There is a claim often repeated by the RSS that Guru Gobind Singh Ji worshipped Kali Devi at Hemkunt Parbat, the place where Guru Ji meditated for a long time. This claim is used to suggest that Guru Gobind Singh Ji followed Hindu idol worship. This allegation is completely false and is based on misquoting and misinterpreting Guru Ji’s own writings.
The truth is very clear: Guru Gobind Singh Ji never worshipped any idol or Hindu deity. Guru Ji worshipped only One God and taught Sikhs to do the same.
The misquoted line and its real meaning
The RSS often presents this line as proof:
“Mahaa Kaal Kalka Aaradhi”
They claim that Kalka refers to the Hindu goddess Kali. But this is not what Guru Ji wrote.
The original lines from Dasam Granth are:
ਤਹ ਹਮ ਅਧਿਕ ਤਪੱਸਿਆ ਸਾਧੀ ॥
ਮਹਾਕਾਲ ਕਾਲਿ ਕਾ ਅਰਾਧੀ ॥੨॥
teh hum adhik tapisiaa saadhee. mahaa kaal, kaal ka aaraadhee.
“At that spot, I performed austere penances, and Invoked the succour of the Timeless-Universal Destroyer and His Primal Power.(2)”
(P. 128, Dasam Granth)
Here, Guru Ji is not talking about Kali Devi at all.
ਮਹਾ ਕਾਲ (Mahaa Kaal) refers to the Supreme Power over Death, the One before whom even Kaal (death and time) has no authority. In Gurbani, this points to Waheguru, who transcends time and destroys the fear and power of death itself.
ਕਾਲਿ ਕਾ (Kaal Ka) means of Death
ਅਰਾਧੀ (Aaradhi) means worshipped
So the meaning is clear:
Guru Ji worshipped Waheguru, the Supreme Power over Time and Death, the One before whom even Kaal (death and time) has no authority. This worship was directed to the timeless, formless Lord who transcends death itself, not to any goddess or idol.
Confirmation from the very next lines
Guru Ji himself explains whom He worshipped in the next lines:
ਇਹ ਬਿਧਿ ਕਰਤ ਤਪਸਿਆ ਭਯੋ ॥
ਦ੍ਵ ਰੂਪ ਤੇ ਇਕ ਰੂਪ ਹ੍ਵੈ ਗਯੋ ॥
“Eh Bidh Karat Tapaseya Bhaeyo, Dve Te Eek Roop Hve Gaeyo”
“By meditating upon God’s name I became one with God like a glass of water in a big ocean. I am encompassed in his glory.”
(P. 128, Dasam Granth)
This clearly shows that Guru Ji meditated on One God and merged in His divine light. There is no idol, no goddess, and no polytheism here.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s clear rejection of idol worship
ਮੈ ਨ ਗਨੇਸ਼ਹਿ ਪ੍ਰਿਥਮ ਮਨਾਊਂ ॥
ਕਿਸ਼ਨ ਬਿਸ਼ਨ ਕਬਹੂੰ ਨਹ ਧਿਆਊਂ ॥
ਕਾਨ ਸੁਨੇ ਪਹਿਚਾਨ ਨ ਤਿਨ ਸੋਂ ॥
ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੀ ਮੋਰੀ ਪਗ ਇਨ ਸੋਂ ॥੪੩੪॥
“I do not seek blessings or hail Ganesh before I start any task. (In old times, often Ganesh would be hailed before starting any task). Nor do I worship Krishan or Vishnu etc. I have heard of them but I do not recognise any of them. I am engrossed in the loving devotion of my Lord (Waheguru) alone.“
(DG – P. 733, Krishan Avtar)
This statement alone completely destroys the claim that Guru Gobind Singh Ji worshipped Hindu deities or idols.
Gurbani’s stance on idol worship
Gurbani repeatedly speaks against idol worship and stone gods. A few clear examples are:
ਭਰਮਿ ਭੂਲੇ ਅਗਿਆਨੀ ਅੰਧੁਲੇ ਭ੍ਰਮਿ ਭ੍ਰਮਿ ਫੂਲ ਤੋਰਾਵੈ ॥
ਨਿਰਜੀਉ ਪੂਜਹਿ ਮੜਾ ਸਰੇਵਹਿ ਸਭ ਬਿਰਥੀ ਘਾਲ ਗਵਾਵੈ ॥੩॥
“The blind ignorant ones stray in doubt and so deluded, deluded they pluck flowers for worship. They worship the lifeless stones and adore tombs. Their service all goes in vain. ||3||”
(Ang 1264)
ਜੋ ਪਾਥਰ ਕਉ ਕਹਤੇ ਦੇਵ ॥ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਹੋਵੈ ਸੇਵ ॥
ਜੋ ਪਾਥਰ ਕੀ ਪਾਂਈ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਘਾਲ ਅਜਾਂਈ ਜਾਇ ॥੧॥
ਠਾਕੁਰੁ ਹਮਰਾ ਸਦ ਬੋਲੰਤਾ ॥ ਸਰਬ ਜੀਆ ਕਉ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਦਾਨੁ ਦੇਤਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਦੇਉ ਨ ਜਾਨੈ ਅੰਧੁ ॥ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕਾ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਪਾਵੈ ਫੰਧੁ ॥
ਨ ਪਾਥਰੁ ਬੋਲੈ ਨਾ ਕਿਛੁ ਦੇਇ ॥ ਫੋਕਟ ਕਰਮ ਨਿਹਫਲ ਹੈ ਸੇਵ ॥੨॥
“They who say the stone is a god; in vain is their service. He who falls at the feet of the stone; vain goes his labor. ||1|| My Lord ever speaks. The Lord gives gifts to all the living beings. ||1||Pause|| The Lord is within, but the blind one knows not. Deluded by doubt, he is caught in a noose. The stone speaks not, nor gives anything. In vain are the ceremonies of the idolater, and fruitless his service. ||2||”
(Ang 1160)
ਦੇਵੀ ਦੇਵਾ ਪੂਜੀਐ ਭਾਈ ਕਿਆ ਮਾਗਉ ਕਿਆ ਦੇਹਿ ॥
ਪਾਹਣੁ ਨੀਰਿ ਪਖਾਲੀਐ ਭਾਈ ਜਲ ਮਹਿ ਬੂਡਹਿ ਤੇਹਿ ॥੬॥
“Why worship gods and goddesses, O Siblings of Destiny? What can we ask of them? What can they give us? The stone gods are washed with water, O Siblings of Destiny, but they just sink in the water. ||6||”
(Ang 637)
ਦੇਵੀ ਦੇਵਾ ਪੂਜਹਿ ਡੋਲਹਿ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਨਾ ॥
ਕਹਤ ਕਬੀਰ ਅਕੁਲੁ ਨਹੀ ਚੇਤਿਆ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਸਿਉ ਲਪਟਾਨਾ ॥੪॥੧॥੪੫॥
“You worship gods and goddesses, but you do not know the Supreme Lord God. Says Kabeer, you have not remembered the Lord who has no ancestors; you are clinging to your corrupt ways. ||4||1||45||”
(Ang 332)
To conclude, the claim that Guru Gobind Singh Ji worshipped Kali Devi at Hemkunt Parbat is based on distortion of Gurbani and Dasam Granth. Guru Ji worshipped only One God, the timeless, formless, deathless Waheguru.
By changing words and meanings, such groups try to absorb Sikhi into Hinduism, ignoring the clear teachings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Gurbani itself. Sikhi stands firm on Naam, One God, and rejection of idol worship, a truth clearly proven by Guru Ji’s own words.