Ten Sikh Gurus

The Ten Gurus of Sikhism
* Sikhism was established by ten Gurus, teachers or masters, over the period from 1469 to 1708 - that is over a period of 239 years. These teachers were enlightened souls whose main purpose in life was the spiritual and moral well-being of the masses. By setting an exceptional example of how to live a holy and worthy life through the reciting of holy hymns called Shabads. The Gurus taught the people of India & beyond, to live spiritually fulfilling lives with dignity and honour. 
* Each master added to and reinforced the message taught by the previous, resulting eventually to the creation of the religion that is now called Sikhism. Guru Nanak Dev was the first Guru and Guru Gobind Singh the final Guru in human form. When Guru Gobind Singh left this world, he made the Sri Guru Granth Sahib the ultimate and final Sikh Guru. The Spirit of this final Guru is more than a holy book for the Sikhs, who give this eternal Guru the same respect and reverence as a living "human" Guru.
* During the span of 239 years, the Sikh Gurus laid down within the sacred scriptures, the rules and regulations that outline the way of living that was to be followed by all practising disciple of this religion. The history and the literature present the followers of the faith with the raw material required to learn about the beliefs and practises propagated by the Gurus. The Gurus were clear also to outline rituals, practises and beliefs that were not appropriate and were not to be followed by the faithful disciples.
* see also Sikh Bhagats, Guru Granth Sahib, Dasam Granth, Bhai Gurdas
==Legend of the Ten Sikh Gurus==
The "Guru" in Sikhism is an enlightener and messenger.They are the messengers of the Timeless. They renew the eternal wisdom. They are universal men who free our minds from bigotry and superstitions, dogmas and rituals, and emphasize the simplicity of the religion.
 
1. Guru Nanak - Guru from 1469 to 1539
The first of the Gurus and the founder of the Sikh religion was Guru Nanak. He was born at Talwandi (now known as Nankana Sahib in Pakistan) on October 20, 1469. 
Guru ji mastered Punjabi, Sanskrit and Persian at an early age and in childhood revolted against ritualism, caste, prejudices, hypocrisy and idolatry.
He 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.
He made four great journeys, travelling to all parts of India, and into Arabia and Persia; visiting Mecca and Baghdad. He spoke before Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Parsees, and Muslims. He spoke in the temples and mosques, and at various pilgrimage sites. Wherever he went, Guru Nanak spoke out against empty religious rituals, pilgrimages, the caste system, the sacrifice of widows, of depending on books to learn the true religion, and of all the other tenets that were to define his teachings. Never did he ask his listeners to follow him. He asked the Muslims to be true Muslims and the Hindus to be true Hindus. 
 
2. Guru Angad - Guru from 1539 to 1552
He was born in 1504. Guru Angad invented and introduced the Gurmukhi (written form of Punjabi) script and made it known to all Sikhs.
The scripture of Guru Granth Sahib Ji is written in Gurmukhi. This scripture is also the basis of the Punjabi language. It became the script of the masses very soon. Guru Angad was a model of self-less service to his Sikhs and showed them the way to devotional prayers. He took great interest in the education of the children by opening many schools for their instruction and thus greatly increased literacy. 
For the youth he started the tradition of Mall Akhara, where physical as well as spiritual exercises were held. He collected the facts about Guru Nanak Sahib's life from Bhai Bala ji and wrote the first biography of Guru Nanak Sahib. (The Bhai Bale Wali Janamsakhi currently available is not the same as that which Guru Angad Sahib compiled.) He also wrote 63 Saloks (stanzas), these were included in Guru Granth Sahib. He popularized and expanded the institution of 'Guru ka Langar' started by Guru Nanak Sahib earlier .
3. Guru Amar Das - Guru from 1552 to 1574
He was born in 1479. Guru Amardas took up cudgels of spirituality to fight against caste restrictions, caste prejudices and the curse of untouchability.
He strengthened the tradition of the free kitchen, Guru Ka Langar (started by Guru Nanak), and made his disciples, whether rich or poor, whether high born or low born (according to the Hindu caste system), have their meals together sitting in one place.
He thus established social equality amongst the people. Guru Amardas introduced the Anand Karaj marriage ceremony for the Sikhs, replacing the Hindu form.
