Sikh Gurus
"The Palace of the Lord God is so beautiful. Within it, there are gems, rubies, pearls and flawless diamonds. A fortress of gold surrounds this Source of Nectar. How can I climb up to the Fortress without a ladder? By meditating on the Lord, through the Guru, I am blessed and exalted. The Guru is the Ladder, the Guru is the Boat, and the Guru is the Raft to take me to the Lord’s Name. The Guru is the Boat to carry me across the world-ocean; the Guru is the Sacred Shrine of Pilgrimage, the Guru is the Holy River. If it pleases Him, I bathe in the Pool of Truth, and become radiant and pure." (Guru Nanak, Sri Rag, pg. 17)
The word "Guru" is a Sanskrit word meaning teacher, honoured person, religious person or saint. Sikhism though has a very specific definition of the word Guru. It means the descent of divine guidance to mankind provided through ten Enlightened Masters. This honour of being called a Sikh Guru applies only to the ten Gurus who founded the religion starting with Guru Nanak in 1469 and ending with Guru Gobind Singh in 1708; thereafter it refers to the Sikh Holy Scriptures the Guru Granth Sahib. The divine spirit was passed from one Guru to the next as "The light of a lamp which lights another does not abate. Similarly a spiritual leader and his disciple become equal, Nanak says the truth."
"They distinguish and separate one Guru from the other. And rare is the one who knows that they, indeed, were one. They who realised this in their hearts, attained Realisation of God." (Guru Gobind Singh, Dohira, Vachitra Natak)
Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1539): Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion was born in a Hindu family of Kshatriya caste. He revolted against that order when he was only 13 years old. Guru Nanak was appointed as God’s latest prophet and was asked to spread the name of God and the rules of both divinity and morality.
Guru Angad Dev Ji (1504-1552): Guru Angad Dev Ji was the second Guru of the Sikhs. He was a disciple of Guru Nanak and was chosen as his successor after being put to a great many tests. He became Guru at the age of 35 and his pontificate lasted for 13 years. He rationalised the Panjabi language and gave to it a new grammar.
Guru Amar Das Ji (1479 - 1574): Guru Amar Das Ji became the third Guru at the age of 73. For twelve years he personally served Guru Angad. He walked daily for 5 miles to fetch water for the Guru’s bath. He was chosen from amongst many by Guru Angad as his successor. His pontificate lasted for 17 years. He inculcated amongst his followers, the spirit of Service to humankind and to God.
Guru Ram Das Ji (1534-1581): Guru Ram Das Ji became Guru when he was 40. His pontificate lasted for only 7 years. He was a son-in-law of Guru Amardas. He re-organised the Sikh Church and founded the city of Amritsar.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1563-1606): Guru Arjan Dev Ji became Guru at the young age of 18. He was the youngest son of Guru Ramdas. He built the Golden Temple and compiled the Sikh holy book. He also founded the city of Taran Taran. He is the first martyr of the Sikh history.
Guru Hargobind Ji (1595-1644): Guru Hargobind Ji became Guru at the age of 11. He was the only son of Guru Arjan. His pontificate was longest amongst all the Gurus, it lasted for 38 years. He was the first Guru to fight with the Mughals against their injustice and tyranny. He wore two swords, symbolising Miri and Piri, royalty and saintliness.
Guru Har Rai Ji (1630-1661): Guru Har Rai Ji was a grandson of Guru Hargobind. He became Guru at the age of 14 and remained Guru for 17 years. He built many clinics for both sick human beings and animals/birds. He was expert in Aryuvedic medicine. Most of the time he lived in Nahan and preached the divine message over there.
Guru Harkrishan Ji (1656 - 1664): Guru Harkrishan Ji was the youngest son of Guru Harrai. He became Guru at the tender age of 5 and died at the age of 8. Thus his pontificate lasted for only 3 years. He took over the sufferings of the people of Delhi over himself and saved them from effects of smallpox epidemic. He instructed his followers to build schools for religious education. Most of the modern Sikh Schools are named after him.
Guru Teg Bahadur (1621-1675): Guru Teg Bahadur was a grand uncle of Guru Harkrishan. He became Guru at the age of 43 and remained Guru until the age of 54. He travelled towards east of India up to Dhaka to spread the message of the house of Nanak. He offered himself for martyrdom for saving the Hindu religion. He gave his life but saved the annihilation of Hindu religion by the then Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb. He was beheaded in Delhi at a place known as `Chandni Chowk’. There is a Gurudwara called "Sees Ganj Sahib" situated at that place.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji (1666 - 1708): Guru Gobind Singh Ji became Guru at the age of 9. He was the only son of Guru Teg Bahadur. Like his grand-father Guru Hargobind, he also had to resort to sword to protect the young Sikh nation from an onslaught of the Mughals. He initiated a new baptism and called it `Amrit’ . He created the order of Khalsa (Saint-soldiers) and prescribed the compulsion of wearing the 5 Ks. He declared the mission of Guru Nanak completed. He passed on the spiritual authority of the Sikhs to the Sikh holy book, and called it Guru Granth Sahib. He passed on the temporal authority of the Sikh to the Khalsa. He was the last human prophet (Guru) of the Sikhs.
Guru Granth Sahib: Guru Gobind Singh seated the Adi Granth (the Holy Scripture- the Divine Word) on the throne of Guru Nanak, placed five paise and a coconut before it and then bowed declaring it as the Last Guru for ever. When the Guruship was passed on, Guru Granth Sahib became the embodiment of Divine Light which was passed from Guru Nanak. It should, therefore, be remembered very clearly that bowing before Guru Granth Sahib as Sikhs do, is not a bowing before a book, but it is a bowing before the Divine Light or JOT (Guru) which was passed on when the Guruship was conferred upon it.
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