dev had tremendous work for the mankind. The most kind hearted, full of love for all, had to face even the enmity of his elder brother Prithi Chand and other relatives. Attempts were made even to misguide the Sikh Sangat to break away from the Guru. Simplicity and kindness of Guru Arjan and sincerity and devotion of the wise leading Sikhs and the Sikhs in general proved the futility of the enmity of Prithi Chand against the Guru.


Guru Arjan Dev Ji established the most famous place of worship called 'Hari Mandir Sahib' - House of God - also called 'Golden Temple' and 'Darbar Sahib' in Amritsar in the year 1588 AD. There can be no better example of love and co existence between all the persons of all the religions than what Guru Arjan Dev did. A Muslim saint and friend of the Guru 'Sanyen Mian Meer' laid the foundation stone of Golden Temple in the year 1588 AD. THERE IS NOT A SINGLE EXAMPLE IN THE WORLD THAT THE MOST SACRED PLACE OF A RELIGION IS FOUNDED BY A SAINT OF OTHER RELIGION.

In 1590 AD the Guru started work for constructing a holy tank 'Sarovar' and Gurdwara at Taran Taaran Sahib. In the year 1604 AD, he composed the holy book, later on called 'Guru Granth Sahib' and installed the same in Golden Temple in his own place and he sat by its side. Thus in his own life, he treated the Word of Gurus and numbers of Muslim and Hindu saints higher than himself.

At the time of Emperor Jahangir, some of the so called high caste Hindus and a few narrow minded fanatic Muslims complained to Jahangir about the increasing influence of Guru Arjan Dev and his followers. As Jahangir himself was of the same narrow and fanatic nature, he ordered for the arrest of the Guru. Looking into the conditions and circumstances and foreseeing his time of departure from the world, he selected his only son as the next capable personality to carry on the message of Guru Nanak, bowed himself to Har Gobind and declared him the 6 th Guru of the Sikhs in the year 1606 AD, advised him to take to weapons as it was becoming the need of the time, and offered himself for arrest.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji was asked to:

1. Accept Muslim religion.
2. Add praise to Hazrat Muhammad Sahib in the Holy Book (Guru Granth Sahib)
3. Pay a fine of Rupees 2 lacs for helping the rebellious emperor Khusro.
4. Accept death.

The Guru replied that:
1. Choice of religion is a right of an individual.
2. Praise of an individual, whosoever big he may be, cannot be added in Guru Granth Sahib.
3. The house of Guru is open for all. It gives food and shelter to the needy, irrespective of their omissions and commissions. There is no question of paying fine as no crime is made and the money is the offerings of the poor people and not the personal assets of the Guru.
4. Death is acceptable.

The Guru was boiled in hot water, asked to sit on a red hot iron plate with fire underneath and sprinkling hot sand over his body and thus he gave away his life in the waters of river Raavi (now in Pakistan) in the year 1606 AD. Thus he was really the immortal.
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GURU HARGOBIND SAHIB JI, GURU HAR RAI SAHIB JI, GURU HARKRISHAN SAHIB JI

After the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev at the hands of Jahangir, the 6th Guru, Guru Har Gobind took to arms and preached that religion cannot be saved without strength. He advised his followers that hence onwards their offerings should be in the form of weapons, horses and other war materials and for an honorable living they should be ready to offer their lives. Just after 15 days of departing of Sri Guru Arjan Dev, he founded the Throne of God called "Akaal Takhat'. Adored himself like a king. A big Drum called 'Nagara' was placed at Akaal Takhat and was used daily in the morning and evening.



The Guru was called Sachaa Paatshah (the True King). And he ruled over the hearts of his followers. He was respected even by Muslim Saint Sanyen Mian Meer. He even had Muslims and Pathans in his army. It was the most amazing, wonderful and powerful change in the religious way of life of the Sikhs. It was a miracle, a society that was spoiled by its own castes and customs, and was slave for centuries to the Muslim chieftains was ready to fight against oppression.

In fact, moral values for a respectable way of living were taught by Guru Nanak and the other successive Gurus, but since the 6th Guru onwards, for self protection and for protecting the poor, practical training for wars was given to the Sikhs. The Sikhs out of sheer love to the Guru, without any greed of worldly things, were ready to offer their lives to the Guru. The Guru fought four wars with the chieftains of the Mugal rulers and won in all. The Sikhs were also called Saint-soldiers (Sant-Sipaahee).

