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[[Image:Ekonkar.normal.png|300px|thumb|The Ik [[Onkar]], is the one of the main symbols of Sikhism. The other being the [[Khanda]].]] |
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{{Sikhi}} |
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The '''history of [[Sikhism]]''' is closely associated with the [[history of Punjab]] and the socio-political situation in [[medieval India]]. Essentially Sikh history, with respect to Sikhism as a distinct political body, can be said to have begun with the martyrdom of the fifth Sikh Guru, [[Guru Arjan Dev Ji|Guru Arjan Dev Ji]] in 1606. Sikh distinction was further enhanced by the establishment of the [[Khalsa]] (ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ), by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699.<ref>{{cite web |
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{{POV|date=December 2007}} |
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| title =BBC History of Sikhism - The Khalsa |
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{{Citations missing|date=August 2007}} |
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| work =Sikh world history |
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The '''history of [[Sikhism]]''' is closely associated with the [[history of Punjab]] and the socio-political situation in [[medieval India]]. |
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| publisher =BBC Religion & Ethics |
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| date =2003-08-29 |
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| url =http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/history/history_1.shtml |
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| accessdate = 2008-04-04 }}</ref> The evolution of Sikhism began with the emergence of [[Guru Nanak Dev Ji|Guru Nanak Dev Ji]] as a religious leader and a social reformer during the fifteenth century in [[Punjab region|Punjab]]. The religious practice was formalized by [[Guru Gobind Singh Ji]] on March 30, 1699. The latter baptised five persons from different social backgrounds to form [[Khalsa]]. The first five, [[Panj Piare|Pure Ones]], then baptized Gobind Singh into the Khalsa fold.<ref>{{cite book |
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| last = Singh |
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| first = Patwant |
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| title = The Sikhs |
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| publisher = Knopf |
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| pages = 14 |
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| isbn = 0375407286 |
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| year = 2000}}</ref> This gives the Sikhism, as an organized grouping, a religious history of around 400 years. |
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Note The Following Significant People In The Sikh Religion Are Prophets - Not Gods.Their teachings, and their learnings are put together in the Sikh holy book known as the 'Sri Guru Granth Sahib JI' which is treated with great respect, and is treated almost like a living guru. |
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Generally Sikhism has had amicable relations with other religions. However, during the Mughal rule of India (1556–1707), emerging religion had strained relation with the ruling [[Mughals]]. Prominent [[Sikh Gurus]] were martyred by [[Mughals]] for opposing some Mughal emperors' persecution of minority religious communities.<ref>{{cite journal |
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| last =McLeod |
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| first =Hew |
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| title =Sikhs and Muslims in the Punjab |
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| journal =South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies |
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| volume =22 |
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| issue =s1 |
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| pages =155–165 |
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| year =1987 |
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| doi =10.1080/00856408708723379 }}</ref> Subsequently, Sikhism [[militarized]] to oppose Mughal hegemony. The emergence of the [[Sikh Confederacy|Sikh Empire]] under reign of the Maharajah [[Ranjit Singh]] was characterized by religious tolerance and [[Religious pluralism|pluralism]] with Christians, Muslims and Hindus in positions of power. The establishment of the [[Sikh Confederacy|Sikh Empire]] is commonly considered the zenith of Sikhism at political level,<ref name="Lafont">{{cite book |
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| last =Lafont |
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| first =Jean-Marie |
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| title =Maharaja Ranjit Singh: Lord of the Five Rivers (French Sources of Indian History Sources) |
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| publisher =Oxford University Press |
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| date =(May 16, 2002) |
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| location =USA |
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| pages =23–29 |
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| isbn = 0195661117}}</ref> during this time the [[Sikh Confederacy|Sikh Empire]] came to include [[Kashmir]], [[Ladakh]], and [[Peshawar]]. [[Hari Singh Nalwa]], the Commander-in-chief of the Sikh army along the North West Frontier, took the boundary of the [[Sikh Empire]] to the very mouth of the [[Khyber Pass]]. The [[Sikh Confederacy|Empire's]] secular administration integrated innovative military, economic and governmental reforms. |
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== Guru Nanak == |
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The months leading up to the [[partition of India]] in 1947, saw heavy conflict in the [[Punjab Region|Punjab]] between Sikh and Muslims, which saw the effective religious migration of Punjabi Sikhs and Hindus from [[Punjab (Pakistan)|West Punjab]] which mirrored a similar religious migration of Punjabi Muslims in [[Punjab (India)|East Punjab]]. |
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[[Image:Guru nanak.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Guru Nanak Dev]] |
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{{main|Guru Nanak Dev}} |
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[[Guru Nanak Dev]] (1469–1538), founder of Sikhism, was born to Kalu Mehta and Mata Tripta, wherein the Bedi [[Khatri]] clan of a [[Hindu]] family in the village of [[Nankana Sahib|Talwandi]], now called Nankana Sahib, near [[Lahore]].<ref name=Singh_2006>{{cite book | last=Singh | first=Khushwant | authorlink=Khushwant Singh | year=2006 | title=The Illustrated History of the Sikhs | publisher=Oxford University Press | location=India | isbn = 0-19-567747-1 | pages=12–13}} Also, as according to the Purātan Janamsākhī (the birth stories of Nanak).</ref> His father, a [[Hindu]] named Mehta Kalu, was a Patwari, an [[accountant]] of land revenue in the government. Nanak's mother was Mata Tripta, and he had one older sister, [[Bibi Nanki]]. |
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From an early age Guru Nanak seemed to have acquired a questioning and enquiring mind and refused as a child to wear the ritualistic “sacred” thread called a [[Janeu]] and instead said that he would wear the true name of God in his heart as protection, as the thread which could be broken, be soiled, burnt or lost could not offer any security at all. From early childhood, Bibi Nanki saw in her brother the Light of God but she did not reveal this secret to anyone. She is known as the first disciple of [[Guru Nanak]]. |
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== Guru Nanak Dev Ji == |
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[[Image:Guru nanak.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Guru Nanak Dev Ji]] |
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{{main|Guru Nanak Dev Ji}} |
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[[Guru Nanak Dev Ji]] (1469–1538), founder of Sikhism, was born to Kalu Mehta and Mata Tripta, wherein the Bedi [[Khatri]] clan of a [[Hindu]] family in the village of [[Nankana Sahib|Talwandi]], now called Nankana Sahib, near [[Lahore]].<ref name=Singh_2006>{{cite book | last=Singh | first=Khushwant | authorlink=Khushwant Singh | year=2006 | title=The Illustrated History of the Sikhs | publisher=Oxford University Press | location=India | isbn = 0-19-567747-1 | pages=12–13}} Also, as according to the Purātan Janamsākhī (the birth stories of Nanak).</ref> His father, a [[Hindu]] named Mehta Kalu, was a Patwari, an [[accountant]] of land revenue in the government. Nanak's mother was Mata Tripta, and he had one older sister, [[Bibi Nanki]]. |
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From an early age Guru Nanak Dev Ji seemed to have acquired a questioning and enquiring mind and refused as a child to wear the ritualistic “sacred” thread called a [[Janeu]] and instead said that he would wear the true name of God in his heart as protection, as the thread which could be broken, be soiled, burnt or lost could not offer any security at all. From early childhood, Bibi Nanki saw in her brother the Light of God but she did not reveal this secret to anyone. She is known as the first disciple of [[Guru Nanak Dev Ji]]. |
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Even as a boy, Nanak was fascinated by religion, and his desire to explore the mysteries of life eventually led him to leave home. It was during this period that Nanak was said to have met [[Kabir]] (1440-1518), a saint revered by many. Nanak married Sulakhni, daughter of Moolchand Chona, a trader from [[Batala]], and they had two sons, [[Sri Chand]] and [[Lakshmi Das]]. |
Even as a boy, Nanak was fascinated by religion, and his desire to explore the mysteries of life eventually led him to leave home. It was during this period that Nanak was said to have met [[Kabir]] (1440-1518), a saint revered by many. Nanak married Sulakhni, daughter of Moolchand Chona, a trader from [[Batala]], and they had two sons, [[Sri Chand]] and [[Lakshmi Das]]. |
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His brother-in-law, Jai Ram, the husband of his sister Nanki, obtained a job for him in [[Sultanpur Lodhi|Sultanpur]] as the manager of the government granary. One morning, when he was twenty-eight, Guru Nanak Dev |
His brother-in-law, Jai Ram, the husband of his sister Nanki, obtained a job for him in [[Sultanpur Lodhi|Sultanpur]] as the manager of the government granary. One morning, when he was twenty-eight, Guru Nanak Dev went as usual down to the river to bathe and [[meditate]]. It was said that he was gone for three days. When he reappeared, it is said he was "filled with the spirit of God". His first words after his re-emergence were: "there is no Hindu, there is no Muslim". With this [[secular]] principle he began his [[missionary]] work.<ref name=Shackle_2005>{{cite book | last=Shackle | first=Christopher | coauthors= Mandair, Arvind-Pal Singh | year=2005 | title=Teachings of the Sikh Gurus: Selections from the Sikh Scriptures | publisher=Routledge | location=United Kingdom | isbn = 0-415-26604-1 | pages=xiii-xiv | nopp=true}}</ref> |
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He made four distinct major journeys, in the four different directions, which are called [[Udasis]], spanning many thousands of kilometres, preaching the message of God.<ref name=Singh_2006/> |
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent the final years of his life in [[Kartarpur]] where [[Langar (Sikhism)|Langar]] (free blessed food) was available. The food would be partaken of by Hindus, rich, poor, high or/and so called low castes. Guru Nanak Dev Ji worked in the fields and earned his livelihood. After appointing Bhai Lehna as the new Sikh Guru, on 22 September 1539, aged 70, Guru Nanak Dev Ji met with his demise. |
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Guru Nanak spent the final years of his life in [[Kartarpur]] where [[Langar (Sikhism)|Langar]] (free blessed food) was available. The food would be partaken of by Hindus, rich, poor, high or/and so called low castes. Guru Nanak worked in the fields and earned his livelihood. |
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== Guru Angad Dev Ji== |
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[[Image:Guru Angad Dev.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Guru Angad Dev Ji]] |
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{{main|Guru Angad Dev Ji}} |
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In 1538, Guru Nanak Dev Ji chose [[Bhai Lehna Ji]], his disciple, as a successor to the Guruship rather than one of his sons.<ref name=Shackle_2005/> Bhai Lehna was named [[Guru Angad Dev Ji]] and became the successor of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Bhai Lehna was born in the village of Harike in [[Ferozepur]] district in [[Punjab region|Punjab]], on March 31, 1504. He was the son of a small trader named Pheru. His mother's name was Mata Ramo (also known as Mata Sabhirai, Mansa Devi, Daya Kaur). Baba Narayan Das Trehan was his grand father, whose ancestral house was at Matte-di-Sarai near Mukatsar. |
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After appointing Bhai Lehna as the new Sikh Guru, on 22 September 1539, aged 70, Guru Nanak met with his demise. |
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Under the influence of his mother, Bhai Lehna began to worship [[Durga]] (A Hindu Goddess). He used to lead a group of [[Hindu]] worshippers to Jawalamukhi Temple every year. He married [[Mata Khivi]] in January 1520 and had two sons, (Dasu and Datu), and two daughters (Amro and Anokhi). The whole Pheru family had to leave their ancestral village because of the ransacking by the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] and Baloch military who had come with Emperor [[Babur]]. After this the family settled at the village of [[Khadur Sahib]] by the [[River Beas]], near [[Tarn Taran]] Sahib, a small town about 25 km. from [[Amritsar]] city. |
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== Guru Angad == |
