Guru Arjan Dev

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Guru Arjan, right, dictating the Adi Granth to Bhai Gurdas.
Guru Arjan, right, dictating the Adi Granth to Bhai Gurdas.
Part of a series on
Sikhism

History of Sikhism
Sikh beliefs
Sikh

The Sikh Gurus

Sikh Bhagats

Other Important People

Philosophy
Beliefs and principles
Underlying values
Prohibitions
Technique and methods
Other observations · Bani

Sikh practices · List

Scripture
Guru Granth Sahib
Adi Granth · Dasam Granth

Categories
Practices · History
Family of the Sikh Gurus
Gurdwara
Places · Politics

Articles on Sikhism
Portal: Sikhism

This box: view • talk • edit
Sikhism Portal

Guru Arjan Dev Ji or Guru Arjun Dev Ji (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਦੇਵ) (born in Amritsar, Punjab, India on 15 April 1563 – 30 May 1606 Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan) was the fifth of the Eleven Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on 1 September 1581 following in the footsteps of Guru Ram Das. He was born at Goindval, and was the youngest of the sons of Guru Ram Das and Bibi Bhani, the daughter of Guru Amar Das[1]. Before his death, he nominated his son Har Gobind as the next Guru of the Sikhs.

Guru Arjan was head of Sikhism for a quarter of a century and accomplished a lot during his regime. He completed the construction of Amritsar and founded other cities such as Taran Taran and Kartarpur. He constructed a Baoli at Lahore. The most important work of Arjan Dev was the compilation of Adi Granth. He collected all the work of the first four Gurus and dictated it in the form of verses in 1604. It is, perhaps, the only kind of writing of a scriptural nature which has preserved without embellishments or misconstruction of the original writings of religious literatures.[2]

Guru Arjan organised the Masand system. The Sikhs were asked to pay one-tenth of their income to the Guru in future. He appointed representatives to collect the money. He encouraged his followers to trade in horses.

Contents

[edit] Life

Guru Arjan clearly understood the wide import of the teachings of Nanak and perceived how applicable they were to every state of life and to every condition of society.[3] He made Amritsar the proper seat of his followers and a centre which would attract the worldly longings for a material bond of union. The city became populous and a great place of pilgrimage of the Sikh people.

Composing the Adi Granth, he gave to his followers their fixed rule of religious and moral conduct. His starting of collection of offerings by way of Masand system, in a systematic way, accustomed them to a regular government. He traded in horses, though not extensively, and encouraged his followers to follow his example, to be as zealous in trade as they were in their faith.[4]

Guru Arjan became famous among his pious devotees and his biographers dwell on the number of Saints and Holy men who were edified by his instructions.[5] He was equally headed by men in high positions. During his time, the principles of Nanak took a firm hold on the minds of his followers.

[edit] Compositions

Beside compiling the Adi Granth, Guru Arjan also composed a lot of hymns and included them in it. He appointed Bhai Buddha, who was a companion of Guru Nanak, as the chief priest of the Golden Temple. He placed the Adi Granth on the seat reserved for him and himself sat among his disciples. Sukhmani, one the most recited banis (sacred hymn) by Sikhs, was composed by Guru Arjan. Hymn from the Sukhmani Sahib (Guru Granth Sahib page 262):

  • Meditate, meditate, meditate peace is obtained, Worry and anguish is expelled from the body.
  • Remembering God, you’re not reborn. Remembering God, the fear of death is dispelled.
  • Remembering God, death is eliminated. Remembering God, your enemies are repelled.
  • Remembering God, no obstacles are met. Remembering God, night and day you’re fully awake.
  • Remembering God, fear cannot touch you. Remembering God, you don’t suffer with sorrow.
  • Remembrance of God, in the Company of Saints. All treasures, O Nanak, are by Lord’s Blessing. ||2||

[edit] Martyrdom of Guru Arjan

Relations between Akbar and Guru Arjan were cordial but things changed after the accession of Jahangir. Ultimately the Guru was tortured to death in 1605.[6] His end seems to have been hastened by the rigors in confinement; and Sikhs piously believe that, having obtained leave to bathe in the Ravi river, he vanished, to the fear and wonder of those guarding him.[7]

Many reasons have been given for this tragedy. It is stated that Jahangir was annoyed because Guru Arjan gave his blessings to his rebel son, Prince Khasrau.[8] Jahangir also did not like the growing popularity of Sikhism and took strong objection to conversion of Muslims to Sikhism.[9]

There are also some accounts of Guru Arjan actively participating in the rebellion and being brought to court to answer the charges, at which time he endorsed the rebellion

“

Khusrau had received help from Arjan Dev, the guru or leader of the Sikhs. After Khusrau's defeat, Arjan Dev was summoned to the court to answer for his conduct. Sikh historians say that the enmity of Chandu Lal, the Hindu diwan of Lahore, who had a family quarrel with the guru, was responsible for his troubles. When the guru was unable to give any satisfactory explanation for his part in the rebellion, he was put to death. He might have ended his days in peace if he had not espoused the cause of the rebel, but this punitive action against him marked the beginning of a long and bitter conflict between the Sikhs and the Mughal government.

