Hargobind

Guru Hargobind Singh (1595–1644) was the sixth Sikh Guru, succeeding his father, Guru Arjan, in 1606 after Arjan’s martyrdom. He is remembered for introducing a martial dimension to Sikhism and for shaping the community’s approach to political and military authority while maintaining spiritual leadership.

A central feature of his leadership was the concept of Miri-Piri, a balance between temporal (miri) and spiritual (piri) authority. He wore two swords as symbols of this principle and organized a standing Sikh military force to defend the community against oppression and coercion. He also emphasized discipline, governance, and social responsibility as part of religious life. To symbolize temporal sovereignty within the Sikh tradition, he oversaw the construction of the Akal Takht in the Harmandir Sahib complex, establishing a seat of authority distinct from Mughal rule.

Tradition notes that he was imprisoned in Gwalior Fort for a time, along with his followers, by Jahangir, and was released after negotiations. After his release, he continued to lead and strengthen the Sikh community’s organizational and military capabilities, affecting the trajectory of Sikh polity in northern India.

Guru Hargobind died in 1644 at Kiratpur, in present-day Punjab, India. His legacy lies in advancing the idea of a warrior-saint who could uphold spiritual duties while defending the community, a framework that influenced the development of Sikh political and military organization in later centuries.