Among the hill kings, Raja Medini Prakash of Sirmaur was a staunch supporter and devotee of Guru Gobind Singh. It was mainly due to his efforts that Raja Bheem Chand could not make a move against the Guru.
He requested Guru Gobind to grace his capital Nahan and bless his kingdom. Raja wanted to clearly demonstrate his support to Guru Sahib so that Raja Bheem Chand took a note of it and mended his ways. His aim also was to influence his neighbour, Raja Fateh Chand of Garhwal.
After consulting Mata Gujri and Masands Guru Gobind Singh accepted the invitation. After making necessary arrangement for Anandpur Sahib to carry on its business in his absence Guru Sahib set out for Nahan accompanied by some Sikh guards and relatives. On the way at Keeratpur he paid his respects to the samadhi of his grandfather Guru Hargobind.
At last on 14 April, 1685 Guru Gobind reached Nahan. Raja Medini Prakash accorded him very warm welcome. Guru and his entourage was put up in a grand palace. Guru Sahib stayed there for two weeks. Then, he took leave of the Raja and set out from Nahan to camp at a place 26 miles away.
Guru Gobind loved that place. Yamuna river flowed by its side and the scenes around were enchanting. Guru prayed there and took his meals. He liked the location so much that he laid the foundation of a fort on 26 April, 1685.
The faithfuls worked in a frenzy to raise the fort for the pleasure of their respected Guru. The fort came up in record time. That place was called ‘Paonta’ as Guru had set his foot (Paon) there. Now it became a temporary headquarter of Guru Gobind Singh. Like Anandpur prayer singing and discourses were held regularly as a daily exercise. Guru gave sermons and weapons training to legions of his followers at Paonta. Guru Sahib loved hunting and that place was ideal for that sport.
Guru Gobind Singh spent four years at Paonta from 1685 to 1689. During his sojourn at that place he wrote several books. One of them is ‘Krishnavatar’. In 1684 he had already written the book popularly called ‘Chandi di War’ based on Markandeya Purana which is considered to be one of his best literary creations.
Guru Gobind Singh’s literary talent really blossomed at Paonta. He wrote his best of the literary works here. The town attracted the writers and the poets from far and wide. His Paonta durbar had 52 appointed poets who drew regular salaries and received gifts. Among those were well known names like Senapal, Lakhan, Kashiram, Aniroy and Sukhdev.
Besides creating their own literature they also translated Sanskrit scriptures into Punjabi, Hindi and Persian. Guru Sahib had sent five Sikhs to Kashi to learn Sanskrit. He was so keen on literature that he even asked his personal cook to do some literary cooking as well. He would make him give his comments on some famous couplets or quartets.
Guru Gobind Singh’s own writings are compiled in Dasham Granth. Famous among them are ‘Japuji Sahib’ and ‘Saudh Savaiya’ that have become Sikh prayer books. His other creations are ‘Akal Stuti’ ‘Shabad Hazare’, ‘Shastranammala’, ‘Gyan Prabodh Grantha’, ‘Chaubis Avtar’, ‘Chandi Charitra’ etc.
Later, near Anandpur Sahib, at the foot of mount Naina Devi he completed writing ‘Vichitra Natak’ in 1698. It is a kind of autobiography in verse literary style. It has 14 chapters. Eight of them are related to wars. The first chapter is prayer to ‘Mahakaal’. In the second he declares himself to be in the blood line of Rama. It claims that Rama’s son Kusha sired the line which later came to known as Bedi. Guru Nanak was a Bedi descendent. Rama’s other son Lava was the sire of Sodhi dynasty.
His other literary writings are ‘Chandi Charitra Ukti Vilasa’ and ‘Chandi Charitra Dwitiya’.
One day a young Persian scholar of Multan came to Guru Gobind Singh to show his book ‘Bandginama’. The name of the young writer was Nandlal Goya. Guru Sahib praised the book and suggested that he change the title of the book to ‘Zindginama’. The author did that and the book became famous by that name.
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