 ”

[10]

Other accounts suggest Guru Arjan gave 5,000 rupees to the rebellion. [11]

It is also stated in some sources that the Diwan (revenue collector) of Lahore wanted to marry his daughter to the son of Guru Arjan, but the latter refused. The Diwan could not put up with his insult and poisoned the ears of the Government. Consequently Jahangir imposed a fine of Rupee two Lac on Guru Arjan and ordered him to remove certain passages from the Adi Granth, which were objectionable to Muslims. On the Guru's refusal to do so, he was tortured to death.[12]

This is what Emperor Jahangir wrote in his diary called the Tuzk-e-Jahangiri, which translates to "Memoirs of Jahangir"


“ In Goindwal, which is on the river Biyãh (Beas), there was a Hindu named Arjan, in the garments of sainthood and sanctity, so much so that he had captured many of the simple-hearted of the Hindus, and even of the ignorant and foolish followers of Islam, by his ways and manners, and they had loudly sounded the drum of his holiness. They called him Guru, and from all sides stupid people crowded to worship and manifest complete faith in him. For three or four generations (of spiritual successors) they had kept this shop warm. Many times it occurred to me to put a stop to this vain affair or to bring him into the assembly of the people of Islam.

At last when Khusrau passed along this road this insignificant fellow proposed to wait upon him. Khusrau happened to halt at the place where he was, and he came out and did homage to him. He behaved to Khusrau in certain special ways, and made on his forehead a finger-mark in saffron, which the Indians (Hinduwän) call qashqa, (Tilak) and is considered propitious. When this came to my ears and I clearly understood his folly, I ordered them to produce him and handed over his houses, dwelling-places, and children to Murtaza Khan, and having confiscated his property commanded that he should be put to death."

 „

—Jahangir, Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri

The manner in which Guru Arjan was put to death "convinced the sikhs that they must arm themselves and fight, if they wanted to live".[13] It proved a turning point in the history of Sikhism.

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Mcleod, Hew (1997). Sikhism. London: Penguin Books, 28. ISBN 0-14-025260-6. 
  2. ^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar. "ten", Muslim Rule In India, fifth, 232. 
  3. ^ Cunnigham, J.D. (1853). "Gooroo Arjoon", A History Of The Sikhs. John Murray. 
  4. ^ Cunnigham, J.D. (1853). "Gooroo Arjoon", A History Of The Sikhs. John Murray. 
  5. ^ Cunnigham, J.D. (1853). "Gooroo Arjoon", A History of The Sikhs. John Murray. 
  6. ^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar. Muslim Rule In India. S. Chand & Co. 
  7. ^ Cunnigham, Joseph Davey (1853). A History Of The Sikhs. London: John Murray, 51. 
  8. ^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar. Muslim Rule In India, fifth, S. Chand & Co., 232. 
  9. ^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar. Muslim Rule In India, fifth, S. Chand & Co., 232. 
  10. ^ http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00islamlinks/ikram/part2_14.html
  11. ^ http://www.4to40.com/story/index.asp?id=274
  12. ^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar (1970). "ten", Muslim Rule In India, fifth, New Delhi: S. Chand & Co., 232. 
  13. ^ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar. Muslim Rule In India, Teja singh, Fifth, 233. 

[edit] References

  • 1. "Tuzuk-i-Jahagiri or Memoirs of Jahagir" Translated by Alexander Rogers. Edited by Henry Beveridge Published by Low Price Publication www.lppindia.com ISBN 978-81-7536-148-5
  • 2. History of the Panjab, Syad Muhammad Latif, Published by: Kalyani Publishers, Ludhiana, Punjab, India ISBN 978-81-7096-245-8


Preceded by:
Guru Ram Das
(24 September 1534 - 1 September 1581)		 Guru Arjan Dev Followed by:
Guru Har Gobind
(19 June 1595 - 3 March 1644)
 
The Eleven Gurus of Sikhism

Guru Nanak Dev | Guru Angad Dev | Guru Amar Das | Guru Ram Das | Guru Arjun Dev | Guru Har Gobind | Guru Har Rai | Guru Har Krishan | Guru Teg Bahadur | Guru Gobind Singh | (Followed by Guru Granth Sahib, Perpetual Guru of the Sikhs)


v • d • e
  Topics in Sikhism  
Gurus
Philosophy
Practices
Scripture
More
  Portal:Sikhism  


Koubouter van het Gerrit Rietveld College, Zeer normaal schoolkind. XD