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One day, Bhai Lehna heard the recitation of a hymn of [[Guru Nanak Dev Ji]] from Bhai Jodha (a Sikh of Guru Nanak Sahib) who was in Khadur Sahib. He was thrilled and decided to proceed to [[Kartarpur]] to have an audience ([[darshan]]) with Guru Nanak Dev Ji. So while on the annual pilgrimage to Jwalamukhi Temple, Bhai Lehna left his journey to visit Kartarpur and see Baba Nanak. His very first meeting with Guru Nanak Dev Ji completely transformed him. He renounced the worship of the Hindu Goddess, dedicated himself to the service of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and so became his disciple, (his Sikh), and began to live in Kartarpur. |
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[[Image:Guru Angad Dev.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Guru Angad Dev]] |
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{{main|Guru Angad Dev}} |
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In 1538, Guru Nanak chose [[Lehna]], his disciple, as a successor to the Guruship rather than one of his sons.<ref name=Shackle_2005/> Bhai Lehna was named [[Guru Angad]] and became the successor of Guru Nanak. |
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Bhai Lehna was born in the village of Harike in [[Ferozepur]] district in [[Punjab region|Punjab]], on March 31, 1504. He was the son of a small trader named Pheru. His mother's name was Mata Ramo (also known as Mata Sabhirai, Mansa Devi, Daya Kaur). Baba Narayan Das Trehan was his grand father, whose ancestral house was at Matte-di-Sarai near Mukatsar. |
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His devotion and service ([[Sewa]]) to Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his holy mission was so great that he was instated as the Second Nanak on September 7, 1539 by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Earlier Guru Nanak Dev Ji tested him in various ways and found an embodiment of obedience and service in him. He spent six or seven years in the service of Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Kartarpur. |
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Under the influence of his mother, Bhai Lehna began to worship [[Durga]] (A Hindu Goddess). He used to lead a group of [[Hindu]] worshippers to Jawalamukhi Temple every year. He married [[Mata Khivi]] in January 1520 and had two sons, (Dasu and Datu), and two daughters (Amro and Anokhi). The whole Pheru family had to leave their ancestral village because of the ransacking by the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] and Baloch military who had come with Emperor [[Babur]]. After this the family settled at the village of [[Khadur Sahib]] by the [[River Beas]], near [[Tarn Taran]] Sahib, a small town about 25 km. from [[Amritsar]] City. |
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After the death of Guru Nanak Dev Ji on September 22, 1539, Guru Angad Dev Ji left Kartarpur for the village of Khadur Sahib (near Goindwal Sahib). He carried forward the principles of Guru Nanak Dev Ji both in letter and spirit. Yogis and Saints of different sects visited him and held detailed discussions about Sikhism with him. |
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One day, Bhai Lehna heard the recitation of a hymn of [[Guru Nanak]] from Bhai Jodha (a Sikh of Guru Nanak Sahib) who was in Khadur Sahib. He was thrilled and decided to proceed to [[Kartarpur]] to have an audience ([[darshan]]) with Guru Nanak. So while on the annual pilgrimage to Jwalamukhi Temple, Bhai Lehna left his journey to visit Kartarpur and see Baba Nanak. His very first meeting with Guru Nanak completely transformed him. He renounced the worship of the Hindu Goddess, dedicated himself to the service of Guru Nanak and so became his disciple, (his Sikh), and began to live in Kartarpur. |
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Guru Angad Dev Ji introduced a new alphabet known as [[Gurmukhi]] Script, modifying the old Punjabi script's characters. Soon, this script became very popular and started to be used by the people in general. He took great interest in the education of children by opening many schools for their instruction and thus increased the number of literate people. For the youth he started the tradition of Mall Akhara, where physical as well as spiritual exercises were held. He collected the facts about Guru Nanak Dev Ji's life from [[Bhai Bala]] and wrote the first biography of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He also wrote 63 [[Salok]]s (stanzas), which are included in the [[Guru Granth Sahib]]. He popularised and expanded the institution of '''Guru ka Langar''' that had been started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. |
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His devotion and service ([[Sewa]]) to Guru Nanak and his holy mission was so great that he was instated as the Second Nanak on September 7, 1539 by Guru Nanak. Earlier Guru Nanak tested him in various ways and found an embodiment of obedience and service in him. He spent six or seven years in the service of Guru Nanak at Kartarpur. |
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Guru Angad Dev Ji travelled widely and visited all important religious places and centres established by Guru Nanak Dev Ji for the preaching of Sikhism. He also established hundreds of new Centres of Sikhism (Sikh religious Institutions) and thus strengthened the base of Sikhism. The period of his Guruship was the most crucial one. The Sikh community had moved from having a founder to a succession of Gurus and the infrastructure of Sikh society was strengthened and crystallized – from being an infant, Sikhism had moved to being a young child and ready to face the dangers that were around. During this phase, Sikhism established its own separate spiritual path. |
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After the death of Guru Nanak on September 22, 1539, Guru Angad left Kartarpur for the village of Khadur Sahib (near Goindwal Sahib). He carried forward the principles of Guru Nanak both in letter and spirit. Yogis and Saints of different sects visited him and held detailed discussions about Sikhism with him. |
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Guru Angad Dev Ji, following the example set by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, nominated Sri Amar Das as his successor (the Third Nanak) before his death. He presented all the holy scripts, including those he received from Guru Nanak Dev Ji, to Guru Amar Das Ji. He breathed his last on March 29, 1552 at the age of forty-eight. It is said that he started to build a new town, at Goindwal near Khadur Sahib and Guru Amar Das Sahib was appointed to supervise its construction. It is also said that [[Humayun]], when defeated by [[Sher Shah Suri]], came to obtain the blessings of Guru Angad Dev Ji in regaining the throne of [[Delhi]]. |
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Guru Angad introduced a new alphabet known as [[Gurmukhi]] Script, modifying the old Punjabi script's characters. Soon, this script became very popular and started to be used by the people in general. He took great interest in the education of children by opening many schools for their instruction and thus increased the number of literate people. For the youth he started the tradition of Mall Akhara, where physical as well as spiritual exercises were held. He collected the facts about Guru Nanak's life from [[Bhai Bala]] and wrote the first biography of Guru Nanak. He also wrote 63 [[Salok]]s (stanzas), which are included in the [[Guru Granth Sahib]]. He popularised and expanded the institution of '''Guru ka Langar''' that had been started by Guru Nanak. |
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== Guru Amar Das Ji == |
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[[Image:GuruAmarDas.jpg|thumb|200px<nowiki><br /></nowiki>|right|Guru Amar Das Ji]] |
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{{main|Guru Amar Das Ji}} |
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[[Guru Amar Das Ji]] became the third Sikh guru in 1552 at the age of 73. [[Goindwal]] became an important centre for Sikhism during the Guruship of Guru Amar Das Ji. He continued to preach the principle of equality for women, the prohibition of [[Sati (practice)|Sati]] and the practise of [[Langar (Sikhism)|Langar]].<ref name=Duggal_1988>{{cite book | last=Duggal | first=Kartar Singh | year=1988 | title=Philosophy and Faith of Sikhism | publisher=Himalayan Institute Press | isbn = 0-89389-109-6 | page=15}}</ref> In 1567, [[Emperor Akbar]] sat with the ordinary and poor people of Punjab to have Langar. Guru Amar Das Ji also trained 140 apostles, of which 52 were women, to manage the rapid expansion of the religion.<ref name=Brar_1998>{{cite web | last=Brar | first=Sandeep Singh | year=1998 | title=The Sikhism Homepage: Guru Amar Das Ji | url=http://www.sikhs.org/guru3.htm | accessdate=2006-05-26}}</ref> Before he died in 1574 aged 95, he appointed his son-in-law Jetha as the fourth Sikh Guru. |
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Guru Angad travelled widely and visited all important religious places and centres established by Guru Nanak for the preaching of Sikhism. He also established hundreds of new Centres of Sikhism (Sikh religious Institutions) and thus strengthened the base of Sikhism. The period of his Guruship was the most crucial one. The Sikh community had moved from having a founder to a succession of Gurus and the infrastructure of Sikh society was strengthened and crystallized – from being an infant, Sikhism had moved to being a young child and ready to face the dangers that were around. During this phase, Sikhism established its own separate spiritual path. |
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It is recorded that before becoming a Sikh, Bhai Amar Das, as he was known at the time, was a very religious Vaishanavite [[Hindu]] who spent most of his life performing all of the ritual pilgrimages and fasts of a devout Hindu. One day, Bhai Amar Das Ji heard some hymns of [[Guru Nanak Dev Ji]] being sung by [[Bibi Amro]] Ji, the daughter of [[Guru Angad Dev Ji]], the second [[Sikh Guru]]. Bibi Amro Ji was married to Bhai Sahib's brother, Bhai Manak Chand's son who was called Bhai Jasso. Bhai Sahib was so impressed and moved by these [[Shabad]]s that he immediately decided to go to see [[Guru Angad Dev Ji]] at [[Khadur Sahib]]. It is recorded that this event took place when Bhai Sahib was 61 years old. |
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Guru Angad, following the example set by Guru Nanak, nominated Sri Amar Das as his successor (The Third Nanak) before his death. He presented all the holy scripts, including those he received from Guru Nanak, to Guru Amar Das. He breathed his last on March 29, 1552 at the age of forty-eight. It is said that he started to build a new town, at Goindwal near Khadur Sahib and Guru Amar Das Sahib was appointed to supervise its construction. It is also said that Himayun, when defeated by Sher Shah Suri, came to obtain the blessings of Guru Angad in regaining the throne of [[Delhi]]. |
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In 1635, upon meeting Guru Angad Dev Ji, Bhai Sahib was so touched by Guru Ji's message that he became a devout Sikh. Soon he became involved in [[Sewa]] (Service) to Guru Ji and the Community. Under the impact of Guru Angad Dev Ji and the teachings of the Gurus, Bhai Amar Das Ji became a devout Sikh. He adopted Guru as his spiritual guide (Guru). Bhai Sahib began to live at Khadur Sahib, where he used to rise early in the morning and bring water from the Beas River for Guru Ji's bath; he would wash Guru Ji's clothes and fetch wood from the jungle for 'Guru ka Langar'. He was so dedicated to [[Sewa]] and Guru Ji and had completely extinguished pride and was totally lost in this commitment that he was considered an old man who had no interest in life; he was dubbed Amru, and generally forsaken. |
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== Guru Amar Das == |
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However, as a result of Bhai Sahib's commitment to Sikhi principles, dedicated service and devotion to the Sikh cause, Guru Angad Dev Ji appointed Guru Amar Das Ji as third Nanak in March 1552 at the age of 73. He established his headquarters at the newly built town of Goindwal, which Guru Angad Dev Ji had established. |
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[[Image:GuruAmarDas.jpg|thumb|200px<nowiki><br /></nowiki>|right|Guru Amar Das]] |
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{{main|Guru Amar Das}} |
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[[Guru Amar Das]] became the third Sikh guru in 1552 at the age of 73. [[Goindwal]] became an important centre for Sikhism during the Guruship of Guru Amar Das. He continued to preach the principle of equality for women, the prohibition of [[Sati (practice)|Sati]] and the practise of [[Langar (Sikhism)|Langar]].<ref name=Duggal_1988>{{cite book | last=Duggal | first=Kartar Singh | year=1988 | title=Philosophy and Faith of Sikhism | publisher=Himalayan Institute Press | isbn = 0-89389-109-6 | page=15}}</ref> In 1567, [[Emperor Akbar]] sat with the ordinary and poor people of Punjab to have Langar. Guru Amar Das also trained 140 apostles, of which 52 were women, to manage the rapid expansion of the religion.<ref name=Brar_1998>{{cite web | last=Brar | first=Sandeep Singh | year=1998 | title=The Sikhism Homepage: Guru Amar Das | url=http://www.sikhs.org/guru3.htm | accessdate=2006-05-26}}</ref> Before he died in 1574 aged 95, he appointed his son-in-law Jetha as the fourth Sikh Guru. |
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It is recorded that before becoming a Sikh, Bhai Amar Das, as he was known at the time, was a very religious Vaishanavite [[Hindu]] who spent most of his life performing all of the ritual pilgrimages and fasts of a devout Hindu. One day, Bhai Amar Das heard some hymns of [[Guru Nanak]] being sung by [[Bibi Amro]] Ji, the daughter of [[Guru Angad]], the second [[Sikh Guru]]. Bibi Amro was married to Bhai Sahib's brother, Bhai Manak Chand's son who was called Bhai Jasso. Bhai Sahib was so impressed and moved by these [[Shabad]]s that he immediately decided to go to see [[Guru Angad]] at [[Khadur Sahib]]. It is recorded that this event took place when Bhai Sahib was 61 years old. |
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Soon large numbers of Sikhs started flocking to Goindwal to see the new Guru. Here, Guru Amar Das Ji propagated the Sikh faith in a vigorous, systematic and planned manner. He divided the Sikh Sangat area into 22 preaching centres or Manjis, each under the charge of a devout Sikh. He himself visited and sent Sikh missionaries to different parts of India to spread Sikhism. |
