Sikh Gurus & Religion — PPSC previous year questions

The fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, compiled the Adi Granth in 1604 with Bhai Gurdas as scribe and installed it at Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar, with Baba Buddha as first Granthi. It held the bani of the first five Gurus and of the Bhagats; Guru Gobind Singh Ji later added Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's hymns and in 1708 conferred Guruship on it as Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Angad Dev Ji is remembered for Gurmukhi, Guru Hargobind Ji for Miri-Piri.

Miri-Piri means the union of temporal (Miri) and spiritual (Piri) authority. The sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, introduced this doctrine. He wore two swords at his succession in 1606, after the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. He also built the Akal Takht (1606) facing Harmandir Sahib as the seat of temporal authority, and raised an armed force. Guru Nanak Dev Ji founded Sikhism. Guru Angad Dev Ji formalised Gurmukhi. Guru Gobind Singh Ji created the Khalsa in 1699.

Gurmat Sangeet is the tradition of singing Gurbani in the raags set out in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, with instruments such as the rabab, saranda, taus and dilruba. It began with Guru Nanak Dev and Bhai Mardana. In everyday use it is called Shabad Kirtan. Mahiya and Teeyan songs are Punjabi folk forms, not devotional music.

By Sikh tradition the Sufi saint Hazrat Mian Mir of Lahore laid the foundation stone of Sri Harmandir Sahib (the Golden Temple) at Amritsar in 1588 at the invitation of Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji. The Guru designed the shrine with four doors open to all castes and creeds and installed the Adi Granth there in 1604. Akbar had earlier granted land for the town. Sheikh Farid belonged to the 12th–13th century.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji founded the town in 1665, buying land at Makhowal from the Raja of Bilaspur (Kahlur) and naming it Chakk Nanaki after his mother, Mata Nanaki. It was later renamed Anandpur; it was here that Guru Gobind Singh Ji created the Khalsa on Baisakhi 1699.

Bhai Mardana played the rabab, a stringed instrument, while Guru Nanak Dev Ji sang his hymns on their travels (udasis). The rabab thus became the first instrument of Sikh kirtan.

Guru Arjan Dev was martyred at Lahore in 1606 on the orders of the Mughal emperor Jahangir, who resented the Guru's growing influence and his blessing of the rebel prince Khusrau. He was the first Sikh martyr; his martyrdom led his son Guru Hargobind to take up arms and wear the two swords of miri and piri (temporal and spiritual authority). Akbar (d. 1605) had been well disposed to the Gurus, while Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb ruled later – the ninth Guru, Tegh Bahadur, was executed under Aurangzeb in 1675.

Sukhmani Sahib means 'the psalm of peace'. The fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, composed it. It is included in the Adi Granth in Gauri raga. It has 24 ashtapadis, each preceded by a salok. Guru Arjan Dev also compiled the Adi Granth itself in 1604 and installed it at Harmandir Sahib. Guru Angad Dev standardised the Gurmukhi script. Guru Tegh Bahadur's hymns were added later by Guru Gobind Singh. Guru Harkrishan left no compositions in the Granth.

Guru Gobind Singh's first battle was the Battle of Bhangani (1688). He fought it near Paonta Sahib against the hill chiefs led by Raja Fateh Shah of Garhwal. The Guru won. Anandpur saw several later sieges. At Chamkaur (1704) the two elder Sahibzadas were martyred. Muktsar (1705) was the last battle, where the forty Muktas fell.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji founded the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib on Vaisakhi day of 1699 (30 March 1699 in the SGPC's reckoning; Vaisakhi is now celebrated on 13–14 April). He baptised the Panj Piare with Khande di Pahul (baptism of the double-edged sword), gave the Sikhs the five Ks and the name 'Singh'. Maghi is remembered for the battle of Muktsar (1705); 1666 is the Guru's birth year.