This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Goingoveredge (talk | contribs) at 00:34, 27 August 2008 (Undid revision 234039381 by Princhest (talk)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 00:34, 27 August 2008 by Goingoveredge (talk | contribs) (Undid revision 234039381 by Princhest (talk))(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Guru Arjan Dev Ji or Guru Arjun Dev Ji (Template:Lang-pa) (born in Amritsar, Punjab, India on 15 April, 1563 – 30 May, 1606 Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan) was the fifth of the Eleven Gurus of Sikhism and became a Guru on 1 September1581 following in the footsteps of Guru Ram Das. He was born at Goindval, and was the youngest of the sons of Guru Ram Das and Bibi Bhani, the daughter of Guru Amar Das. Before his death, he nominated his son Har Gobind as the next Guru of the Sikhs.
Guru Arjan was head of Sikhism for a quarter of a century and accomplished a lot during his regime. He completed the construction of Amritsar and founded other cities such as Taran Taran and Kartarpur. He constructed a Baoli at Lahore. The most important work of Arjan Dev was the compilation of Adi Granth. He collected all the work of the first four Gurus and dictated it in the form of verses in 1604. It is, perhaps, the only kind of writing of a scriptural nature which has preserved without embellishments or misconstruction of the original writings of religious literatures.
Guru Arjan organised the Masand system. The Sikhs were asked to pay one-tenth of their income to the Guru in future. He appointed representatives to collect the money. He encouraged his followers to trade in horses.
Life
Guru Arjan clearly understood the wide import of the teachings of Nanak and perceived how applicable they were to every state of life and to every condition of society. He made Amritsar the proper seat of his followers and a centre which would attract the worldly longings for a material bond of union. The city became populous and a great place of pilgrimage of the Sikh people.
Composing the Adi Granth, he gave to his followers their fixed rule of religious and moral conduct. His starting of collection of offerings by way of Masand system, in a systematic way, accustomed them to a regular government. He traded in horses, though not extensively, and encouraged his followers to follow his example, to be as zealous in trade as they were in their faith.
Guru Arjan became famous among his pious devotees and his biographers dwell on the number of Saints and Holy men who were edified by his instructions. He was equally headed by men in high positions. During his time, the principles of Nanak took a firm hold on the minds of his followers.
Compositions
Beside compiling the Adi Granth, Guru Arjan also composed a lot of hymns and included them in it. He appointed Bhai Buddha, who was a companion of Guru Nanak, as the chief priest of the Golden Temple. He placed the Adi Granth on the seat reserved for him and himself sat among his disciples. Sukhmani, one the most recited banis (sacred hymn) by Sikhs, was composed by Guru Arjan. Hymn from the Sukhmani Sahib (Guru Granth Sahib page 262):
- Meditate, meditate, meditate peace is obtained, Worry and anguish is expelled from the body.
- Remembering God, you’re not reborn. Remembering God, the fear of death is dispelled.
- Remembering God, death is eliminated. Remembering God, your enemies are repelled.
- Remembering God, no obstacles are met. Remembering God, night and day you’re fully awake.
- Remembering God, fear cannot touch you. Remembering God, you don’t suffer with sorrow.
- Remembrance of God, in the Company of Saints. All treasures, O Nanak, are by Lord’s Blessing. ||2||
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan
Relations between Akbar and Guru Arjan were cordial but things changed after the accession of Jahangir. Ultimately the Guru was tortured to death in 1605. His end seems to have been hastened by the rigors in confinement; and Sikhs piously believe that, having obtained leave to bathe in the Ravi river, he vanished, to the fear and wonder of those guarding him.
Many reasons have been given for this tragedy. It is stated that Jahangir was annoyed because Guru Arjan gave his blessings to his rebel son, Prince Khusrau Mirza. Jahangir also did not like the growing popularity of Sikhism and took strong objection to conversion of Muslims to Sikhism.
There are also some Mughal accounts which state that Guru Arjan blessed the rebel son of emperor Jehangir which promptrd the emperor to take action against him. But the memoirs of Jehangir make it clear that he infact was looking for an opportunity to convert the Guru to Islam, which he was granted when the Guru blessed his rebel son.
It is also stated in some sources that the Diwan (revenue collector) of Lahore wanted to marry his daughter to the son of Guru Arjan, but the latter refused. The Diwan could not put up with his insult and poisoned the ears of the Government. Consequently Jahangir imposed a fine of Rupee two Lac on Guru Arjan and ordered him to remove certain passages from the Adi Granth, which were objectionable to Muslims. On the Guru's refusal to do so, he was tortured to death.
