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Guru​ ​Arjan​ ​Dev Guru Arjan Dev ​ ​ ​ ​ Updated: Nov 6, 2017 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Karamjit Singh ​ ​ & Rajinder Kaur ​ ​ Guru Arjan Dev ​ ​ ​ ​ INDEX # Title Page 1 Education and Marriage 2 ​ ​ ​ ​ 2 A Lesson in Obedience 4 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 3 Acceptance as True Guru 6 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 4 Harmandar Sahib 8 ​ ​ 5 Bhai Manjh 11 ​ ​ 6 Construction of Tarn Taran 14 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 7 Satta and Balwand 15 ​ ​ ​ ​ 8 Popularity of Sikh Gurus 17 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 9 Adi Granth Sahib 19 ​ ​ ​ ​ 10 Jahangir and Guru Arjan Dev Ji 22 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 11 Merger with God 24 ​ ​ ​ ​ 12 Highlights of Guru ji’s Life 26 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 1 1. Education and Marriage ​ ​ ​ ​ th The fifth Guru of the Sikhs, Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji was born on April 15 ,​ ​ 1563 AD in the village Goindwal, District Amritsar, in Punjab. He was the youngest child of his father, 4th Guru Sri Guru Raam Daas ji and mother, ​ ​ Bibi Bhaani ji. Bibi Bhaani ji was the younger daughter of 3rd Guru Sri ​ Guru Amar Daas ji, and the only woman in Sikh history to have the honor of being a Guru’s daughter, a Guru’s wife and a Guru’s mother. Guru Raam Daas ji along with Bibi Bhaani ji had taken service at Guru’s institution after their marriage and had made Goindwal as their residing place. In this way, besides getting love and care from his grandfather, Guru Arjan Dev ji also gained the recitals of the sacred hymns. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Guru Amar Daas ji paid great attention to (Guru) Arjan Dev’s education. He learned Gurmukhi script from Baba Budha ji. His uncle, Mohri imparted the knowledge of Arithmetic and the Village Priest taught him Devnagri (Hindi language). A Muslim Priest, (village Maulvi) taught him Persian and Pandit Beni of village imparted him with knowledge of Sanskrit. (Guru) Arjan Dev became a great evaluator of music who classified the hymns of Guru Granth Sahib according to Raags, musical modes. He composed hymns in accordance with Raags. He was an excellent Horse-rider and archer. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Sahib stands in the memory of the Guru's visit. On his departure, the Guru left the following personal item of his clothing: Guru Arjan Dev was married to Mata Ganga ji on 19 June 1589 at the age of 29. Mata ji was the ​ ​ daughter of Bhai Krishan Chand of the village of Mau, 10 km west of ​ ​ Phillaur in the state of Punjab, India. Now famous historical town of ​ ​ ​ ​ Doaba (Bilga). It is where the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji arrived ​ ​ ​ ​ the day before the wedding. He stayed in this village for two days to take rest while going to village Mau Sahib for wedding ceremony. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The village now is famous the memory of Guru Arjan Dev and Mata Ganga ji wedding. The holy clothes of Guru Arjan Dev ji are kept here. 2 Presently, it is called Gurdwara BILGA. Guru ji’s chola, pyjama, Batva, Dushala, Simrana Mala and Chandan ki chawanki are kept at this gurdwara. Every year on the occasion of marriage of Guru Arjan Dev and Mata Ganga ji, a great fair is held here over 3 days. On the last day of these celebration, the holy clothes of Guru Sahib are shown to general public before the closing ceremony of Diwan. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 3 2. A Lesson in Obedience ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ One day in the year 1581 (when Arjan Dev ji was 18 years old), Guru ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Raam Daas ji’s cousin, Sihari Mal from Lahore came to invite the Guru to ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ attend marriage ceremony for his son. At that time, Guru Raam Daas ji ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ was busy with the construction of Amritsar, and thought of sending one ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ of his sons to attend the marriage instead. He asked his eldest son - Prithi ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Chand to go and attend the marriage. Prithi chand knew that, the time for ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Guru Raam Daas ji to merge into the Supreme Being was near. Prithi ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Chand was afraid that he might be deprived of the succession to the ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ leadership of the Sikhs if he was away at Lahore at that time. So he ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ replied, ”Dear father, you know that I look after the dealings with ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ devotees. This supervision will become difficult if I go.” ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ After negative response of Prithi Chand, Guru Raam Daas ji asked his ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ second son - Mahan Dev, who was of saintly nature. Mahan Dev replied, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ “Reverend father! I have nothing to do with the customs and rituals of ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ this world. What would I gain by attending the marriage?” On hearing the ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ refusal of the elder sons, Guru Raam Daas ji asked (Guru) Arjan Dev if he ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ would go to Lahore. With due respect, he accepted Guu jei’s instructions ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ to go to Lahore. Guru Raam Daas ji asked (Guru) Arjan Dev to “remain in ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Lahore until I call you.” ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ As ordered by his father, (Guru) Arjan Dev started holding daily ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ congregation for public, after the marriage ceremony was over. In his ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ spare time, he would meet with holy men including Saint Mian Mir, and ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ exchange his views with them. After waiting for several months for call to ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ return, (Guru) Arjan Dev wrote a letter for audience of Guru Raam Daas. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The letter fell into Prithi Chand’s hands. Upon not getting any reply, he ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ wrote a second letter, which was also intercepted by Prithi Chand. (Guru) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Arjan wrote a third letter and gave it to a Sikh and instructed him to hand ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ it over to only Guru Raam Daas ji. When Guru Raam Daas ji got the third ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ letter, he asked Prithi Chand for the previous two letters. Prithi chand ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ denied of receiving the two letters. The letters were recovered from Prithi ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Chand’s house. ​ ​ 4 Guru Raam Daas ji immediately sent Sikhs to Lahore and requested ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ (Guru) Arjan Dev to return. Guru Ram Das felt that the time of departure ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ from the world was coming near. He decided that his youngest son, Arjan ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Dev, alone was fit for the Guruship. He made his decision known to his ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Sikhs. They agreed with him. Then he called together his principal Sikhs. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ He sent for five paise and a coconut. He came down from his seat. He ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ seated Sri Arjan on it in the presence of assembled Sikhs. He placed the ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ coconut and the five paise before him. He asked Baba Budha to put the ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ tilak or mark of Guruship on Arjan Dev's forehead. He then bowed before ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Arjan Dev and said, ‘Sri Arjan Dev is the Guru now. As one lamp is lighted ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ from another, so has the Guru's light or spirit passed onto him. Thus Guru ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Nanak’s light and spirit have come to dwell in him. He is the fifth Guru ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Nanak.' This happened on August 28th, 1581 AD. After four days, on ​ ​ ​ s​ t ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ September 1 ,​ 1581 AD, Guru Raam Daas merged into the Supreme Being. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 5 3. Acceptance as True Guru ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Prithia - the eldest son of Guru Ram Das, thought that it was his right to ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ become the Guru after his father. But his father had given the Guruship to ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Arjan Dev - the youngest son. Prithia became mad with anger. He spoke to ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Guru Ram Das in harsh, angry words. He said to Guru Ram Das, ‘You have ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ denied me my right to become Guru. You are favoring the youngest son. I ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ will remove him and would declare myself the Guru.’ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Guru Ram Das suggested Prithia that it was not right for a son to ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ fight with his father. He desired him to accept his decision like a good son. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ But Prithia continued to speak in harsh language. He said again and again, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ‘You have done me a great wrong. I will undo
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