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The
Ten Sikh Gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib
Guru
Nanak (1469-1539)
Guru Nanak, the founder
of Sikhism, was born in a period of intense human developmant. After
a thousand years, Europe was coming outof the age of darkness and
the scientific method was being established. Columbus was sailing
and connecting Europe to the Americas. The Mughal empire was being
established in India by Babar. Guru Nanak himself was perhaps the
times greatest adventurer, traveling from India to Iran, Iraq, and
Saudi Arabia, on foot, without sponsorships from wealthy landlords
or kings. He reached Tibet, Burma, and traveled the length and breadth
of India. He went to the birthplace of the world's great religions
...Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, in the west; Hinduism and Buddhism
in Asia. The Sikhs are therefore blessed to inherit the great wealth
of thousands of years of human spiritual experience. In addition,
the Sikh Gurus have provided us their own divinely inspired wisdom.
Guru
Angad (1504-1552)
The second Guru, through
example, inclucalted in the Sikh the importance of humility, service
to humanity, love of sportsmanship, and acceptance of God's wonderful
drama.
Guru
Amar Das (1479-1574)
Guru Amar Das made the
langar, community kitchen, a central part of the Sikh social style.
He also fought against purdah (the veil used by Muslim women) and
sati (the perverse Hindu custom of forcing the widow to burn herself
on her husband's funeral pyre).
Guru
Arjun (1563-1606)
A poet,
builder and great organizer, Guru Arjun was also the first martyr
in Sikh history. He built, in the heart of Amritsar, a Gurdwara,
now commonly known as the Golden Temple. Fearful of the Guru's influence
upon Hindus and Muslims, the Mughal Emperor Jahangir ordered the
arrest of the Guru. Guru Arjun was tortured to death in Lahore.
Guru Hargobind
(1595-1644)
The martyrdom of Guru Arjun transformed the Sikhs from a pacifist
people to a people unafraid to raise the sword against injustices.
Guru Hargobind wore a kirpan and initiated the tradition of saint-soldier.
Guru Har
Rai (1630-1661)
Guru Har Rai confirmed the tradition of warrior and saint among
the Sikhs. An extremely tender-hearted person, he was a fine swordsman,
but would not injure anyone.
Guru Har
Krishan (1656-1664)
The
eighth Guru was barely five years old when he became Guru. Even
at this young age his intelligence and vision were highly developed.
It was clear he was no ordinary child.
Guru
Teg Bahadur (1621-1675)
Guru Teg Bahadur became the ninth Guru of the Sikhs when he was
forty-four years old. In his zeal to convert Hindus to Islam, Mughal
Emperor Aurangzeb imposed terrible laws on non-Muslims. The Guru
spoke out on behalf of the Hindus. He was arrested in Agra and brought
to Delhi where he was beheaded.
Guru Gobind
Singh (1666-1708)
Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, assumed the Guruship in times
of great turbulence. This learned man was fluent in Hindi, Sanskrit,
Persian and Gurmukhi. He instilled in the Sikhs the joy of valor
and sacrifice. The unbounded optimism which marks the Sikh faith
is, to a large extent, due to Guru Gobind Singh.
Siri Guru
Granth Sahib (timeless)
Siri Guru Granth Sahib...a compilation of the shabads (hymns)
of the Sikh Gurus and many other Hindu and Muslim men of God...is
now the Guru for all Sikhs.
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