Executive Briefing: The Dual Swords of Guru Hargobind
Sixth Guru Hargobind donned two swords: Piri (spiritual leadership) and Miri (temporal political authority and defense against tyranny), instituting the Akal Takht opposite the Harmandir Sahib.
1. The Refusal of Ascetic Withdrawal
Sikhism explicitly rejects monastic withdrawal from civil society. A Sikh must be householder (*Grishti*), earn an honest living (*Kirat Karo*), share with the needy (*Vand Chhako*), and resist political injustice through temporal means when diplomacy fails.
2. References
- Singh, K. (1963). A History of the Sikhs (Vol. 1). Princeton University Press.