Banda Bahadur = Guru Gobind Singh?

I have heard talk of a theory presented some years ago that Banda Bahadur was actually Guru Gobind Singh Ji. I'm not sure of the name but there was a Sikh writer a few years ago who initially brought up this theory (If anyone knows his name, I would be very interested to know). At first, of course, I dismissed the thought immediately as a crazy conspiricy theory but over the years I have thought about it a lot and some 'coincidences' seem like they should be at the very least explored further.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/hard-talk/22605-banda-bahadur-guru-gobind-singh.html

Below I have listed the points which I believe could be used to support this theory:

1. Both Guru Ji and Banda were of approximately the same age. Written records indicate Guru Ji was born in 1666 and Banda in 1670... not a distinguishable difference in men at the age of 40.

2. Any written records that I have come across describe their physical features (height, build, etc) as being similar. In addition, any paintings or pictures that we have show them looking very similar (I realize this is a moot point because we don't have actual pictures of either, but nevertheless).

3. Why would Guru Ji pick an unknown stranger with whom he had no history to lead his Sikhs? Does this really make sense? As far as I have read, Guru Ji was a very rational man and for him to select an unknown hermit with no battle experience as his general casts some doubt in my mind.

4. I know we all believe that Guru Ji was a super-human being (had Guru Nanak's Jyot) but during his life he did show very human emotions and sometimes behaved in a very human way. If you rationally think about a man who has just lost his entire family, and especially the horrible bricking alive of his two young sons then how do you think this man would react? If it was me, I would seek revenge... much like Banda Bahadur did. It is sometimes hard for me to believe that Guru Ji would decide to sit idle at Nanded and appoint an unknown as the general of Sikh forces. What was he planning to do at Nanded while his beloved Sikhs spilled their blood? This action would be contradictory to the way Guru Ji behaved during his life. He was never one to sit idly by while others took up the charge. He was always the general, commanding his Sikhs.

5. Most records of Guru Ji's death indicate that he died in Nanded of stab wounds that were aggrevated as he strung up a stiff bow. There is no precise record (that I have found) that indicates what actually happened to his body. I know this is a topic of much debate but most sources say that he went in to a tent and his body disappeared. I can not rationally believe that his body just dissapeared, so what really did happen to his body?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22605

Is it possible that Guru Ji decided to take up the cause in a different way and changed his name and rode to Punjab as Banda Bahadur? Is it possible that he was hurt enough by the cruelty of the situation and the mughal raj that he opted for revenge? I'm starting to feel that it may be possible.

A man of relatively the same age as Guru Ji, that looked similar to Guru Ji, and had similar leadership skills in battle took over the Sikh army at exactly the same time that Guru Ji died. He then proceeded straight to Punjab to punish the executioners of Guru Ji's father and sons. To me it seems like it could be a well executed plan on behalf of Guru Ji.

I hope I have not offended anyone and if I have then please forgive me and explain to me why I am so wrong or why what I have said is offensive to you.

Sat Sri Akal

Sikh Chela

 
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interesting theory

I think Bandha's Sikh philosophy caused massive schisms in Sikhism, which led to many Sikhs not following his cause.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22605
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22605

Edicts such as not to eat garlic or onion was something that a Bairagi of Vashnavite leaning would utter, and not Guru ji (who had no such hang ups).

His war cry of Fateh Darshan, caused a frackas amongst Sikhs.

There are many other things, and this is why you will find some Sikhs will refer to him as as only Bandha Bahadhur and NOT Bandha SINGH Bahdhur.

Ok just answer my 1 question
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22605

What was the benefit to guru ji from becoming Guru gobind singh to Banda Bahadur

Banda Singh bahadur was arrested, brought to Delhi and executed. Thousands of Sikhs just "kept quiet" and never once called their GURU...GURU ?? why ?? Dont tell me not one recognised the GURU ??
how is it possible the Mughal Govt failed to recognise him as "GGS" if indeed this weird theory is true ?

