Shastars and pothi of Guru Gobind Singh kept at Anandpur Sahib (Stock photo).
Patna: Weapons and some other articles used by three Sikh gurus – Guru Hargobind (sixth), Guru Tegh Bahadur (ninth) and Guru Gobind Singh (tenth) – would be put on display at Gandhi Maidan during Prakashotsava.
A ‘jattha’ of 450 pilgrims has left for Patna from Sri Anandpur Saheb in Punjab with the weapons and articles used by the three Sikh gurus. The ‘jattha’ is expected to reach the city on December 31.According to historians, Guru Hargobind waged furious wars against Mughal emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan in 17th century. The Mughal emperors found no answer to the valour of Sikh warriors. It was Guru Hargobind who had started the practice of maintaining armed Sikh warrior saints.
Tent City at Gandhi Maidan, Patna Sahib is set up for the 350th birth celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh
Later, Guru Tegh Bahadur worked to spread Sikh ideology in various parts of the country, including Assam. He vociferously opposed the forced conversion of Kashmiri Pandits by Mughals due to which he was captured and executed by Emperor Aurangzeb. He had also contributed several compositions for Guru Granth Sahib.
Chanan Singh, additional secretary of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, who is leading the ‘jattha’ of 450 pilgrims, told TOI over phone that bow, six arrows, ‘kirpan’, sword, ‘katar’, ‘barchha’, ‘kangha’, ‘chola’, ‘pothi’ and some other items used by Guru Gobind Singh are on way to Patna. The custodians of these items are also bringing a long sword of Guru Hargobind and ‘kirpan’ of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
Singh said the ‘pothi’ being brought to Patna for display was written by the tenth guru himself. “Some clothes worn by Guru Gobind Singh are still preserved. He always used to stay well-armed and prepared for war against the evils causing atrocities on the poor and innocents. His message to the society was also to stay alert against injustice,” Singh said, adding that their convoy has already reached Kanpur.
Reported by Times of India Dec 28, 2016