Guru Agun Dev was the younger son of Guru Ram Dass & Bibi Bhani . He was born at Goindwal on April 15, 1563; He was married to Ganga ji, daughter of Kishan Chand of Village Meo in Jullundur District. He had one son, Hargobind ji.

He was the first Guru who grew up in a Sikh environment; He armed Punjabi from his Guru father Guru Amar Dass & Sanskrit & Hindi from Pandit Beni. He learned many other things about life rom Baba Buddha jig, from the very childhood he started writing poetry. He also was very fond of fine Arts. He also learned the use of arms and horse riding. Though born in the same family, his older brother Pirthi Chand was an ambitious and vicious person. He was ‘very possessive and worldly, Because of this Guru Ram Das did not deem him fit for Guruship. His ‘there brother Mahadev was totally detached from the world. So when the time of transferring Guru Ship came, Guru Ram Das appointed him as the fifth Guru.

This created a great rift in the family. Pirthi Chand used all the ‘mean tricks to establish himself as Guru but slowly and slowly Sikhs recognized the true successor of Nanak.

During all this trouble in the family Guru Arjan Dev ji showed great tolerance and stayed calm under all circumstances. Sikh’s like Baba Budha ji and Bhai Gurdas also helped a great deal in controlling the situation. Pirthi Chand calm down for a while with ‘one hope that Guru Arjan has no child. He was sure Guruship will pass to his son Meharban, His hopes were never fulfilled, As a son was born in Guru Arjun’s home with the blessings of Baba Buddha ji. All his life Pirthi Chand tried all illegal means to claim Guru Ship for himself or his son. ‘That caused the division amongst the Sikhs and helped the enemies of the Sikhs

Inspire of all these family trouble’s Guru Arjan did a lot for the Sikhs

He compiled the Guru Granth Sahib. Which he dictated to Bhai Gurdas ji. It has the compositions of four preceding Gurus, Guru Arjun Dev Ji’s and other Hindu & Muslim Saints. Thus he gave to Sikhs their “Holy Book™ which was installed in the Golden Temple.

He completed the construction of Golden Temple and Nectar Pool around it, thus, giving the Sikhs a Central place of worship, it’s foundation stone was laid by a Muslim Mir showing the broad base of Sikhism where everybody was equal whether a Muslim or a Hindu, a low caste or a high caste.

He constructed many other Gurdwara’s also. Among them are Taran Taran, Bowli (well) Sahib and Dewan Khana at Lahore. Shish Mahal (House of Mirrors) at Kartarpur.

He also reorganized the Sikh. Missionary Center. During his time it was said that there was no Place in India where a Sikh was not found.

He also encouraged the Sikh to: do Business, In Tarn Taran, he made a place for the crippled and the chronically ill. Then during his short life time of Guru Ship he did a Tot to reorganize the Sikh faith and gave it a new shape.

During the time of Akbar, relations of the Guru with the State were good. Akbar came back again to pay a visit to Guru Arjan. But after his death, his son Jahangir came to the throne, He did not tolerate any new popular movement. Enemies of the Sikhs finally got their say. Pirthi Chand supported the moves against Guru Arjan directly & indirectly. Another Hindu Minister of Lahore Chandu, also played a vicious role in Guru Arjan death. He offered this daughter to Guru Arjan’s son for marriage. That proposal was not accepted as Chand had made disrespectful remarks about the Guru. Chandu felt insulted & he started scheming to take the revenge. Guru framed in fictions a case & finally was tortured to death. He ‘was made to sit on a hot iron plate, in boiling water & burning sand was poured on his head. But he stayed calm and accepted the will of God. He finally went to heavenly abode on 30 May 1606; Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore is situated at that place now. He appointed his son Har Gobind as his successor.

He was the supreme example of non-violence. He did not just preach but first practiced all that he preached. He gave the Indian masses a new weapon of non-violence to fight against injustice; He encouraged the masses to fight for their right seven if it cost them their lives. He gave a new direction to Sikhism & started a revolution against the cruel Gov’t. He was the first Sikh Martyr; his example of sacrifice was followed by Guru Teg Bahadur & many other Sikhs. Somebody has said:—

THE BLOOD OF MARTYRSIS .THE SEED OF THE CHURCH

Article extracted from this publication >> May 16, 1986