Guru Har Rai Ji’s Short Biography

Guru Har Rai Ji was 14 years old when he became the seventh body to contain the divine light of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Like his grandfather Guru Hargobind Ji, Guru Ji maintained an army of 2200 soldiers, however Shah Jahan the Moghul Emperor had realised that destroying the Sikhs was no easy task after having lost 4 battles against Guru Hargobind Ji.

Guru Ji was a great humanitarian and during his time established a free hospital at Kiratpur, where he kept popular and rare plants for use in herbal medicines. Once Dara Sikoh, the son of Emperor Shah Jahan, fell seriously ill, Guru Har Rai Ji was requested for some rare medicines which cured the Emperor’s son. Also at this time there had been a drought in Panjab for 3 years, there was a great food and water shortage. The famine stricken people flocked to Guru Ji’s Kitchen, the free langar saved many needy and weak people during this hardship.

Shah Jehan’s son Aurangzeb was a viscious man, and realised his father would never crown him as the next Emperor, so he waged war against his brothers and imprisoned his father in a small dark room. After the death of Shah Jahan (1657), Dara Sikoh requested Guru Har Rai Ji for help in the war of succession, however Guru Ji didn’t want to take sides, Aurangzeb won and was unhappy at the growth and popularity of the Sikhs and summoned Guru Har Rai Ji on trumped up charges of aiding his brother Dara, and also to answer charges of derogatory remarks in the Sikh Scriptures against Islam. Guru Ji deputised his son Ram Rai to Delhi to sort out the matter.

Ram Rai however changed Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s hymn to please Aurangzeb and also put on a display of miracles and occult powers to prove his spiritual worth. Guru Har Rai Ji on learning of this disowned his son and said:

“The Guruship is like tiger’s milk, which can only be contained in a golden cup,
Only he who is ready to devote his life to it is worthy of it .”

Guru Har Rai Ji therefore nominated his younger son Guru Har Krishan Ji as the next Guru.

Guru Ji in his sermons always stressed;

Self-discipline and restraint, he stated ;

(a) “You can repair or rebuild a temple or a mosque but not a broken heart.”

(b)  “Man with one hand breaks flowers and with the other offers them, but the flower perfumes both hands alike. Although the axe cuts the sandal tree, the sandal perfumes the axe, Thus my Sikhs always return good for evil.”

Also love of man and nature as manifestations of God.

Guru Ji preferred peace and quiet and enjoyed the company of his Sikhs. On one day Guru Ji was full of love and sat all night in one position, Guru Ji missed the evening sadh-sangat and the Sikhs asked him why he had sat as though his feet had chains on them. Guru Ji replied;

“O Sikhs , Bhai Gonda Ji of Kabul (hundreds of miles away) was meditating on Waheguru Ji and in his samadhi (trance) he fell at my feet and clasped on to them like a child. So how could the Guru rise until the disciple rose out of his trance of love ?. I pine for my disciples more than they pine for me. I am pulled by the strings of love”.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
– Bhull Chukk Baksh Deni Ji –

Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s Short Biography

Guru Arjan dev Ji was the youngest of the 3 sons of Guru Ramdas Ji (Prithi Chand and Maha Dev were the other two). We have already seen how Guru Amardas Ji had to wait over 60 years before he found the True Guru (Guru Angad Dev Ji), but Guru Arjan Dev Ji was blessed from the start, Guru Ramdas Ji was his father and Guru Amardas Ji his grandfather.

Guru Ji made several important contributions to the proliferation of Sikhi;

• During his childhood, he helped his father with the excavation of the Amrit-Sarovar (Pool of nectar) at Ramdaspur. He also began construction of a central temple Sri Harimandar Sahib Ji (known as the Golden Temple), he persuaded Sikhs to set up their businesses in this new town which came to be called Amritsar. He also founded several other towns at Tarn Taran Guru Ji established a leprosarium to heal helpless victims. Guru Ji also undertook missionary tours to set-up new congregations and thus consolidated Sikhs even further.

