Tempo:
HISTORY OF THE SIKHS
50 1606-40.
Chandu Shah slain or put to death.
Har Gobind arms the Siklis and becomes a military leader.
The gradual modification of
Sikhism;
CHAP. Ill
Har Gobind was not, perhaps, more than eleven years of age at his father's death, but he was moved by his followers to resent the enmity of Chandu Shah, and he is represented either to have procured his condemnation by the emperor, or to have slain him by open force without reference to authority.^ Whatever may be the truth about the death of Chandu and the first years of Har Gobind's ministry, it is certain that, in a short time, he became a military leader as well as a spiritual teacher. Nanak had sanctioned or enjoined secular occupations, Arjun carried the injunction into practice, and the impulse thus given speedily extended and became general. The temper and the circumstances of Har Gobind both prompted him to innovation; he had his father's death to move his feelings, and in surpassing the example of his parent, even the jealous dogma of the Hindu law, which allows the most lowly to arm in self-defence, may not have been without its influence on a mind acquainted with the precepts of Manu.- Arjun trafficked as a merchant, and played his part as a priest in affairs of policy; but Har Gobind grasped a sword, and marched with his devoted followers among the troops of the empire, or boldly led them to oppose and overcome provincial governors or personal enemies. Nanak had himself abstained from animal food, and the prudent Arjun endeavoured to add to his saintly merit or influence by a similar moderation; but the adventurous Har Gobind became a hunter and an eater of flesh, and his disciples imitated him in these robust practices.^ The genial disposition of the martial apostle led him to rejoice in the companionship of a camp, in the dangers of war, and in the excitements of the chase, nor is it improbable that the policy of a temporal chief mingled with the feelings of an injured son and with the duties of a religious guide, so as to shape his acts to the ends of his ambition, although that may not have aimed at more than a partial independence under the mild supremacy of the son of Akbar. Har Gobind appears to have admitted criminals and fugitives among his followers, and where a principle of antagonism had already arisen, they may have served him zealously without greatly reforming the practice of their lives; and, indeed, they are stated to have believed that the faithful Sikh would 1
Cf. Forster, Travels, i. 298. For- this last supposition, see
Malcolm, Sketch, pp. 44„ There is perhaps some straining after nicety of reason in the notion, as Manu's injunction had long become obsolete in such matters, especially under the Muhammadan supremacy. The Dahistan, ii. 248, and Malcolm Sketch, p. 36. 2
189.
?•
50 1606-40.
Chandu Shah slain or put to death.
Har Gobind arms the Siklis and becomes a military leader.
The gradual modification of
Sikhism;
CHAP. Ill
Har Gobind was not, perhaps, more than eleven years of age at his father's death, but he was moved by his followers to resent the enmity of Chandu Shah, and he is represented either to have procured his condemnation by the emperor, or to have slain him by open force without reference to authority.^ Whatever may be the truth about the death of Chandu and the first years of Har Gobind's ministry, it is certain that, in a short time, he became a military leader as well as a spiritual teacher. Nanak had sanctioned or enjoined secular occupations, Arjun carried the injunction into practice, and the impulse thus given speedily extended and became general. The temper and the circumstances of Har Gobind both prompted him to innovation; he had his father's death to move his feelings, and in surpassing the example of his parent, even the jealous dogma of the Hindu law, which allows the most lowly to arm in self-defence, may not have been without its influence on a mind acquainted with the precepts of Manu.- Arjun trafficked as a merchant, and played his part as a priest in affairs of policy; but Har Gobind grasped a sword, and marched with his devoted followers among the troops of the empire, or boldly led them to oppose and overcome provincial governors or personal enemies. Nanak had himself abstained from animal food, and the prudent Arjun endeavoured to add to his saintly merit or influence by a similar moderation; but the adventurous Har Gobind became a hunter and an eater of flesh, and his disciples imitated him in these robust practices.^ The genial disposition of the martial apostle led him to rejoice in the companionship of a camp, in the dangers of war, and in the excitements of the chase, nor is it improbable that the policy of a temporal chief mingled with the feelings of an injured son and with the duties of a religious guide, so as to shape his acts to the ends of his ambition, although that may not have aimed at more than a partial independence under the mild supremacy of the son of Akbar. Har Gobind appears to have admitted criminals and fugitives among his followers, and where a principle of antagonism had already arisen, they may have served him zealously without greatly reforming the practice of their lives; and, indeed, they are stated to have believed that the faithful Sikh would 1
Cf. Forster, Travels, i. 298. For- this last supposition, see
Malcolm, Sketch, pp. 44„ There is perhaps some straining after nicety of reason in the notion, as Manu's injunction had long become obsolete in such matters, especially under the Muhammadan supremacy. The Dahistan, ii. 248, and Malcolm Sketch, p. 36. 2
189.
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