Hargobind

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: Hargobind

(born 1595, Wadali, India — died 1644, Kiratpur, near the Himalayas) Sixth Sikh Guru (1606 – 44). He became Guru after the execution of his father, Guru Arjan, by the Mughal rulers of India. Until his time, Sikhism had been a passive and peace-loving religion, but Hargobind gave it a strong military character in response to the enmity of the Mughals. He created an army, fortified cities, and built a defensive encampment near the holy city of Amritsar. For this he was jailed for 12 years by the emperor. After his release he defeated the armies of Shah Jahan, ending the notion of Mughal invincibility. He was succeeded by his grandson, Hari Rai.

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