This is what Emperor Jahangir wrote in his diary called the Tuzk-e-Jahangiri, which translates to "Memoirs of Jahangir"
In Goindwal, which is on the river Biyãh (Beas), there was a Hindu named Arjan, in the garments of sainthood and sanctity, so much so that he had captured many of the simple-hearted of the Hindus, and even of the ignorant and foolish followers of Islam, by his ways and manners, and they had loudly sounded the drum of his holiness. They called him Guru, and from all sides stupid people crowded to worship and manifest complete faith in him. For three or four generations (of spiritual successors) they had kept this shop warm. Many times it occurred to me to put a stop to this vain affair or to bring him into the assembly of the people of Islam. At last when Khusrau passed along this road this insignificant fellow proposed to wait upon him. Khusrau happened to halt at the place where he was, and he came out and did homage to him. He behaved to Khusrau in certain special ways, and made on his forehead a finger-mark in saffron, which the Indians (Hinduwän) call qashqa, (Tilak) and is considered propitious. When this came to my ears and I clearly understood his folly, I ordered them to produce him and handed over his houses, dwelling-places, and children to Murtaza Khan, and having confiscated his property commanded that he should be put to death."
— Jahangir, Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri
The manner in which Guru Arjan was put to death "convinced the sikhs that they must arm themselves and fight, if they wanted to live". It proved a turning point in the history of Sikhism.
External links
- The Sikh History Web Site
- Eternal Glory of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji
- Video on 400th Martyrdom Anniversary of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji
- Video as a Tribute to Guru Arjan Partakh Har
- Learn more about Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji
- Guru Arjan, the Apostle of Peace - eBook
- AllAboutSikhs.com
- www.bbc.co.uk
- www.sgpc.net
- www.sikh-heritage.co.uk
- http://www.gurmat.info
Notes
- Mcleod, Hew (1997). Sikhism. London: Penguin Books. p. 28. ISBN 0-14-025260-6.
- Mahajan, Vidya Dhar. "ten". Muslim Rule In India (fifth ed.). p. 232.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|accessyear=,|origmonth=,|accessmonth=,|month=,|chapterurl=,|origdate=, and|coauthors=(help) - Cunnigham, J.D. (1853). "Gooroo Arjoon". A History Of The Sikhs. John Murray.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|accessyear=,|origmonth=,|accessmonth=,|month=,|chapterurl=,|origdate=, and|coauthors=(help) - Cunnigham, J.D. (1853). "Gooroo Arjoon". A History Of The Sikhs. John Murray.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|accessyear=,|origmonth=,|accessmonth=,|month=,|chapterurl=,|origdate=, and|coauthors=(help) - Cunnigham, J.D. (1853). "Gooroo Arjoon". A History of The Sikhs. John Murray.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|accessyear=,|origmonth=,|accessmonth=,|month=,|chapterurl=,|origdate=, and|coauthors=(help) - Mahajan, Vidya Dhar. Muslim Rule In India. S. Chand & Co.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|accessyear=,|origmonth=,|accessmonth=,|month=,|chapterurl=,|origdate=, and|coauthors=(help) - Cunnigham, Joseph Davey (1853). A History Of The Sikhs. London: John Murray. p. 51.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|accessyear=,|origmonth=,|accessmonth=,|month=,|chapterurl=,|origdate=, and|coauthors=(help) - Mahajan, Vidya Dhar. Muslim Rule In India (fifth ed.). S. Chand & Co. p. 232.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|accessyear=,|origmonth=,|accessmonth=,|month=,|chapterurl=,|origdate=, and|coauthors=(help) - Mahajan, Vidya Dhar. Muslim Rule In India (fifth ed.). S. Chand & Co. p. 232.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|accessyear=,|origmonth=,|accessmonth=,|month=,|chapterurl=,|origdate=, and|coauthors=(help) - part2_14
- Mahajan, Vidya Dhar (1970). "ten". Muslim Rule In India (fifth ed.). New Delhi: S. Chand & Co. p. 232.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|accessyear=,|origmonth=,|accessmonth=,|month=,|chapterurl=,|origdate=, and|coauthors=(help) - Mahajan, Vidya Dhar. Muslim Rule In India. Teja singh (Fifth ed.). p. 233.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|accessyear=,|origmonth=,|accessmonth=,|month=,|chapterurl=,|origdate=, and|coauthors=(help)
References
- 1. "Tuzuk-i-Jahagiri or Memoirs of Jahagir" Translated by Alexander Rogers. Edited by Henry Beveridge Published by Low Price Publication www.lppindia.com ISBN 978-81-7536-148-5
- 2. History of the Panjab, Syad Muhammad Latif, Published by: Kalyani Publishers, Ludhiana, Punjab, India ISBN 978-81-7096-245-8
Koubouter van het Gerrit Rietveld College, Zeer normaal schoolkind. XD
Categories: