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Sikhs Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1563-1606)

 

 

Guru Arjan Dev Ji was the fifth Guru of the Sikhs and he was also God in the form of a human. He was born at Amritsar in 1563. His father was Guru Ram Das Ji and his mother was Mata Bhani. At birth, his name was Bhai Arjan Dev.

Bhai Arjan Dev was instructed by Guru Ram Das Ji to go to Lahore and stay there until he was called. After two years, Bhai Arjan Dev sent a letter to his father, but Guru Ram Das Ji never received it. Soon Bhai Arjan Dev sent another one and it was received by Guru Ram Das Ji. Upon reading the letter, Guru Ram Das Ji sent for Bhai Arjan Dev. In 1581, Bhai Arjan Dev became Guru Arjan Dev Ji.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji made many religious contributions to the Sikh cause. Out of all the Gurus, he wrote the most hymns. His most famous composition is the Sukhmani Sahib path, or the Peace Hymns. Guru Ji collected all the hymns of his predecessors along with some Hindu and Muslim hymns and compiled the Adi Granth, which is called Guru Granth Sahib Ji today. Guru Ji built the Harmandar Sahib, or the House of God in the middle of the Amritsar Sarovar. Today, many people call the Harmandar Sahib the Golden Temple because it is plated with gold. Guru Ji also made contributions that were for the good of everyone. This is because Guru Ji opened a lepers home at Tarn Taran.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji made contributions to Sikhism till the day he left this world. Guru Ji was martyred by being tortured for five straight days upon the orders of Emperor Jahangir because of his beliefs and teachings. In this way, Guru Arjan Dev Ji became the first Sikh martyr and thus led the Sikhs to become saint-soldiers instead of just saints. Guru Arjan left this world in 1606 at the age of 43.