Guru Gobind Singh

22 December 1666 – 7 October 1708

Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) was the tenth and last human Guru of Sikhism, a warrior, poet and philosopher. He founded the Khalsa order in 1699, giving Sikhs their distinctive articles of faith, and before his death declared the scripture Guru Granth Sahib to be the eternal Guru of the Sikhs. He fought numerous battles against the Mughal Empire and allied hill rajas, losing all four of his sons in the conflict.

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Life events

Born in Patna, India
22 December 1666

Gobind Rai was born in Patna, Bihar, the only son of the ninth Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadur, and Mata Gujri.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Moved with his family to Anandpur in the Punjab hills
c. 1672

As a child Gobind Rai left Patna to join his father at Chakk Nanaki, the town that became Anandpur Sahib, where he was educated in languages, scripture and the arts of war.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relocation ✓
Became the tenth Sikh Guru after his father's execution
November 1675

Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed in Delhi on the orders of Emperor Aurangzeb, and the nine-year-old Gobind Rai was installed as the tenth Guru.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Fought the Battle of Bhangani against allied hill rajas
1688

In his first major battle, the young Guru's forces defeated an alliance of Himalayan hill chiefs near Paonta.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓
Founded the Khalsa at Anandpur on Vaisakhi
c. 1699

At the Vaisakhi gathering of 1699 the Guru initiated the Panj Pyare (five beloved ones), created the Khalsa order with its code of conduct and five articles of faith, and took the name Gobind Singh.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Evacuated Anandpur after a prolonged siege
December 1704

Besieged by Mughal and hill-raja forces, the Guru left Anandpur under a promise of safe passage that was broken; his family was scattered in the retreat at the Sarsa River.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓
Lost all four of his sons in the conflict with the Mughals
December 1704

His two elder sons died fighting at the Battle of Chamkaur, while his two younger sons were executed at Sirhind by the Mughal governor Wazir Khan.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Personal ✓
Wrote the Zafarnama, a letter of defiance to Emperor Aurangzeb
1705

From Dina in the Punjab, the Guru sent Aurangzeb a Persian verse epistle indicting the emperor's breach of faith while affirming the righteousness of resisting tyranny.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Declared the Guru Granth Sahib the eternal Guru of the Sikhs
October 1708

Shortly before his death at Nanded, Guru Gobind Singh ended the line of human Gurus by conferring the guruship on the Sikh scripture.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Died at Nanded after an assassination attack
7 October 1708

Guru Gobind Singh died of wounds inflicted by assassins linked to Wazir Khan of Sirhind, at Nanded in the Deccan.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