Sikhism: Its Origins and Fundamental Beliefs (Part 7)
5. Guru Arjan
After the passing of Guru Ram Das in 1581 CE, his younger son Arjan was appointed as his successor and became the fifth Guru of the Sikhs. Thus, the leadership of Sikhism continued within his family. Guru Arjan’s family belonged to the Sodhi Khatri lineage, and all the subsequent Gurus came from this same family.
Guru Arjan was born on April 15, 1563, in the city of Goindval. He did not formally announce his succession until after the death of his elder brother. Nevertheless, with the support of the elders of the Sikh community, he secured his position and prevented any division among the followers of this religion.
Activities and Contributions
a. Compilation of the Granth Sahib (Adi Granth): One of Guru Arjan’s most important undertakings was compiling the sacred texts of the Sikhs into a single volume known as the Granth Sahib. He gathered this work from the writings of the four previous Gurus, poems of prominent mystics, and some of his own compositions.
b. Reform of Religious Dress: He abandoned the tradition of wearing specific religious garments and instead popularized more conventional and luxurious clothing.
c. Establishment of the Religious Tax System (Dasvandh): Guru Arjan founded a system of collecting a religious tax from Sikhs to finance the expenses of the religious community.
d. Completion of the Golden Temple in Amritsar: He completed the construction of the temple his father had begun, turning it into the Golden Temple of Amritsar. He also declared that bathing in the sacred pool of this temple purifies one’s sins. From then on, this location became one of the most sacred sites for Sikhs, and bathing in its pool became a ritual practice.
6. Guru Har Gobind
Hargobind, the sixth Guru of the ten Sikh Gurus, was born in 1595 CE in Lahore, Punjab. After the execution of his father, Guru Arjan, by order of Emperor Jahangir, Hargobind was appointed Guru at the age of eleven in 1606 CE.
In accordance with his father’s will, Hargobind was prepared for battle from a young age and declared: “From now on, my necklace will be a sword belt, and my turban a royal crown!”
His period of leadership coincided with a rise in military developments within the Sikh community, which later became a key aspect of the faith’s identity. After the martyrdom of Guru Arjan, a spirit of resistance against the Mughal Empire emerged among the Sikhs. With his charismatic personality and powerful leadership, Hargobind adopted the title “Sachcha Padshah” (“True King”) — a title originally bestowed upon him by his father.
From the outset of his leadership, Hargobind considered himself independent from the Mughal government and practically established a parallel rule. His actions included reforming the internal structure of the Sikh community, forming a military force of trained warriors, and setting up mountain camps as operational bases. News of Hargobind’s activities reached Jahangir, who ordered his arrest, and Hargobind was imprisoned in Gwalior Fort for a time. After his release, he resumed his struggle with even greater resolve.
Following the death of Jahangir and the rise of Shah Jahan, pressures on the Sikh community intensified. Shah Jahan sent several military expeditions against him, but Hargobind resisted using guerrilla warfare by avoiding direct confrontation and taking refuge in the mountains. He lived in relative safety until his death in 1645 CE.
A. Activities and Contributions
1. The Sword as a Symbol: He introduced the sword as a symbol of Sikh leadership and founded the concept of “Miri-Piri” (the combination of spiritual and temporal authority).
2. Construction of a Military Fort: He built the first fortified base for the Sikhs, serving as a center for defense.
3. Militarization of the Sikh Community: By recruiting professional soldiers, he transformed the Sikhs from a purely religious group into a military force capable of resisting the Mughals.
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