Guru Ji’s other contributions can be remembered by the words Gurbani and Kurbani;

Gurbani is the word of God, Guru Ji incorporated the hymns of the preceding Gurus and a few eminent Saints and Sufis (from Hindu and Islamic faiths) into the Sikh Scriptures: Adi Granth Sahib Ji (known today as Guru Granth Sahib Ji). The hymns are organised into musical measures using Raags. The Sikhs revere Guru Granth Sahib Ji because it contains the revelation of the Gurus and their teachings, it gives complete spiritual guidance and divine wisdom. Guru Arjan Dev Ji himself had so much respect, that he gave his own resting place to Adi Granth Sahib Ji and himself slept on the floor.

This was a prophecy earlier predicted; when Guru Arjan Dev Ji was a baby, he crawled to his grandfather and touched the food, instead of telling him off, Guru Amardas Ji blessed him with “Dotha Bani da Botha” meaning my grandson (Dotha) will be the ship (Botha) that carries God’s word (Bani). Guru Arjan Dev Ji has written nearly half the hymns in Guru Granth Sahib Ji and emphasises Nam-simran (remembrance of God) throughout his hymns and a yearning to meet God.

Kurbani means sacrifice, Guru Ji had already sacrificed his all to service of the Sikh people and enjoyed good relations with the Emperor Akbar. However on Akbar’s death his son Jahangir who was a fundamentalist and a fanatic, desired to suppress Sikhi which was growing strongly. Jahangir expressed his hostility to Guru Arjan Dev Ji in his autobiography, he wrote :

‘For a long time, it had been in my mind to put a stop to this vain affair (Sikh faith) and to bring him (Guru Arjan Dev Ji) into the fold of Islam.’

Jahangir found an excuse when people alleged that the Sikh Scriptures Adi Granth Sahib Ji contained words derogatory to Islam, already prejudiced Jahangir called for no proof and imposed fine. Guru Ji refused to pay an unjust fine. Jahangir had also heard incorrectly of Guru Ji blessing Jahangir’s rebel son Prince Khusro, and again with out asking for evidence he writes in his autobiography that Guru Arjan Dev Ji should be captured and his property confiscated and Guru Ji should be put to death by torture.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji was taken to Lahore where he was tortured by pouring burning sand and boiling water over his body while sitting on a hot iron plate. Guru Ji sacrificed his life to uphold the Sovereignty of the Sikh Scriptures and to resist injustice. For this reason Guru Ji is also known as the King of Martyrs.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
– Bhull Chukk Baksh Deni Ji –

Guru Ram Das Ji’s Short Biography

Known as Bhai Jetha (before he became Guru Ramdas Ji), he was only 7 years old when both his parents died. He was taken in by his grandmother and wasn’t lucky enough to go to school and worked hard selling Indian sweets. Fortunately Guru Amardas Ji adopted Bhai Jetha, who learnt Gurmukhi and would do seva for Guru Ji and the Sadh-Sangat (holy congregation) in the early morning and then work in langar for the rest of the day.

He actively helped Guru Amardas Ji in his works including the founding of the city of Goindwal and the construction of the deep well (Baoli Sahib) as a welfare project. Guru Amardas Ji was impressed by Bhai Jetha’s devotion and service that he had his daughter Bibi Bhani married to Bhai Jetha Ji.

Guru Amardas decided to set up a new township to serve as a centre for the Sikhs, the deputised Bhai Jetha Ji who selected a large piece of land which was purchased. His first task was the provision of a water supply, so Bhai Jetha Ji planned and constructed a huge tank, this was the beginning of a town called Ramdaspur later to be know as Amritsar. At this time Guru Amardas Ji was getting old and decided to test his two son in laws (Bhai Jetha and Bhai Rama) whom he thought suitable for succession. Guru Amardas Ji requested both to build a platform from which he would address the Sadh-Sangat. Both Bhai Rama and Bhai Jetha built the platforms but Guru Ji rejected both as unsuitable. Bhai Rama Ji and Bhai Jetha Ji rebuilt the platforms a second and third time but with the same results. Guru Ji continued rejecting the platforms until Bhai Rama Ji refused to build anymore. Bhai Jetha built and rebuilt the platform 7 times and each time falling at Guru Amardas Ji’s feet asking for forgiveness and pleading ignorance of Guru Ji’s exact requirement. Guru Amardas Ji hugged Bhai Jetha and said “The Light of Guru Nanak Dev Ji is in you”, Bhai Jetha was then renamed Guru Ramdas Ji (God’s Servant) and became the fourth Guru King.