He also completely abolished amongst the Sikhs, the custom of Sati, in which a married woman was forced to burn herself to death in the funeral pyre of her husband. The custom of Paradah (Purda), in which a woman covered her face with a veil, was also done away with.
4. Guru Ram Das - Guru from 1574 to 1581
He was born in 1534. Guru ji founded the city of Amritsar and started the construction of the famous Golden Temple at Amritsar, the holy city of the Sikhs. He requested the, Muslim Sufi, Mian Mir to lay the cornerstone of the Harmandir.
The temple remains open on all sides and at all times to every one. This indicates that the Sikhs believe in One God who has no partiality for any particular place, direction or time.
The standard Sikh marriage ceremony known as the Anand Karaj is centered around the Lawan, a four stanza hymn composed by Guru Ram Das ji. The marriage couple circumscribe the Guru Granth Sahib ji as each stanza is read. The first round is the Divine consent for commencing the householders life through marriage. The second round states that the union of the couple has been brought about by God. In the third round the couple is described as the most fortunate as they have sung the praises of the Lord in the company of saints. In the fourth round the feeling of the couple that they have obtained their hearts desire and are being congratulated is described.
5. Guru Arjan Dev - Guru from 1581 to 1606
He was born in 1563. He was the third son of Guru Ram Das ji. Guru Arjan was a saint and scholar of the highest quality and repute.
He compiled the Adi Granth, the scriptures of the Sikhs, and wrote the Sukhmani Sahib. To make it a universal teaching, Guru ji included in it hymns of Muslim saints as well those of low-caste pariah saints who were never permitted to enter various temples.
Guru Arjan Dev completed construction of Sri Darbar Sahib also known as Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Sri Darbar Sahib welcomes all without discrimination, which is symbolised by the four doors that are open in four directions. Guru ji became the first great martyr in Sikh history when Emperor Jahangir ordered his execution.
6. Guru Har Gobind - - Guru from 1606 to 1644
He was born in 1595. He was the son of Guru Arjan Dev and was known as a "soldier saint," Guru Hargobind ji organised a small army, explaining that extreme non-violence and pacifism would only encourage evil and so the principles of Miri-Piri were established.
Guru ji taught that it was necessary to take up the sword in order to protect the weak and the oppressed. Guru ji was first Gurus to take up arms to defend the faith. At that time it was only emperors who were allowed to sit on a raised platform, called a takhat or throne. 
At the age of 13, Guru Hargobind erected Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, ten feet above the ground and adorned two swords, Miri and Piri, representing temporal and spiritual power.
7. Guru Har Rai - Guru from 1644 to 1661
He was born in 1630, spent most of his life in devotional meditation and preaching the teachings of Guru Nanak.
Although, Guru Har Rai Ji was a man of peace, he never disbanded the armed Sikh Warriors (Saint Soldiers), who earlier were maintained by his grandfather, Guru Hargobind. He always boosted the military spirit of the Sikhs, but he never himself indulged in any direct political and armed controversy with the Mughal Empire. Guru ji cautiously avoided conflict with Emperor Aurangzeb and devoted his efforts to missionary work. 
He also continued the grand task of nation building initiated by Guru Hargobind.
8. Guru Har Krishan - Guru from 1661 to 1664
He was born in 1656. Guru Har Krishan was the youngest of the Gurus. Installed as Guru at the age of five, Guru ji astonished the Brahmin Pundits with his knowledge and spiritual powers.
To the Sikhs he proved to be the very symbol of service, purity and truth. The Guru gave his life while serving and healing the epidemic-stricken people in Delhi. The young Guru began to attend the sufferers irrespective of cast and creed. Particularly, the local Muslim population was much impressed with the purely humanitarian deeds of the Guru Sahib and nicknamed him Bala Pir (child prophet).
Even Aurangzeb did not try to disturb Guru Harkrishan Sahib sensing the sensitivity of the situation but on the other hand never dismissed the claim of Ram Rai also.
Anyone who invokes Him with a pure heart has no difficulties whatsoever in their life.
9. Guru Tegh Bahadur - Guru from 1665 to 1675
He was born in 1621 in Amritsar.
He established the town of Anandpur. The Guru laid down his life for the protection of the Hindu religion, their Tilak (devotional forehead markings) and their sacred (janeau) thread. He was a firm believer in the right of people to the freedom of worship.
