Guru Gobind Singh Ji's 350th Prakash Parv: Things you should know about the spiritual master

Guru Gobind Singh Ji's 350th Prakash Parv or birth anniversary happens to fall on January 5, 2017, and to mark the auspicious day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi too shall arrive in Bihar and partake in the celebrations thereon.

Guru Gobind Singh was born as Gobind Rai and was the 10th Sikh Guru or spiritual master. Born to parents Guru Tegh Bahadur, who was the 9th Sikh Guru and Mata Gujri—he was the only son. The spiritual master was born in Patna, Bihar.

The divine shrine of Takht Sri Patna Harimandar Sahib happens to mark the site of the house where he was born and spent the first four years of his life. Guru Gobind Singh ji was formally anointed as the Sikh leader and master at a tender age of nine, making him the last of the living Sikh Gurus.

The 10th spiritual master lost four of his sons during the Mughal-Sikh wars—two were killed in the battle while other two were executed by the Mughal army.

He made several contributions to Sikhism in which founding the warrior Sikh community—Khalsa in 1699 was the most prominent one. Besides, he introduced the 5 K's that every Sikh follows:

Kesh: uncut hair

Kangha: a wooden comb

Kara: an iron or steel bracelet worn on the wrist

Kirpan: a sword

Kachchera: short breeches

Guru Gobind Singh Ji spread his spiritual teachings to a lot of followers. He wrote many Sikh texts and enshrines Guru Granth Sahib as the ultimate eternal Guru of Sikhism.

The teachings and philosophy of Guru Gobind Singh Ji continue to inspire many.