Guru Hargobind: The Sixth Sikh Guru

Guru Hargobind, honoured as Guru Hargobind Ji, was the sixth of the ten Sikh Gurus and the son and successor of Guru Arjan Dev. Taking up the guruship in the aftermath of his father’s martyrdom, he is remembered above all for introducing the principle of Miri-Piri, which joins worldly and spiritual authority, teaching that the Sikh is to attend both to the life of the spirit and to the just order of the world. Sikh tradition holds that he built the Akal Takht, the throne of the timeless one, facing the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar, and that under him the community took up arms in self-defence. He is later associated with the town of Kiratpur in the Punjab. His life belongs to the devotional world that shaped the wider Bhakti movement of India, and this guide presents it as the Sikh tradition holds it, with reverence and care.

Key Takeaways

• Guru Hargobind was the sixth of the ten Sikh Gurus and the son of Guru Arjan Dev.
• He introduced the principle of Miri-Piri, joining worldly and spiritual authority.
• Sikh tradition holds that he built the Akal Takht facing the Harmandir Sahib.
• Under him the Sikh community took up arms in self-defence.
• His guruship followed the martyrdom of his father, Guru Arjan Dev.
• He is later associated with the town of Kiratpur in the Punjab.

The sections below explain, as the Sikh tradition holds, who Guru Hargobind was, his names, how he became the sixth Guru, the principle of Miri-Piri, the Akal Takht, the taking up of arms in self-defence, his teachings, his association with Kiratpur, his place in the lineage of the Gurus, and his continuing honour in the Sikh faith.

Quick Facts

Who Was Guru Hargobind?

Guru Hargobind was the sixth of the ten Sikh Gurus and the son and successor of Guru Arjan Dev. Sikh tradition remembers him for introducing the principle of Miri-Piri, which joins worldly and spiritual authority, and for guiding the community through a time of trial following the martyrdom of his father.

Honoured as Guru Hargobind Ji, he is held by tradition to have built the Akal Takht facing the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar, and under him the community took up arms in self-defence. He is later associated with the town of Kiratpur in the Punjab. He lived in the seventeenth century, and the details of his life are preserved within the Sikh tradition. His guruship marked a time in which the spiritual mission of the Gurus was joined to a readiness to stand for justice and to defend the faith and the vulnerable. Guru Hargobind stands as a Guru of new resolve, remembered with deep reverence across the Sikh world.

What Are the Other Names of Guru Hargobind?

Guru Hargobind is honoured with the respectful title Guru Hargobind Ji, the honorific Ji being added as a sign of reverence, as is customary in speaking of the Sikh Gurus. He is known by this name as the sixth of the ten Gurus of the Sikh faith.

In accounts of his life and work he appears simply as Guru Hargobind, and the title Guru marks his place in the lineage of the Sikh Gurus who followed Guru Nanak. Knowing the way his name is written helps a reader recognise him across different sources, where the honorifics may or may not be included. Whichever form is used, he is honoured as the sixth Sikh Guru, the son and successor of Guru Arjan Dev and the Guru who introduced the principle of Miri-Piri. The clear and consistent form of his name reflects the firm place he holds within the revered succession of the ten Gurus of Sikhism.

How Did Guru Hargobind Become the Sixth Guru?

Guru Hargobind became the sixth Sikh Guru as the son and chosen successor of Guru Arjan Dev, taking up the guruship in the aftermath of his father’s martyrdom. Sikh tradition holds that he was entrusted with guiding the community through a time of great trial.

The tradition tells that, following the sacrifice of Guru Arjan Dev, the young Guru took up his office with a new resolve, teaching that the Sikh must attend both to the life of the spirit and to the just order of the world. He is held to have introduced the principle of Miri-Piri and to have built the Akal Takht facing the Harmandir Sahib, and under him the community took up arms in self-defence. The succession of Guru Hargobind is honoured within the Sikh tradition as a response to a moment of trial, in which the faith found a Guru who joined devotion to a readiness to stand for justice, carrying forward the light of the Gurus.

What Is the Principle of Miri-Piri?

Miri-Piri is the principle, introduced by Guru Hargobind, that joins worldly and spiritual authority, teaching that the Sikh is to attend both to the just order of the world and to the life of the spirit. It is one of the most important and enduring teachings of his guruship.

Sikh tradition holds that Miri refers to worldly or temporal authority and Piri to spiritual authority, and that the two are to be held together rather than kept apart. The principle teaches that devotion of the spirit is joined to a readiness to stand for justice and to defend the faith and the vulnerable. It is held to be symbolised by the wearing of two swords, representing these two authorities united in the Guru. The principle of Miri-Piri shaped the later character of the Sikh community, which came to join spiritual devotion with a commitment to justice and self-defence. It remains a defining teaching of the Sikh faith, expressing the unity of the inner and the outer life.

What Is the Akal Takht?

The Akal Takht is the seat of temporal authority in the Sikh tradition, built, as the tradition holds, by Guru Hargobind facing the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar. Its name may be understood as the throne of the timeless one, and it stands as a symbol of the worldly authority joined with the spiritual in the principle of Miri-Piri.

