Sikhism: Origins and Their Impact on the Community » The Ten Gurus

Quick recall

In Guru Nanak: Founder of Sikhism you met the first Guru, who chose Guru Angad to follow him. This lesson follows the story from Guru Angad to the ninth Guru. Together the ten Gurus led the Sikh community from 1469 to 1708, about 240 years.

One light, ten Gurus

Sikhs believe the Gurus were ten different people who shared the same light (in Punjabi, jot). The usual picture is of one flame passing from lamp to lamp. Each Guru had the same teaching and the same spiritual authority as Guru Nanak. When a Guru chose a successor, he chose the person he thought most suited, not simply a son.

Key terms:

• Gurmukhi: the script used to write Punjabi in Sikh scripture. The word means "from the mouth of the Guru".
• Adi Granth: the "First Book", the collection of hymns compiled by Guru Arjan. It later became the Guru Granth Sahib.
• Akal Takht: the "Throne of the Timeless One", a building and seat of authority opposite the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar.

The Gurus and what they contributed

Each Guru added something that helped the community grow and stay united. The dates are the years each was Guru.

• Guru Angad (1539-1552): he developed and spread the Gurmukhi script, so Guru Nanak's hymns could be written down clearly and ordinary people could read them.
• Guru Amar Das (1552-1574): he strengthened the langar, the free shared kitchen. Visitors ate in the langar with everyone else before they met him. He also spoke up for the equality of women.
• Guru Ram Das (1574-1581): he founded the city of Amritsar. He also wrote the wedding hymn (the Laavan), still sung at Sikh weddings.
• Guru Arjan (1581-1606): he built the Harmandir Sahib (the Golden Temple, the main Sikh place of worship in Amritsar) and compiled the Adi Granth in 1604, bringing together the hymns of the Gurus and other holy people.
• Guru Hargobind (1606-1644): he built the Akal Takht and wore two swords, which you will meet below.
• Guru Har Rai (1644-1661): he kept the Sikh army but did not use it in war. He is remembered for compassion, care for the sick and care for nature.
• Guru Har Krishan (1661-1664): he became Guru as a young child. He is remembered for caring for the sick during an outbreak of disease in Delhi, and he died while still a child.
• Guru Tegh Bahadur (1665-1675): he was martyred in Delhi in 1675 for defending the right of people to follow their own religion.
• Guru Gobind Singh (1675-1708): the tenth Guru, who you will study in Guru Gobind Singh, the Khalsa and the Five Ks.

Guru Arjan and the first Sikh martyr

The Adi Granth gave Sikhs one trusted text. The Harmandir Sahib, with its four doors, welcomed people of every background. As the community grew, it was noticed by the emperor Jahangir. Guru Arjan was arrested, and he died in custody in 1606. Sikhs remember him as the first Sikh martyr, someone who dies for their faith. His death changed how the community saw its future.

Guru Hargobind: two swords

After his father's martyrdom, Guru Hargobind showed that Sikhs must be ready to protect themselves and others. The Akal Takht became the place where the community discussed worldly matters, while the Harmandir Sahib stayed the centre of prayer.

Compassion and sacrifice

The next three Gurus show another side of the story. Guru Har Rai, though he kept an army, put compassion first, and cared for the sick and for nature. Guru Har Krishan, still a child, went to help the sick. Guru Tegh Bahadur went further. In 1675 he was put to death in Delhi on the orders of the emperor Aurangzeb. Sikhs say he gave his life to protect the freedom of people of another religion to practise their faith, and they remember him as a defender of religious freedom.

How the community changed

In 1539 the Sikhs were a small group around one Guru. By 1708 they were a large community with its own script, scripture, holy city, central buildings, langars and a tradition of defending the weak. The teaching of equality and service stayed the same, but the community had to learn to organise and to protect itself.

Different views and why it matters today

Sikhs look at the Gurus in different ways. Some Sikhs read the stories of the Gurus as history, while others read them as stories that carry lessons. Some stress the two swords and the duty to protect others. Others stress the gentler lives of Guru Har Rai and Guru Har Krishan. Most Sikhs also believe the line of human Gurus ended with Guru Gobind Singh, and that the Guru Granth Sahib is now the Guru, as you will see in The Guru Granth Sahib: The Living Guru.

The Gurus still matter. Their lives explain why Sikhs have a langar, a holy book, a holy city and a duty to protect the weak. Many Sikhs use their example as role models in their own lives.

Exam-style question

(a) Outline two ways in which Guru Arjan contributed to the development of Sikhism. [4 marks]

(b) Explain why the Ten Gurus in human form are important for Sikhs today. [6 marks]

(c) "Sikhs today only need the Guru Granth Sahib. They do not need to learn about the human Gurus." Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include reference to teachings, other points of view, and your own opinion with reasoned arguments. [10 marks]