1 GURU GOVIND SINGH. 261
2 y
3 10.—GURU GOVIND SINGH.
4 After the déath of Tegh Bahadur, the martyred pontiff, his only sou, |,
5 Govind-Singh, then but fifteen years of age, succeeded to the apostleship.
6 The followers of Rim Rai declined into a mere sect of dissenters. Being sur-
7 rounded on all sides by enemies, the new Guru retreated to the mountains
8 which rise on either side of the Jamna, and occupied himself with the chase
9 and archery. He was fond of hunting tigers and the wild boar, and he
10 became a skilful archer. He made no attempt to study Sanskrit, but
11 acquired a good knowledge of Persian and Hindi. His youth is described
12 in the beautiful verses of Vichittra Natak, or “ The Wonderous Tales.”
13 Govind lived in seclusion during his early manhood, and gave -himself up to
14 study and reflection. Having stored his mind well with historical, mythical and
15 legendary lore, he, at the age of thirty-five, embarked on his great enterprise,
16 that of abolishing the distinctions of caste among the Hindus; of admitting
17 converts from all tribes; of arming the whole population; of making worldly
18 wealth and eminence objects to which Hindus of every rank and denomi-
19 nation might aspire, and of making this equality a fundamental principle
20 of his sect. Henceforward a new leaf opens in the history of the Sikhs.
21 It is no longer the record of a sect who, following the peaceful tenets of
22 their founder, desired merely to protect themselves, and had no wish to injure
23 others, but that of a race which, actuated by a deep sense of the wrongs
24 done by a persecuting Government, strove to make itself prominent in the
25 world by those deeds of valour and patriotism which make nations great
26 and glorious.
27 The violent and miserable end of the martyred Guru, and his last in-
28 junctions, had made such a strong impression on the mind of Govind, that he
29 longed to wreak vengeance on the murderers of his father and the persecu-
30 tors of his race, and became the inveterate and irreconcilable enemy of every
31 Mahomedan. He called upon his followers by all the ties and feelings
32 which were dear to them; he urged them in defence of their injured honour
33 and manhood ; he conjured them in the name of their murdered Guru,
34 ‘promising them rewards both in this world and the next, to exchange
35 ‘their ploughs and rosaries for swords and daggers. He used all the elo-
36 quence of his persuasive genius in demonstrating to them that this was now
37 the only means by which they could hope to regenerate their fallen race.
38 ‘Awakening his countrymen to a new and noble life, and arousing their
39 ‘latent energies to a sense of common duty, he blended the undaunted
40 courage of the soldier with the enthusiasm of the devotee, and inspired the
41 peaceful ploughman with ideas of military glory and national aggrandizement.
42 Composed in mind and matured in experience, he resolved to reform reli-
43 gious corruptions and to put-an end to social abuses and depredations.
44 Being acknowledged as the Sat Guru of the Sikhs, his well-stored mind
45 ‘conceived, for the first time; the noble idea of transforming the degenerate
46 “Hindus into an aspiring race and of moulding the Sikh nation into a reli-
47 gious and military commonwealth, and, in the words of Mr. Elphinstone, “he
48 executed his designs with the systematic spirit of a Grecian lawgiver.”
49 Govind had matured his plans during his retirement in the hills, but,
50 before embarking on his great enterprize, he resolved to secure for himself
51 the aid of the goddess Durga, his special object of devotion and adoration.
52 He accordingly Sought advice from a Brahman of Benares, famous for
53 his piety and learning, and had him brought to Makhowdl, where he was
54 treated with great honour. It was resolved to offer a hom, or burnt offering,
55 to the goddess mother. The summit of a hill named Naind Devi, six
56 koss distant from Anandapur, was chosen as the site for the performance of
57 Govind succeeds,
58 5.
59 His early education.
60 His high aims,
61 Tfe resolves on re-
62 forming the sect of
63 Nanak,
64 His address to his
65 followers.
66 Govind combines the
67 qualities of a soldier
68 aud a devotee,
69 And attempts to
70 institute a religious
71 and military common
72 wealth.
73 He asks the aid of
74 the goddess Durga.
75 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com