Page "Guru Hargobind" Paragraph 5

The reasons for Guru Hargobind to arm his followers were many.

Both externally and internally, the situation was changing, and the policy of the Guru had to be adjusted to a new environment.

The organisational development of Sikhism had mostly taken place during the tolerant days of Akbar, who had never interfered with it ; he had, on the contrary, even helped the Gurus in various ways.

But the execution of Guru Arjan at the hands of Jahangir and imprisonment of Hargobind definitely showed that sterner days were ahead, and the policy of mere peaceful organisation no longer sufficed.

Guru Arjan had foreseen and Guru Hargobind also clearly saw that it would no longer be possible to protect the Sikh community without the aid of arms.

He had a stable of eight hundred horses ; three hundred mounted followers were constantly in attendance upon him, and a guard of fifty-six matchlock-men secured his safety in person.