It was for this cause that he faced martyrdom for the defence of the down-trodden Hindus. So pathetic was the torture of Guru Tegh Bahadur that his body had to be cremated clandestinely (a follower burned down his own home to cremate the Guru's body) at Delhi while his severed head was secretly taken four hundred kilometers away to Anandpur Sahib for cremation. Because of his refusal to convert to Islam a forced threatened conversion of the Hindus of Kashmir was thwarted.
10. Guru Gobind Singh - Guru from 1675 to 1708
He was born in 1666 and became Guru after the martyrdom of his father Guru Tegh Bahadur.
He created the Khalsa (The Pure Ones) in 1699, changing the Sikhs into a saint-soldier order with special symbols and sacraments for protecting themselves. After the Guru had administered Amrit to his Five Beloved Ones, he stood up in supplication and with folded hands, begged them to baptize him in the same way as he had baptized them. He himself became their disciple (Wonderful is Guru Gobind Singh, himself the Master and himself the disciple). The Five Beloved Ones were astonished at such a proposal, and represented their own unworthiness, and the greatness of the Guru, whom they deemed God's representative upon earth. He gave the Sikhs the name Singh (lion) or Kaur (princess). 
He fought many battles against the armies of Aurangzeb and his allies. He had lost his father, his mother, four sons, finally, after his famous letter (the zafarnama) to Aurangzeb, in which he indicted the Grand mughal with his treachery and godliness, the attacks against the Guru and his Sikhs were called off. Aurangzeb died soon after reading the letter. Soon, the rightful heir to the Mughal throne sought the Gurus' assistance in winning his kingdom. It was the envie and fear of the growing friendship between the new Emperor and the Guru which lead to the sneak attack of the Pathan assassins of Wasir Khan who inflicted the wound which later caused the Guru's death. 
Thus the tree whose seed was planted by Guru Nanak, came to fruition when Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa, and on 3 October 1708, appointed Guru Granth Sahib as the Guru. He commanded: "Let all bow before my successor, Guru Granth. The Word is the Guru now."
11. Guru Granth Sahib - Guru from 1708 to eternity
Guru Granth Sahib (also known as the Adi Granth) is the scripture of the Sikhs. No Sikh ceremony is regarded as complete unless it is performed in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib.
The Granth was written in Gurmukhi script and it contains the actual words and verses as uttered by the Sikh Gurus.
It is considered the Supreme Spiritual Authority and Head of the Sikh religion, rather than any living person. It is also the only scripture of its kind which not only contains the works of its own religious founders but also the writings of people of other faiths. 
The living Guru of the Sikhs, the book is held in great reverence by Sikhs and treated with the utmost respect.
Guru Granth Sahib is a book of Revelation. It conveys the Word of the Master through His messengers on earth. It is universal in its scope.
The greatness of Guru Granth Sahib lies not only in its being the Holy Scripture of the Sikhs but also in it being a general scripture available to mankind, intended for everybody, everywhere.
Above article with thanks to: www.ruchiskitchen.com
==Period 1469 to 1708==
The ten Gurus were:
# 	Name 	Born 	Guru at Age	Guruship 	Period of Guruship (yrs)	Merged withEternity aged
1. 	Guru Nanak 	1469 	- 	1469 to 1539 	70 	70
2. 	Guru Angad 	1504 	35 	1539 to 1552 	13 	48
3. 	Guru Amar Das 	1479 	73 	1552 to 1574 	22 	95
4. 	Guru Ram Das 	1534 	40 	1574 to 1581 	7 	47
5. 	Guru Arjan 	1563 	18 	1581 to 1606 	25 	43
6. 	Guru Hargobind 	1595 	11 	1606 to 1644 	38 	49
7. 	Guru Har Rai 	1630 	14 	1644 to 1661 	17 	31
8. 	Guru Har Krishan 	1656 	5 	1661 to 1664 	3 	8
9. 	Guru Tegh Bahadur 	1621 	44 	1665 to 1675 	10 	54
10.	Guru Gobind Singh 	1666 	9 	1675 to 1708 	33 	42
11.	Sri Guru Granth Sahib	1604?	104? 	1708 - forever	Eternity 	forever
==Sikh Guru Family Tree==
The above Sikh Guru Family Tree with thanks to: www.info-sikh.com
==From 1708 Onwards==
Guru Granth Sahib or Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji or SGGS for short, is more than just a holy book of the Sikhs. The Sikhs treat this Granth (holy book) as a living Guru. The holy text spans 1430 pages and contain the actual words spoken by the founders of the Sikh religion (the Ten Gurus of Sikhism) and various other Saints from other religions including Hinduism and Islam.