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In 1635, upon meeting Guru Angad, Bhai Sahib was so touched by the Guru's message that he became a devout Sikh. Soon he became involved in [[Sewa]] (Service) to the Guru and the Community. Under the impact of Guru Angad and the teachings of the Gurus, Bhai Amar Das became a devout Sikh. He adopted Guru as his spiritual guide (Guru). Bhai Sahib began to live at Khadur Sahib, where he used to rise early in the morning and bring water from the Beas River for the Guru's bath; he would wash the Guru's clothes and fetch wood from the jungle for 'Guru ka Langar'. He was so dedicated to [[Sewa]] and the Guru and had completely extinguished pride and was totally lost in this commitment that he was considered an old man who had no interest in life; he was dubbed Amru, and generally forsaken. |
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Guru Amar Das Ji was impressed with [[Bhai Gurdas Ji]]' thorough knowledge of [[Hindi]] and [[Sanskrit]] and the [[Hindu]] scriptures. Following the tradition of sending out [[Masand]]s across the country, Guru Amar Das Ji deputed Bhai Gurdas Ji to [[Agra]] to spread the gospel of [[Sikhism]]. Before leaving, Guru Amar Das Ji prescribed the following routine for Sikhs: |
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However, as a result of Bhai Sahib's commitment to Sikhi principles, dedicated service and devotion to the Sikh cause, Guru Angad Sahib appointed Guru Amar Das Sahib as third Nanak in March 1552 at the age of 73. He established his headquarters at the newly built town of Goindwal, which Guru Angad had established. |
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{{cquote|He who calls himself a Sikh of the True Guru, He must get up in the morning and say his prayers. He must rise in the early hours and bathe in the holy tank. He must meditate on God as advised by Guru Ji. And rid him of the afflictions of sins and evil. As the day dawns, he should recite scriptures, and repeat God's name in every activity. He to whom Guru Ji takes kindly is shown the path. Nanak! I seek the dust of the feet of Guru Ji's Sikh who himself remembers God and makes others remember Him. (Gauri)}} |
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Soon large numbers of Sikhs started flocking to Goindwal to see the new Guru. Here, Guru Amar Das propagated the Sikh faith in a vigorous, systematic and planned manner. He divided the Sikh Sangat area into 22 preaching centres or Manjis, each under the charge of a devout Sikh. He himself visited and sent Sikh missionaries to different parts of India to spread Sikhism. |
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Guru Ji strengthened the tradition of '[[Guru ka Langar]]' and made it compulsory for the visitor to Guru Ji to eat first, saying that 'Pehle Pangat Phir Sangat' (first visit the Langar then go to Guru Ji). Once the emperor Akbar came to see Guru Sahib and he had to eat the coarse rice in the Langar before he could have an interview with Guru Sahib. He was so much impressed with this system that he expressed his desire to grant some royal property for 'Guru ka Langar', but Guru Sahib declined it with respect. |
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sure |
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Guru Amar Das was impressed with [[Bhai Gurdas]]' thorough knowledge of [[Hindi]] and [[Sanskrit]] and the [[Hindu]] scriptures. Following the tradition of sending out [[Masand]]s across the country, Guru Amar Das deputed Bhai Gurdas to [[Agra]] to spread the gospel of [[Sikhism]]. Before leaving, Guru Amar Das prescribed the following routine for Sikhs: |
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{{cquote|He who calls himself a Sikh of the True Guru, He must get up in the morning and say his prayers. He must rise in the early hours and bathe in the holy tank. He must meditate on God as advised by the Guru. And rid him of the afflictions of sins and evil. As the day dawns, he should recite scriptures, and repeat God's name in every activity. He to whom the Guru takes kindly is shown the path. Nanak! I seek the dust of the feet of the Guru's Sikh who himself remembers God and makes others remember Him. (Gauri)}} |
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Guru Ji strengthened the tradition of '[[Guru ka Langar]]' and made it compulsory for the visitor to the Guru to eat first, saying that 'Pehle Pangat Phir Sangat' (first visit the Langar then go to the Guru). Once the emperor Akbar came to see Guru Sahib and he had to eat the coarse rice in the Langar before he could have an interview with Guru Sahib. He was so much impressed with this system that he expressed his desire to grant some royal property for 'Guru ka Langar', but Guru Sahib declined it with respect. |
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He introduced new birth, marriage and death ceremonies. Thus he raised the status of women and protected the rights of female infants who were killed without question as they were deemed to have no status. These teachings met with stiff resistance from the Orthodox Hindus. He fixed three Gurpurbs for Sikh celebrations: [[Diwali]], [[Vaisakhi]] and [[Maghi]]. |
He introduced new birth, marriage and death ceremonies. Thus he raised the status of women and protected the rights of female infants who were killed without question as they were deemed to have no status. These teachings met with stiff resistance from the Orthodox Hindus. He fixed three Gurpurbs for Sikh celebrations: [[Diwali]], [[Vaisakhi]] and [[Maghi]]. |
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Guru Amar Das |
Guru Amar Das not only preached the equality of people irrespective of their caste but he also fostered the idea of women's equality. He preaching strongly against the practice of [[Sati (practice)|Sati]] (a Hindu wife burning on her husband's funeral pyre). Guru Amar Das also disapproved of a young widow remaining unmarried for the rest of her life. |
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Guru Amar Das |
Guru Amar Das constructed "Baoli" at Goindwal Sahib having eighty-four steps and made it a Sikh pilgrimage centre for the first time in the history of Sikhism. He reproduced more copies of the hymns of Guru Nanak and Guru Angad. He also composed 869 (according to some chronicles these were 709) verses (stanzas) including [[Anand Sahib]], and then later on [[Guru Arjan]] (fifth Guru) made all the Shabads part of [[Guru Granth Sahib]]. |
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When it came time for |
When it came time for the Guru's younger daughter [[Bibi Bhani]] to marry, he selected a pious and diligent young follower of his called Jetha from [[Lahore]]. Jetha had come to visit the Guru with a party of pilgrims from Lahore and had become so enchanted by the Guru's teachings that he had decided to settle in [[Goindwal]]. Here he earned a living selling wheat and would regularly attend the services of Guru Amar Das in his spare time. |
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Guru Amar Das |
Guru Amar Das did not consider anyone of his sons fit for Guruship and chose instead his son-in law (Guru) Ram Das to succeed him. Guru Amar Das Sahib at the age of 95 died on September 1, 1574 at Goindwal in District [[Amritsar]], after giving responsibility of Guruship to the Fourth Nanak, [[Guru Ram Das]]. |
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== Guru Ram Das |
== Guru Ram Das == |
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[[Image:Guru ramdas.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Guru Ram Das |
[[Image:Guru ramdas.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Guru Ram Das]] |
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{{main|Guru Ram Das |
{{main|Guru Ram Das}} |
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Guru Ram Das |
Guru Ram Das (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਰਾਮ ਦਾਸ) (Born in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan on 24 September 1534 – 1 September 1581, Amritsar, Punjab, India) was the fourth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism, and he became Guru on 30 August, 1574, following in the footsteps of Guru Amar Das. |
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He was born in Lahore to a Sodhi family of the Khatri clan. His father was Hari Das and mother Anup Devi, and his name was Jetha, meaning 'first born'. His wife was Bibi Bhani, the younger daughter of Guru Amar Das, the third guru of the Sikhs. They had three sons: Prithi Chand, Mahadev and Arjan Dev. |
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As a Guru one of his main contributions to Sikhism was organizing the structure of Sikh society. Additionally, he was the author of Laava, the hymns of the Marriage Rites, the designer of the Harmandir Sahib, and the planner and creator of the township of Ramdaspur (later [[Amritsar]]). |
As a Guru one of his main contributions to Sikhism was organizing the structure of Sikh society. Additionally, he was the author of Laava, the hymns of the Marriage Rites, the designer of the Harmandir Sahib, and the planner and creator of the township of Ramdaspur (later [[Amritsar]]). |
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A hymn by Guru Ram Das |
A hymn by Guru Ram Das from page 305 of the Guru Granth Sahib: |
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“One who calls himself a Sikh of the True Guru shall get up early morning and meditate on the Lord's Name. Make effort regularly to cleanse, bathe and dip in the ambrosial pool. Upon Guru's instructions, chant Har, Har singing which, all misdeeds, sins and pains shall go away.” |
“One who calls himself a Sikh of the True Guru shall get up early morning and meditate on the Lord's Name. Make effort regularly to cleanse, bathe and dip in the ambrosial pool. Upon Guru's instructions, chant Har, Har singing which, all misdeeds, sins and pains shall go away.” |
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Guru Ram Das |
Guru Ram Das nominated Guru Arjan Dev, his youngest son, as the next Guru of the Sikhs. |
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== Guru Arjan |
== Guru Arjan == |
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[[Image:Dictation of the Guru Granth Saheb.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Guru Arjan Dev |
[[Image:Dictation of the Guru Granth Saheb.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Guru Arjan Dev]] |
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{{main|Guru Arjan Dev |
{{main|Guru Arjan Dev}} |
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In 1581, [[Guru Arjan |
In 1581, [[Guru Arjan]] — the youngest son of the fourth guru — became the Fifth Guru of the Sikhs. In addition to being responsible for building the [[Harimandir Sahib|Golden Temple]], he prepared the Sikh [[Sacred text]] and his personal addition of some 2,000 plus hymns in the [[Guru Granth Sahib|Gurū Granth Sāhib]]. |
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In 1604 he installed the [[Adi Granth|Ādi Granth]] for the first time as the [[Holy Book]] of the Sikhs. In 1606, for refusing to make changes to the Gurū Granth Sāhib, he was tortured and killed by the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] rulers of the time.<ref name=Shackle_2005/> |
In 1604 he installed the [[Adi Granth|Ādi Granth]] for the first time as the [[Holy Book]] of the Sikhs. In 1606, for refusing to make changes to the Gurū Granth Sāhib, he was tortured and killed by the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] rulers of the time.<ref name=Shackle_2005/> |
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He contributed much to Guru Granth Sahib |
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== Guru Har Gobind |
== Guru Har Gobind == |
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[[Image:Guru hargobind.jpg|thumb|150px| |
[[Image:Guru hargobind.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Guru Har Gobind]] |
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{{main|Guru Har Gobind |
{{main|Guru Har Gobind}} |
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Guru Har Gobind became the sixth guru of the Sikhs. He carried two swords — one for Spiritual reasons and one for temporal (worldly) reasons.<ref name=Mahmood_2002>{{cite book | last=Mahmood | first=Cynthia | year=2002 | title=A Sea of Orange | publisher=Xlibris | location=United States | isbn = 1-4010-2856-X | page=16}}</ref> |
Guru Har Gobind became the sixth guru of the Sikhs. He carried two swords — one for Spiritual reasons and one for temporal (worldly) reasons.<ref name=Mahmood_2002>{{cite book | last=Mahmood | first=Cynthia | year=2002 | title=A Sea of Orange | publisher=Xlibris | location=United States | isbn = 1-4010-2856-X | page=16}}</ref> |
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From this point onward, the Sikhs became a military force and always had a trained fighting force to defend their independence. |
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== Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji == |
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{{clear}} |
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[[Image:Guru Har Rai.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji]] |
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{{main|Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji}} |
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Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ) (26 February 1630 - 6 October 1661) was the seventh of the ten Gurus of Sikhism, becoming Guru on 8 March, 1644, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Guru Har Gobind Sahib Ji, who was the sixth guru. Before he died, he nominated Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji, his youngest son, as the next Guru of the Sikhs. |
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== Guru Har Rai == |
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As a very young child he was disturbed by the suffering of a flower damaged by his robe in passing. Though such feelings are common with children, Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji would throughout his life be noted for his compassion for life and living things. His grandfather, who was famed as an avid hunter, is said to have saved the Moghul Emperor Jahangir's life during a tiger's attack. Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji continued the hunting tradition of his grandfather, but he would allow no animals to be killed on his grand Shikars. Guru Ji instead captured the animal and added it to his zoo. |
