SIKH GURUS
The Sikh Gurus refer to the ten masters that guided the Sikh religion from its inception in the late 1400s until the early 1700s. All the ten Gurus worked towards the expansion, development, propagation and formulation of the Sikh faith, principles and moral values. Ten human Gurus, who initiated Sikhism and guided the community, were succeeded by the Guru Granth Sahib, the holiest book of the Sikhs.
1. Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469–1539) (Sikh Gurus)
Sikhism was started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in 1469 in a small village of Sultanpur Lodhi now known as Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. He wandered through most of the Indian sub-continent and even beyond preaching the existence of one God and eliminating the many rituals and systems like caste system which were in practice during his time.
In the teachings of Guru Nanak, spirituality, equality, and social justice are some of the major aspects that were given much significance. He gave the Mool Mantar, the basic prayer of the Sikhs which affirms the existence of a single, eternal, and omnipresent God, the creator. He set the rules of integrity, humility, fairness, and remembrance of God in all aspects of life.
Suggested Tour: Hemkund Sahib Tour
2. Guru Angad Dev Ji (1504–1552)
After the passing on of Guru Nanak, Bhai Lehna went through rigorous tests to prove his loyalty and an excellent understanding of Nanak’s teachings before he was bestowed with the title of Guru Angad Dev Ji, and became the second guru. He standardized the Gurmukhi script which came to be used as the writing system for the Sikh scriptures.
This script enabled better organization of Sikh teachings as well as the dissemination of these teachings in a unified form. Guru Angad also persisted in the practice of Langar – a communal kitchen where no one was discouraged from eating, thus extending the principles of service and equality.
3. Guru Amar Das Ji (1479–1574) (Sikh Gurus)
The third Guru, Guru Amar Das Ji, ascended the throne at the age of 73 and was a devoted soul. He introduced several customs into the Sikh system, including religious fairs and festivals like Vaisakhi and Diwali.
He was a firm believer in the concept of Langar and made sure that people sat together in the dining area irrespective of the fact that whether they belonged to the upper castes or lower castes, rich or poor, man or woman. There were other significant changes introduced by Guru Amar Das Ji: Manji – It was the system of clergy for teaching the ideas of Sikhism and for managing the large population of Sikhs.
Suggested Tour: Panj Takht Sahib Tour
4. Guru Ram Das Ji (1534–1581)
Fourth Guru, Guru Ram Das Ji was born as Bhai Jetha Ji. He is most famous for his ability to establish the city of Amritsar and subsequently it became the religious hub of Sikhism.
He started the construction of the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) but it was further completed by the next SGPC chief. The Guru’s contributions include many songs that are calls to humility, love, and devotion to God. He also arranged the framework of the Sikh people, stressing the role of the congregation in worship.
5. Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1563–1606)(Sikh Gurus)
The fifth Guru, in particular, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, was one of the significant figures in the history of Sikhism. He himself compiled the Adi Granth which is the first compilation of the Sikh scriptures containing some of the hymns of the previous Gurus and other saints. It provided the base for the Guru Granth Sahib which is the holy book of the Sikhs.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji also completed the construction of the Harmandir Sahib making it one of the premier Sikh shrines. He called for humility, sacrifice and service. The first Guru of the Sikhs was Guru Arjan, who was the first to be martyred; he was put to death by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir for his refusal to accept Islam and this showed that the practices of the Sikhs were and still are free from subjection to tyrannical authority.
Suggested Tour: Damdama Sahib with Golden Temple
6. Guru Hargobind Ji (1595–1644)
Guru Hargobind Ji is the sixth Guru who established the rituals of Miri and Piri, which refers to the rights of temporal sovereignty of the Sikhs. He had two swords symbolizing these two features and defended the Akal Takht which is the supreme political authority for the Sikhs.
Guru Hargobind Ji therefore taught that the Sikh should be a saint-soldier who is ready to fight for justice. During his reign, the Sikhs started to have a military look in terms of dressing and grooming as well as training in the use of weapons and horses for a confrontation with the Mughal power.
7. Guru Har Rai Ji (1630–1661)(Sikh Gurus)
The seventh Guru, Guru Har Rai Ji, like the previous Gurus, propagated the Sikhism and focused on the issues like compassion and medical science. He had a big pharmacopoeia and was reported to have a special concern for the sick.
There was very deft political play between the Mughals and the Sikh Guru Har Rai Ji, nevertheless, he kept the dignity of the Sikhism and preaching of Guru Nanak Dev Ji to give respect to everyone and to serve everyone. He strove to steer clear of the political instead embraced the [religious] and [ethical] mentoring of his followers.
8. Guru Har Krishan Ji (1656–1664)
Guru Har Krishan Ji was the eighth Guru of the Sikhs who was the youngest of all the Guru Sahibs and became the Guru at the age of five. He also was wise and compassionate which is not very common for a young man of the given period.
Once there was an outbreak of small pox in Delhi and he used to help the sick, read comfort them and give them support. Unluckily, he caught the illness and died at the age of eight years. His short life was dedicated to the service of the needy and he was well versed with the scriptures of Sikhism.
9. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (1621–1675)(Sikh Gurus)
The ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was famous for his meditation, poetry and especially for fighting against oppression of any kind and for the freedom of religion. He would also toured around in order to spread the word of Sikhism and to liberate the suppressed.
During the Mughal rule, when Aurangzeb Alamgir started a process of conversion of Hindus to Islam by force, Guru Tegh Bahadur came to be known as the ‘protector of the soul freedom. ’ He was arrested and executed in 1675 for his unwillingness to change his religion; thus, giving the ultimate price to ensure the right to religious freedom. His martyred is considered as one of the important events in the history of the Sikh nation as it depicts the struggle for human rights.
10. Guru Gobind Singh Ji (1666–1708)
With Guru Gobind Singh Ji as the tenth and the last Guru who was both a revolutionary thinker and a fighter. He is most famous for establishing the Khalsa in 1699 that was an organized brotherhood of baptized sikhs committed to fighting oppression and injustice. To identify the Khalsa from the rest of the Sikh community the Panj Pyaras bestowed five articles of faith called the Five Ks and the Khalsa was expected to be a saint-soldier.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji also compiled the Guru Granth Sahib adding the compositions of his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and announced it as the final Guru of the Sikhs. He also stressed on the need for discipline and fearlessness as a spirit to fight for the downtrodden. The main events of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s life can be defined by his fight against the oppressors and his fight for justice and justice for all.
Guru Granth Sahib
The Guru Granth Sahib is the Sikh holy scripture, which is the final and the permanent Guru of the Sikhs containing the hymns of the ten Sikh Gurus and other saints. It is considered as the ultimate source of knowledge on spiritual issues and holds great prominence in the Sikh houses.
The Guru Granth Sahib stands out from scriptures of other religions, as it is a manual for righteous living rather than an account of a religion’s history. It is characterized by commitment to God, morality, and people’s solidarity.
The Sikh Gurus’ messages are a combination of spirituality, moral directions, and advice on day-to-day living. They built a solid ground that teaches adherence to devotion, equity, fairness, and contributing to humanity. Even today the principles laid down by the Gurus have the ability to make millions of Sikhs world over to follow them.