To me this looks like a SPIN OFF from the NAMDHAREE THEORY of dehdharee gurus....they have their own "history" stating Guru Gobind Singh Ji escaped...lived for another hundred years or so hidden as Balak Singh and then passed over Gurgadhi to NAMDHAREE dehdharee "guru"..now into the 15th Gurudom.....Satguru jagjit Singh Ji. This theory is even more weird..GGS "hiding" ?? escaping ?? etc
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22605
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22605

Sikhs have very little authentic written history....and now a days with the Computerised IT revolution any tom/****/harry..or santa banta chhanta can write a book sitting at home and publish it so cheaply....ARM CHAIR/KEYBOARD ACADEMICS/AUTHORS/HISTORIANS..are aplenty....not everythign written in a"book" is true ??
JSGyani

I realize there are many things about Banda that do not coincide with the way that Guru Ji lived his life but as I pointed out earlier there are definitely some striking similarities.

As far as I am aware, while Banda was alive there was no division or rift among the Sikhs. There were not many Sikhs that opposed him while he was alive, no more than opposed Guru Ji (example: 40 mukhtaa). The factions of Tat Khalsa and Bandai Khalsa came about after he died not while he was alive. I'm not aware of many sikhs 'not following his cause' while he was alive. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Also, something like a war cry of 'Fateh Darshan' could easily have been initiated by a man like Guru Ji and it is less likely that Banda would have initited this second war cry. Think of all the changes that Guru Ji brought to Sikhism. A man like Guru Ji was not afraid of change, he brought many things to Sikhism that were revolutionary but he was not questioned because he was the Guru. In his lifetime he had become accustomed to changing the norm so it is possible that if and when he transformed his image to that of Banda he continued making these changes.

There was a benefit. Primarily that Guru Ji could exact revenge. That is my whole point of why this 'crazy' theory makes some sense.

I believe Sikhs of the time knew Guru Ji to be super-human. He was a king, he had a raj (kingdom). One day that raj was torn from him, along with everything else in his life... his family, his home, his freedom, etc. My contention is that these events affected Gobind Singh (the man, not the guru) in a way that they would affect any other man, super-human or not. How can any man not be emotionally affected while his two young sons have been bricked alive? He was broken and disheartened as a man but did not want to tarnish the image of the Nanak Jyot in any way. He realized that as Guru he could not seek the vengence needed to uproot the mughals. This is why he decided that the Guru Gobind Singh would have to die (in the eyes of the people) and a new leader born (Banda) who could exact the needed justice with a steel heart and yes, some cruelty.

Sikh Chela ji
There is a fiction which can be a reality, then there is a fantasies that bears no ground but imagination, even dreams are found to be true many times. Here is only one thing that proves you are only enjoying fantasy." Guru came to Punjab( as per your statement) to take revenge." He gathered a lot of people for his support, no one recognized him including those Muslims who had been hunting for Guru ji for a long time, failed to recognize him, Muslims who caught Banda Bahadur, couldnt recognize him who actually would have celebrated it by declaring" It is Sikhs Guru posing as Bhanda" Mughal records shows a token of honor was sent to Guru's wife, due to which some historians assumed him to be part of Mughal Army. Guru doesnt bear revenge. He was more worried about wellfare of Sikhs than the death of his sons. You and I can think like this because we are million away from Guru's state of mind. Why would he deceive his own wife to do that. It is sheer fantasy of that mind who is desparate to say" some thing new" Sant Singh Sekhon, a leftist tried first this thing unsuuccessfully;nothing adds up neither historically nor religiously or socially. Look at your own views, you admit, there is no authentic pictures of Guru ji or Banda Bahadur Ji, still you are comparing the features and looks ! You are just trying to share with us some body's fantansy I would call it " good try'

This is quite a theory. I don't believe it, though. Here are couple points why I believe it to be false:

1) Dhan Dhan Maharaj Shri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji would never have sought revenge. His rules of dharam yudh (religious war) clearly state that the this warfare should defensive and never aggressive.
2) Satguru would have never sought to decieve his followers. How could the teacher of Truth be found to be a deceiver? Where does that leave his followers?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22605
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22605

WJKK
WJKF

Jaspreet

I actually agree with you somewhat on this point and it is one of the reasons that I have never stated that this theory is fact.

I don't know how the sikhs of the time would not recognize their Guru. As far as the Mughal gov't that was hunting the Guru, I'm not so sure that any of them had actually seen the Guru. If they had seen him they probably would have been close enough to capture/attack him.

Most accounts of Banda indicate that he was excellent at disguising himself... could this have anything to do with no one identifying Banda as Guru Ji?