“If culture and dharma is still alive in India today, the credit for that goes to Guru Gobind Singhji.
Indian land will always be indebted to Guru Gobind Singhji because of the way he brought change in this country. All the 10 Gurus have done a lot for India and its citizens; they have shown people the right path.
Being a Sant Sipahi
During the 18th century, the saints, sadhus, and mahatmas of this country would stay in their own ashrams or temples; they would remain stuck to their pujas and rituals, and many would not care for the society. And the people who would work for the society, who were warriors, they were far away from Dharma (righteousness). There was no sign of sainthood in them. It is Guru Gobind Singhji who brought the two together. He said, “Be a saint in the mind, have sweetness in behavior, and have warrior-like courage in your arms”.
He raised the slogan, “Sant Sipahi bano”, and in this way he became the greatest Sant Sipahi.
He called out to all the saints to become warriors. Only being a saint is not enough – warriors are required. He gave this call and protected India. If Guru Gobind Singhji was not there, then may be India would not have survived.
What is Sant Sipahi?
Guru Gobind Singh’s message is so relevant even today. He said, “You should be dynamic, and still be soft in the heart. You should be inwardly spiritual – a Sant Sipahi, a saint and a soldier, together.”
He meant to say, you must stand up against injustice. You cannot just be a saint and say, “Okay, whatever has happened, let it happen!” You should stand up against injustice, and simultaneously be compassionate within you, like a saint.
It was Guru Gobind Singhji, the tenth Sikh Guru, who established this rare combination of firmness and softness.
Knowledge is the True Guru
Guru Gobind Singhji also brought to light the honour of the tradition of Masters – the importance of Guru Tattva (wisdom) in life.
When Guru Gobind Singhji left his body, he said, “After me, the next Guru is the Granth. All the knowledge is kept in this Granth. This is the Guru – your guiding light.”
In all the Gurudwaras (places of worship of the Sikh), you will find the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikh religion. The wisdom these scriptures bring out to humanity is invaluable. The story of 16 different saints and their teachings are compiled in the Guru Granth Sahib.
He also stated that Knowledge is Guru. There is no difference between Knowledge and Guru. Granth means Knowledge. When Knowledge becomes totally a part of one’s life, then that is Guru. If Knowledge is not lived, then how can one be Guru? There is no difference between Knowledge and Guru. This is what he said, and along with this, he said be a Sant Sipahi.
Question: Can a saint also be a warrior?
Absolutely! Saints used to be warriors. For example, Vishwamitra, Parshuram, and others. There are so many Rishis in the Shrimad Bhagvatam who were warriors.
In fact, only a saint should be a warrior. If someone whose heart is clean becomes a warrior, then good will happen for everyone. If an angry, greedy, arrogant person becomes a warrior, then he will mess up.
Mahatma Gandhi is also in that category – he was a saint as well as a warrior.
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A Message on Guru Nanak’s Birthday - Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
“Do not get so stuck in worldly affairs that you forget the name of God."
this was often the message of
Guru Nanak Devji.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar reminisces Guru Nanak Devji
on the occasion
of Guru Nanak Jayanti.