EXCEL International Journal of Multidisciplinary Management Studies ______ISSN 2249- 8834 EIJMMS, Vol.3 (8), August (2013) Online available at zenithresearch.org.in
CONTRIBUTION OF GURUS FOR THE PROMOTION OF SIKHISM
DR. GURPREET KAUR BRAR
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN HISTORY, GURU NANAK COLLEGE, SUKHCHAIANAN SAHIB, PHAGWARA, PUNJAB, INDIA
ABSTRACT ‘The Sikh religion originated with the teachings of Guru Nanak, who was born in 1469 at Talwandi,’1 during the reign of Bahlul Lodhi (1451-1589), the Sultan of Delhi, Guru Nanak undertook long journeys to spread his message from the high Himalayas in the north to Ceylon in the South and from Assam in the East to Mecca and Bagdad in the West.2 Guru Nanak was a great preacher with a great theme. He visited the whole of India and abroad to give a higher notion of religion to the people. Guru Nanak, perceiving the true principle of reform, struck at the very root of all social and religious disabilities which had crippled the Hindu society. Guru Nanak preached the unity of God, brotherhood of man, rejection of caste and the futility of idol worship. He felt the need of a new nation which he considered would be able, not only to stand against oppressors, but also to be the instrument of uprooting political tyranny. Guru Angad, born in 1504, became the second Guru in 1539 and continued to spread the gospel of his master till his death in 1552. Guru Angad provided a new script, known as Gurumukhi, the language spoken from the mouth of Guru to the Sikhs. Guru Amar Das, who succeeded Guru Nanak’s Gaddi as the third pontiff of the Sikh faith in 1552, was born in 1479. His contributions to Sikhism were such as inter-caste marriages, widow-re-marriage, denunciation of Purdah, condemnation of untouchability, new birth and death ceremonies etc. The fourth Master, Guru Ram Das, was born at Lahore in 1534, succeeded to the pontification in 1574. Guru Arjan realizing the urgent need of the devotees provided them a religious text, known as ADI Granth. His own composition Sukhmani, a master-piece of the devotional poetry is full of unique philosophy and keeps the Sikhs in their search for truth. Guru Hargobind wore two swords of Miri, a combination of bhakti and Shakti. Guru Har Rai, the sixth Guru, spent his maximum time for the preaching of Sikh faith. Seventh Guru Har Krishan died at an early age. Guru Tegh Bahadur fell a victim to the religious bigotry of Aurangzeb. Tenth Guru of the Sikhs succeeded his father the ninth Guru Teg Bahadur in 1675 A.D. and occupied the position till his last at Nander in Deccan by an Afgan in 1708 A.D. He was last Guru but was the real founder of the Sikh Military power which he organized to oppose the Mughals.
KEY WORDS: Sikh, Guru Nanak, Guru Gobind Singh ______