The birthday of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, is a deeply significant occasion in the Sikh tradition, commemorating the birth in 1666 CE of a spiritual visionary, poet-warrior, and divine leader whose life was devoted to the defence of truth, dharma, and the spiritual dignity of all humanity. Celebrated either in December or January depending on the lunar Nanakshahi or solar Bikrami calendar, this day is known as Parkash Purab—the "day of divine illumination."
Guru Gobind Singh’s life was marked by profound metaphysical insight, poetic genius, and fearless action. He was not only the final human Guru in the Sikh lineage but also the founder of the Khalsa, the spiritual community of committed Sikhs initiated into a life of purity, equality, and divine service. His teachings transcend ritual and dogma, calling instead for an awakened life of devotion (bhakti), justice (seva), and unity with the Divine through courage and compassion.
Spiritually, Guru Gobind Singh is revered not as a figure to be worshipped, but as a shining exemplar of divine consciousness in human form. He taught that God resides within all and can be realised through love, humility, righteous action, and remembrance of the Naam (Divine Name). His writings in the Dasam Granth are filled with sublime poetry, fierce invocations of divine power, and sacred narratives that weave together mythology, history, and spiritual philosophy.
On his birthday, gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship) around the world are illuminated and filled with kirtan (devotional singing), prayers, and readings from the Guru Granth Sahib. Special gatherings reflect on the values he lived by—bravery, equality, forgiveness, and the unshakable resolve to uphold truth, even in the face of persecution. Processions known as Nagar Kirtans often move through towns, led by the Panj Pyare (the Five Beloved Ones), with music, martial arts displays, and offerings of food and kindness to all.
Philosophically, Guru Gobind Singh’s message is one of spiritual sovereignty. He abolished all intermediaries between the seeker and the Divine, declaring that after him, the Guru would live on eternally in the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of the Sikhs, and in the collective body of the Khalsa. His vision was of a world where people live in alignment with divine truth, standing fearlessly for justice, while remaining deeply rooted in humility and grace.
His poetry invokes the Divine in dynamic form—not only as a formless, all-pervading spirit (Akal Purakh), but also as a source of divine energy and warrior strength (Shakti). Through sacred verse, Guru Gobind Singh offered a spiritual path that does not flee the world but transforms it, grounded in the fusion of contemplative depth and courageous action.
Artistically and culturally, his life has inspired an enduring legacy of music, calligraphy, martial artistry, and literature. His image—often shown with royal bearing, a falcon on his arm, and eyes blazing with wisdom—is a symbol of spiritual leadership married with noble strength.
The birthday of Guru Gobind Singh is ultimately a celebration of divine presence through fearless love. It invites each person to live with honour, truth, and compassion; to defend the sacred in all beings; and to walk the path of the saint-soldier—with humility in the heart and strength in the soul.