Guru Ramdas Ji emphasised seva and charity, he was a self-made man, who came to Guru Angad Dev Ji as a helpless orphan, but due to his devotion and humility was elevated to the position of Guru. His life is a beacon to the Sikhs that anyone of them can gain spiritual stature by discipline and selfless service.

In keeping with the policy of Guru Amardas Ji, Guru Ramdas Ji continued organising the Sikhs into a self-conscious coherent community outside Hinduism by initiating a number of social reforms.

• Like his predecessors Guru Ji forbade practise of sati and purdah (veiling).
• Guru Ji composed the Lavan (Wedding Song) and initiated a new type of simple and dignified marriage known as Anand Karaj (Ceremony of Bliss). Along with other hymns for birth and death, Guru Ji further established the Sikh religion as a distinct way of life.
• Guru Ji emphasised Nam Yoga (repetition and meditation on God) and Sahaj Yoga (path of ease i.e. natural, i.e. that through family life with devotion) salvation could be achieved.
• He also gave a definition of a Sikh:

He who calls himself a Sikh of the True Guru,
Shall rise early in the morning and meditate on the Name of God,
Shall take a bath to cleanse the mind of evil in the Nectar pool of God’s Name,
Shall labour during the day, Shall hear the words of the Guru and respect the Name of God, For then will his sins be forgiven and his sorrow and suffering cease,
With the advance of the day he shall sing the hymns of the Guru and keep God in his mind in all that he does, He who remembers the Name of God with every breath and with every morsel that he eats, He is the True Sikh, him the Guru loves, He to whom the Lord is Gracious, listens to the teachings of the Guru and becomes his disciple.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
– Bhull Chukk Baksh Deni Ji –

Guru Amar Das Ji’s Short Biography

Bhai Amardas Ji was a spiritual genius at the same time of Guru Angad Dev Ji. In his twenties he became interested in Hinduism and became a great pilgrim. Every year for the next forty years he went to the sacred river Ganges, walking bare-foot singing divine hymns.

Once on his return from a pilgrimage, a Hindu Sadhu (Saint) refused to eat the food served by Bhai Amardas Ji “as he had no Guru”. Bhai Amardas Ji was deeply affected by this and began his intense search for the Satguru (True Guru).

One morning, early at dawn he heard Bibi Amro, Satguru Angad Dev Ji’s daughter, singing Jap Ji Sahib, while churning butter in a clay pot. He felt a solace in the angelic voice, that he’d never felt before and asked ‘whose song is it ?’, Bibi Amro Ji replied it is the Jap Ji Sahib of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, she then took Bhai Amardas Ji to meet Guru Angad Dev Ji.

Bhai Amardas JI (at the age of 62) at last found his true Guru and experienced great spiritual bliss (Anand). So deep and intense was his passion that he would find pleasure in doing every type of seva for his Master. For 13 years, early in the morning in pitch darkness he would fetch a pitcher of fresh river water for Guru Angad Dev Ji’s bath, he would wash Guru Ji’s clothes and serve Guru Sahib Ji langar.

Bhai Amardas Ji extinguished his own ego so thoroughly that he was considered mad. Even Guru Angad Dev Ji, though sweet to everyone else was not so gentle with Bhai Amardas Ji, nevertheless Bhai Amardas Ji showed no annoyance at the treatment he received. Eventually Bhai Amardas Ji was crowned the Third Guru.

Throughout his time Guru Amardas Ji placed emphasis on seva of all mankind (true seva involved serving God and mankind without expectation of any reward), which enables man to realise the universal brotherhood. During a meeting with Emperor Akbar he persuaded Akbar
not to collect land tax in Lahore due to hardships caused by the current drought.

Guru Amardas Ji was a great social reformer;

• Guru Sahib Ji organised his followers into 22 Manjis (Parishes) and further strengthened the Sikh religion as a distinct way of life.
• Fought against the caste system, by institutionalising langar (free kitchen) as part of all Sikh Gurdwaras, people sat in rows to take simple food without any distinction of caste or creed, emphasising equality, tolerance and humility. Even Emperor Akbar was made to have the same langar as everybody else before he could meet Guru Ji.
• He raised the profile of women, by fighting against the practice of sati (widow burning) and allowed widows to remarry and he also prohibited the wearing of a veil by Sikh women and fought against female infanticide.

