The Ten Sikh Gurus: History, Contributions and Key Facts

Sikhism began with Guru Nanak Dev, born in 1469. After him, nine more Gurus led the Sikhs, one after another, until 1708. In 1708 the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, made the holy book itself the Guru — Sri Guru Granth Sahib. In these 239 years the Gurus built towns, wrote hymns, started the langar, compiled the Adi Granth and created the Khalsa. This page explains each Guru in simple words.

• Born in 1469 at Rai Bhoi di Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib, Pakistan). Most history books give the date as 15 April 1469, but by tradition his birthday (Parkash Purab, or Gurpurab) is celebrated on Kattak Puranmashi — the full moon of the month of Kattak (October–November). Scholars differ on the date; that is why the two do not match.
• He was born into a Hindu Bedi Khatri family. Parents: Mehta Kalu (the village patwari) and Mata Tripta. Elder sister: Bebe Nanaki, the first to recognise his greatness.
• Went on four long journeys (Udasis) with Bhai Mardana, a Muslim rabab player. At Saidpur he stayed with Bhai Lalo, a poor carpenter, and refused the rich feast of Malik Bhago, because Lalo's bread was honestly earned.
• Saw Babur's attack on Saidpur (Eminabad) and wrote four hymns about it, called Babarvani. So his Guruship overlapped the reign of Babur.
• Founded Kartarpur on the Ravi (c. 1522) and taught: Nam japo, Kirat karo, Vand chhako.
• Wife: Mata Sulakhni. Their elder son, Baba Sri Chand, founded the Udasi order of ascetics.
• Passed away at Kartarpur on 22 September 1539, after choosing Bhai Lehna (Guru Angad) as the next Guru.

Guru Nanak's first and last home

Nankana Sahib (old Rai Bhoi di Talwandi) — Guru Nanak was born here in 1469

Shahzaib Damn Cruze, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Kartarpur (Pakistan) — Guru Nanak's last 18 years; Kartarpur Corridor opened 9 November 2019

Harvinder Chandigarh, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

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• Born Bhai Lehna on 31 March 1504 at Matte di Sarai (now Sarai Naga, Muktsar).
• Guru Nanak chose him over his own sons because of his service. This made merit, not birth, the rule for choosing a Guru. Baba Buddha put the tilak of Guruship on his forehead — and he did the same for every Guru up to Guru Hargobind (the 2nd to the 6th Guru).
• Made Khadur Sahib (Tarn Taran) the centre of Sikhism.
• Gave final shape to the Gurmukhi script (35 letters) and had a primer, the Bal-bodh, made for children. He collected Guru Nanak's bani and, by tradition, had the Bala Janamsakhi (a life-story of Guru Nanak) written — so he is the Guru who got Guru Nanak's biography written.
• His wife Mata Khivi ran the langar herself. He also started Mall Akharas (wrestling grounds) for young men. Gurdwara Mal Akhara Sahib at Khadur marks his family home and wrestling ground.
• His bani: 62 saloks (some count 63). He wrote no shabads.

• Served Guru Angad for about 12 years, carrying water from the Beas every day. His wife was Mata Mansa Devi.
• Built the Baoli Sahib at Goindwal — a stepwell with 84 steps.
• Divided the Sikh community into 22 Manjis (preaching centres) and appointed women preachers called Piris.
• Made langar compulsory before meeting the Guru: "pehle pangat, pachhe sangat". Even Emperor Akbar ate in the langar.
• Spoke against sati and purdah, and allowed widows to remarry.
• Wrote Anand Sahib (40 pauris, Raag Ramkali). It is recited at the end of every Sikh wedding, so many books link the Anand Karaj ceremony with Guru Amar Das. (The four Lavan of the ceremony were written by Guru Ram Das.)

• Born Bhai Jetha at Chuna Mandi, Lahore. He married Bibi Bhani, daughter of Guru Amar Das.
• First Guru from the Sodhi family. All later Gurus came from this family.
• Founded the town of Amritsar — first called Guru ka Chak, then Ramdaspur. Dug the Santokhsar and Amritsar tanks and invited traders of 52 trades.
• Started the Masand system to collect offerings and spread the teachings.
• Wrote the four Lavan (Raag Suhi). Every Sikh wedding (Anand Karaj) is based on them.

• Born at Goindwal in 1563; became Guru at 18.
• Built Harmandir Sahib in the middle of the Amritsar tank. Its foundation stone was laid in 1588 — by tradition by the Sufi saint Mian Mir of Lahore. It has four doors — open to people of all castes and all directions — and was built lower than the ground around it, as a sign of humility.
• Founded Tarn Taran (1590), in the land between the Ravi and the Beas, and Kartarpur near Jalandhar (1594). He also built a baoli (stepwell) at Dabbi Bazar, Lahore.
• Compiled the Adi Granth with Bhai Gurdas as the scribe, at Ramsar. It was installed at Harmandir Sahib in 1604.
• Wrote Sukhmani Sahib (Raag Gauri, 24 ashtapadis) at Ramsar, Amritsar. He wrote the most hymns of any Guru — 2,218.
• Martyred at Lahore on 30 May 1606 under Jahangir. He is called "Shaheedan de Sirtaj" (crown of the martyrs).

