One of the most visible, tangible and iconic contributions of Guru Arjan Dev is that he was the one who conceived of and began the construction of Harmandir Sahib, or the Golden Temple, in Amritsar.Īrjan Dev wanted Harmandir Sahib to stand for inclusivity, a place where everyone was welcome.
The decision may have led to disputes, but what is undisputed is the fifth guru’s legacy. On Guru Arjan Dev’s 457th birth anniversary, here is a look at his influence on Sikhism.Īlso read: The religious and historical significance of Kartarpur Sahib gurudwaraīorn on 15 April 1563 to Guru Ramdas and Bibi Bhani, Arjan Dev was chosen by his father as his successor even though he was the youngest son. It is here that Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore stands. It is said that when he was allowed to take a bath in River Ravi on, he never returned. Famously, the guru was made to sit on a burning hot plate, hot sand poured on his face. Part of the reason was the fact that he had blessed Jahangir’s rebellious son Khusrau, and part because of his growing influence in Northern India and fast conversions to Sikhism that threatened the orthodox Muslim clergy as well as the Hindu elite.Īfter imprisoning the guru, Jahangir demanded Rs 2 lakh as a fine plus elimination of all texts from the Adi Granth, the Sikh holy book the guru had compiled, that could be ‘offensive’ to Hindus or Muslims.īut the guru was unrelenting and refused to omit anything from the Granth, so the Mughal emperor condemned him to be tortured to death. The following excerpt is from the Jahangirnama or Tuzk-e-Jahangiri, the Mughal Emperor’s autobiography, translated by Wheeler M.In the year 1606, the fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjan Dev, was captured by Mughal Emperor Jahangir and imprisoned in Lahore Fort. Unlike his late father, who had been the epitome of egalitarianism, Jahangir had a markedly different world view and unfortunately, the fifth Guru of the Sikhs had got his attention. The power of the Mughals was at its zenith and on the throne sat Jahangir, the son of Akbar the great. This wondrous tale of glorious flight To you I am, a sacrifice Sweet solace, peace, a gentle calm Love of his flock a soothing balm To the sacred words, he clings The trilling songbird sweetly sings In honey drenched a drunken bee Of pain and suffering he is free
Lost in the Lord, he bears his pain On the hunter, eyes of faun remain With the light of God, his soul does merge Towards the flame the moth does surge Imbued in the Lord, release finds he A joyous fish in water free His beloved Sikh, Bhai Gurdas, also his amanuensis, described the manner of his passing in the 23rd stanza of his 24th Vaar or ballad :
Four hundred and sixteen years ago, on the banks of the river Ravi, in the city of Lahore, Guru Arjan, the fifth Guru of the Sikhs breathed his last.
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