Guru Ji was also a great poet and composed 874 hymns in 17 raags, Anand Sahib the Song of True Bliss is one of his popular compositions , it spells out the strategy for achieving bliss; first of all, negativity and egoism has to be subdued, the hurdles of worldly wisdom, falsehood, ritual, hypocrisy and greed have to be conquered. On the positive side Guru Ji advocated sincere and selfless service of fellow-man, the company of the holy and direction of the organs of perception and action (eyes, ears, tongue) to higher goals. A person who practices these is called Gurmukh (God oriented) or Jiwan-mukt (liberated while alive) for he feels the presence of God within him and without. Guru Ji lead the Sikh nation for 33 years and passed to God’s court at the age of 95.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
– Bhull Chukk Baksh Deni Ji –

Guru Angad Dev Ji’s Short Biography

He was known as Bhai Lehna, (Lehna in Punjabi means “the dues to be collected”) before he took his place on Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s throne as Guru Angad Dev Ji.

He was a man of simple beliefs and religious temperament. He was the leader of a group of followers of the Goddess Durga. Every year Lehna led the devotees on a pilgrimage up the hills to worship Durga. On one pilgrimage, during the early morning he heard a hymn being sung, he was struck by its melody and message. On enquiry he learnt that the hymn was composed by Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

He left his pilgrimage to meet Guru Nanak Dev Ji. At the very first meeting he fell under the spell of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s words and abandoned the worship of Durga and his business. His companions and worshippers called him a traitor and went on their way.

Bhai Lehna learnt the Sikh way of life, he memorised Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s words and took part in Kirtan, he served the sadh-sangat (holy congregation) with great humility and sincerity. During the day he worked on Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s farm and in the evening served langar in the free-kitchen.

There are many stories of Bhai Lehna’s humility, on one occasion, a family came to Guru Nanak Dev to request the wall of the house had fallen down and if some Sikhs could help build a new one. Guru Nanak Dev Ji asked his sons Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das to help, however they made excuses, since it was dark and raining could it not be left until the morning. Meanwhile Bhai Lehna was already outside re-building the wall. Guru Ji inspected the wall and had it re-built because it was not correct, Bhai Lehna rebuilt the wall 22 times, before Guru Ji had approved it, not once did he complain but with deep humility followed his Guru’s instructions.

When the time came for a successor Guru Nanak Dev Ji tested his Sikhs, the final test was to eat what looked like a dead body which was covered by a sheet. Only Bhai Lehna was brave enough to obey his Guru, requesting which end should he start from.

Bhai Lehna loved Guru Nanak so much , he became like Guru Nanak Dev Ji, that’s why Guru Nanak Dev Ji made Bhai Lehna the next Guru and called him Angad (limb from my limb)- you are a part of me, in preference to his own son Sri Chand : showing that nothing in Sikhi is a birth right or inherited. Sri Chand set up his separate sect of Udasis (renunciants).

Guru Angad Dev Ji was Guru for 13 years, he moved to Khadur and continued the mission of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

• Guru Angad Dev Ji opened more centres and organised a regular system of collecting offerings to meet the increased expenses of Langar as the number of Sikhs increased.
• Guru Ji also collected the hymns of Guru Nanak Dev Ji which had no particular script, Guru Ji used Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s hymns to create a new script called Gurmukhi ( from the mouth of the Guru) the written form of the Panjabi language. This was a far-reaching step, it gave the Sikhs a written language distinct form the written language of the Hindus and Muslims ( who used Sanskrit and Arabic) the language which only the privileged could understand and use. Guru Ji thus fostered a sense of the Sikhs being a separate people.
• Guru Ji was also very keen on physical fitness, he ordered his followers, to take part in sports and community games after the morning prayers. Every community had a wrestling arena.

Guru Angad Dev Ji was a great man who further consolidated the work of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and is known as the Great Educator of Panjab.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
– Bhull Chukk Baksh Deni Ji –