Sikhism: Gurus & Empire

Sikhism began in Punjab with Guru Nanak's message of love, equality and brotherhood, and was carried forward by a succession of Gurus.

• Guru Nanak got his enlightenment at Sultanpur in 1496, then travelled widely to spread the message of love and brotherhood.
• Sikhism was established by 10 (ten) Gurus over the period 1469 to 1708.
• Sikhism opposed caste, ritualism and idol worship, preaching the worship of one God.

The ten Gurus, in order with their periods and signature contributions, form the single most important table for the exam.

The early Gurus gave Sikhism its scripture, its script, its holy city and its central institutions of equality.

• Guru Angad (1539–1552), whose real name was Bhai Lehna, developed the Gurmukhi script of Punjabi, compiled the Janam Sakhi (biography of Nanak), and popularised Langar. 63 of his hymns are included.
• Guru Amar Das (1552–1574) divided his spiritual empire into 22 Manjis (under the Piri system), preached against sati, advocated widow-remarriage and asked women to discard the purdah; he made Akbar remove the toll-tax (pilgrim tax) at the Yamuna and Ganges.
• Guru Ram Das (1574–1581) founded Chak Ramdas (Ramdas Pur), now Amritsar, in 1574; he had cordial relations with Akbar and composed the Lawans (the Anand Karaj marriage hymns).
• Guru Arjan Dev (1581–1606) compiled the Adi Granth (Guru Granth Sahib), built the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), and was the first Sikh martyr. He started the Daswandh (giving 1/10th of income) and was executed by Jahangir; he is called *Shaheedan-de-Sartaj* (Crown of Martyrs).

• The first brick of the Harmandir Sahib was laid by Hazrat Mian Mir (a Muslim) on land gifted by Akbar to Guru Ram Das.
• Guru Arjan Dev completed the temple; later Maharaja Ranjit Singh covered it with gold, giving the Swarna Mandir (Golden Temple) its name.

The sixth Guru transformed Sikhism from a purely devotional path into a martial community in response to Mughal persecution.

• He transformed the Sikhs into a militant community and fortified Amritsar.
• He held the concept of two swords: Miri (secular/temporal power) and Piri (spiritual power).
• He took the title of Sachcha Padshah (True King) and waged wars against Jahangir and Shah Jahan, defeating a Mughal army at Sangrama.

The middle and later Gurus faced increasing Mughal hostility under Aurangzeb, culminating in the great martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

• Guru Har Krishan (1661–1664) became Guru at the age of 5 (the Child Guru); summoned to Delhi by Aurangzeb, he died young of smallpox caught while healing the sick.
• Guru Tegh Bahadur (1665–1675) revolted against Aurangzeb and was martyred (beheaded) at Delhi's Chandni Chowk in 1675. The Sis Ganj Sahib Gurudwara stands at the site. He appointed Banda Bahadur as military leader, spread Sikhism to Bihar and Assam, and called himself *Sachcha Badshah*.

The tenth and last human Guru founded the Khalsa, gave the Sikhs the Five Ks, and made the holy book the eternal Guru.

• He baptised the Sikhs (the Khalsa, meaning "the Pure"), selecting the Panj Pyare (Five Beloved) to administer the pahul (Amrit/nectar).
• He instructed Sikh males to use the surname Singh (Lion) and Sikh females Kaur (Princess).
• He compiled the Dasam Granth (Deswan Padshah Ka Granth) and wrote his autobiography Bichitra Natak.
• His four sons were martyred by the Mughals — remembered as Veer Bal Diwas / "Hero Children's Day", a national holiday on December 26th.
• He was killed by a Pathan (Gul Khan) in 1708, and declared the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru after him.

Every initiated member of the Khalsa wears five articles of faith, each beginning with the letter "K".

After the ten human Gurus, the holy scripture itself became the perpetual Guru of the Sikhs.

• It was originally compiled (as the Adi Granth) by Guru Arjan Dev.
• It consists of 5867 hymns in 1430 pages.
• Guru Gobind Singh declared it the Guru after him, ending the line of human Gurus.

The first Sikh military commander after the Gurus carried the fight to the Mughals and set up Sikh rule in Punjab.

• He commanded the Khalsa army, defeated the Mughals and liberated a large part of North India.
• He abolished the Zamindari system and granted property rights to the tillers of the land.
• He introduced the Nanak Shahi coins.
• He was captured by Mughal ruler Farrukhsiyar and martyred at Mehrauli in 1716.

The Takhts are the seats of Sikh authority, and several Gurudwaras across India are major centres of the faith.

• A Gurudwara means "the doorway to the master/Guru".

• Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) — Amritsar, Punjab; the most sacred shrine, founded by Guru Ram Das and completed by Guru Arjan Dev.
• Bangla Sahib — Delhi; Sis Ganj Sahib — Delhi; Rakab Ganj Sahib — New Delhi; Paonta Sahib — Himachal Pradesh; Hemkund Sahib — Uttarakhand.
• Sikh festivals: Hola Mohalla, Vaisakhi, Guru Nanak Jayanti (Gurupurab), Maghi, Bandi Chhor Divas.

After Banda Bahadur, the scattered Sikh misls were united into a single empire by the "Lion of Punjab".

• He earned the title Sher-e-Punjab ("Lion of Punjab").
• He was declared Maharaja of Punjab on 12 April 1801 (at age 21); his father was Maha Singh.
• His capital was Lahore, which he liberated from Afghan invaders.
• He covered the Harmandir Sahib in gold, creating the Golden Temple.
• He signed the Treaty of Amritsar (1809) with the English, who recognised him as sole sovereign of Punjab; the empire stretched from the Khyber Pass (west) to Kashmir (north), Sindh (south) and Tibet (east).
• He died in 1839; Kharak Singh succeeded him.

The death of Ranjit Singh weakened the empire, leading to two wars with the British and the final annexation of Punjab.

• After the Second War, the Koh-i-Noor diamond was surrendered to the British crown.
• Sir John Lawrence became the first Chief Commissioner of Punjab.