Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji

Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, the sixth guru of the sikhs was born in Amritsar village, Guru Ki Wadali on 19th June, 1595. He was Guru Arjan Sahib Ji's son, and Mata Ganga Ji was his mother.

Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji had one daughter 'Bibi Viro Ji' and five sons 'Baba Gurditta Ji, Suraj Mal Ji, Ani Rai Ji, Atal Rai Ji and Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji'. Out of these, four sons passed away during the life of Guru Sahib and the fifth one, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji become Ninth Nanak in 1664. After the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Sahib Ji, he became Guru on 11 June 1606, following the footsteps of his father. The ceremonial rites of Guru Arjan Dev ji were performed by Baba Buddha ji.

Now, Guru Hargobind Sahib ji wore two swords, Miri and Piri. 'Piri' referred to the Spiritual Power would protect the innocent and the other 'Miri' referred to the Military Power. Now the Sikh became "Saint-Soldier." Along with he wore a Kalgi (on ornament wore by the Mughal rulers) on his turban. Guru Sahib advised the Sikhs to take part in the military training and martial arts. Riding, hunting, wrestling and many others martial sports were a part of the teachings. Though Guru Sahib himself was strong in body and mind, he himself learnt the use of different weapons along with other activities. While the session of training, Guruji possessed seven hundered horses, three hundred horsemen and sixty gunners in the due course of time. Additionaly five hundred men from 'Majha area of Punjab' were also recruited.

Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji then build a wall around Amritsar city and constructed a small fort named 'Lohgarh' on the out skirts of the city. Guru Sahib then made Sri Akal Takht Sahib also known as Akal Bunga, just in front of Sri Harmandir Sahib ji, in 1609. Thus the place became an important place for the sikhs as Guruji used to preach the sikhs, gave sermons to the Sikhs and held discussions regarding the problems faced by the Sikhs. Along with, martial sports were also performed in the open courtyard before the Akal Takht. The Sikhs call the Guru 'Sachcha Patshah'. Thus the decisions and the judgments taken on Sri Akal Takht Sahib were accepted by the sikhs.

Read more...

Teachings Of Guru Arjan Dev Ji

The important teachings of the Sikh Guru Arjan Dev Ji are significantly different from the then prevalent religious practices in India. These are:

* Equality of mankind – Caste system was abolished by the First Guru. Langar, irrespective of the caste, and cook, serve and eat food together, was give by the second Guru. The soul of every human was considered respectable and no human being was considered inferior to another. As caste system was abolished amongst the followers
of the Gurus, literacy for all was advocated.

* Equality between a man and woman was practiced - Every woman was considered capable of meditation, following all religious practices. Women were prohibited from wearing a veil, a cloth that covers head and face . Dowry annd Sati ware also prohibited. Also widow remarriage was encouraged.

* Equality in work - Need to work was prescribed for all followers. The Guru himself devoted substantial time in charity and organize relief camps and natural calamities.

* Equality of and respect for all religions was emphasized - Sikh religion has always emphasized on meditation and purity of action, but not on the rituals. Sikh religion says that no religion is big or small, instead one should obey every religion but should follow only one.

Read more...

Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (continued)

Day 1 of Torture

Guru Arjan Dev Ji was kept hungry the whole day, was not allowed to sleep and take rest. Still Guru Sahib bore all this calmly and did not say anything to anyone, but remained immersed in Simran and kirtan. He just repeated from his lips, "WaheGuru, WaheGuru, WaheGuru...", the name of GOD.

Day 2 of Torture

On the second day, Chandu asked Guru Arjan Dev Ji sit in a red-hot caldron (a very large pot that is used for boiling ). He filled it with water and ordered his men to light a fire under it. After some time, the water began boiling. But Guru Ji said nothing to anyone, neither shouted or felt any pain. Instead kept his eyes closed and remained immersed with the name one GOD, 'Waheguru '.

Day 3 of Torture

Chandu ordered his men to get some sand and to make it red hot in iron pans. After boiling Guru Ji's body in water, he poured the red hot sand on his head and body. Though Guruji's body was already spoled in water, the hot sand burned Guru Ji's head and body from above. All the people standing out there along with the people involved in the torture were disturbed by Guruji's silence and calm behaviour. The persons engaged in torturing him were wet with sweat. As it was the hottest summer month, they felt too uncomfortable because of the heat. But Guru Sahib felt no pain, nor did he cry out, instead he kept doing Simran.

