During the Jaap Sahib course back in June we heard a very interesting recording of the Siri Singh Sahib ji describing the difference features of Guru Gobind Singh.
The question that was asked was: "Can you please describe what it would have been like be in the court of Guru Gobind Singh when he was alive…."
This recording is an excerpt from a Question and Answer session at Khalsa Woman’s Training Camp (July 14th 1981).
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Im doubting him, but how could Yogi Bhajan know all of this? I heard stories that Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji were both 7ft tall….
Shan Singh, you are rightly entitled to your own opinion….but what purpose will it serve to doubt these things…and try to make Guru Gobind Singh more ordinary in your mind? I have always heard about Guru Gobind Singh being very short and with long arms.
Guru Gobind Singh was no ordinary human so I would expect him to be extraordinary in every way. History has recorded many things about the Gurus and I would guess that many of these accounts are what Siri Singh Sahib was describing.
Anways…let’s look at this in an adventurous and inspiring way…rather than taking it as gospel, and questioning every detail. One doesn’t have to agree with everything to appreciate the uniqueness of Guru Gobind Singh ji which is described in this audio.
Gurumustuk veerji
after listening to this audio, i did ask my elders about GURU JI ’s height, and they told me same thing that his height was short.
Shan Veerji
our GURU JI was spiritualy very very tall!
Thank u Gurumustuk for giving us the opportunity to listen this beautiful account of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
I disagree with comment made MR Shan Singh .
Yogi Bhajan a blessed spirit was connected a true saint, why should he be doubted he devouted his life to the Guru and an inspirational soul.
He had the blessed vision, and no one should be Doubt this.
God send his special staff to this world and Yogi ji was a part of this special staff.
The account given has moved me and I could picture the blessed darshan of GGBJI through the word of Yogi Bhajan ji.
Anand Anand
It’s not the physical Guru Gobind Singh that matters, but the spirit of Nanak that made Dasmesh Paatshah an extremely extraordinary Guru. I have always imagined Guru Gobind Singh Ji as being an over six foot tall and good build but I’m reaching s stage where my soul now seeks to get closer to his soul than to imagine how wonderful he looked in physique. It would be great to get a complete and true image of his physical form, but I guess we are not at the stage where we can behold that physical vision, let alone behold his spiritual form. What Yogi Ji is describing is eye-opening and amazing. What is unbelievable is what is so extraordinary about the Guru.
Guru Nanak devji has showed and taught us at a very deep levels of knowledge and monumental levels of spirtuality. He has shown in a practical way so that people will not have any doubts, low self esteem, and have a sense of hopelessness about themselves of achieving very high levels of spirutality. In brief points Guruji has shown us that:
1) In order to obtain or emerge with God we don’t need to belong to a certain blood line. ( Guruji showed by not giving his light to his own sons)
2) In order to reach the level of Guruji, Age makes no difference! ( Guru Amar das ji recevied that light at very old age and where as Guru Harkrishin ji recevied that light at very young age) Therefore, we cannot make excuse that I’m to0 old or too young to reach that monumental stage!!!
3) In God’s eye or Guruji’s eye everyone is equal irrespective of physical achievements.
4)Anyone can achieve that stage by uttering Naam and also be humble,service and be nonjudgemental about others . All these qualities go parallel with each other.
5) Its all about Love. God is only energy of love and nothing else……..
I could write more………
Does yogiji provide any reference to any source in regards to Guruji physical characteristics, mainly the short height and long arms
Because if he doesn’t, how could yogiji believe it to be fact and yourself Gurumustak (and others of your community who have published books quoting yogiji’s description)take this short height, long arms - not only to be true, but be gospel truth
Ofcourse the other charateristics are obvious (Guruji was the master of yogi’s, possessing immense physical strength & agility, and of perfect conduct and temperament, since is GURU i.e. the enlightener, creater of enlightenment, GU-RU light that dispels darkness GU-RU)
What else could Guruji be but be perfect, beyond perfect
But 5 foot 4.2 inches, and long arms and long hands that can scratch the ankles while standing - I don’t believe it
The Siri Singh Sahib was not the only person to describe Guru Gobind Singh to be short with long arms. I have heard it from others and read it elsewhere, though I do not have references so you’ll have to take my word for it. I heard from other sources as well that Guru Nanak was around 7 feet tall.
When the Siri Singh Sahib gave lectures, occasionally he would ask a question such as ‘what do you call this?’ and somebody from the audience would answer ‘ankle,’ so it’s possible he was referring to his calf or knee even. Some people have long arms, my arm spand and long hands are longer than my height unlike the vitruvian man.
