Guru Gobind Singh Ji was the tenth and the last Guru of the Sikhs. Guru Sahib gave the final shape to the Sikh religion. After creating the Khalsa in 1699, Guru Sahib created the spirit of unity, courage and heroism among the Sikhs. Guru Sahib gave a strong reply to the oppression of the Mughals with his limited resources. Guru Sahib is remembered as a great spiritual leader, an organizer par excellence, a successful commander, a literary genius and a great social reformer. A brief description of his life history is as follows:

Birth and Parentage: Guru Gobind Singh Ji was born on December 22, 1666, at Patna. The name of the mother of Guru Sahib was Mata Gujari Ji. Guru Sahib was the only son of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. Guru Sahib was originally (by birth) named Gobind Das. According to some scholars, Guru Sahib was later named as Gobind Rai.

Childhood Period at Patna: Guru Sahib spent the first five years of his childhood at Patna. Guru Sahib used to play such games which had revealed beforehand that one day the child Gobind Rai would become a great religious leader. Guru Sahib used to organise wrestling bouts and races of his playmates. Guru Sahib himself took part in the games. Guru Sahib used to divide his playmates into two groups and played mock battles. Guru Sahib used to hold his own court in his childhood to settle the disputes among his childhood friends. A Muslim saint, Sayyed Bhikan Shah, when he visited him from Ghuram had predicted that the child would become a great prophet one day.

Education: Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji started living with his family at Chak Nanki (Anadpur Sahib) from 1672. The arrangements for the education of the child Gobind Rai were made here by Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. Guru Sahib studied Persian from Qazi Pir Muhammad and Sanskrit from Pandit Harjas. The Rajput Bajar Singh gave him training in horse riding and use of armaments. Guru Sahib learnt Gurumukhi from Bhai Sahib Chand and Bhai Mati Das.

Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and Accession of Guru Gobind Singh Ji to Gaddi. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji achieved martyrdom. In 1675 in order to save Kashmiri Pandits from the oppression of the Mughals. The child Gobind had himself enjoined upon his father to achieve martyrdom. After the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, Guru Gobind Dass took over the responsibility of Guru Gaddi, which was granted to him by Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji himself and he guided the destiny of the Sikh community for the next thirty-three years.

Marriage. According to Sikh traditions, Gobind Das married three women-Bibi Jito, Bibi Sundari, and Bibi Sahib Devan. According to some historians, these are the names of one woman only. Guru Sahib was blessed with four sons. Their names were Sahibzada Ajit Singh, Sahibzada Jujhar Singh, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh.

Organization of Army: Guru Sahib had rightly realized the need of raising an army for the protection of Sikh religion. Hence, Guru Sahib ordained that a Sikh, who had four sons, should recruit his two sons in his army. Guru S&hib further advised them to make gifts of arms and horses in place of any other thing. As a result, soon Guru Sahib was able to collect enough military weapons to raise an army. Guru Sahib also employed 500 Pathan soldiers of Pir Buddhu Shah of Sadhana.

Magnificent Court and Royal Insignias of Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib had adopted royal insignias following the footsteps of his grandfather Guru Hargobind Ji. Guru Sahib occupied a raised throne and adorned his headgear with a crest (Kalghi). Guru Sahib held his court under magnificent canopies. Guru Sahib had also kept numerous elephants and horses of the best breeds. Guru Sahib regularly went on hunting expeditions in the jungles of Anandpur Sahib. Guru Sahib also constructed the Ranjit Nagara or the victory drum.

Guru Sahib in Poanta Sahib. Raja Bhim Chand of Bilaspur did not like the activities of Guru Sahib at Anandpur Sahib and became jealous of him. He feared the rising power of Guru Sahib. The Raja was trying to find an opportunity to pick up a quarrel with Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib knew it but he did not want to waste his military power in useless fights. Guru Sahib accepted the invitation of Raja Medni Parakash of Nahan to settle down in his state. In Nahan, Guru Sahib selected a scenic, peaceful and secluded place on the banks of river Yamuna. The place was named Poanta meaning a place where Guru Sahib rested his feet.

Guru Sahib brought 52 poets to Poanta Sahib. Guru Sahib composed many important literary works with the assistance of those poets. Guru Sahib got translated Ramayana and Mahabharata into Gurumukhi for the intellectual development of the Sikhs. Guru Sahib also made arrangements for imparting training in horse riding, archery, and swordplay to the Sikhs at Poanta Sahib.

Battles of the Pre-Khalsa Period,

1. Guru Sahib was compelled by the circumstances to fight the battle of Bhangani. Guru Sahib defeated Bhim Chand of Bilaspur and Fateh Shah of Srinagar in the battle of Bhangani. It was the first battle and an important victory of Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib decided to leave Poanta Sahib after the battle and came back to Anandpur Sahib. Guru Ji built forts of Anandgarh, Lohgarh, and Fatehgarh at Anandpur Sahib.
2. In the meantime, Aurangzeb who was in South India at that time got the reports of rising power of Guru Sahib. He directed his officers in Punjab in 1693, to start a war against Guru Sahib, As a result, the Faujdar of Kangra deputed his son Khanzada to lead an expedition against Guru Sahib. The Sikhs gave him a crushing defeat.
3. In 1695, the Faujdar of Kangra deputed Hussain Khan against Guru Sahib. However, his expedition turned into a tussle with hill chiefs and the local Sikhs and he did not get the chance to trouble Guru Sahib, as he was killed.
4. Shahzada Muazzam took many steps to crush the power of hill chiefs and Guru Sahib. Shahzada Muazzam succeeded in reducing the power of hill chiefs. However, Prince Muazzam did not act against Guru Sahib because Guru Sahib was highly respected by some of his officers.

Creation of the Khalsa: Guru Gobind Singh Ji created the Khalsa on the Baisakhi day in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib. Guru Sahib prepared Khande Ka Pahaul (Baptism of Sword) and administered it to his five Piyaras (chosen ones) named Daya Ram. Dharam Das, Mohakkam Chand, Sahib Chand and Himmat Rai. Guru Sahib added the word ‘Singh’ (Lion) to their names. Guru Sahib also added the word Singh to his own name.

Battles of the Post-Khalsa Period, The period after the creation of Khalsa is called the Post-Khalsa Period. Guru Gobind Singh Ji remained engaged in many battles during Post-Khalsa period. Guru Sahib fought the first battle of Anandpur Sahib in 1701, battle of Nirmoh in 1702, battle of Basoli in 1702, second battle of Anandpur Sahib in 1704, battle of Shahi Tibi and battle of Chamkaur Sahib in 1705. From Chamkaur Sahib, Guru Sahib reached Khidrana (Muktsar) after visiting places like Machchiwara, Dina etc. At Khidrana, Guru Sahib defeated the Mughal army in the last battle of his life in 1705. From Khidrana, Guru Sahib went to stay at Talwandi Sabo.

Death of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Guru Gobind Singh Ji visited Nanded (Maharashtra) in 1708. The Faujdar of Sirhind had sent two Pathans to kill Guru Sahib. They used to visit the court of Guru Sahib occasionally. One evening, one of the Pathans got the opportunity to make a surprise attack on Guru Sahib and thrust a dagger into the stomach of Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib received a severe injury. On October 7, 1708, Guru Sahib made the final union with the Divine Power.