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[[Image:Guru Har Rai.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Guru Har Rai]] |
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He made several tours to the Malwa and Doaba regions of the Punjab. |
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{{main|Guru Har Rai}} |
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Guru Har Rai (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ) (26 February 1630 - 6 October 1661) was the seventh of the ten Gurus of Sikhism, becoming Guru on 8 March, 1644, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Guru Har Gobind, who was the sixth guru. Before he died, he nominated Guru Har Krishan, his youngest son, as the next Guru of the Sikhs. |
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The following is a summary of the main highlights of Guru Har Rai's life: |
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His son, Ram Rai, seeking to assuage concerns of Aurangzeb over one line in Guru Nanak Dev Ji's verse (Mitti Mussalmam ki pede pai kumhar) suggested that the word Mussalmam was a mistake on the copyist's part, therefore distorting Bani. Guru Ji refused to meet with him again. Guru Ji is believed to have said, "Ram Rai, you have disobeyed my order and sinned. I will never see you again on account of your infidelity." It was also reported to Guru Ji that Ram Rai had also worked miracles in the Mughal's court against Guru Ji's teachings. Sikhs are constrained by their Gurus to not believe in magic and myth or miracles. Just before his death at age, 31, Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji passed the Gaddi of Guru Nanak Dev Ji on to his younger son, the five year old — Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji. |
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continued the military traditions started by his grandfather Guru Har Gobind. |
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maintained a cavalry of 2,200 soldiers throughout his Guruship. |
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As a very young child he was disturbed by the suffering of a flower damaged by his robe in passing. Though such feelings are common with children, Guru Har Rai would throughout his life be noted for his compassion for life and living things. His grandfather, who was famed as an avid hunter, is said to have saved the Moghul Emperor Jahangir's life during a tiger's attack. Guru Har Rai continued the hunting tradition of his grandfather, but he would allow no animals to be killed on his grand Shikars. The Guru instead captured the animal and added it to his zoo. |
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Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji was the son of Baba Gurdita Ji and Mata Nihal Kaur Ji (also known as Mata Ananti Ji). Baba Gurdita was the son of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji married Mata Kishan Kaur Ji (sometimes also referred to as Mata Sulakhni Ji), daughter of Sri Daya Ram Ji of Anoopshahr (Bulandshahr) in Uttar Pradesh on Har Sudi 3, Samvat 1697. Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji had two sons: Baba Ram Rai and Sri Har Krishan. |
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He made several tours to the Malwa and Doaba regions of the Punjab. |
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His son, Ram Rai, seeking to assuage concerns of Aurangzeb over one line in Guru Nanak's verse (Mitti Mussalmam ki pede pai kumhar) suggested that the word Mussalmam was a mistake on the copyist's part, therefore distorting Bani. The Guru refused to meet with him again. The Guru is believed to have said, "Ram Rai, you have disobeyed my order and sinned. I will never see you again on account of your infidelity." It was also reported to the Guru that Ram Rai had also worked miracles in the Mughal's court against his father's direct instructions. Sikhs are constrained by their Gurus to not believe in magic and myth or miracles. |
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Although, Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji was a man of peace, he never disbanded the armed Sikh Warriors (Saint Soldiers), who earlier were maintained by his grandfather, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. He always boosted the military spirit of the Sikhs, but he never himself indulged in any direct political and armed controversy with the contemporary Mughal Empire. Once, Dara Shikoh (the eldest son of emperor Shah Jahan), came to Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji asking for help in the war of succession with his brother, the murderous Aurangzeb. Guru Ji had promised his grandfather to use the Sikh Cavalry only in defence. Nevertheless, he helped him to escape safely from the bloody hands of Aurangzeb's armed forces by having his Sikh warriors hide all the ferry boats at the river crossing used by Dara Shikoh in his escape. |
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Just before his death at age, 31, Guru Har Rai passed the Gaddi of Nanak on to his younger son, the five year old — Guru Har Krishan. |
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== Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji == |
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{{main|Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji}} |
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Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji borne in Kirat Pur, Ropar (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ) (7 July 1656 - 30 March 1664) was the eighth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism, becoming Guru Sahib on 7 October 1661, following in the footsteps of his father, Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji. Before Har Krishan died of complications of [[Smallpox]], he nominated his granduncle, Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Ji, as the next Guru of the Sikhs. The following is a summary of the main highlights of his short life: |
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Guru Har Rai was the son of Baba Gurdita and Mata Nihal Kaur (also known as Mata Ananti Ji). Baba Gurdita was the son of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind. Guru Har Rai married Mata Kishan Kaur (sometimes also referred to as Sulakhni), daughter of Sri Daya Ram of Anoopshahr (Bulandshahr) in Uttar Pradesh on Har Sudi 3, Samvat 1697. Guru Har Rai had two sons: Baba Ram Rai and Sri Har Krishan. |
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{{cquote|Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji was the epitome of sensibility, generosity and courage. There is a famous incident from his early age. Once on the way to Delhi from Punjab he met an arrogant [[Brahmin]] [[Pundit]] called Lal Chand in Panjokhara town. The Pundit asked him to recite Salokas from the Geeta since his name was similar to that of Lord Krishna. Guru Ji invited a mute person called Chhajju Mehra and placed his stick on his head. He immediately started interpreting salokas from the Geeta. Everybody around was dumbstruck. Lal Chand's arrogance too was shattered and he asked for Guru Ji's forgiveness.}} |
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Although, Guru Har Rai was a man of peace, he never disbanded the armed Sikh Warriors (Saint Soldiers), who earlier were maintained by his grandfather, Guru Hargobind. He always boosted the military spirit of the Sikhs, but he never himself indulged in any direct political and armed controversy with the contemporary Mughal Empire. Once, Dara Shikoh (the eldest son of emperor Shah Jahan), came to Guru Har Rai asking for help in the war of succession with his brother, the murderous Aurangzeb. The Guru had promised his grandfather to use the Sikh Cavalry only in defence. Nevertheless, he helped him to escape safely from the bloody hands of Aurangzeb's armed forces by having his Sikh warriors hide all the ferry boats at the river crossing used by Dara Shikoh in his escape. |
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When Har Krishan stayed in Delhi there was a smallpox epidemic and many people were dying. According to Sikh history at Har Krishan's blessing, the lake at Bangla Sahib provided cure for thousands. Gurdwara Bangla Sahib was constructed in Guru Ji's memory. This is where he stayed during his visit to Delhi. Gurdwara Bala Sahib was built in south Delhi besides the bank of the river Yamuna, where Har Krishan was cremated at the age of about 7 years and 8 months. Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji was the youngest Guru at only 7 years of age. He did not make any contributions to Gurbani. |
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== Guru |
== Guru Har Krishan == |
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ISALAM |
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[[Image:GuruTeghBahadurS1.jpg|thumb|100px|left|Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji]] |
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{{main|Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji}} |
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Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji is the ninth of the [[Sikh]] Gurus. Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji sacrificed himself to protect Hindus. He was asked by Aurungzeb, the Mughal emperor, under coercion by Naqshbandi Islamists, to convert to Islam or to sacrifice himself. The exact place where he attained martyrdom is in front of the [[Red Fort]] in Delhi (Lal Qila) and the gurdwara is called Sisganj.<ref name=Rama_1986>{{cite book | last=Rama | fiysit=Swuami | year=1986 | title=Celestiyal Song/Gobind Geet: The Dramatic DialogueyBetween Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Banda Singh Bahadar | publisher=Hyimalayan Iystitute Press | id = ISBN 0-89389-103-7 | pages=7-8}}</ref> This marked a turning point for Sikhism. His successor, [[Guru Gobind Singh Ji]] further militarised his followers. |
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{{main|Guru Har Krishan}} |
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== Guru Gobind Singh Ji == |
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Guru Har Krishan borne in Kirat Pur, Ropar (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ) (7 July 1656 - 30 March 1664) was the eighth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism, becoming the Guru on 7 October 1661, following in the footsteps of his father, Guru Har Rai. Before Har Krishan died of complications of [[Smallpox]], he nominated his granduncle, Guru Teg Bahadur, as the next Guru of the Sikhs. The following is a summary of the main highlights of his short life: |
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[[Image:Guru Gobind Singh 1.jpg|thumb|right|Guru Gobind Singh Ji]] |
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{{main|Guru Gobind Singh Ji}} |
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MUTE RECITES SALOKAS:</br> |
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji was the tenth guru of Sikhs. He was born in 1666 at [[Patna]] (Capital of [[Bihar, India]]). In 1675 Pundits from Kashmir in India came to Anandpur Sahib pleading to Guru Teg Bahadar Ji (Father of Guru Gobind Singh Ji) about [[Aurangzeb]] forcing them to convert to Islam. Guru Teg Bahadur Ji told them that martyrdom of a great man was needed. His son, Guru Gobind Singh Ji said "Who could be greater than you", to his father. Guru Teg Bahadur Ji told pundits to tell Aurangzeb's men that if Guru Teg Bahadur Ji will become Muslim, they all will. Guru Teg Bahadur Ji was then martyred in Delhi, but before that he assigned Guru Gobind Singh Ji as 10th Guru at age of 9. After becoming Guru he commanded Sikhs to be armed. He fought many battles with Aurangzeb and some other Kings of that time, but always winner. |
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Sri Guru Harkrishan Ji was the epitome of sensibility, generosity and courage. There is a famous incident from his early age. Once on the way to Delhi from Punjab he met an arrogant [[Brahmin]] Pundit called Lal Chand in Panjokhara town. The Pundit asked him to recite Salokas from the Geeta since his name was similar to that of Lord Krishna. Guru Ji invited a mute person called Chhajju Mehra and placed his stick on his head. He immediately started interpreting salokas from the Geeta. Everybody around was dumbstruck. Lal Chand's arrogance too was shattered and he asked for Guru Ji's forgiveness. |
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When Har Krishan stayed in Delhi there was a smallpox epidemic and many people were dying. |
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In 1699 he created the [[Khalsa]] ''[[panth]]'', by giving ''[[Amrit Sanskar|amrit]]'' to sikhs. In 1704 he fought the great battle with collective forces of Aurangzeb, Wazir Khan (Chief of Sarhind), and other kings. He left Anandpur and went to Chamkaur with only 40 sikhs. There he fought the [[Battle of Chamkaur]] with 40 sikhs, vastly outnumbered by the Mughal soldiers. His two elder sons (at ages 17, 15) were martyred there. Wazir Khan killed other two (ages 9, 6). Guru Ji sent Aurangzeb the [[Zafarnamah]] (''Notification of Victory''). Then he went to Nanded ([[Maharashtra, India]]). From there he made Baba Gurbakhash Singh, also aliased as Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, as his general and sent him to Punjab. |
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According to Sikh history at Har Krishan's blessing, the lake at Bangla Sahib provided cure for thousands. |
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On the evening of the day when Baba Gurbakhash Singh left for Punjab, Guru Gobind Singh Ji was visited by two Muslim soldiers. One of them was commissioned by [[Wazir Khan]], Subedar of Sirhind, to assassinate Guru Gobind Singh Ji. One of the assailants, Bashal Beg, kept a vigil outside Guru Ji's tent while Jamshed Khan, a hired assassin, stabbed Guru Ji twice. Khan was killed in one stroke by Guru Ji, while those outside, alerted by the tumult, killed Beg. Although the wound was sewn up the following day, Guru Ji died in [[Nanded]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]] in 1708<ref>[http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/history/his1004.htm Today in Sikh History - 4th October :Gateway to Sikhism<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. |
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Gurdwara Bangla Sahib was constructed in the Guru's memory. This is where he stayed during his visit to Delhi. Gurdwara Bala Sahib was built in south Delhi besides the bank of the river Yamuna, where Har Krishan was cremated at the age of about 7 years and 8 months. |
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Shortly before passing away Guru Gobind Singh Ji ordered that the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] (the Sikh Holy Scripture), would be the ultimate spiritual authority for the Sikhs and temporal authority would be vested in the [[Khalsa Panth]] – the Sikh Nation. The first Sikh Holy Scripture was compiled and edited by the Fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji in AD 1604, although some of the earlier gurus are also known to have documented their revelations. This is one of the few scriptures in the world that has been compiled by the founders of a faith during their own life time. The Guru Granth Sahib is particularly unique among sacred texts in that it is written in [[Gurmukhi]] script but contains many languages including [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Hindi-Urdu]], [[Sanskrit]], [[Bhojpuri]], [[Assamese]] and [[Persian language|Persian]]. Sikhs consider the Guru Granth Sahib the last, perpetual living guru. |
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Guru Har Krishan was the youngest Guru at only 7 years of age. He did not make any contributions to Gurbani. |
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==Sikh Empire== |
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{{Main|Sikh Empire}} |
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== Guru Tegh Bahadur == |
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===History=== |
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[[Image:GuruTeghBahadurS1.jpg|thumb|100px|right|Guru Tegh Bahadur]] |
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[[Ranjit Singh]] was crowned on April 12, 1801 (to coincide with [[Baisakhi]]). Sahib Singh Bedi, a descendant of [[Guru Nanak Dev Ji]], conducted the coronation <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sikhcybermuseum.org.uk/People/ranjitmaharaja.htm |title="Ranjit Singh, Maharaja", Sikh Cyber Museum |publisher=Sikhcybermuseum.org.uk |date= |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref>. [[Gujranwala]] served as his capital from 1799. In 1802 he shifted his capital to [[Lahore]] & [[Amritsar]]. Ranjit Singh rose to power in a very short period, from a leader of a single Sikh misl to finally becoming the Maharaja (Emperor) of Punjab. |
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{{main|Guru Tegh Bahadur}} |
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Guru Tegh Bahadur is the ninth of the [[Sikh]] Gurus. Guru Tegh Bahadur sacrificed himself to protect Hindus. He was asked by Aurungzeb, the Mughal emperor, under coercion by Naqshbandi Islamists, to convert to Islam or to sacrifice himself. The exact place where he attained martyrdom is in front of the Red Fort in Delhi (Lal Qila) and the gurdwara is called SisGanj. <ref name=Rama_1986>{{cye book | last=Rama | fiysit=Swuami | year=1986 | title=Celestiyal Song/Gobind Geet: The Dramatic DialogueyBetween Guru Gobind Singh and Banda Singh Bahadyur | publisher=Hyimalayan Iystitute Press | id = ISBN 0-89389-103-7 | pages=7-8}}</ref> This marked a turning point for Sikhism. His successor, [[Guru Gobind Singh]] further militarised his followers. |
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== Guru Gobind Singh Ji == |
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There was strong collaboration in defense against foreign incursions such as those initiated by [[Ahmed Shah Abdali]] and [[Nadir Shah]]. The city of [[Amritsar]] was attacked numerous times. Yet the time is remembered by Sikh historians as the "Heroic Century". This is mainly to describe the rise of [[Sikhs]] to political power against large odds. The circumstances were hostile religious environment against [[Sikhs]], a tiny [[Sikh]] population compared to other religious and political powers, which were much larger in the region than the Sikhs. |
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[[Image:Guru Gobind Singh 1.jpg|thumb|right|Guru Gobind Singh]] |
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{{main|Guru Gobind Singh}} |
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===Before the Empire=== |
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[[Image:PanjaSahibExterior1.JPG|thumb|150px|left|Exterior of [[Panja Sahib]] Gurdwara in [[Hasan Abdal]].]] |
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The period from 1716 to 1799 was a highly turbulent time politically and militarily in the [[Punjab region|Punjab]]. This was caused by the overall decline of the [[Mughal Empire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.gov.pk/html_Pages/sikh.htm |title=Sikh Period - National Fund for Cultural Heritage |publisher=Heritage.gov.pk |date=1947-08-14 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref> This left a power vacuum that was eventually filled by the Sikhs in the late 18th century, after fighting off local Mughal remnants and allied Rajput leaders, Afghans, and occasionally hostile Punjabi Muslims who sided with other Muslim forces. Sikh warlords eventually formed their own independent Sikh administrative regions (misls), which were united in large part by Ranjit Singh. |
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===Formation=== |
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[[Image:Ranjitsingh.gif|right|150px|thumb|Portrait of [[Maharaja]] [[Ranjit Singh]]]] |
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The Sikh Empire (from 1801-1849) was formed on the foundations of the Punjabi Army by [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Punjab)|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]]. The Empire extended from [[Khyber Pass]] in the west, to [[Jammu & Kashmir|Kashmir]] in the north, to [[Sindh]] in the south, and [[Tibet Autonomous Region|Tibet]] in the east. The main geographical footprint of the empire was the [[Punjab region|Punjab]]. The religious [[demography]] of the Sikh Empire was [[Islam|Muslim]] (80%), [[Sikhism|Sikh]] (10%), [[Hinduism|Hindu]] (10%),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.exoticindiaart.com/book/details/IDE822/ |title=Ranjit Singh: A Secular Sikh Sovereign by K.S. Duggal. ''(Date:1989. ISBN 8170172446'') |publisher=Exoticindiaart.com |date=2009-02-01 |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref>. |
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The foundations of the Sikh Empire, during the Punjab Army, could be defined as early as 1707, starting from the death of [[Aurangzeb]] and the downfall of the [[Mughal Empire]]. The fall of the Mughal Empire provided opportunities for the army, known as the [[Dal Khalsa (Sikh Empire)|Dal Khalsa]], to lead expeditions against the [[Mughals]] and [[Demographics of Afghanistan|Afghans]]. This led to a growth of the army, which was split into different Punjabi Armies and then semi-independent misls. Each of these component armies were known as a [[misl]], each controlling different areas and cities. However, in the period from 1762-1799 [[Sikh]] rulers of their misls appeared to be coming into their own. The formal start of the Sikh Empire began with the disbandment of the [[Punjab Army]] by the time of Coronation of [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Punjab)|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]] in 1801, creating the one unified political Empire. All the misldars who were affiliated with the Army were nobility with usually long and prestigious family histories in Punjab's history.<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition 1911 Page 892">Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, (Edition: Volume V22, Date: 1910-1911), Page 892.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/PYR_RAY/RANJIT_SINGH_MAHARAJA_178o_1839.html |title=MAHARAJAH RANJIT SINGH ... - Online Information article about MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH |publisher=Encyclopedia.jrank.org |date= |accessdate=2009-08-09}}</ref> |
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===End of Empire=== |
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[[File:India1765and1805b.jpg|thumb|Map showing expansion of Sikh empire from 1765 to 1805]] |
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After [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh]]'s death in 1839, the empire was severely weakened by internal divisions and political mismanagement. This opportunity was used by the [[British Empire]] to launch the [[Anglo-Sikh Wars]]. The [[Battle of Ferozeshah]] in 1845 marked many turning points, the British encountered the Punjabi Army, opening with a gun-duel in which the Sikhs "had the better of the British artillery". But as the British made advancements, Europeans in their army were especially targeted, as the Sikhs believed if the army "became demoralised, the backbone of the enemy's position would be broken"<ref>Ranjit Singh: administration and British policy, (Prakash, p.31-33)</ref>. The fighting continued throughout the night earning the nickname "night of terrors". The British position "grew graver as the night wore on", and "suffered terrible casualties with every single member of the Governor General's staff either killed or wounded"<ref name="Maharaja Ranjit Singh p.136-137">Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the last to lay arms, (Duggal,p.136-137)</ref>. |
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British General Sire [[James Hope Grant]] recorded: "Truly the night was one of gloom and forbidding and perhaps never in the annals of warfare has a British Army on such a large scale been nearer to a defeat which would have involved annihilation"<ref name="Maharaja Ranjit Singh p.136-137"/> The Punjabi ended up recovering their camp, and the British were exhausted. Lord Hardinge sent his son to Mudki with a sword from his Napoleonic campaigns. A note in [[Robert Needham Cust]]'s diary revealed that the "British generals decided to lay down arms: News came from the Governor General that our attack of yesterday had failed, that affairs were disparate, all state papers were to be destroyed, and that if the morning attack failed all would be over, this was kept secret by Mr.Currie and we were considering measures to make an unconditional surrender to save the wounded..."<ref name="Maharaja Ranjit Singh p.136-137"/>. |
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji was the tenth guru of sikhs. He was born in 1666 at Patna (Capital of Bihar, India). In 1675 Pundits from Kashmir in India came to Anandpur Sahib pleading to Guru Teg Bhadur Ji (Father of Guru Gobind Singh Ji) about [[Aurangzeb]] forcing them to convert to Islam. Guru Teg Bahadur told them that martyrdom of a great man was needed. His son, Guru Gobind Singh Ji said "Who could be greater than you", to his father. Guru Teg Bahadur Ji told pundits to tell Aurangzeb's men that if Guru Teg Bahadur Ji will become Muslim, they all will. Guru Teg Bahadur Ji was then Martyred in Delhi, but before that he assigned Guru Gobind Singh Ji as 10th Guru at age of 9. After becoming Guru he commanded Sikhs to be armed. He fought many battles with Aurangzeb and some other Kings of that time, but always winner. In 1699 he created the [[Khalsa]] ''[[panth]]'', by giving ''[[Amrit Sanskar|amrit]]'' to sikhs. In 1704 he fought the great battle with collective forces of Aurangzeb, Wazir Khan (Chief of Sarhind), and other kings. He left Anandpur and went to Chamkaur with only 40 sikhs. There he fought the [[Battle of Chamkaur]] with 40 sikhs, vastly outnumbered by the Mughal soldiers. His two elder sons (at ages 17, 15) were martyred there. Wazir Khan killed other two (ages 9, 6). Guru Ji sent Aurangzeb the [[Zafarnamah]] (''Notification of Victory''). Then he went to Nanded (Mahareashtra, India). From there he made Baba Gurbakhash Singh, also aliased as Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, as his general and sent him to Punjab. |
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However, a series of events of the Sikhs being betrayed by some prominent leaders in the army led to its downfall. [[Maharaja]] [[Gulab Singh]] and Dhian Singh, were [[Hindu]] [[Dogra]]s from [[Jammu]], and top Generals of the army. [[Tej Singh]] and Lal Singh were secretly allied to the British. They supplied important war plans of the Army, and provided the British with updated vital intelligence on the Army dealings, which ended up changing the scope of the war and benefiting the British positions<ref name="Grewal">{{cite book|title=The Sikhs of the Punjab|author=J. S. Grewal|publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1998}}</ref><ref>Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the last to lay arms, (Duggal,p.136-138)</ref>. |
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He came in Punjab and took revenge of all. |
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On the evening of the day when Baba Gurbakhash Singh left for Punjab, Guru Gobind Singh was visited by two Muslim soldiers. One of them was commissioned by [[Wazir Khan]], Subedar of Sirhind, to assassinate Guru Gobind Singh. |
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The Punjab Empire was finally dissolved after a series of wars with the British at the end of the [[Second Anglo-Sikh War]] in 1849 into separate [[princely states]], and the British province of [[Punjab (British India)|Punjab]] that where granted a statehood, and eventually a lieutenant governorship stationed in Lahore as a direct representative of the Royal Crown in London. |
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One of the assailants, Bashal Beg, kept a vigil outside the Guru's tent while Jamshed Khan, a hired assassin, stabbed the Guru twice. Khan was killed in one stroke by the Guru, while those outside, alerted by the tumult, killed Beg. Although The wound was sewn up the following day, the Guru died in [[Nanded]], [[Maharashtra]] in [[India]] in 1708<ref>[http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/history/his1004.htm Today in Sikh History - 4th October :Gateway to Sikhism<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. |