It’s easy to think of Guru Gobind Singh as a man of smaller stature if you ever see any artefacts associated with him. Such as shasters or chakars, which make him seem to have a narrow hand and head.
Nice story telling….. Amazing confidence in narrating… Like it was wittnessed first hand…. WOW… I wonder if Singh jee ever visited other Gurdwaras as Katha Vachak (guest speaker/story teller/narrator)….
PS. Just noticed the amount of reduction in comments left on the blog sice Anonymous comments have been barred.
I have had heard that Guru Sahib ji was short in height. If we read “Chando Rai” chapter in Guru Kalgidhar chamatkar, Bhai Vir Singh has clearly mentioned about Guru ji’s long arms streching upto his knees. I had asked one of my uncles who once shared his experience with me of Guru Gobind Singh ji’s Darshan that how tall was Guruji and uncle told me that Guruji was tall in that “Darshan”. But, then again, it does not really matter that how was Guruji physically but it does matter a lot that how tall we are spiritually to see Guruji..
Waheguru Waheguru
Sat sri akal
I have listened to SSS, and have no doubt that he is correct in everyway with regards to Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
However, i have never pictured Guru ji in SSS’s description.
I’ve always have believed and always will believe that Guru Gobind Singh Ji was a very Tall and Strong person. I’ve always seen Guru ji to be at least 6 foot if not seven, however never 5″4. In every picture ive seen of Guru ji, he seems to be much taller than everybody else.
Waheguru ji ka khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh
P.s Could post some more yogi bhagan lectures thank you!
The account Of Guru Gobind Singh ji’s height in Guru Kalgidhar Chamatkar written by Bhai Vir Singh Ji who had done extensive research is diffrent.
It mentions that Maharaja Ranjit Singh during his time wanted to meet someone who had seen Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Ultimately they found a very old and frail Nihang Singh ( Past 100yrs) who was brought on a Palanquin to his court with great reverence. The Nihang Singh described Guru ji as very tall, slim, agile, with long arms and with a great aura ( Jallaal)and with an electric presence.
I read this long ago….but I am going to unpack my books and go back to this chapter, translate it and again write this for your info.
In any case it is not the physical attributes of the Guru that are so important as the great work and sacrifice that they did for the entire humanity.
I disagree about the 10th master being 5ft 4.2 inches tall with very long arms.
My grandmother who is 86 now claims that in 1975 at Nander Maharastar state of India,she had an experience of Guru jee getting off a blue horse and saying “bibi don’t worry read Baani daily.”
she described Guru jee being tall,slender with a glowing extremely handsome face and an a voice that infused vitality into you.
wahaguru ji ka khalsa wahaguru ji ki fateh
i amliving in canada from last 8 years & i allways had the strong craving to see &meet singh sahib ji but it never fulfilled iluv sikh net.com iam die hard fan of sss & sikh net iwant to listen sss more & more because it enrich our knowledge he had the comending voice & powerful knowledge i 100% agree with him because of kundilini yoga & dhyan he has given the clear picture of guru gobind singh ji and in near future please,please provide more & more lecture”s & katha from singh sahib ji own voice so that we may diciplne ourselves & our children.
sat sri akal wgjkkwgjkf.
Waheguru Ji Ka Kalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
I totally agree to Sri Singh Sahib. In my youth, while i was living in Amritsar, i had the expierience of listning to many katha wachakhs and guru ke pyare talking about Guru Ji’s short height, long arms (extending below the kneecaps) and the magnificent jalaal on his face. I think that the misunderstanding about this topic is because as we look upon the achievments and miracles of Guru Ji, we get the interpretation that he would have been very tall. We should do our research before we start disagreeing with somebody who is far more experienced than us.
Sat Sri Akalji Pyaro,
Though i have not heard the lecture on the topic about Guru Gobind Singh ji yet, and it get over 15 replies debating over is height . In my humble message to all brothers and sisters, i think its a very irrelevant issue , and it should not change any thing we beleive or think, about his great deeds and sacrifice to Sikhism and the world….He is our Guru, our father, however we imagine him to be, he is exactly like we imagine….as long as it just allow us to love him more, love his teachings more, and if that will take an imagination of Guruji being 10 feet, so be it.So lets not debate - clarify…our Gurujis height, but lets ourself try to reach that height he wants us to be with.