Sikh tradition holds that from the Akal Takht Guru Hargobind attended to the temporal affairs of the community, while the Harmandir Sahib remained the centre of spiritual devotion, the two together expressing the union of Miri and Piri. The Akal Takht became a central institution of the Sikh faith, a place from which matters concerning the community were addressed. Standing before the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar, it embodies in stone the teaching that worldly and spiritual authority belong together. The building of the Akal Takht by Guru Hargobind is cherished as a lasting expression of the principle of Miri-Piri at the very heart of the Sikh faith.

Why Did the Sikh Community Take Up Arms in Self-Defence?

The Sikh community took up arms in self-defence under Guru Hargobind, as the Sikh tradition holds, in response to the trials the faith had faced, so that it might defend itself, protect the vulnerable and stand for justice. This is understood within the principle of Miri-Piri, which joins spiritual devotion to a readiness to act in the world.

Following the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, the tradition holds, Guru Hargobind taught that the community must be able to defend its faith and the weak against injustice, joining the sword of worldly authority to the devotion of the spirit. The taking up of arms was understood as a means of protection and of standing for justice, not of aggression. This development shaped the later character of the Sikh community, which came to hold together devotion and the defence of righteousness. The readiness to stand in self-defence under Guru Hargobind is remembered in the Sikh tradition as an expression of Miri-Piri and of the resolve the faith found in a time of trial.

What Did Guru Hargobind Teach?

Guru Hargobind taught, as the Sikh tradition holds, the message of the Gurus who went before him, calling people to remember the one divine, to live honestly and humbly and to serve others, while adding the teaching that spiritual devotion is to be joined with a readiness to stand for justice in the world.

Through the principle of Miri-Piri he taught that the Sikh must attend both to the life of the spirit and to the just order of the world, holding the two together. He upheld the devotion, equality and service taught by the earlier Gurus, while guiding the community to defend its faith and the vulnerable against injustice. His teaching thus joined the inner path of devotion to a concern for righteousness in the world. The teaching of Guru Hargobind is cherished for carrying forward the founding vision of Guru Nanak and for giving it a new expression suited to a time of trial, shaping the character of the Sikh community for the generations that followed.

How Did Guru Hargobind Shape the Sikh Community?

Guru Hargobind shaped the Sikh community by joining its spiritual devotion to a readiness to stand for justice and to defend the faith, through the principle of Miri-Piri, the building of the Akal Takht and the taking up of arms in self-defence. His guruship gave the community a new resolve.

Sikh tradition holds that under his guidance the community came to understand that devotion of the spirit and concern for the just order of the world belong together, so that the Sikh was called to be both a devotee and a defender of righteousness. This shaped the later character of the faith, which held together worship and the protection of the vulnerable. The institutions and teachings of his guruship, above all Miri-Piri and the Akal Takht, left a lasting mark on the community. The shaping of the Sikh community by Guru Hargobind is honoured as a response to a time of trial that gave the faith a resolve and a character that endured in the generations that followed.

Where Is Kiratpur, Associated with Guru Hargobind?

Kiratpur is a town in the Punjab in northern India associated with the later part of the life of Guru Hargobind, who is remembered by Sikh tradition as having settled there. It is honoured as a place bound up with the memory of the sixth Sikh Guru.

Sikh tradition holds that Guru Hargobind spent a period of his guruship at Kiratpur, where he guided the community and continued the devotional and temporal mission of his office. The town thus became a centre associated with the sixth Guru and a place of gathering for the Sikhs of the region. Gurdwaras at Kiratpur honour his memory and draw devotees who come to pay their respects. The association of Guru Hargobind with Kiratpur keeps his memory present in the sacred geography of the Punjab, where the town is cherished as one of the places made holy by the presence of a Sikh Guru during the later years of his guruship.

How Was Guru Hargobind Associated with Both Devotion and Justice?

Guru Hargobind was associated with both devotion and justice because, through the principle of Miri-Piri, he taught that the Sikh must hold together the life of the spirit and a readiness to stand for righteousness in the world. This union of devotion and justice is the heart of his legacy.

Sikh tradition holds that he maintained the worship, equality and service of the earlier Gurus while teaching that the community must also defend its faith and the vulnerable against injustice. The Harmandir Sahib remained the centre of spiritual devotion, while the Akal Takht he built expressed worldly authority, the two together embodying Miri and Piri. In this way devotion and justice were held as one. The association of Guru Hargobind with both devotion and justice is cherished in the Sikh tradition as a defining vision of the faith, in which the inner life of the spirit and the outer stand for righteousness are not opposed but joined in the service of the divine.

Who Succeeded Guru Hargobind?

Guru Hargobind was succeeded by Guru Har Rai, who became the seventh of the ten Sikh Gurus. As the Sikh tradition holds, the guruship passed to a successor who would continue the devotional mission of the Gurus and the care of the community.