Guru Jee repeated:

Teraa kee-aa meethaa laagae.
Har naam padaarath nanak maangae.

means,

O Waheguru! Your actions seem so sweet to me Nanak begs for the treasure of the Naam, the Name of the Lord.

Day 4 of Torture

On the fourth day, Guru Jee was again made to sit on a hot Iron Plate. Guru Ji's flesh began to be roasted. Burning Red-Hot sand was poured on his body. Guru Sahib sat calm and quite, feeling no physical pain. He fixed his mind on Waheguru and accepting the Will of Waheguru sweetly.

Day 5 of Torture

On the fifth day, Chandu thought to made the Guru suffer even more. He took Guru Arjan Dev Ji's body for a bath in Ravi river which flowed embracing the walls of Lahore city. Chandu thought that Guruji would undergo greater pain when dipped in cold and chilling water of the river.

Crowds watched the Guruji's body standing in water and having a dip, and within sometime the body was found nowhere. Guru Arjan Dev Ji sowed the seed of martyrdom which largely flourished after him and became the heritage of the Sikhs.

Read more...

Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji

On the 16 June of every year since 1606, the Sikhs have commemorated the martyrdom of their first martyr, the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Sikh history until then had been peaceful and non-violent. All the Sikh Gurus had been known to teach the message of love, compassion, worship of one God, commitment to peace and harmony for all the peoples of the world and to walk through the path as directed by the Gurus. All the people weather Hindus and Muslims had began to follow the teachings of Sikhism as given by Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Many people followed him and thus moved to Govindwal, the centre of Sikhs during the late 1500's.

At that time, Mughal were ruling over the state. After the death of Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1605, his son Jahangir ruled over India. Jahangir was a Muslim, and wanted to spread his religion in the country. Obsessed with the view of spreading Islam, he forced poeple to change their religion. Though Guru Arjan Dev Ji was spreading sikhism, and with the increased concern in the people towards the religion and its growing popularity among the Hindus and Muslims, Jahangir felt very jealous and took steps against the Guru. As Jahangir was jealous about Guru's propagation of Sikhism, he marked many baseless allegations against Guru Sahib. One was, helping Khusrau, who was Jahangir's son. He was even jealous of his son as he was the preferred choice of Akbar to be the next ruler of India rather than Jahangir, as according to Akbar, Jahangir was unfit to rule. But in the 'war of succession' Jahangir had won and Khusrau and managed to hold on to Punjab alone. Diwan Chandu Shahgo went to Jahangir and filled his ears with poison against Guru Ji as his proposal was refused by Guru Arun Dev ji. Jahangir gave the orders of Guruji's martydom. Guru Arun Dev ji was staying in Govindwal, on the river Biyah (Beas). Guruji used to dress very simple, in the holy garments, was simple-hearted and captured the heart of the Hindus and other ignorant and foolish followers of Islam, by his ways and manners.


Khusrau, Jahangir's son when passed Govindwal, he came to know about Guru Arjan Dev ji. He reached his place and received the blessings of Guru Arjan Dev ji. As Jahangir was already jealous of the gurus fame, when he came to know of his popularity he commanded that Guruji should be put to death. It is said that, Guru was arrested in the late May 1606, and was brought to Lahore where he was subject to severe torture. Guruji was made to sit on a burning hot plate and hot sand was poured over his head and body. A Muslim Sufi Saint, Mian Mir who was Guruji's friend and was aware of his divine qualities, tried to intercede on behalf of Guru Sahib but Guru ji disallow him to interfere in the "Will of the Almighty". Thus, Guruji's body was burnt. And after was put in the cold water of Ravi. Thus Guru Sahib embraced martyrdom on Jeth Sudi 4th (1st Harh) Samvat 1663, (May 16, 1606).

The martyrdom (Kurbani) of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib Ji changed the entire character of Sikhism.

Read more...

Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Life History

Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth sikh guru was the son of Guru Ram Das ji and grandson of Guru Amar Das ji, was born on April 15, 1563 A.D. at Goindwal, a small town on the bank of the river Beas in Amritsar. Guru Arjan Dev spent 11 years of his life under the grace of his grandfather at Goindwal. Guru Arjan was married to Ganga, daughter of Krishen Chand, a resident of Meo village near Phillaur in Jalandhar district. The marriage took place in 1589 when he was about 26 years old.