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Shortly before passing away Guru Gobind Singh Ji ordered that the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] (the Sikh Holy Scripture), would be the ultimate spiritual authority for the Sikhs and temporal authority would be vested in the [[Khalsa Panth]] – The Sikh Nation. |
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==Modern== |
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The first Sikh Holy Scripture was compiled and edited by the Fifth Guru, Guru Arjan in AD 1604, although some of the earlier gurus are also known to have documented their revelations. This is one of the few scriptures in the world that has been compiled by the founders of a faith during their own life time. The Guru Granth Sahib is particularly unique among sacred texts in that it is written in [[Gurmukhi]] script but contains many languages including [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Hindi-Urdu]], [[Sanskrit]], [[Bhojpuri]], [[Assamese]] and [[Persian language|Persian]]. Sikhs consider the Guru Granth Sahib the last, perpetual living guru. |
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The months leading up to the [[partition of India]] in 1947, saw heavy conflict in the [[Punjab Region|Punjab]] between Sikh and Muslims, which saw the effective religious migration of Punjabi Sikhs and Hindus from [[Punjab (Pakistan)|West Punjab]] which mirrored a similar religious migration of Punjabi Muslims in [[Punjab (India)|East Punjab]].<ref name="Dutt et al.">{{cite journal |
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| last = Dutt |
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| first = Amitava |
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| coauthors = Surinder Devgun |
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| title = Diffusion of Sikhism and recent migration patterns of Sikhs in India |
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| journal = GeoJournal |
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| volume = 1 |
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| issue = 5 |
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| pages = 81–89 |
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| date = 1977-09-23 |
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| url = http://www.springerlink.com/content/p726g4t656018333/ |
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| issn = 1572-9893| accessdate = 2008-04-04 |
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| doi = 10.1007/BF00704966}}</ref> The 1960s saw growing animosity and rioting between Punjabi Sikhs and [[Hindus]] in India,<ref>{{Citation |
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| last =Lukas |
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| first =J. Anthony |
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| author-link = |
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| title =Hindu vs. Sikh: Why the Killing |
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| newspaper =The New York Times |
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| pages =209 |
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| year =1966 |
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| date =March 20, 1966 |
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| url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10916F73D5C15768FDDA90A94DB405B868AF1D3}}</ref> as the Punjabi Sikhs agitated for the creation of a Punjabi Sikh majority state, an undertaking which was promised to the Sikh leader [[Master Tara Singh]] by [[Nehru]] in return for Sikh political support during the negotiations for [[Indian Independence]].<ref>{{cite journal |
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| last =Telford |
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| first =Hamish |
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| title =The Political Economy of Punjab: Creating Space for Sikh Militancy |
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| journal =Asian Survey |
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| volume =32 |
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| issue =11 |
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| pages =969–987 |
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| month =November | year =1992 |
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| doi =10.1525/as.1992.32.11.00p0215k }}</ref> Sikhs obtained the Sikh majority state of [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] on November 1, 1966. |
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[[Image:Manmohansingh04052007.jpg|thumb|right|[[Manmohan Singh]] became the first [[Sikh]] [[Prime Minister of India]] and is widely credited for initiating [[economic reforms in India]].]] |
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Guru Gobind Singh is a major figure in Sikhism. |
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Communal tensions arose again in the late 1970s, fueled by Sikh claims of discrimination and marginalization by the secularist dominated [[Indian National Congress]] ruling party and the "dictatorial" tactics adopted the then Indian Prime Minister, [[Indira Gandhi]].<ref name="Frank">{{cite book |
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| last =Frank |
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| first =Katherine |
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| authorlink =Katherine Frank |
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| title =Indira: The Life of Indira Nehru Gandhi |
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| publisher =Houghton Mifflin |
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| date =January 7, 2002 |
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| pages =312–327 |
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| isbn =039573097X }}</ref> Frank<ref name="Frank"/> argues that [[Indira Gandhi|Gandhi]]'s assumption of emergency powers in 1975 resulted in the weakening of the "legitimate and impartial machinery of government" and her increasing "paranoia" of opposing political groups led her to instigate a "despotic policy of playing castes, religions and political groups against each other for political advantage". As a reaction against these actions came the emergence of the Sikh leader [[Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale]] who vocalized Sikh sentiment for justice and advocated the creation of a Sikh homeland, [[Khalistan]]. This accelerated Punjab into a state of communal violence.<ref name="NYT">{{Citation |
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| last =Pace |
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| first =Eric |
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| author-link = |
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| title =Assassination in India: Sikhs at the center of the drama; Sikh separation dates back to '47 |
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| newspaper =The New York Times |
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| pages =24 |
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| year =1984 |
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| date =November 1, 1984 |
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| url =http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20711FF385D0C728CDDA80994DC484D81}}</ref> [[Indira Gandhi|Gandhi]]'s 1984 action to defeat [[Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale]] led to desecration of the [[Harmandir Sahib|Golden Temple]] in [[Operation Bluestar]] and ultimately led to Gandhi's assassination by her Sikh bodyguards.<ref name="NYT"/> This resulted in an explosion of violence against the Sikh community in the [[Anti Sikh Riots]] which resulted in the massacre of thousands of Sikhs throughout India; [[Khushwant Singh]] described the actions as being a Sikh [[pogrom]] in which he "felt like a refugee in my country. In fact, I felt like a Jew in Nazi Germany".<ref>{{cite web |
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| last =Peer |
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| first =Basharat |
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| title =Anti-Sikh riots a pogrom: Khushwant |
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| work =News Report |
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| publisher =Rediff |
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| date =May 9, 2001 |
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| url =http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/may/09sikh.htm |
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| accessdate = 2008-04-04 }}</ref> Since 1984, relations between Sikhs and Hindus have reached a rapprochement helped by growing economic prosperity; however in 2002 the claims of the popular right-wing Hindu organization the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]], that "Sikhs are Hindus" angered Sikh sensibilities.<ref>{{cite journal |
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| last =Rambachan |
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| first =Anantanand |
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| authorlink =Anantanand Rambachan |
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| title =The Co-existence of Violence and Non-Violence in Hinduism |
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| journal =The Ecumenical Review |
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| volume =55 |
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| pages =2003 |
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| url =http://www.wou.edu/~khes/geog451/hindu_violence.pdf |
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|format=PDF| accessdate =2008-04-04 }}</ref> Many Sikhs still are campaigning for justice for victims of the violence and the political and economic needs of the Punjab espoused in the [[Khalistan movement]]. In 1996 the [[Special Rapporteur]] for the [[Commission on Human Rights]] on freedom of religion or belief, Abdelfattah Amor (Tunisia, 1993–2004), visited India in order to compose a report on religious discrimination. In 1997,<ref>{{Citation |
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| last =Pike |
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| first =John |
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| title =Military: Sikhs in Punjab |
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| date =2005-04-27 |
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| year =2005 |
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| url =http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/punjab.htm |
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| accessdate = 2008-04-04 }}</ref> Amor concluded, "it appears that the situation of the Sikhs in the religious field is satisfactory, but that difficulties are arising in the political (foreign interference, terrorism, etc.), economic (in particular with regard to sharing of water supplies) and even occupational fields. Information received from nongovernment (sic) sources indicates that discrimination does exist in certain sectors of the public administration; examples include the decline in the number of Sikhs in the police force and the absence of Sikhs in personal bodyguard units since the murder of Indira Gandhi".<ref>{{Citation |
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| first =Abdelfattah |
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| last =Amor |
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| title = UNHR Documents on India |
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| year =1997 |
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| pages =1–22 |
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| place =Commission on Human Rights resolution 1996/23 |
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| publisher =Commission on Human Rights, 53rd Session |
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| url =http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?c=84&su=90 |
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}}</ref> In [[May 22]], [[2004]] [[Manmohan Singh]] became the first [[Sikh]] and non-[[Hindu]] to become the [[Prime Minister of India]]. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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;Guru Nanak Dev Ji |
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[[Image:Ekonkar.normal.png|150px|thumb|The Ik [[Onkar]], is the one of the main symbols of sikhism. The other being the [[khanda]].]] |
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;Guru Nanak |
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*[http://www.sacred-texts.com/skh/tsr1/index.htm Max Arthur MacAuliff, ''The Sikh Religion, Vol 1, (The Life of Guru Nanak)'', Oxford University Press, 1909.] |
*[http://www.sacred-texts.com/skh/tsr1/index.htm Max Arthur MacAuliff, ''The Sikh Religion, Vol 1, (The Life of Guru Nanak)'', Oxford University Press, 1909.] |
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*[http://www.srigurunanaksahib.org Eternal Glory of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji] |
*[http://www.srigurunanaksahib.org Eternal Glory of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji] |
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*[http://www.g5sikhmedia.co.uk/sguru1.html G5SikhMedia.co.uk] |
*[http://www.g5sikhmedia.co.uk/sguru1.html G5SikhMedia.co.uk] |
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;Guru Angad |
;Guru Angad |
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* [http://www.sikhs.org/guru2.htm Detailed Account] |
* [http://www.sikhs.org/guru2.htm Detailed Account] |
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* [http://www.sgpc.net/gurus/guruangad.asp www.sgpc.net] |
* [http://www.sgpc.net/gurus/guruangad.asp www.sgpc.net] |
Revision as of 09:08, 27 January 2010
Part of a series on |
Sikhism |
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The history of Sikhism is closely associated with the history of Punjab and the socio-political situation in medieval India.
Note The Following Significant People In The Sikh Religion Are Prophets - Not Gods.Their teachings, and their learnings are put together in the Sikh holy book known as the 'Sri Guru Granth Sahib JI' which is treated with great respect, and is treated almost like a living guru.
Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak Dev (1469–1538), founder of Sikhism, was born to Kalu Mehta and Mata Tripta, wherein the Bedi Khatri clan of a Hindu family in the village of Talwandi, now called Nankana Sahib, near Lahore.[1] His father, a Hindu named Mehta Kalu, was a Patwari, an accountant of land revenue in the government. Nanak's mother was Mata Tripta, and he had one older sister, Bibi Nanki.
From an early age Guru Nanak seemed to have acquired a questioning and enquiring mind and refused as a child to wear the ritualistic “sacred” thread called a Janeu and instead said that he would wear the true name of God in his heart as protection, as the thread which could be broken, be soiled, burnt or lost could not offer any security at all. From early childhood, Bibi Nanki saw in her brother the Light of God but she did not reveal this secret to anyone. She is known as the first disciple of Guru Nanak.
Even as a boy, Nanak was fascinated by religion, and his desire to explore the mysteries of life eventually led him to leave home. It was during this period that Nanak was said to have met Kabir (1440-1518), a saint revered by many. Nanak married Sulakhni, daughter of Moolchand Chona, a trader from Batala, and they had two sons, Sri Chand and Lakshmi Das.
His brother-in-law, Jai Ram, the husband of his sister Nanki, obtained a job for him in Sultanpur as the manager of the government granary. One morning, when he was twenty-eight, Guru Nanak Dev went as usual down to the river to bathe and meditate. It was said that he was gone for three days. When he reappeared, it is said he was "filled with the spirit of God". His first words after his re-emergence were: "there is no Hindu, there is no Muslim". With this secular principle he began his missionary work.[2]
He made four distinct major journeys, in the four different directions, which are called Udasis, spanning many thousands of kilometres, preaching the message of God.[1]
Guru Nanak spent the final years of his life in Kartarpur where Langar (free blessed food) was available. The food would be partaken of by Hindus, rich, poor, high or/and so called low castes. Guru Nanak worked in the fields and earned his livelihood.
After appointing Bhai Lehna as the new Sikh Guru, on 22 September 1539, aged 70, Guru Nanak met with his demise.
Guru Angad
In 1538, Guru Nanak chose Lehna, his disciple, as a successor to the Guruship rather than one of his sons.[2] Bhai Lehna was named Guru Angad and became the successor of Guru Nanak.
Bhai Lehna was born in the village of Harike in Ferozepur district in Punjab, on March 31, 1504. He was the son of a small trader named Pheru. His mother's name was Mata Ramo (also known as Mata Sabhirai, Mansa Devi, Daya Kaur). Baba Narayan Das Trehan was his grand father, whose ancestral house was at Matte-di-Sarai near Mukatsar.
Under the influence of his mother, Bhai Lehna began to worship Durga (A Hindu Goddess). He used to lead a group of Hindu worshippers to Jawalamukhi Temple every year. He married Mata Khivi in January 1520 and had two sons, (Dasu and Datu), and two daughters (Amro and Anokhi). The whole Pheru family had to leave their ancestral village because of the ransacking by the Mughal and Baloch military who had come with Emperor Babur. After this the family settled at the village of Khadur Sahib by the River Beas, near Tarn Taran Sahib, a small town about 25 km. from Amritsar City.
One day, Bhai Lehna heard the recitation of a hymn of Guru Nanak from Bhai Jodha (a Sikh of Guru Nanak Sahib) who was in Khadur Sahib. He was thrilled and decided to proceed to Kartarpur to have an audience (darshan) with Guru Nanak. So while on the annual pilgrimage to Jwalamukhi Temple, Bhai Lehna left his journey to visit Kartarpur and see Baba Nanak. His very first meeting with Guru Nanak completely transformed him. He renounced the worship of the Hindu Goddess, dedicated himself to the service of Guru Nanak and so became his disciple, (his Sikh), and began to live in Kartarpur.
His devotion and service (Sewa) to Guru Nanak and his holy mission was so great that he was instated as the Second Nanak on September 7, 1539 by Guru Nanak. Earlier Guru Nanak tested him in various ways and found an embodiment of obedience and service in him. He spent six or seven years in the service of Guru Nanak at Kartarpur.
After the death of Guru Nanak on September 22, 1539, Guru Angad left Kartarpur for the village of Khadur Sahib (near Goindwal Sahib). He carried forward the principles of Guru Nanak both in letter and spirit. Yogis and Saints of different sects visited him and held detailed discussions about Sikhism with him.
Guru Angad introduced a new alphabet known as Gurmukhi Script, modifying the old Punjabi script's characters. Soon, this script became very popular and started to be used by the people in general. He took great interest in the education of children by opening many schools for their instruction and thus increased the number of literate people. For the youth he started the tradition of Mall Akhara, where physical as well as spiritual exercises were held. He collected the facts about Guru Nanak's life from Bhai Bala and wrote the first biography of Guru Nanak. He also wrote 63 Saloks (stanzas), which are included in the Guru Granth Sahib. He popularised and expanded the institution of Guru ka Langar that had been started by Guru Nanak.
Guru Angad travelled widely and visited all important religious places and centres established by Guru Nanak for the preaching of Sikhism. He also established hundreds of new Centres of Sikhism (Sikh religious Institutions) and thus strengthened the base of Sikhism. The period of his Guruship was the most crucial one. The Sikh community had moved from having a founder to a succession of Gurus and the infrastructure of Sikh society was strengthened and crystallized – from being an infant, Sikhism had moved to being a young child and ready to face the dangers that were around. During this phase, Sikhism established its own separate spiritual path.
Guru Angad, following the example set by Guru Nanak, nominated Sri Amar Das as his successor (The Third Nanak) before his death. He presented all the holy scripts, including those he received from Guru Nanak, to Guru Amar Das. He breathed his last on March 29, 1552 at the age of forty-eight. It is said that he started to build a new town, at Goindwal near Khadur Sahib and Guru Amar Das Sahib was appointed to supervise its construction. It is also said that Himayun, when defeated by Sher Shah Suri, came to obtain the blessings of Guru Angad in regaining the throne of Delhi.
Guru Amar Das
Guru Amar Das became the third Sikh guru in 1552 at the age of 73. Goindwal became an important centre for Sikhism during the Guruship of Guru Amar Das. He continued to preach the principle of equality for women, the prohibition of Sati and the practise of Langar.[3] In 1567, Emperor Akbar sat with the ordinary and poor people of Punjab to have Langar. Guru Amar Das also trained 140 apostles, of which 52 were women, to manage the rapid expansion of the religion.[4] Before he died in 1574 aged 95, he appointed his son-in-law Jetha as the fourth Sikh Guru.
It is recorded that before becoming a Sikh, Bhai Amar Das, as he was known at the time, was a very religious Vaishanavite Hindu who spent most of his life performing all of the ritual pilgrimages and fasts of a devout Hindu. One day, Bhai Amar Das heard some hymns of Guru Nanak being sung by Bibi Amro Ji, the daughter of Guru Angad, the second Sikh Guru. Bibi Amro was married to Bhai Sahib's brother, Bhai Manak Chand's son who was called Bhai Jasso. Bhai Sahib was so impressed and moved by these Shabads that he immediately decided to go to see Guru Angad at Khadur Sahib. It is recorded that this event took place when Bhai Sahib was 61 years old.
In 1635, upon meeting Guru Angad, Bhai Sahib was so touched by the Guru's message that he became a devout Sikh. Soon he became involved in Sewa (Service) to the Guru and the Community. Under the impact of Guru Angad and the teachings of the Gurus, Bhai Amar Das became a devout Sikh. He adopted Guru as his spiritual guide (Guru). Bhai Sahib began to live at Khadur Sahib, where he used to rise early in the morning and bring water from the Beas River for the Guru's bath; he would wash the Guru's clothes and fetch wood from the jungle for 'Guru ka Langar'. He was so dedicated to Sewa and the Guru and had completely extinguished pride and was totally lost in this commitment that he was considered an old man who had no interest in life; he was dubbed Amru, and generally forsaken.
However, as a result of Bhai Sahib's commitment to Sikhi principles, dedicated service and devotion to the Sikh cause, Guru Angad Sahib appointed Guru Amar Das Sahib as third Nanak in March 1552 at the age of 73. He established his headquarters at the newly built town of Goindwal, which Guru Angad had established.
Soon large numbers of Sikhs started flocking to Goindwal to see the new Guru. Here, Guru Amar Das propagated the Sikh faith in a vigorous, systematic and planned manner. He divided the Sikh Sangat area into 22 preaching centres or Manjis, each under the charge of a devout Sikh. He himself visited and sent Sikh missionaries to different parts of India to spread Sikhism. sure Guru Amar Das was impressed with Bhai Gurdas' thorough knowledge of Hindi and Sanskrit and the Hindu scriptures. Following the tradition of sending out Masands across the country, Guru Amar Das deputed Bhai Gurdas to Agra to spread the gospel of Sikhism. Before leaving, Guru Amar Das prescribed the following routine for Sikhs:
He who calls himself a Sikh of the True Guru, He must get up in the morning and say his prayers. He must rise in the early hours and bathe in the holy tank. He must meditate on God as advised by the Guru. And rid him of the afflictions of sins and evil. As the day dawns, he should recite scriptures, and repeat God's name in every activity. He to whom the Guru takes kindly is shown the path. Nanak! I seek the dust of the feet of the Guru's Sikh who himself remembers God and makes others remember Him. (Gauri)
Guru Ji strengthened the tradition of 'Guru ka Langar' and made it compulsory for the visitor to the Guru to eat first, saying that 'Pehle Pangat Phir Sangat' (first visit the Langar then go to the Guru). Once the emperor Akbar came to see Guru Sahib and he had to eat the coarse rice in the Langar before he could have an interview with Guru Sahib. He was so much impressed with this system that he expressed his desire to grant some royal property for 'Guru ka Langar', but Guru Sahib declined it with respect.
He introduced new birth, marriage and death ceremonies. Thus he raised the status of women and protected the rights of female infants who were killed without question as they were deemed to have no status. These teachings met with stiff resistance from the Orthodox Hindus. He fixed three Gurpurbs for Sikh celebrations: Diwali, Vaisakhi and Maghi.
Guru Amar Das not only preached the equality of people irrespective of their caste but he also fostered the idea of women's equality. He preaching strongly against the practice of Sati (a Hindu wife burning on her husband's funeral pyre). Guru Amar Das also disapproved of a young widow remaining unmarried for the rest of her life.
Guru Amar Das constructed "Baoli" at Goindwal Sahib having eighty-four steps and made it a Sikh pilgrimage centre for the first time in the history of Sikhism. He reproduced more copies of the hymns of Guru Nanak and Guru Angad. He also composed 869 (according to some chronicles these were 709) verses (stanzas) including Anand Sahib, and then later on Guru Arjan (fifth Guru) made all the Shabads part of Guru Granth Sahib.
When it came time for the Guru's younger daughter Bibi Bhani to marry, he selected a pious and diligent young follower of his called Jetha from Lahore. Jetha had come to visit the Guru with a party of pilgrims from Lahore and had become so enchanted by the Guru's teachings that he had decided to settle in Goindwal. Here he earned a living selling wheat and would regularly attend the services of Guru Amar Das in his spare time.
Guru Amar Das did not consider anyone of his sons fit for Guruship and chose instead his son-in law (Guru) Ram Das to succeed him. Guru Amar Das Sahib at the age of 95 died on September 1, 1574 at Goindwal in District Amritsar, after giving responsibility of Guruship to the Fourth Nanak, Guru Ram Das.
