He was the son of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and is referred to as a saint soldier as he had organised a small army explaining that high levels of non-violence and peacemaking would only encourage more evil therefore he set up the idea of Miri-Piri where one should also be strong and stand up to injustice as well as being holy. 

 

He said that it was important for to pick up the sword and to protect the weak and oppressed who couldn't protect themselves. He was the first Guru to take up arms to protect the Sikh people. 

 

During that time only emperors could sit on a raised platform called a takhat. This is now one of the five seats of power for the Sikhs.

 

However at the age of 13 Guru Ji created a takhat ten feet above the ground for himself where he sat wearing two swords one standing for Miri which means having power and the other for Piri standing for spirituality. 

 

He was the first Guru to engage in warfare and won four defensive battles against the Mughals.