It’s today on Magar Sudhi 3 1732 BK (17th December 1675), Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji inaugurated Guru Gobind Rai Ji as the 10th Guru, two (2) days before He sacrificed Himself for the freedom of faith.

Guru Gobind Rai Ji’s age was only 10 Years 11 months 16 days. The Guruship was inaugurated in a complete compliance to the Sikh Conduct (Maryada) although Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji was 312 km away in Delhi. Guru Ji demonstrated a perfect amalgamation between the spiritual and worldly matters.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji illustrated to the world, the capability of his son, Guru Gobind Rai through an assessment when the latter composed a Dohra as a reply to the letters containing the 52 Saloks of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji (Salok Mahalla 9).

The Dohra reads,

ਬਲੁ ਛੁਟਕਿਓ ਬੰਧਨ ਪਰੇ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਹੋਤ ਉਪਾਇ ॥

My strength is exhausted, and I am in bondage; I cannot do anything at all to release myself.

ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਅਬ ਓਟ ਹਰਿ ਗਜਿ ਜਿਉ ਹੋਹੁ ਸਹਾਇ ॥੫੩॥

Says Guru Nanak, now, Almighty is my only Support; He will help me, as He did for the elephant . ||53|| (SGGSJ 1429-6, Selok, M: 9)

The above was delivered to Anandpur Sahib through a Sikh and upon receiving it in Anandpur Sahib, Guru Gobind Rai Ji read it aloud to the Sanggat. The message contained the sermons on the conclusion of life in the union with the supreme Waheguru.

Guru Gobind Rai Ji composed 54th Dohra to realise the ultimate strength and capability of Waheguru in total submission to Guru Nanak.

ਬਲੁ ਹੋਆ ਬੰਦਨ ਛੁਟੇ ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਹੋਤ ਉਪਾਇ ॥

My strength has been restored, and my bonds have been broken; now, I can do everything.

ਨਾਨਕ ਸਭ ਿਕਛੁ ਤੁਮਰੈ ਹਾਥ ਮੈ ਤੁਮ ਹੀ ਹੋਤ ਸਹਾਇ ॥੫੪॥

Nanak: everything is in Your hands, Lord; You are my Helper and Support. ((54))

(SGGSJ 1429-6, Selok, M: 9)

Bhai Jetta was assigned by Guru Gobind Rai to deliver the written Gurbani to Delhi. He bid farewell and left immediately for Delhi. He travelled day and night and within a short period of time he had reached his destination. Without any fear, he went straight into the prison and met Guru Ji there. He bowed down and paid his respects to Guru Ji. When he looked up, he saw Guru Ji’s radiant face. He gave the letter and told Guru Ji about the family back home. Guru Ji took the letter and read it very quickly. He was very pleased with the reply given by His son.

Guru Ji then pondered to Himself, “My son has meditated on Almighty for thousands of years in His previous life. He is the manifestation of Almighty himself. If the earth is likened to a lake then He is like a swan on the lake. In His previous form, He had defeated many undefeatable demons. During Satyug, human beings meditated over long periods of time and obtained great powers. Seeing human beings meditating like that even the deities became worried that they may acquire more powers than them. God has blessed me with a son who is very high spiritually as a reward for my meditation. He will sit on Guru Nanak’s throne and liberate millions of human beings. Although He has great powers He did not reveal it at all in the letter. I have learnt how to bear the unbearable but my son has even higher capacity than me in toleration. He is qualified in all ways to sit on Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s throne”.

Guru Ji was very happy after reading the letter. He said to the Sikh, “Please go and get a coconut and a five cents and bring it here without any delay. Make sure the coconut is fresh.”

The Sikh left the prison and went to get what Guru Ji had ordered. He managed to get a very nice coconut and gave it to Guru Ji with a five cents coin.

Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji held the two items in his hand and thinking of His son in His heart He offered it to Him together with the powerful throne of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The light that was in the nine Gurus was placed in the tenth Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Rai Ji.

Guru Ji bestowed the Guruship upon Sri Guru Gobind Rai Ji on the 17th December 1675 and sent the Guruship insignia together with the following three Dohras (55, 56, 57) through Bhai Jetta to Sri Anandpur Sahib and announced that from today onwards, Guru Gobind Singh Ji will be the tenth Guru of the Sikhs. Guru Ji then said, “Take this and give to Sri Gobind Rai Ji. He is now the Guru. Do not delay travel day and night with great speed and meet Him.”

(Reference: Life of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji – The Epitome of Mercy Published by Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Academy