The SGGS was given the Guruship by the last of the living Sikh Masters, Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1708. Guru Gobind Singh said before his demise that the Sikhs were to treat the SGGS as their next Guru. Guru Ji said – "Sab Sikhan ko hokam hai Guru Manyo Granth" meaning "All Sikhs are commanded to take the Granth as Guru" So today if asked, the Sikhs will tell you that they have a total of 11 Gurus. ( 10 in human form and the SGGS).
==Guruship Table==
These dates are based on pre-Nanakshahi calendar resources - Please see Sikh Gurus - Important dates for the update on these dates:
# 	Name 	Guruship on 	Prakash DOB 	Date of Demise 	Aged	Father 	Mother
1 	Guru Nanak Dev 	April 15, 1469 	April 15,1469 	September 22,1539	69 	Mehta Kalu 	Mata Tripta
2 	Guru Angad Dev 	September 7,1539	March 31,1504 	March 29,1552 	48 	Baba Pheru 	Mata Ramo
3 	Guru Amar Das 	March 25,1552 	May 5,1479 	September 1,1574 	105 	Tej Bhan Bhalla 	Bakht Kaur
4 	Guru Ram Das 	August 29,1574 	September 24,1534	September 1,1581 	47 	Baba Hari Das 	Mata Daya Kaur
5 	Guru Arjan Dev 	August 28,1581 	April 15,1563 	May 30,1606 	43 	Guru Ram Das 	Mata Bhani
6 	Guru Hargobind 	May 30,1606 	June 19,1595 	March 3,1644 	49 	Guru Arjan 	Mata Ganga
7 	Guru Har Rai 	February 28,1644	February 26,1630 	October 6,1661 	31 	Baba Gurdita 	Mata Nihal Kaur
8 	Guru Har Krishan 	October 6,1661 	July 7,1656 	March 30,1664 	8 	Guru Har Rai 	Mata Krishan Kaur
9 	Guru Tegh Bahadur	March 20,1665 	April 1,1621 	November 11,1675 	54 	Guru Hargobind 	Mata Nanki
10	Guru Gobind Singh	November 11,1675	December 22,1666 	6 October 1708 	42 	Guru Tegh Bahadur	Mata Gujri
11	Guru Granth Sahib	October 6,1708 	September 1,1604 	Forever 	-- 	 	
==See also==
* Sikh Gurus - Important dates
==External Links==
*Sikh Gurus - SikhismGuide.org
*SGPC.net
*Sikhs.org
*Sikh.net
*AllAboutSikhs.com
*SearchSikhism.com
*A Brief History
*Sikh Guru Family Tree
G5 Sikh Media - Sikh Social Enterprise G5 Sikh Media is an Award-winning Sikh Social Enterprise teaching Sikhs and Non-Sikhs about the Sikh faith through a visually exciting way. G5 Sikh Media also help promote and recognise young Sikhs aross the U.K and sell Sikh merchandise.
==Gallery==
Image:Tengurus.jpg|The Ten Gurus
Image:Nanakpicnanaksar.jpg|Guru Nanak
Image:Guru angad.jpg|Guru Angad
Image:Guru Amar Das.jpg|Guru Amar Das
Image:Guru ram das.jpg|Guru Ramdas
Image:Js (8).jpg|Guru Arjan
Image:Guru HarGobind Singh.jpg|Guru Hargobind
Image:Guru Har Rai.jpg|Guru Har Rai
Image:Guru harkrishan.jpg|Guru Harkrishan
Image:GuruTeghBahadurS1.jpg|Guru Tegh Bahadur
Image:Guru Gobind Singh 1.jpg|Guru Gobind Singh
Image:SGGS9.jpg|Guru Granth Sahib
Category:Glossary of Sikh Terms Category:Sikh Gurus Category:Biographical