Tradition remembers Guru Har Rai as a Guru of compassion who upheld the teachings of those before him and is especially recalled for his kindness and his care for the needy and the sick. The succession from Guru Hargobind to Guru Har Rai reflects the continuity of the Sikh guruship as a lineage of light passed from Guru to chosen successor. It links the Guru who introduced Miri-Piri and gave the community its new resolve to the Gurus who followed, carrying forward the vision of the faith in the later seventeenth century. The lineage of the ten Gurus would continue until the guruship passed, in the Sikh tradition, to the sacred scripture revered as the living Guru.

How Does Guru Hargobind Fit the Sikh Tradition of the Gurus?

Guru Hargobind fits within the Sikh tradition as the sixth of the ten Gurus, the Guru who introduced the principle of Miri-Piri and gave the community a new resolve in a time of trial. His guruship joined the spiritual mission of the Gurus to a readiness to stand for justice and to defend the faith.

The Sikh tradition holds that the light of the first Guru passed in turn to each of his successors, so that the ten Gurus are revered as a single continuous guidance. Within this lineage Guru Hargobind holds the place of the Guru who united worldly and spiritual authority, built the Akal Takht and led the community to take up its own defence. His teachings shaped the later character of the faith. Seeing Guru Hargobind within the lineage of the ten Gurus helps a reader appreciate how the Sikh faith came to hold together devotion and the defence of righteousness, carrying the guidance of the Gurus through a difficult age.

How Is Guru Hargobind Honoured and Remembered?

Guru Hargobind is honoured in the Sikh tradition as the sixth of the ten Gurus, the introducer of Miri-Piri, the builder of the Akal Takht and the Guru who gave the community its new resolve. His memory is cherished by Sikhs across the world and kept especially at Amritsar and Kiratpur.

His teachings are honoured within the Sikh tradition, and the Akal Takht he built remains a central institution of the faith, standing before the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar. The principle of Miri-Piri he introduced continues to shape the Sikh understanding of the union of devotion and justice. Gurdwaras associated with him, at Amritsar and at Kiratpur, draw devotees who come to pay their respects. The honour given to Guru Hargobind reflects the reverence in which all the Sikh Gurus are held, and his place among them keeps his memory present in the worship, institutions and sacred geography of the Sikh faith.

Guru Hargobind Today

Guru Hargobind today is remembered as the sixth of the ten Sikh Gurus, honoured for introducing the principle of Miri-Piri, for building the Akal Takht facing the Harmandir Sahib and for giving the community a new resolve to stand for justice. His legacy remains a living presence in the Sikh faith.

The Akal Takht he built remains a central institution of the faith, and the principle of Miri-Piri continues to shape the Sikh understanding of the union of devotion and justice. His memory is kept with reverence, above all at Amritsar and at Kiratpur, with which the later part of his life is associated. His life is presented as the Sikh tradition holds it, with care and without false precision about a figure of the distant past. The legacy of Guru Hargobind endures as a reminder that in the Sikh faith the life of the spirit and the stand for righteousness in the world are held together, a vision that continues to guide and inspire the Sikh community.

Sources & Further Reading

• Ministry of Culture, Government of India (indiaculture.gov.in).
• Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Punjab.
• General Sikh studies references on the lives of the Sikh Gurus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Guru Hargobind?

Guru Hargobind was the sixth of the ten Sikh Gurus and the son and successor of Guru Arjan Dev. He introduced the principle of Miri-Piri, joining worldly and spiritual authority, built the Akal Takht facing the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar, and led the community to take up arms in self-defence.

What is the principle of Miri-Piri introduced by Guru Hargobind?

Miri-Piri is the principle, introduced by Guru Hargobind, that joins worldly and spiritual authority, teaching that the Sikh must attend both to the just order of the world and to the life of the spirit. It is held to be symbolised by two swords and shaped the Sikh union of devotion and justice.

What is the Akal Takht built by Guru Hargobind?

The Akal Takht is the seat of temporal authority in the Sikh tradition, built by Guru Hargobind facing the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar. Its name may be understood as the throne of the timeless one, and it expresses the worldly authority joined with the spiritual in the principle of Miri-Piri.

Why did the Sikh community take up arms under Guru Hargobind?

The Sikh community took up arms in self-defence under Guru Hargobind, as tradition holds, in response to the trials the faith had faced, so that it might defend itself, protect the vulnerable and stand for justice. This is understood within the principle of Miri-Piri as devotion joined to action in the world.

Where is Guru Hargobind associated in his later life?

Guru Hargobind is associated in his later life with the town of Kiratpur in the Punjab, where Sikh tradition holds that he settled and continued to guide the community. Gurdwaras there honour his memory and draw devotees who come to pay their respects to the sixth Sikh Guru.

Who succeeded Guru Hargobind?

Guru Hargobind was succeeded by Guru Har Rai, who became the seventh of the ten Sikh Gurus. Sikh tradition remembers Guru Har Rai as a Guru of compassion who upheld the teachings of those before him and is especially recalled for his kindness and care for the needy and the sick.