A time of trigger-happiness, sometimes friendly, sometimes bitter was going on in between the Sikh Gurus and the Mugal Rulers. Guru Har Gobind Sahib was imprisoned by Jahangir in the famous fort of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh for about three years. Somehow good sense prevailed by the efforts of Saint Mian Meer and others and he was set free along with other 52 small kings of hill states. Since then the Guru was called the 'Liberator' (Bandi Chhor). Guru Har Gobind gave Guruship to his grand-son Har Rai in the year 1644 AD and took to his heavenly abode.



Guru Har Rai the 7 th Guru led the Sikh movement for further 17 years. He always kept an army of 2200 soldiers with him and continued the social, spiritual as well as martial teachings. In 1661 AD seeing his time coming to a close, he gave Guruship to his son Hari Krishan, just 5-1/2 years of age and advised the child guru never to let Aurangzeb see him under any pretext. Perhaps he was sure of the ill intentions of King Aurangzeb. Thus Guru Hari Krishan became the 8th Guru of the Sikhs in 1661AD.



The child Guru was very calm and composed and led the Sikh masses for about 3 years. Perhaps it is out of the preview of the human mind to under stand, how the capability was judged and responsibility was given to him. At the request of the Sikh Sangat, Guru Hari Krishan ji went to Delhi and stayed at the residence (Bangla) of Rajput Mirza Raja Jai Singh, now a famous Gurdwara called Bangla Sahib. On the way while going to Delhi, an egoistic Brahmin in Haryana questioned the greatness and authenticity of the guru and asked him for translating some teachings of the holy Gita said to be taught by Lord Krishna long time back. The Guru having a small stick in his hand in his usual attire, kept the stick on the head of a poor, illiterate man told the man to translate Gita and satisfy the pandit (brahmin).

It so happened that the most dreaded disease small pox spread throughout Delhi. The Guru ordered the Sikh Sangat to spread over and help the patients all over Delhi. During this period, the Guru himself got affected of the disease. He advised that his time is nearing and he be shifted to the bank of the river Yamuna, now called Gurdwara Bala Sahib. When the Sikh Sangat asked that to whom he is leaving the Sikh Sangat to follow, the Guru uttered only two words 'Baba Bakaale'. At the tender age of about 8 years, the Guru left for his heavenly abode in the year 1664 AD
 
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Sri Guru Teg Bahadur ji

Literally 'Baba' means grand father. In relation Teg Bahadur was the younger brother of his grand father. Thus he was, in fact, grand father and was at Bakaale. 'Bakala' is a village in the district Amritsar. So Guru Teg Bahadur was declared the 9 th Guru of the Sikhs by the eminent Sikhs in the year 1665 AD.
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Guru Teg Bahadur was son of the 6 th Guru, Guru Hari Gobind. His earlier name was Tiyag Mal. He took very active part in the fights against rulers along with his father Guru. Seeing his bravery, his father Guru named him 'the Brave of the Sword' - Teg Bahadur. On the advice of his Guru father, he went in seclude in Prayers to God for about 25 years in village Bakaala till the year 1665AD, when offered Guruship.

After taking responsibility of the Guruship, Guru Teg Bahadur preached the gospels of Sikhism. He traveled up to Bengal and Assam. On the way he stayed at Patna. It was at Patna where his son 'Gobind Rai' was born. In Assam he negotiated in between two rival kings and avoided bloodshed. After about 5 years, he came back to Punjab and founded the city of Anandpur Sahib. Founding of Anandpur Sahib was an example of his future vision of the time to come.

Out of all the Mugal rulers, Aurangzeb was the most cruel, dreaded and powerful king. He ruled India for over 50 years. He was a terror even among his family. He imprisoned his sister, his father (the old King Shah Jahan), murdered all his brothers to become an unquestionable king. Because of his these heinous crimes, he was disliked even by Muslims. To wash out his sins in the eyes of the people, he posed to be a good Muslim by becoming a 5 time Nimazi, ritualistic and simple. To please the fanatic Muslims he started converting Hindus to Muslims even by force. His system of counting conversion was by weighing maunds and maunds (a measure equivalent to about 37 kgs.) of sacred threads of the Hindus and started even beheading those who refused.

