The Guru always carried his two swords, which are known as 'Piri' and Miri' meaning devotion/ spirituality and bravery to live worldly life ethically. He had established Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru of the Sikhs, which is followed by the Sikhs with great reverence.

Guru Gobind Singh was a gifted intellectual and wrote many spiritual compositions that infused zestful spirit among the people. He also included the Jaapji Sahib as the spiritual guide of the Khalsa and his writings have been collected in the Dasam Granth.

He introduced 'five K's' called Kesh, Kangha, Kara, Kacchera and Kirpan as Sikh identity. He forbade smoking by Sikhs and held that smoking was an unclean and injurious habit.

Some of the prominent teachings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji culled out of his 52 Hukams or orders are as follows.

Earn by honest means. Don't be lazy while doing work. Do not engage in slander, gossip or spite anyone. Do not refrain from doing righteous deeds. Do as much service/ sewa as you can for foreigners, the needy and the troubled. Refrain from engaging in theft, adultery/ promiscuity/ permissiveness, fraud, deceit, embezzlement. Do not give false testimony.

Follow the discipline of the 5 K's strictly. Abandon worldly falsehoods and tobacco-poison. Do not partake of alcoholic drinks.

Accept Guru Granth Sahib Ji as Guru. Practise Shabad Gurbani in life. Listen to and do kirtan and Gurbani discourses daily. Keep the religious discipline high and pure. Study the books and knowledge of other faiths. But trust Gurbani and Akal Purukh.

At birth, death, or marriage ceremonies, do Japji Sahib, make Karaah Parshaad, do five stanzas of Anand Sahib, do ardaas, and then distribute Karaah Parshaad to the Panj Pyare, the Granthi, and then to the sangat. Do not start married life without Anand Karaj. Recognize all other women other than your wife as mothers and sisters. Do not engage in marital behaviour with them. Do not silence your wife.

May the teachings of Guru Gobind Singhji Sahib reflect goodness and compassion in all of us to bring the glow of happiness and prosperity in our lives!