Besides six Gurus, the Guru Granth Sahib has the bani of 15 bhagats and 11 bhatts. The bhagats include Kabir, Namdev, Ravidas and Baba Farid — Farid is one of the 15, and the only Sufi among them. Putting saints of many castes and faiths side by side shows the Granth's universal outlook.

• Became Guru at 11, after his father's martyrdom.
• Wore two swords: one for Miri (worldly power) and one for Piri (spiritual power).
• Built the Akal Takht (1606) facing Harmandir Sahib. Started the Nishan Sahib and the nagara (war drum).
• Jahangir kept him in Gwalior Fort. When freed, he got 52 rajas released with him — so he is called Bandi Chhor. Bandi Chhor Divas is celebrated on Diwali.
• Founded Kiratpur on the Sutlej (1626). Fought Mughal forces at Amritsar, Lahira, Kartarpur and Phagwara.

• Grandson of Guru Hargobind; became Guru at 14.
• Kept 2,200 horsemen but fought no battle.
• Ran a herbal dispensary at Kiratpur. Medicine from it was sent for Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Shah Jahan.
• Disowned his son Ram Rai, who changed a line of Guru Nanak's bani to please Aurangzeb.
• The only Guru who was born and passed away at the same place — Kiratpur.

• Became Guru at the age of 5 — the youngest of all. Called "Bala Pritam"; the Muslims of Delhi called him "Bala Pir".
• In Delhi he stayed at Raja Jai Singh's bungalow — now Gurdwara Bangla Sahib.
• Served people sick with smallpox, caught the disease and passed away in 1664.
• His last words, "Baba Bakale", meant the next Guru was at Bakala.

• Born Tyag Mal at Guru ke Mahal, Amritsar. He was named Tegh Bahadur ("brave of the sword") after fighting at the battle of Kartarpur (1635).
• At Bakala, the trader Makhan Shah Lubana recognised him as the true Guru and shouted "Guru Ladho Re" (the Guru is found), 1664.
• Bought land for 500 rupees, near the village of Makhowal on the Sutlej, from Rani Champa of Kahlur (Bilaspur — two names of the same hill state), and founded Chakk Nanaki (1665) — today's Anandpur Sahib.
• Took up the cause of the Kashmiri Pandits, led by Pandit Kirpa Ram, who faced forced conversion.
• Martyred at Chandni Chowk, Delhi, on 11 November 1675 under Aurangzeb. Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib stands there. Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Dayala were martyred with him.
• His bani: 59 shabads and 57 saloks. He is the only Guru whose bani is in Raag Jaijaiwanti. His 400th Parkash Purab (birth anniversary) was celebrated in 2021.

• Born Gobind Rai at Patna on 22 December 1666. Became Guru at 9, after his father's martyrdom.
• Founded Paonta Sahib on the Yamuna (1685). Won his first battle at Bhangani (1688) against the hill rajas led by Fateh Shah of Garhwal. It was fought near Paonta, where the Giri river meets the Yamuna.
• Created the Khalsa on Baisakhi 1699 (30 March 1699) at Anandpur Sahib (Kesgarh). The first five to take Amrit were the Panj Pyare.
• Gave the Khalsa the names Singh and Kaur and the five Ks, and ended the corrupt masands.
• Started Hola Mohalla at Anandpur in 1701 — a day of mock battles and military drill at the time of Holi.
• Lost all four sons: Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh at Chamkaur; Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh at Sirhind (bricked alive). So he is called "Sarbans Dani". The Shaheedi Jor Mela is held every December at Fatehgarh Sahib in memory of the younger Sahibzadas.
• Wrote the Zafarnama (in Persian) to Aurangzeb from Dina–Kangar. His autobiography, Bachitar Natak (in Braj), is in the Dasam Granth.
• At Nanded, on the Godavari, he gave Amrit to the Bairagi Madho Das, named him Gurbaksh Singh — famous as Banda Singh Bahadur — and sent him to Punjab.
• Passed away at Nanded on 7 October 1708, after making Guru Granth Sahib the eternal Guru.

• The word Sikh means a learner or disciple (from the Sanskrit shishya).
• Udasis — an order of ascetics started by Baba Sri Chand, Guru Nanak's elder son.
• Nirmalas — began with five Sikhs whom Guru Gobind Singh sent to Kashi to learn Sanskrit.
• Nihangs — the armed warrior order of the Khalsa.
• Sewapanthis — followers of Bhai Kanhaiya, who served water to the wounded of both sides at Anandpur.

The other four Takhts

Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib — Khalsa born here, 1699

Historiansimar, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo — Damdami Bir

Kuldeepburjbhalaike, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Patna Sahib, Bihar — birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh

Shivamsetu, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Hazur Sahib, Nanded — Guru Gobind Singh passed away here, 1708

Subhag Singh, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

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