Whole country was living under the clouds of fear and terror. Even the descendants of Brave Shiva ji had lost courage to face him. The great Rajputs, a few of whom had fought and sacrificed themselves, but because of the non-co-operation and inter-rivalry among each other, they not only lost the strength to face the Mugals, but started marrying their daughters to the Mugals.

Aurangzeb even started destroying/converting Hindu temples to Masjids. Though he started forced conversions in the whole country i.e. all the Southern states, Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat etc., to achieve this, he started systematic and vigorous conversion of the high caste Brahmins of Kashmir, from Northern most side of the country. In about 1674 AD the Kashmiri Brahmins requested Guru Teg Bahadur, the 9th guru of the Sikhs to save them. To put an end to this cruel conversion, Guru Teg Bahadur after choosing his son the next successive Guru of the Sikhs, offered himself for the supreme sacrifice .

In 1675 AD Guru Teg Bagadur was arrested in Agra with few of his followers and brought back to Delhi. He was asked to: 1. Convert to Muslim Religion. 2. To prove to be a godly person, show some miracles. 3. Accept death.

His reply was:
1. It is an individual's right to choose religion of his own free will. 2. Showing miracles is going against the Will of God and against the laws of Nature. 3. There is no fear of death and he is prepared to die.

The Guru was imprisoned in an iron cage. To give fear of death, three of his followers were killed in his presence. One Sikh was cut longitudinally in two peaces with a saw by fixing him in wooden planks, another was boiled in water and the third was burnt in cotton. With their face towards the Guru, the three Sikhs sacrificed themselves without a pinch of remorse or sorrow. Name of God was residing in the heart of Guru and he remained untouched. After this he was beheaded. This occurred in the year 1675 AD. The place of this occurrence is called Gurudwara Sis Ganj at Delhi, very near to the historic Red Fort.
 
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Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji

After the Sacrifice of the 9th Guru of the Sikhs, the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh took charge of the Sikh masses in 1675 AD and like his grand father the 6 th Guru, Guru Har Gobind, he took to arms. Thus Guru Gobind Singh was a challenge to the Great King Aurangzeb, who ruled from Kanyakumari in the South to Kabul in the North of India.
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Guru Gobind Singh became 10th Guru of the Sikhs at the age of 9 years. He was already being taught different languages like Punjabi, Hindi, Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic etc. Along with this he was also being perfected in martial art to become a strong soldier. Thus in the next 5/6 years, he was most exalted, perfect in all aspects of life, compassionate, kind, loveable, courageous, fearless, saint, soldier, farsighted administrator. He was a Guru and had no ego, lust, greed, anger, attachment or any vices as such. He was a personality who uprooted the Mugal Dynasty from India forever.

He was the:
Great-grand-son of 5th Guru, Guru Arjan Dev - a martyr.
Grand-son of 6th Guru, Guru Har Gobind Sahib - The saint-soldier.
Son of 9th Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur - a martyr.
His determination was as strong as that of a mountain, irrespective of the sufferings and personal losses. While accomplishing his mission, he sacrificed his four young sons, five beloved followers, unlimited Sikhs and many devoted Muslims. His mission was not at all different from the predecessors and was same but it was very strong, systematic and final.

He explained his mission in his own words:
I have come in this world :
1. To say and act what is right without fear of anybody.
2. To worship only the One Supreme God.
3. To do what is ordained by God.
4. To spread Truth, rightesnous.
5. To save saints.
6. To uproot the cruel.

He preached for:
1. Believe in Creator-The One God.
2. Believe in One True Guru, Shabad Guru, Guru Granth Sahib.
3. Always remember God.
4. Live a truthful married life and in high spirits.
5. All happenings are according to the Will of God and accept it happily.
6. Love all.
7. Be kind to all.
8. Serve all especially the poor.
9. Do not fear.
10. Do not threaten.
11. Let not cruelty and injustice happen to anybody.
12. Control your desires, your mind, and have patience.
13. Treat ladies, young or old, with love, respect and dignity.
And so many other such virtues.