Guru Ram Das
Guru Ram Das (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਰਾਮ ਦਾਸ) (Born in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan on 24 September 1534 – 1 September 1581, Amritsar, Punjab, India) was the fourth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism, and he became Guru on 30 August, 1574, following in the footsteps of Guru Amar Das.
He was born in Lahore to a Sodhi family of the Khatri clan. His father was Hari Das and mother Anup Devi, and his name was Jetha, meaning 'first born'. His wife was Bibi Bhani, the younger daughter of Guru Amar Das, the third guru of the Sikhs. They had three sons: Prithi Chand, Mahadev and Arjan Dev.
As a Guru one of his main contributions to Sikhism was organizing the structure of Sikh society. Additionally, he was the author of Laava, the hymns of the Marriage Rites, the designer of the Harmandir Sahib, and the planner and creator of the township of Ramdaspur (later Amritsar).
A hymn by Guru Ram Das from page 305 of the Guru Granth Sahib: “One who calls himself a Sikh of the True Guru shall get up early morning and meditate on the Lord's Name. Make effort regularly to cleanse, bathe and dip in the ambrosial pool. Upon Guru's instructions, chant Har, Har singing which, all misdeeds, sins and pains shall go away.”
Guru Ram Das nominated Guru Arjan Dev, his youngest son, as the next Guru of the Sikhs.
Guru Arjan
In 1581, Guru Arjan — the youngest son of the fourth guru — became the Fifth Guru of the Sikhs. In addition to being responsible for building the Golden Temple, he prepared the Sikh Sacred text and his personal addition of some 2,000 plus hymns in the Gurū Granth Sāhib.
In 1604 he installed the Ādi Granth for the first time as the Holy Book of the Sikhs. In 1606, for refusing to make changes to the Gurū Granth Sāhib, he was tortured and killed by the Mughal rulers of the time.[2] He contributed much to Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Har Gobind
Guru Har Gobind became the sixth guru of the Sikhs. He carried two swords — one for Spiritual reasons and one for temporal (worldly) reasons.[5]
From this point onward, the Sikhs became a military force and always had a trained fighting force to defend their independence.
Guru Har Rai
Guru Har Rai (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ) (26 February 1630 - 6 October 1661) was the seventh of the ten Gurus of Sikhism, becoming Guru on 8 March, 1644, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Guru Har Gobind, who was the sixth guru. Before he died, he nominated Guru Har Krishan, his youngest son, as the next Guru of the Sikhs.
The following is a summary of the main highlights of Guru Har Rai's life: continued the military traditions started by his grandfather Guru Har Gobind. maintained a cavalry of 2,200 soldiers throughout his Guruship.
As a very young child he was disturbed by the suffering of a flower damaged by his robe in passing. Though such feelings are common with children, Guru Har Rai would throughout his life be noted for his compassion for life and living things. His grandfather, who was famed as an avid hunter, is said to have saved the Moghul Emperor Jahangir's life during a tiger's attack. Guru Har Rai continued the hunting tradition of his grandfather, but he would allow no animals to be killed on his grand Shikars. The Guru instead captured the animal and added it to his zoo. He made several tours to the Malwa and Doaba regions of the Punjab.
His son, Ram Rai, seeking to assuage concerns of Aurangzeb over one line in Guru Nanak's verse (Mitti Mussalmam ki pede pai kumhar) suggested that the word Mussalmam was a mistake on the copyist's part, therefore distorting Bani. The Guru refused to meet with him again. The Guru is believed to have said, "Ram Rai, you have disobeyed my order and sinned. I will never see you again on account of your infidelity." It was also reported to the Guru that Ram Rai had also worked miracles in the Mughal's court against his father's direct instructions. Sikhs are constrained by their Gurus to not believe in magic and myth or miracles.
Just before his death at age, 31, Guru Har Rai passed the Gaddi of Nanak on to his younger son, the five year old — Guru Har Krishan.
Guru Har Rai was the son of Baba Gurdita and Mata Nihal Kaur (also known as Mata Ananti Ji). Baba Gurdita was the son of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind. Guru Har Rai married Mata Kishan Kaur (sometimes also referred to as Sulakhni), daughter of Sri Daya Ram of Anoopshahr (Bulandshahr) in Uttar Pradesh on Har Sudi 3, Samvat 1697. Guru Har Rai had two sons: Baba Ram Rai and Sri Har Krishan.
Although, Guru Har Rai was a man of peace, he never disbanded the armed Sikh Warriors (Saint Soldiers), who earlier were maintained by his grandfather, Guru Hargobind. He always boosted the military spirit of the Sikhs, but he never himself indulged in any direct political and armed controversy with the contemporary Mughal Empire. Once, Dara Shikoh (the eldest son of emperor Shah Jahan), came to Guru Har Rai asking for help in the war of succession with his brother, the murderous Aurangzeb. The Guru had promised his grandfather to use the Sikh Cavalry only in defence. Nevertheless, he helped him to escape safely from the bloody hands of Aurangzeb's armed forces by having his Sikh warriors hide all the ferry boats at the river crossing used by Dara Shikoh in his escape.
Guru Har Krishan
ISALAM
Guru Har Krishan borne in Kirat Pur, Ropar (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ) (7 July 1656 - 30 March 1664) was the eighth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism, becoming the Guru on 7 October 1661, following in the footsteps of his father, Guru Har Rai. Before Har Krishan died of complications of Smallpox, he nominated his granduncle, Guru Teg Bahadur, as the next Guru of the Sikhs. The following is a summary of the main highlights of his short life:
MUTE RECITES SALOKAS:
Sri Guru Harkrishan Ji was the epitome of sensibility, generosity and courage. There is a famous incident from his early age. Once on the way to Delhi from Punjab he met an arrogant Brahmin Pundit called Lal Chand in Panjokhara town. The Pundit asked him to recite Salokas from the Geeta since his name was similar to that of Lord Krishna. Guru Ji invited a mute person called Chhajju Mehra and placed his stick on his head. He immediately started interpreting salokas from the Geeta. Everybody around was dumbstruck. Lal Chand's arrogance too was shattered and he asked for Guru Ji's forgiveness.
When Har Krishan stayed in Delhi there was a smallpox epidemic and many people were dying.
According to Sikh history at Har Krishan's blessing, the lake at Bangla Sahib provided cure for thousands.
Gurdwara Bangla Sahib was constructed in the Guru's memory. This is where he stayed during his visit to Delhi. Gurdwara Bala Sahib was built in south Delhi besides the bank of the river Yamuna, where Har Krishan was cremated at the age of about 7 years and 8 months.
Guru Har Krishan was the youngest Guru at only 7 years of age. He did not make any contributions to Gurbani.
Guru Tegh Bahadur
Guru Tegh Bahadur is the ninth of the Sikh Gurus. Guru Tegh Bahadur sacrificed himself to protect Hindus. He was asked by Aurungzeb, the Mughal emperor, under coercion by Naqshbandi Islamists, to convert to Islam or to sacrifice himself. The exact place where he attained martyrdom is in front of the Red Fort in Delhi (Lal Qila) and the gurdwara is called SisGanj. [6] This marked a turning point for Sikhism. His successor, Guru Gobind Singh further militarised his followers.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji
Guru Gobind Singh Ji was the tenth guru of sikhs. He was born in 1666 at Patna (Capital of Bihar, India). In 1675 Pundits from Kashmir in India came to Anandpur Sahib pleading to Guru Teg Bhadur Ji (Father of Guru Gobind Singh Ji) about Aurangzeb forcing them to convert to Islam. Guru Teg Bahadur told them that martyrdom of a great man was needed. His son, Guru Gobind Singh Ji said "Who could be greater than you", to his father. Guru Teg Bahadur Ji told pundits to tell Aurangzeb's men that if Guru Teg Bahadur Ji will become Muslim, they all will. Guru Teg Bahadur Ji was then Martyred in Delhi, but before that he assigned Guru Gobind Singh Ji as 10th Guru at age of 9. After becoming Guru he commanded Sikhs to be armed. He fought many battles with Aurangzeb and some other Kings of that time, but always winner. In 1699 he created the Khalsa panth, by giving amrit to sikhs. In 1704 he fought the great battle with collective forces of Aurangzeb, Wazir Khan (Chief of Sarhind), and other kings. He left Anandpur and went to Chamkaur with only 40 sikhs. There he fought the Battle of Chamkaur with 40 sikhs, vastly outnumbered by the Mughal soldiers. His two elder sons (at ages 17, 15) were martyred there. Wazir Khan killed other two (ages 9, 6). Guru Ji sent Aurangzeb the Zafarnamah (Notification of Victory). Then he went to Nanded (Mahareashtra, India). From there he made Baba Gurbakhash Singh, also aliased as Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, as his general and sent him to Punjab. He came in Punjab and took revenge of all.
On the evening of the day when Baba Gurbakhash Singh left for Punjab, Guru Gobind Singh was visited by two Muslim soldiers. One of them was commissioned by Wazir Khan, Subedar of Sirhind, to assassinate Guru Gobind Singh. One of the assailants, Bashal Beg, kept a vigil outside the Guru's tent while Jamshed Khan, a hired assassin, stabbed the Guru twice. Khan was killed in one stroke by the Guru, while those outside, alerted by the tumult, killed Beg. Although The wound was sewn up the following day, the Guru died in Nanded, Maharashtra in India in 1708[7].
Shortly before passing away Guru Gobind Singh Ji ordered that the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh Holy Scripture), would be the ultimate spiritual authority for the Sikhs and temporal authority would be vested in the Khalsa Panth – The Sikh Nation. The first Sikh Holy Scripture was compiled and edited by the Fifth Guru, Guru Arjan in AD 1604, although some of the earlier gurus are also known to have documented their revelations. This is one of the few scriptures in the world that has been compiled by the founders of a faith during their own life time. The Guru Granth Sahib is particularly unique among sacred texts in that it is written in Gurmukhi script but contains many languages including Punjabi, Hindi-Urdu, Sanskrit, Bhojpuri, Assamese and Persian. Sikhs consider the Guru Granth Sahib the last, perpetual living guru.
Guru Gobind Singh is a major figure in Sikhism.
See also
References
- ^ a b Singh, Khushwant (2006). The Illustrated History of the Sikhs. India: Oxford University Press. pp. 12–13. ISBN 0-19-567747-1. Also, as according to the Purātan Janamsākhī (the birth stories of Nanak).
- ^ a b c Shackle, Christopher (2005). Teachings of the Sikh Gurus: Selections from the Sikh Scriptures. United Kingdom: Routledge. xiii–xiv. ISBN 0-415-26604-1.
{{cite book}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Duggal, Kartar Singh (1988). Philosophy and Faith of Sikhism. Himalayan Institute Press. p. 15. ISBN 0-89389-109-6.
- ^ Brar, Sandeep Singh (1998). "The Sikhism Homepage: Guru Amar Das". Retrieved 2006-05-26.
- ^ Mahmood, Cynthia (2002). A Sea of Orange. United States: Xlibris. p. 16. ISBN 1-4010-2856-X.
- ^ Template:Cye book
- ^ Today in Sikh History - 4th October :Gateway to Sikhism
External links
- Guru Nanak
- Max Arthur MacAuliff, The Sikh Religion, Vol 1, (The Life of Guru Nanak), Oxford University Press, 1909.
- Eternal Glory of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji
- Video on Guru Nanak Dev Ji
- Allaboutsikhs.com
- Sikhs.org
- Sikh-History.com
- JargSahib.com
- G5SikhMedia.co.uk
- Guru Angad
- Detailed Account
- www.sgpc.net
- Gateway to Sikhism
- Sikh Missionary Center
- www.sikhpoint.com/
- www.ikonkar.com
- G5SikhMedia.co.uk
- Sikh Guru's
- Audio