About Prakash Parv

 350th Prakash Parv, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji
30th December 2016 - 8th January 2017
Sri Harimandir Ji, Patna Sahib

"Waho Waho Gobind Singh Aape Gurchela"

Gurpurb is a compound of two words, i.e. guru, the spiritual preceptor, and purb, parva in Sanskrit, meaning a festival or celebration, signifies in the Sikh tradition the holy day commemorating one or another of the anniversaries related to the lives of the Gurus.

Observance of certain anniversaries is a conspicuous feature of the Sikh way of life. The birth anniversary of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, is amongst the  more important gurpurbs on the Sikh calendar. Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji was born on Poh Sudi 7th, 23rd Poh 1723 Bikrami Samvat at Patna in Bihar, the only son of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur and Mata Gujri. Guru Teg Bahadur had arrived in Patna a few months earlier on a missionary tour of the East with his wife, mother Nanki Ji, brother-in-law Kirpal Chand and a band of devotees. As Mata Gujri was in an advanced stage of confinement, the Guru decided to leave his family in Patna and proceed alone to Bengal and Assam.

Before his departure, Guru Teg Bahadur expressed a wish that if a son was born he should be named Gobind Rai – in memory of his grandfather, Guru Hargobind. According to oral tradition, Guru Hargobind had prophesied at the time of Guru Teg Bahadur’s birth that he would be blessed with a son who would defend the people against the tyranny of the Mughals.

Guru Teg Bahadur was in Dacca, engaged in organisational work, when news of his son’s birth reached him. “The Guru was beside himself with joy on hearing the good news, which was followed by great rejoicing. Considerable sums were given away generously as alms and charity to the poor and the needy. Raja Ram Singh who was accompanying him also participated in these joyous celebrations and at his command guns were fired.”  Devotees flocked to Patna to have a glimpse of the new-born Gobind Rai. Celebrations took place in Patna and Monghyr, organised by the Sangats that had come up during Guru Nanak’s first Udasi.

It is said that the day Gobind Rai was born, Pir Bhikhan Shah a Muslim mystic in distant Punjab, performed his prayers in the easterly direction. He told his disciples, “God has revealed himself in the form of a new-born in Patna.” Guided by the divine light, the Pir reached Patna to pay obeisance to Gobind Rai who would become the Dashmesh Pita (Tenth Guru) of the Sikhs. Tradition says that the Pir held out two bowls of milk and water – symbolic of Hinduism and Islam – both of which Gobind Rai touched and then smiled.