Guru Arjan Dev Ji: Life, Martyrdom and Contributions

The sacred writings of spiritual poetry, set to musical ragas were completed by Guru Arjan Dev on 30th Aug 1604 and then first installed in Harmandir Sahib. At that time it was called the "Adi Granth." and did not contain the writings of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji which were added later by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1708. It is written in Gurmukhi Script.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji started writing of 'Guru Granth Sahib' Ji and it was completed and compiled by him in 1604. At that time it was called "Adi Granth" and did not contain the writings of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji which were later added by Guru Gobind Singh Ji (The tenth Guru of Sikhs) in 1708. The second rendition of 'Adi Granth' came to be known as 'Guru Granth Sahib Ji'.  It was written in Gurmukhi Script.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji started writing of 'Guru Granth Sahib' Ji and it was completed and compiled by him. It was first installed in 'Harmandir Sahib' in 1604. At that time it was called "Adi Grantha" and did not contain the writings of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji which were later added by Guru Gobind Singh Ji( The tenth Guru of Sikhs) in 1708. It was written in Gurmukhi Script.

Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth guru of Sikh community conceived the idea of creating a central place of worship and he himself designed the architecture of Sri Harmandir Sahib. The foundation was laid by Guru Ram Das ji and it was completed by Guru Arjan Dev. The land for the Sri Harmandir Sahib was bought by Guru Ram Das ji.

Guru Hargobind Ji was nominated as the Sixth Guru of Sikhs by Guru Arjan Dev Ji. He was not more than eleven years old at the time of execution of his father and Fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji when he was installed as Guru.  From his prison cell, Guru Arjan Dev sent a message to Hargobind to cultivate and maintain an army. So following this decree from his father, Guru Hargobind is known for having initiated an Akali army.

Chandu Diwan belonged to the same caste which the gurus belonged. He wanted a matrimonial alliance in the house of Guru and wanted to give his daughter in marriage to Guru's son, Sri hargobind ji. His offer was rejected by the guru so Chandu was in opposition of Guru Arjan Dev ji.

Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth guru of Sikh community who stood for truth, was the first Sikh martyr. Guru Arjan, by sacrificing his life to uphold the sanctity of faith, completely surrendered to the hukum of God. He is called "Shaheedan da Sartaj", the crown of all the martyrs and "Sachcha Patshah" because of his various social, spiritual, poetic contribution and his supreme sacrifice for his faith.

The martyrdom of Fifth Sikh Guru Arjan Dev was the result of many factors working at Tandem with each other. The emperor was provoked since the Guru had offered help to hie rebel son Khusro. The elder brother of Guru Pirthi Chand was angry with the guru as he thought that it was his right to be guru which had been usurped by his younger brother. The guru was not in favour of Naqshbandis so he started opposing this. Another reason was the popularity of Guru Arjan Dev as a worldly religious leader among Hindus and Muslims.

The martyrdom of Fifth Sikh Guru Arjan Dev was the result of many factors working at Tandem with each other. The elder brother of Guru Pirthi Chand was angry with the guru as he thought that it was his right to be the guru. Another reason was the popularity of Guru Arjan Dev as a worldly religious leaders among Hindus and Muslims so the emperor had a fear. But the immediate cause of his martyrdom was, he helped rebel Prince Khusrau. The emperor was provoked since the guru had offered help monetary as well as provided shelter to the fugitive son of the emperor. 

The martyrdom of Fifth Sikh Guru Arjan Dev was the result of many factors working at Tandem with each other. The emperor was provoked since the Guru had offered help to his rebel son Khusrau. Another reason was the popularity of Guru Arjan Dev as a worldly religious leaders among Hindus and Muslims so the emperor had a fear that it could be in the conversion of Sikhs. Chandu Shah, the Emperor's Diwam was politically influential and conspired with the emperor and got the guru punished with a painful death. 

Prince Khusrau revolted against Jahangir. Khusrau received the blessings of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru. But Khusrau was defeated, arrested and blinded. Later on, he was put to death. Guru Arjan Dev was also not spared. 

Guru Arjan Dev was the fifth of the ten Sikh Gurus. He was arrested under the orders of Jahangir as he refused to convert to Islam. He succeeded his father as the leader of Sikhs upon his death and went on to significantly influence the development of Sikhism.

Guru Arjan Dev

The first rendition of the holy book was compiled by the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev and it was called Adi Granth. The Guru Granth Sahib is truly among the world's great scriptures. The Guru Granth Sahib is written in Gurmukhi script in various dialects Lahnda, Braj Bhasha, Khariboli, Sanskrit, and Persian.

Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, was the first to be martyred in Sikh history, ordered by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1606.

In 1590, A.D. Guru Arjan Dev Ji had another tank to dug at Majhe da Khara village( a place about 20 Km south of Amritsar). This he blessed as Tarn Taran.

Guru Arjan Dev took birth on 15th April 1563 at Taran Taran in Punjab. He was born in the house of Guru Ram Das ji who was the fourth guru of Sikh community. He was the youngest of three sons of Guru Ram Das ji.  He became the fifth Guru of Sikh community in 1581. He compiled 'Adi Grantha' presently known as 'Guru Granth Sahib'. He died in 1606.

Sri Harmandir Sahib is also known as "Darbar Sahib" or "Golden Temple means abode of God. It is a Gurudwara located in Amritsar, Punjab. The foundation of Golden temple was laid by Guru Ram Das Ji, fourth Guru of Sikh community and the construction work was started and completed by Guru Arjan Dev Ji. In 1604, Guru Arjan Dev completed the work of "Guru Granth Sahib" and it was first installed in Harmandir Sahib. He appointed Baba Buddhaji as the first Granthi of Harmandir Sahib. Baba Buddhaji laid the foundation of 'Dera Baba Nanak.'

Sri Hargobindpur also known as Sri Gobindpur is a small town located in Gurdaspur district of Punjab. This is situated on the bank of Beas river. It was founded by fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji on the ruins of Ruhela in 1595. 

Gurudwara Shri Tarn Taran Sahib Ji is located in Tarn Taran, Punjab. It was built by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji in 1590. It is now managed by Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee. It has the distinction of possessing the largest tank among all the Gurudwaras and its water is believed to possess medicinal qualities. Its foundation was laid in the memory and honour of Guru Ram Das Ji.

The city of Kartarpur was founded by the fifth Guru of Sikh community, Guru Arjan Dev in 1593. It is located in 'Doaba' region, the region which lies between Beas and Satluj river near the city of Jalandhar. Its official language is Punjabi. Later on, Jang-E-Azadi museum was also built there to commemorate the sacrifices made by the Sikh community during Indian Independence Movement.

In 1593, the fifth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Arjan Dev ji dug a tank  called Gangasagar. The new township was called Kartarpur.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji was martyred on May 30, 1606, under the orders of Emperor Jahangir.

Guru Arjan Dev's martyr resulted in creating a sense of unity among Sikh. He ordered 'Guru Hargobind ji' the sixth guru of Sikh community to form an army. Before the execution of Guru ji, there was no military power held by Sikh community. This increased enmity and bitterness between Mughals and Sikhs.

Emperor Jahangir was the Mughal ruler who ordered the execution of the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, in 1606.

Guru Arjan Singh Dev ji was the fifth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism. He compiled the first official edition of the Sikh scripture called the Adi Granth. He built the Golden Temple and also developed Amritsar as a Centre of Excellence.