Tempo:
HISTORY OF THE SIKHS
60 1675-1708.
But lives in retirement tor several years.
CHAP. Ill
himself performed the funeral rites so essential to the welfare of the living and the peace of the dead. Gobind was placed in retirement amid the lower hills on either side of the Jumna, and for a series of years he occupied himself in hunting the tiger and wild boar, in acquiring a knowledge of the Persian language, and in storing his mind with those ancient legends which describe the mythic glories of his race.^
Gobind's character
becomes developed.
Her resolves
In this obscurity Gobind remained perhaps twenty years; - but his youthful promise gathered round him the disciples of Nanak, he was acknowledged as the head of the Sikhs, the adherents of Ram Rai declined into a sect of dissenters, and the neighbouring chiefs became impressed with a high sense of the Guru s superiority and a vague dread of his ambition. But Gobind ever dwelt upon the fate of his father, and "the
on modify-
oppressive bigotry of Aurangzeb; study and reflection had enlarged his mind, experience of the world had matured his judgement, and, under the mixed impulse of avenging his own and his country's wrongs, he reing the Mu- solved upon awakening his followers to a new life, hammadan and upon giving precision and aim to the broad and faith and general institutions of Nanak. In the heart of a powerpower. ful empire he set himself to the task of subverting it, Gobind's and from the midst of social degradation and religious views and corruption, he called up simplicity of manners, singleTTiolives; ness of purpose, and enthusiasm of desire."^ ing the
system of Nanak, and on combat-
of Tegh Bahadur, and it is said they partly owed their success to the exertions of that Makhan Shah, who had been the first to hail the deceased as Guru. 1 The accounts mostly agree as to this seclusion and occupation of Gobind during his early manhood; but Forster
(Travels, i. 301)
and also some Gurumukhi accounts, state that
he was taken to Patna in the first instance, and that he lived there for some time before he retired to the Srinagar hills. 2 The period is nowhere definitely given by English or Indian writers; but from a comparison of dates and circumstances, it seems probable that Gobind did not take upon himself a new and special character as a teacher of men until about the thirty-fifth year, or until the year 1695 of Christ. A Sikh author, indeed, quoted by Malcolm (Sketch, p. 186, note) makes Gobind's reforms date from a.d. 1696; but contradictorily one or more of Gobind's sayings or writings are made to date about the same period from the south of India, whither he proceeded only just before his death. The ordinary accounts represent Gobind, as they represent his grandfather, to have been mainly moved to wage war against'Muhammadans by a desire of avenging the death of his parent. It would be unreasonable to deny to Gobind the merit of other motives likewise; but, doubtless, the fierce feeling in question strongly impelled him in the prosecution of his lofty and comprehensive design. The sentiment is indeed common to it is as common in the present Indian as all times and places '5
:
60 1675-1708.
But lives in retirement tor several years.
CHAP. Ill
himself performed the funeral rites so essential to the welfare of the living and the peace of the dead. Gobind was placed in retirement amid the lower hills on either side of the Jumna, and for a series of years he occupied himself in hunting the tiger and wild boar, in acquiring a knowledge of the Persian language, and in storing his mind with those ancient legends which describe the mythic glories of his race.^
Gobind's character
becomes developed.
Her resolves
In this obscurity Gobind remained perhaps twenty years; - but his youthful promise gathered round him the disciples of Nanak, he was acknowledged as the head of the Sikhs, the adherents of Ram Rai declined into a sect of dissenters, and the neighbouring chiefs became impressed with a high sense of the Guru s superiority and a vague dread of his ambition. But Gobind ever dwelt upon the fate of his father, and "the
on modify-
oppressive bigotry of Aurangzeb; study and reflection had enlarged his mind, experience of the world had matured his judgement, and, under the mixed impulse of avenging his own and his country's wrongs, he reing the Mu- solved upon awakening his followers to a new life, hammadan and upon giving precision and aim to the broad and faith and general institutions of Nanak. In the heart of a powerpower. ful empire he set himself to the task of subverting it, Gobind's and from the midst of social degradation and religious views and corruption, he called up simplicity of manners, singleTTiolives; ness of purpose, and enthusiasm of desire."^ ing the
system of Nanak, and on combat-
of Tegh Bahadur, and it is said they partly owed their success to the exertions of that Makhan Shah, who had been the first to hail the deceased as Guru. 1 The accounts mostly agree as to this seclusion and occupation of Gobind during his early manhood; but Forster
(Travels, i. 301)
and also some Gurumukhi accounts, state that
he was taken to Patna in the first instance, and that he lived there for some time before he retired to the Srinagar hills. 2 The period is nowhere definitely given by English or Indian writers; but from a comparison of dates and circumstances, it seems probable that Gobind did not take upon himself a new and special character as a teacher of men until about the thirty-fifth year, or until the year 1695 of Christ. A Sikh author, indeed, quoted by Malcolm (Sketch, p. 186, note) makes Gobind's reforms date from a.d. 1696; but contradictorily one or more of Gobind's sayings or writings are made to date about the same period from the south of India, whither he proceeded only just before his death. The ordinary accounts represent Gobind, as they represent his grandfather, to have been mainly moved to wage war against'Muhammadans by a desire of avenging the death of his parent. It would be unreasonable to deny to Gobind the merit of other motives likewise; but, doubtless, the fierce feeling in question strongly impelled him in the prosecution of his lofty and comprehensive design. The sentiment is indeed common to it is as common in the present Indian as all times and places '5
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