Guru Gobind Singh’s Ascension (Joti-Jot)
Guru Gobind Singh’s final days and Ascension (Joti-Jot) have been subject to much speculation and imaginative elaboration by Sikh writers. In a village in Bihar, the esteemed Late Dr. Trilochan Singh discovered a historical manuscript detailing the 20 days leading up to the ascension of Guru Gobind Singh. His detailed translation, historical notes and comments of the manuscript were originally published in The Sikh Review, Oct 1963. Below is his translation of the manuscript.
Invocation
Know Nanak and Gobind to be One. We have founded the third Faith. (In it) we have eliminated all the differences of caste and creed. (My disciples) are taught to take refuge only in the One God. God is but One. He pervades all. By the grace of the Guru (is He realised). Now I relate the story of Guru Gobind Singh’s Ascension.
Guru Gobind Singh Camps at Nander
Guru ji accompanied Emperor Bahadur Shah to Deccan. In Deccan there is a place called Nander. There the Guru camped. This place Nander was known as Gobind Nagri in Satyuga. South of Nander flowed the river called Ban Ganga. Said the Guru, “On the banks of this river was the ashram of saints and sages…Here rivers of milk flowed.” The Guru declared that eighty-four sidhas and nine nathas resided here. Here there were gilded mansions and rich dwellings. The city was spread out over an area of four hundred kos. From here the Guru went four miles ahead. Here the Lord pitched his tent.
Pathan Assassin’s First Visit : 18th September 1708
Fifth bright half of the Katik month. There a huge congregation hall was built. The congregation met daily. The Divine Lord (Guru Gobind Singh) gave audience daily. Once when the congregation was meeting, a Pathan came to the Guru’s presence openly. His age was about twenty-five years. He came and bowed low to the Guru. Guru ji asked him to come near and sit in the front.
The Master asked him something. He also spoke something in reply. He sat for sometime and then stood up to depart. Guru Gobind Singh gave him five rupees as charity. That day he went away.
Assassin’s Second Visit on 19th September, 1708
The next day the Pathan again came. The Master gave him two rupees as charity. That day he also went away.
Assassin Stabs Guru Gobind Singh on 20th September 1708, about 6.30pm
On the third day he again came in the open congregation. Guru Sahib was giving audience. The whole Khalsa sat in reverence looking at his gracious presence. Guru Sahib called that Pathan near him and asked him to sit nearby. Guru ji ordered that Prashad (sacramental food) should be offered to him. He accepted the prashad. He continued to sit late in the evening, when the sun was about to set. It was now time for Guruji to rise up and end the audience. It was one ghadi (about an hour and half) before the end of the day. The Pathan youth got up and bowed low in reverence before the Guru. When he bowed for the second time, he rushed towards the Guru and stabbed him with a poniard. All the three thrusts of the dagger failed (to kill the Guru). Then Guru Sahib struck him with his dagger and the intestines of the Pathan youth fell out. Then a Sikh of the Guru killed him on the spot.
Bahadur Shah sends his Physicians and Surgeons
Guru Gobind Singh immediately ordered that the Emperor’s physicians and surgeons should be sent for. On hearing the news the Emperor was grieved and sent word to Guru Sahib he would cut the hands of all the Pathans associated with the assassin youth, whose number (on investigation was found to be seven hundred). Then the physicians and surgeons of the Emperor also came. The wounds were stitched and bandaged when about two paihars (three hours) of the night had passed.
Guru Gobind Singh announces the Divine Will for His Ascension on the morning of 7th October, 1708.
The wound began to heal. The Lord out of infinite mercy began to attend the congregation daily so that devotees could have a glimpse of his Divine Person. For sixteen days Guru ji came to bless the congregation and grace audience. The devotees daily enjoyed his darshan (presence).
On the seventeenth day, Guru ji ordered that preparation should be made for celebrating gurpurab (the happiest occasion connected with the Guru) and about five hundred gold coins should be spent on it. He also ordered firewood worth a hundred rupees to be brought (for the funeral pure). Obeying the command of Guru ji, the Khalsa brought all these things.
Guru Gobind Singh orders final preparations for His Ascension during daytime on Thursday, 7th October 1708.
Guru Gobind Singh then ordered the Khalsa distribute the whole of the sacramental food. According to Guru ji’s wishes the Khalsa distributed the whole of the sacramental food. Guru ji then commanded, “Prepare the funeral pyre with the wood (bought for this purpose) and screen it by fixing a tent-wall around it. I will now leave my body. Such is the Divine Will of God : the Truth.” In obedience to this command the Khalsa prepared the funeral pyre. A tent-wall was fixed all around it. In the Sambat 1765, the month of Katik, the 5th dark half of the month (when it was Thursday, 7th October 1708), Guru Gobind Singh made preparation for Ascension.
Last Sermon and Ascension on the Night of 7th October, 1708.
It was nightfall. When Guru Gobind Singh was seen in a state of leaving the body, then the Khalsa made a prayerful supplication, “Most revered King of Kings! Pure and Gracious Lord, command us to whom should the Khalsa bow in future reverence as the Guru?” Guru Gobind Singh commanded in reply, “I have dedicated the Khalsa to the Almighty God and placed him at His feet. We (ten Gurus) have established deep spiritual ties of the Khalsa with the Absolute Being (Akal Purukh). The Guru (in his Eternal Spiritual Form) will always come to the aid of the Khalsa.”
Guru (Gobind Singh) then commanded, “The Sikhs should read the Scriptures of the ten Gurus. All occasions should be celebrated in the name of the Guru, with prayers and sacramental feast. The Guru will always come to their aid. He who lives according to the code of conduct of the Khalsa, I will always be his Protector and Saviour.” This was the Divine Command, the last sermon to the Khalsa. On Thursday Guru ji’s ascension took place.
Cremation of the Body and Last Ceremony.
The Khalsa bathed the body of the Guru. Then he was dressed in royal robes, turban and other clothes. He was attired in all the weapons he usually wore; Royal signet, pearl necklaces were put on. On his turban was fixed the jewelled crest (kalgi). Thus preparations were made for his cremation. Then his body was carried and placed on the funeral pyre and in it all the clothes, weapons and royal ornaments were allowed to be burnt. Thus the Lord caused his ascension in Deccan at Nander. Ten days after the cremation (on Sunday 17th October), the last rites (bhog ceremony) was performed.
Read Dr. Trilochan Singh’s original article from The Sikh Review, Oct 1963 here:
