The 10 Gurus
Sikhi was established by the 10 Gurus, between 1469 to 1708.
The word Guru translates to 'darkness to light'. Therefore, the main purpose of the Gurus is to take away the darkness of ignorance and shed the light of knowledge.
Throughout their lives, the 10 Gurus showed the people of the world how to reach Vaheguru. They did this by setting an example of how to live a worthy life through meditation, detachment and righteous actions.
The history and writings of the Gurus are what Sikhs apply to their own lives today.
Select the Guru you want to learn about.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Born: 15 April 1469
Joti Jot: 22 September 1539
Place of Birth: Talwandi, Pakistan (Nanakana Sahib)
Father: Mehta Kalu Ji
Mother: Mata Tripta Devi Ji
Sister: Bebe Nanaki Ji
Wife: Mata Sulakhani Ji
Children: Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji is the first Guru. He was Guru from 1469 to 1539.
KEY FACTS
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Stood up against empty religious rituals, prejudices, hypocrisy, idol worship, the caste system and the sacrifice of widows.
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Started the Langar (Free Kitchen).
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Regarded Hindus and Muslims as equals and referred to himself as neither Hindu nor Muslim but as a brother to all those who believed in God and truth.
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Wrote the 1st morning daily prayer, Jap Ji Sahib.
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Click below to read more about Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Guru Angad Dev Ji
First Name: Bhai Lehna Ji
Born: 31 March 1504
Joti Jot: 16 April 1552
Place of Birth: Harike, Punjab
Father: Bhai Pheru Mall Ji
Mother: Mata Sabhrai Ji
Wife: Mata Khivi Ji
Children: 2 Sons and 2 Daughters
Guru Angad Dev Ji is the second Guru. He was Guru from 1539 to 1552.
KEY FACTS
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Invented Gurmukhi (written form of Punjabi). Guru Granth Sahib Ji is written in Gurmukhi.
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After doing years of Seva (Selfless service) for Guru Nanak Dev Ji, he set an example of how Sikhs should serve the Guru.
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Took great interest in the education of children by opening many schools and thus greatly increased literacy.
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For the youth, he started the tradition of Mall Akhara, where physical as well as spiritual exercises were held.
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Click below to read more about Guru Angad Dev Ji.
Guru Amar Das Ji
Born: May 1479
Joti Jot: September 1574
Place of Birth: Basarkay, Amritsar
Father: Tej Bhan Ji
Mother: Mata Bakht Ji
Wife: Mata Mansa Devi Ji
Children: 2 Sons and 2 Daughters
Guru Amar Das Ji is the third Guru. He was Guru from 1552 to 1574.
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KEY FACTS
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Introduced the Anand Karaj marriage ceremony for the Sikhs.
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Further expanded Guru Ka Langar and made his disciples, whether rich or poor, have their meals sitting together on the floor. He thus established social equality.
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Gave women equality with men by abolishing the custom of Sati, in which a married woman was forced to burn herself to death in the funeral pyre of her husband.
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Abolished the custom of Paradah (Purda), in which a woman was required to cover her face with a veil.
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Wrote the 5th morning daily prayer, Anand Sahib.
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Click below to read more about Guru Amar Das Ji.
Guru Ram Das Ji
First Name: Bhai Jetha Ji
Born: October 1534
Joti Jot: September 1581
Place of Birth: Chuna Mandi, Lahore
Father: Hari Das Ji
Mother: Mata Anup Devi Ji
Wife: Bibi Bhani Ji
Children: 3 Sons
Guru Ram Das Ji is the fourth Guru. He was Guru from 1574 to 1581.
KEY FACTS
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By the age of 7, both his mother and father had passed away so he lived with his grandmother. His family was very poor.
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Founded the city of Amritsar and started the construction of Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) at Amritsar. It has 4 doors which are open at all times to everyone showing that people of all walks of life can enter.
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He requested the Muslim Sufi, Mian Mir, to lay the cornerstone of Harmandir Sahib.
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Wrote the Laavan. This is a four stanza hymn which is recited and sung during the Anand Karaj. The marriage couple walk around Guru Granth Sahib ji as each stanza is read to represent that Guru Ji will be at the centre of their lives.
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Click below to read more about Guru Ram Das Ji.
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Guru Arjan Dev Ji
Born: 1563
Joti Jot: 1606
Place of Birth: Goindwal
Father: Guru Ram Das Ji
Mother: Bibi Bhani Ji
Wife: Mata Ganga Ji
Child: Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji
Guru Arjan Dev Ji is the fifth Guru. He was Guru from 1581 to 1606.
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KEY FACTS
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Compiled the Aad Granth. This contains the hymns of the first 5 Gurus and other saints. To make it a universal teaching, Guru ji included hymns of both Muslim and low caste saints who were never permitted to enter various temples.
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Completed the construction of Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar.
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Became the first great martyr. Mughal Emperor Jahangir failed to convert Guru Ji to Islam so Guru Ji was made to sit on a hot plate whilst hot sand was poured on top of their body.
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Click below to read more about Guru Arjan Dev Ji.
Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji
Born: June 1595
Joti Jot: March 1644
Place of Birth: Guru ki Vadali, Amritsar
Father: Guru Arjan Dev Ji
Mother: Mata Ganga Ji
Wives: Mata Nanaki Ji, Mata Mahadevi Ji & Mata Damodari Ji
Children: 5 Sons and 1 Daughter
Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji is the sixth Guru. He was Guru from 1606 to 1644.
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KEY FACTS​
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Is known as a 'Saint Soldier' as he organised an army and taught that it was necessary to take up the sword in order to protect the weak and the oppressed. Guru ji was first of the Gurus to take up arms to defend the faith.
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Wore 2 swords, Miri and Piri, representing worldly and spiritual power.
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Built Sri Akal Takhat Sahib at the age of 13 which acted as the headquarters of Guru Sahib's army. Sri Akal Takhat Sahib is located in Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar.
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Was responsible for freeing 52 Kings from Emperor Jahangir's prison. This day became known as Bandi Chhor Diwas (Diwali).
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Click below to read more about Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji.
Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji
Born: 1630
Joti Jot: March 1661
Place of Birth: Kiratpur Sahib, Rupnagar
Father: Baba Gurdita Ji
Mother: Mata Nihal Kaur Ji
Wife: Mata Krishan Kaur Ji (Sulakhni Ji)
Grandfather: Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji
Children: 2 Sons (Ram Rai and Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji)
Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji is the seventh Guru. He was Guru from 1644 to 1661.
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KEY FACTS
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Maintained a strong army even though he never indulged in any direct political or armed war with the Mughal Empire.
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Was a very kind-hearted person who loved humanity, animals and nature. He was in love with everything created by Vaheguru.​
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He showed his love for animals by caring for sick or injured animals in his zoos and then releasing them once they had recovered.​
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He showed his love for nature at a young age when his robe caused a few roses to break from their stem. Guru Ji started crying for harming nature.
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Click below to read more about Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji.
Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji
Born: 1656
Joti Jot: 1664
Place of Birth: Kiratpur Sahib
Father: Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji
Mother: Mata Krishan Kaur Ji (Sulakhni Ji)
Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji is the eighth Guru. He was Guru from 1661 to 1664.
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KEY FACTS
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Became Guru at the age of 5.
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Helped cure people of disease. He set up a camp and treated thousands people who had smallpox and cholera. ​
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The local Muslim population was impressed with the curing abilities of Guru Sahib and nicknamed him Bala Pir (child prophet).
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Many people did not believe Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji was the real Guru. These people tested Guru Ji in different ways.
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Guru Ji showed his power by making an illiterate man speak fluently about the Bhagvad Gita by placing a stick on his head.
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Click below to read more about Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
First Name: Tyag Mal
Born: April 1621
Joti Jot: November 1675
Place of Birth: Amritsar
Father: Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji
Mother: Mata Nanaki Ji
Wife: Mata Gujar Kaur Ji
Children: Guru Gobind Singh Ji
Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji is the ninth Guru. He was Guru from 1664 to 1675.
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KEY FACTS
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Wrote 116 hymns in Guru Granth Sahib Ji which discuss God, attachment, body, mind and sorrow.
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Founded the town Chak-Nanki which was enlarged by Guru Gobind Singh Ji into the city of Anandpur Sahib.
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They are also called "Hind di Chaddar" as they gave up their life to save the Hindu religion from the Mughals. Guru Ji became shaheed (a martyr) along with 3 other Gursikhs; Bhai Mati Das Ji, Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Dyaala Ji.
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Click below to read more about Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji
Born: 1666
Joti Jot: 1708
Place of Birth: Patna, India
Father: Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
Mother: Mata Gujar Kaur Ji
Wives: Mata Jito Kaur Ji, Mata Sahib Kaur Ji & Mata Sundri Kaur Ji
Children: Chaar Sahibzaade
Guru Gobind Singh Ji is the tenth Guru. He was Guru from 1675 to 1708.
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KEY FACTS
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Founded the Khalsa in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib. Guru Ji also formed the Panj Pyaare and held the first Amrit Sanchaar.
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Guru Ji wrote a letter called the Zafarnama which led to the death of the emperor Aurangzeb.
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Added the hymns of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji to Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Wrote the Dasam Granth.
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Before leaving his physical form, Guru Ji declared Guru Granth Sahib Ji as the eternal Guru in 1708.
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Click below to read more about Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
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Guru Granth Sahib Ji
Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the current Guru and was given the Guruship by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1708.
Before leaving their body, Guru Gobind Singh Ji told the Sikhs “Sab Sikhan Ko Hukam Hai Guru Manyo Granth. Guru Granth Ji Maneo Pragat Gura Ki Deh” meaning “All Sikhs are commanded to accept Guru Granth Sahib Ji as Guru. Guru Granth Sahib Ji should be seen as the body of the Gurus”. For this reason, Sikhs give Guru Ji as much respect as they would for a human Guru.
KEY FACTS
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji compiled Guru Granth Sahib Ji by adding the hymns written by his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, to the Aad Granth (compiled by Guru Arjan Dev Ji).
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It is written in Gurmukhi script and contains the words uttered by the Sikh Gurus.
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Each page of Guru Granth Sahib Ji is referred to as an 'Ang' which means 'body part'. This is because Guru Gobind Singh Ji told the Sikhs to see the pages of Guru Ji as his own body parts. Guru Granth Sahib Ji consists of 1430 Angs.
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It is the only scripture that contains the writings of people of other faiths. Therefore, unlike other scriptures, it is intended for all of mankind.
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The content of the scripture is divided using 31 Raags. Raags are musical melodies. They instruct the Sikhs the way to sing the Shabad during Kirtan.
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All Sikh ceremonies are performed in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
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