Waheguru Ang Sang..love to all
Gurjeet Singh (Happy)
Ive always wanted to be a few inches taller… now i suppose it doesnt matter :D
With due regards to everybody, I think that we all are too low to even imagine how Guru ji looked like. Think and visualise only about Guru’s bare feet, where you can put my head and achieve salvation. How can you discuss about a shape and appearance, by looking at which you loose concept of life, death and time. I am worthless and incapable to discuss Guru ji appearance. Only people of Yogi ji stature have ability to discuss Guru ji..
Gurfateh, jio.
I remember that lecture very clearly, and it is one of my fondness memories. Siri Singh Sahib did not quote any reference for this information, and neither did he say that this came from a personal darshan of Dashmesh Pitaji. Siri Singh Sahib’s youth was spent at the feet of a couple powerful teachers, and he was very versed in the aural tradition of the Nihungs as well as the Nirmalis. So, much of his information comes from the aural histories that have been passed on for generations. I don’t think there is any obligation to take it literally if you don’t want to. However, if it resonates as truth within you, then there is no harm in believing this to be fact.
I am very keen to hear the translation of Bhai Vir Singh’s writings as mentioned by Veer Singh.
Waheguru…Waheguru…
Could anyone tell us where can we find Siri Singh Sahib’s punjabi Katha?.
Humbly
Singhu, you can hear some on this blog in the audio/video or browse through some of the previous blog posts
I spoke with my father regarding the height issue of Guru Gobind singh ji. First all he said its not important but then he mentioned that he was less than six feet so he could be 5feet 7to 9 inches tall. but he said that our seventh master was about 7ft and 3inches tall etc.
However at the end of conversation he said that these issues are not important, and the important thing is to meditate upon God, do seva, and be humble and thats the essence of sikh way of life………
Ha ha!!
Being shortish (5′6″) myself, the reaction to the height issue amuses me.
A lot of people associate short as being a bad thing!! Some are horrified by hearing that Guru ji was short. I guess the issue stems from people hearing that Guru ji was perfect, this then builds a mental picture based upon a personal opinion of what perfect is.
I have to admit that I had not heard about Guru ji’s height before, so I pictured him as being tall. However I had heard from a Nihung that Guru ji had long arms, this is why he was particularly talented with the bow and arrow.
I’m going to mention that (waheguru)/guru is joot saroop that is what i saw in my meditation, the only parkash like a sun that remove the darkness.I’m saying true
I have met many people who have seen guru Gobind Singh ji Maharaj physically,
Guru Sahib ji physically tall, very slim with long arms up to knees and lot of light like a diamond. even u can meet with those people who have seen physical body of guru Gobind Singh ji today.
You know what is the reason that other people have seen guru ji because they love, they do virag(weeping to see) and do simran continue with rehat.
I’ve many true stories of GGS ji Darshan
If any body want to know more about Guru Gobind singh ji please don’t hesitate to contact me,
Taranjit_g@hotmail.com
Well everyone, what a fantastic discussion that has absolutely no point what so ever!
Why do are you trying to understand the 10th Gurus size and stature?
Look at what he accomplished and what he has left behind as a legacy.
But just to give you some logic.
1. Guru Gobind Singh was a Punjabi.
2. Punjabi’s tend to have an average height of at least 5′8
3. Exercise and good diet when young will encourage good physique.
4. To command such valour and bravery and to spearhead the final evolution of the Sikh into a Saint Solider, by example (i.e. amazing marksmen, sword fighter, horse rider etc) would need someone that is well proportioned, not someone as has been described above.
In my final point please bear in mind sounds like the original person posting this description has seriously been confused with Maharaja Ranjit Singh who was of that stature, however no long arms. We are not apes, but homo sapiens.
WAHEGUROO JEE KAA KHALSA
WAHEGUROO JEE KEE FATEH
Singh Sahib jee is very great soul, may be my words are adequate in describing him,but sikhnet.com has made me know him. He is right for me at least for what he says untill I am at spiritual stage as of him. Rest, SHRI GURU GOBIND SINGH JEE is GOD HIMSELF in human body. Singh Sahib has praised GURU SAHIB but He himself knows GURU SAHIB cant be described even by ones who saw HIM. I have no doubt no complaint or anything for Singh Sahib.just that if anybody has love to see HIM, do their own JAP, GURU SAHIB will be there HIMSELF. i am very thankful and greatful to Singh Sahib and others who dircetly indirectly support this effort for this recording. forgive me for anything wrong if i have said.
WAHEGUROO JEE KAA KHALSA
WAHEGUROO JEE KEE FATEH
khushdeep singh
guru jii was not alive in 1975!
hey wahe guru khiwa ho thane ji