Stories:
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Bring me Arms and Horses |
Once
when Guru Arjan's wife was serving Bhai Buddha, he said,
"As you have given me food to my heart's content, so shall
you have a son to your heart's content. He shall be very
handsome and brave and shall possess power on earth and
in heaven. He shall wear two swords and be mighty in battle.
He shall sit on a great imperial throne. He shall be both
a great warrior and an exalted Guru."
In time, a beautiful son was born to Guru Arjan and Mata
Ganga and he was named Hargobind. His childhood was full
of trials because his uncle Prithia wanted his own son,
Mihrban, to be the next Guru. He survived these trials
and at the proper age received his education from Bhai
Buddha. He instructed Hargobind in the Guru's hymns, the
sciences, reading and letters, offensive and defensive
weapons, sports such as swimming, administration and many
other skills that he would need to be a great ruler in
the future. He grew up in the court of Guru Arjan and
watched his father compile the Guru Granth.
When Hargobind was 11, the emperor imprisoned and tortured
Guru Arjan. Shortly before the end of his life, he said
to his Sikhs, "I have mastered my life's test. Go to my
son, the holy Hargobind, and give him my consolation.
Instead of grieving, let him sing God's praises. According
to ancient custom, let him put the mark of the Guruship
on his forehead. Let him sit fully armed on his throne
and maintain an army to the best of his ability. Other
than this, let him embrace the practices of all the other
Gurus. Let him hold Bhai Buddha in honor and treat his
Sikhs with respect. Do not cremate my body, but let it
flow into the river." The Guru's body, having suffered
so much, then washed into the river, while his spirit
merged with the Sach Khand.
Hargobind, upon receiving the news of his father's death,
caused the Guru Granth to be read for ten days. When the
last rites were finished, Bhai Buddha dressed him in fine
clothes and sought to install him as Guru. Rather than
wear the seli, or woolen cord worn by the other Gurus,
he said, "My seli shall be the swordbelt and I shall crown
my turban with the emblem of royalty." The new Guru then
sent out a call to all faithful Sikhs in the land: "Bring
me offerings of arms and horses!" By this call was Bhai
Buddha's prophecy fulfilled. Guru Hargobind wore two swords
and earned the title, "Meeri Peeri da Malik" - king of
the spiritual and temporal realms. Thus was the character
of the Sikhs changed forever. Soldier-saints now incorporated
the military determination necessary to protect as well
as to serve their faith.
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