He did not believe in:
1. Idol worship such as Stones, Statues, Images, Figures, Photos etc.
2. Burning of candles, lamps at holy places, cemeteries etc.
3. Growing matted hairs like yogis.
4. Renouncing world and family life and putting ear rings like yogis.
5. Renouncing world and family life and pulling hair roots like Jainies.
6. Changing appearances and languages to please others and loosing own respect.( As Hindus used to do to please Muslim rulers)
7. Praying only in a particular direction i.e. Muslims pray facing towards West (Kaaba). Hindus pray facing towards East (Sun rise). God is everywhere and one can pray in any direction. +


His accomplishments a human can write:
1. To preach that people should live with self respect, he lived like a king - riding the most beautiful horses, sporting a falcon on his hand, wearing a beautiful turban with a decorated Kalgi and always carried sword, bow and arrows. Like his grand-father, he also kept big drum with him and called it 'Ranjit Nagara' and used it like that of the kings.
2. Auragzeb did not want people of other religion to worship in public. But Guru Gobind Singh declared that the Sikh place of worship (A Gurudwara) must display a lofty flag, visible from a long distance and keep a big 'Drum' (Nagara). He said that Gurudwara is a place of God and it must give free food to the hungry and shelter to the needy irrespective of caste, creed or religion. No ritualistic type of worshipping like burning of candles, ringing of bells etc. is to be permit, instead, only reading, singing and discourses in praise of God and asking for His Blessings should be conducted. This is to teach oneself that man is a big zero, he is 10 only when God is with him.
3. Gave birth to Khalsa, a classless society of saint-soldiers with the above virtues for all the times to come.
4. Uprooted the cruel rulers.
It was not an easy task to achieve all this. It is said that the basic causes of wars in this world are: Wealth, Land and Women. But in the case of Guru Gobind Singh it was none of them. It was all for self respect, dignity and freedom. Anandpur Sahib, a place at the base of hills, purchased and populated by his father, Guru Teg Bahadur, was the center of activities of the Guru and the Sikhs since 1671 AD to 1704 AD.

In a period of about 20 years, in between 1686 AD to 1706 AD the Guru had to face and fight about 16 wars.
Most of the hill areas were ruled by many Hindu Kings called 'kings of hills' (Pahari Rajas). For the people of their land they were kings but to the King of Hindustan - Aurangzeb, they were slaves. They had lost their self- respect. They were not only paying heavy taxes to Aurangzeb, but were also marrying their beautiful young daughters to Muslim rulers to save themselves from their wrath. It was this downfall of theirs that Guru Gobind Singh objected.
The Guru had uplifted the poor. He had all the praises for them. He had brought them up and made them fearless and faithful. The Pahari Rajas out of their ego of high caste, ruling powers, wealth etc. could not accept this good will of the Guru to the poor. They wanted the Guru to create a group of High class Sikhs separate from general Sikhs, which was not at all acceptable to the Guru. Some of the Pahari Rajas were friendly to the Guru, but some of them were very jealous and became enemy and traitors to the Guru.
Thus, Pahari Rajas one or the other confronted the Guru and his army many times and lost to the Guru. In some wars, at their behest and instigation the Muslim Rulers fought with the Guru, but lost in all. At one time Aurangzeb ordered governor of Punjab to attack Pahari Rajas and collect revenue from them. The Pahari Rajas requested Guru Gobind Singh for help.
The Guru had no enmity even with his enemies. He helped them and defeated the Muslim army. Even after getting help of the Guru, seeing rising strength of the Guru and his deep convictions, they remained jealous and afraid of him and kept enmity with him. Such was the bad luck of the Hindu kings of India at that time. The Guru did not sit idle in peaceful times. Martial training was an essential part of life for all the Sikhs. He also gave special attention to literature. He wrote number of poems in praise of God. Jaap Sahib, Akaal Ustat, Gian Probodh, Shabad Hazare, 33 Swiaiey, Zaffar Nama etc. speak of the high quality thoughts of the Guru. At one time he had 52 poets with him. Many mythological pieces of literature were translated by these poets from the original Sanskrit works. This work was for the general knowledge of the masses but bore no sanctity of the Guru. In the later times, whole of these writings was clubbed in one book called 'Dasam Granth'.
 
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