2016-10-07 Fri

Guru Gobind Singh was the only child of Guru Tegh Bahadur, born in Patna 1666. He became the 10th Guru of the Sikhs at the age of nine. Over the years, with the increasing tyranny of the Mughal rulers led Guru Gobind Singh to militaries the Sikhs and create the Khalsa, a military order of Sikhs.

In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh formed the Khalsa sect and all male Sikhs were given the name ‘Singh’ lion and female were given the name ‘Kaur’ meaning princess. Guru Gobind Singh organized Sikh army to defend their kingdom from persecution under the Mughal government. The Guru and his Sikh army won numerous battles against opposing forces.

Guru Govind Singh was severely injured in 1708 and died. Before he died, Guru Gobind Singh declared that the holy book Guru Granth Saheb would be the future Guru to the Sikhs hereafter. It is believed that short after his death coins were minted independently by Sikhs.

The unique feature that distinguishes Sikh coins from other coins of the Indian Subcontinent during 18th and 19th centuries is the lack of the reference to the name of the current ruler. Maharaja Ranjeet Singh took pride in believing that their coins were struck with the names of Guru Nanak the founder of Sikh faith and Guru Gobind Singh the Khalsa brotherhood.

The main obverse inscriptions or couplets that feature on Sikh mohur and rupees are known as the Nanakshahi and Gobinshahi couplets. Govindshahi inscription has been given this title because the name of 10th guru features prominently in the inscription. ‘Gobindshahi’ and ‘Nanakshahi’ terms are used as two different groups of coinage in Sikh numismatics, as it is useful tool to distinguish the legend on the coins.

During the Khalsa republic era, after the death of Guru Gobind Singh official state legend that were stamped on official order that were issued in 1710. This legend continued to be used by the Sikhs a century later as the inscription on the regularly issued coins. The Sikh mohur and rupee i.e. gold and silver coins bore Persian inscription while the Sikh copper coins were often inscribed with the Gurumukhi script.

The seal impression of Banda Singh and the obverse inscription on Sikh coins used is

“Degh Tegh Fateh Nusrat Bedeang

Yaft az Nanak Guru Gobind Singh”

Which translates to - The kettle to feed, the sword to defend and the resultant victory have been achieved with the spontaneous help received from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh.

According to Sikh philosophy the 10 gurus were the reincarnation of Guru Nakak and therefore cover the entire period of Guruship, the 1st Guru to the 10th Guru.