He completed the construction of Amritsar and founded Taran Taran and Kartarpur. He constructed a Baoli at Lahore. His most important waork was that, he collected all the hymns of the first four Gurus in 1604, and compiled them in the form of a holy book named Adi Granth. Guru Arjan dev ji organised a group of representatives to taught and spread the teachings of the Gurus and also asked people to contribute one-tenth of their income, also known as 'Dasvand' for the name of God, to support the buildings of Gurdwaras, to contribute for Langars or to help the needy. The Langars organized in the gurudwaras were to remove the caste system as all the people irrespective of the castes and creed were allowed to join.

The aim of Guru Arjan Dev ji's life was to spread the message and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev ji. He laid the formation Amritsar for the purpose so that people could connect to sikh religion. It was a centre which would bond the people of all th religions. Thus gradually the city became very popular and a great place of pilgrimage of the Sikh people. As the time passed, the teaching of Nanak took a firm hold on the minds of his followers.

Guru Arjan dev ji also composed many hymns of his own, which he included in the Adi Granth. He appointed Baba Budha Ji as the chief priest of the Golden Temple, as he was the companion of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and an associate of each of the subsequent Gurus. He placed the Adi Granth on the Gaddi (throne) reserved for him. Thus, became a Guru on September 1581 following in the footsteps of Guru Ram Das Ji.

Read more...

Accession of Guruship and Formation Of Amritsar

Thus, serving the people for many years, Guru Amar das Ji transferred the 'Divine Light' to Guru Ram Das Ji. Bhai Jetha Ji owned guruship on August 1574, following in the footsteps of his father in law.

Guru Ram Das continued Kirtan, langar and sewa. During his Guruship period, Guru Ram Das always emphasized the value of sewa, which should be the primary duty of every Sikh and his family. Besides every Sikh should be engaged in honest labour during which the name of God should always be on ones lips.

Before he was appointed as Fourth Guru, Guru Amardas ji sent him to a magical place in the vicinity of the villages of Sultanwind, Tung, Gumtala and Gilwali. Guru Amardas ji wanted him to create another Sikh center apart from Goindwal. Guru Ramdas liked the palce very much and visited it every Sagrand (The first day of the Punjabi month), and Amavasaya (the dark moonless night of the month). Later villagers of Sultanwind presented some land to Guru out of regard for the Guru. After having the land Guru Amardas ji told him to digg a tank (now called Santokhsar at Baba Atal). He also found the town of Ramdaspur, later known as Amritsar. Just then Guru Amardas ji were nearing his end and thus Amritsar project had to be put on hold for some time. Guru Ramdas ji decided to start it again in 1577.

Guru Amardas ji had again told him to digg another tank about 1 km down from the old one. This is the current Sarovar of the Golden Temple. He dug a tank which became the main place of pilgrimage. Phrase came to be associated with the tank dug at Amritsar says 'Ramdas Sarovar Nahate, ab uttre paap kamate' which says, "I bath in the tank of Ramdas and all my sins were washed away".

He composed 679 hymns in varying musical measures, which were incorporated into Adi Granth by his son and successor, Guru Arjan Dev. Thus, the momentous career of the Guru came to its end on September 1, 1581. Thus after him, his youngest son, Arjan Dev Ji beacame the fifth Guru Of the sikhs and promoted and took care of Sikh religion.

Contributions:

The main contributions by Guru Ram Das Ji were:

* He organized the structure of Sikh society.
* He was the author of Laava, the hymns for the Marriage Rites
* His main contribution was, he designed the Harmandir Sahib
* Also, planned and created the town of Ramdaspur, later called Amritsar

Read more...

Devotion, Love and Service Towards Religion

Bhai Jetha ji was an ideal of love, devotion, service and resignation. For him Guru Amar Das was not only his father-in-law but he treated him as his ideal Guru. He surrendered his life in his sewa. He along with his wife used to work in the Guru's kitchen, cook food, serve meals from the kitchen and then wash the dishes.
The more he served the Guru the more his love for him and for the mankind increased.

Later on, while the construction of the Baoli (a well with stairs) was undertaken, Ram Das ji worked day and night. He carried baskets of earth on his head like everybody else. Once when his relatives were returning from a pilgrimage to the river Ganga, they stopped for sometime at Goindwal on their way to Lahore. They saw Bhai Jetha ji working like a common labourer, they got angry and asked him not to displease their family working like this. Bhai Jetha jI replied, "In your estimation the Guru is my father-in-law but for me, he is God".

They were very much annoyed on having the answer and went to the Guru complaining about what they had made of his son-in-law. Guruji replied, I have caused the umbrella of true sovereignty to wave over him. If he had not been born in your family, you would all have been damned. It is he, who saved the whole of your tribe."

Read more...