Guru Gobind Singh’s Ascension : Sri Hazoor Sahib Tradition
Further to my previous post detailing the ascension of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji as per a manuscript discovered in 1962 by the Late Dr. Trilochan Singh, I have come across the oral tradition at Sri Hazoor Sahib, Nander.
Sri Hazoor Sahib marks the site where Sri Guru Gobind Singh left this world, having arrived there a month or so prior. Many historical events happened here and in the surrounding area, none more important than the transfer of the Gurgaddi to the eternal Shabad Guru, Sri Aad Guru Granth Sahib and the Khalsa Panth.
Every year at Sri Hazoor Sahib, on the occasion of the ascension of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji¹, an account referred to as ‘Sakhi Kaaran Ki’ is read out. This handwritten account is held by the Rehirasia family based at Sri Hazoor Sahib (‘Rehirasia’ refers to their family lineage which extends back to the original Gursikhs whose duty was to recite Rehraas, the evening prayer, at Sri Hazoor Sahib at the time of Guru Gobind Singh). This account details Guru Gobind Singh’s arrival at Nander, the declaration of the next Guru and also his final ascension. Here is a video recording this Sakhi being read out at Sri Hazoor Sahib:
Sant Giani Gurbachan Singh Khalsa has also noted this Sakhi within their book Sri Gurmukh Prakash (pp.1–3).
Based on this account, Bhai Gurdas Educational Trust have created the following video of the Sakhi:
The Sakhi as told at Sri Hazoor Sahib and noted by Sant Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji Khalsa, doesn’t include any detail of the failed assasination of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. One could speculate as for the reasons for this, and I would say that it shows an independence of the two events; that Guru Sahib’s ascension was not directly due to any injuries sustanined. This is important as some writers have painted Guru Sahib’s final days as an almost Shakesperean retreat of dejection and regret, compounded by an assasination attempt (I will hopefully at some point put together a post on the various stories given around the circumstances of Guru Sahib’s ascension). It is clear though from these accounts and Guru Sahib’s numerous achievements, that nothing could be further from the truth.
[1] Guru Gobind Singh’s ascension occurred on Katak Sudi 5 1765 BK (7 Katak 1765 BK). Due to various reasons, the Sikh Panth is divided along calender lines with some Panthic groups and institutions using the traditional Bikrami Calender and some the reformed Nanakshahi Calender. As per the Nanakshahi Calender, the date of the gurpurab was fixed to the solar date of 7 Katak (21st October). Sri Hazoor Sahib follows the traditional Bikrami Calender, where the gurpurab is held on the lunar date of Katak Sudi 5. The Bikrami Calender involves the use of intercalary months (leap months) to reconcile lunar-solar cycles and as a result, this gurpurab in 2020 was held on 19th November, in the month of Maghar, as opposed to Katak.
