(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

Born in Samvat 1711 Bikrami in the city of Sri Keeratpur Sahib Ji, Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji was the eighth Guru of Sikhs. He was son of seventh Guru, Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji.

When Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji was the Guru, the King of India, Aurangzeb summoned him to his court. Guru Ji sent his elder son Ram Rai to Aurangzeb’s court. Ram Rai was a child of 10-11 years. He stayed for a long period in Delhi and used to attend the court of the King. By his wisdom, he earned respect for him in the court.

Once, there was a discussion on a line of the Gurbani ‘Mitti Musalmaan Kee‘. Ram Rai was asked to explain why the word ‘Musalmaan’ was used in that line. Instead giving a suitable explanation, Ram Rai replied that the exact word was ‘Be-imaan’, not ‘Musalmaan’. Thus, he made a serious mistake by changing the Gurbani.

When Guru Har Rai Ji heard this, he discarded his son forever.

Before leaving for his divine abode, Guru Har Rai Ji appointed his younger son, Sri Guru Harkrishan Ji the next Guru. Ram Rai was not happy to know this. He indulged himself in conspiracies against Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji. In a result, Aurangzeb summoned him to his court in Delhi, the capital city.

However, Guru Ji reached Delhi, but he refused to meet the King Aurangzeb. When Aurangzeb came to know this, he went himself to meet Guru Ji in Guru’s camp. Guru Ji again refused to meet him. Divaan Dargah Mal Ji, a Sikh, had to talk to Aurangzeb. After that, the King returned.

(Guru) Teg Bahadur Sahib Ji, the youngest son of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, reached village ‘Bakaala’ from his long journey. Guru Harkrishan Ji appointed him the next Guru and said to his Sikhs, “Baba Basai Graam Bakaale” (Grandfather lives in village Bakaala). Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Ji was grandfather (brother of real grandfather) of Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji.

In Samvat 1721 Bikrami, when he was just 8 years old, Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji left for his heavenly abode in Delhi.

(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

Born in Samvat 1688 Bikrami, Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji was the seventh Guru. He was younger son of Baba Gurditta Ji and grandson of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, the sixth Guru.

Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji established Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji on the holy throne in Samvat 1692 Bikrami, when he was just 4 years old. Baba Gurditta Ji, father of Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji, had already died. Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji left for his heavenly residence in Samvat 1695 Bikrami in the age of 48 years.

Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji was married in Samvat 1697 Bikrami. In Samvat 1705 Bikrami, his first son Ram Rai was born to his second wife Mother Panjaabo Ji. In Samvat 1711 Bikrami, his second son (Guru) Harkrishan Sahib Ji was born to his first wife Mother Krishan Kaur (Kot Kalyani) Ji.

In Samvat 1717 Bikrami, Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji established his son Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji on the holy throne. In Samvat 1718 Bikrami, Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji left for his heavenly abode in Sri Keeratpur Sahib Ji, a city in Punjab.

(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

Born in Samvat 1647 Bikrami, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji was son of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Mother Ganga Ji. Thus, he was grandson of the fourth Guru, Sri Guru Ramdas Ji.

In Samvat 1660 Bikrami, when he was 13 years old, (Guru) Hargobind Sahib Ji was married to Mother Damodari Ji.

He was appointed the sixth Guru by his father and the fifth Guru, Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. In Samvat 1663 Bikrami, Guru Arjan Dev Ji was martyred in the city of Lahore (now in Pakistan).

In Samvat 1667 Bikrami, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji was married to Mother Nanaki Ji.

The enemies of Guru’s house conspired and in result, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji was imprisoned in the fort of Gwalior (now Madhya Pradesh State of India). There was a big role of Prithi Chand (elder brother of Guru Arjan Dev Ji) and Chandu Saahi (‘Saahi’ is a ‘Gotra’ of ‘Khatri’ caste) in this conspiracy.

Meanwhile, Jahangeer, the King of Delhi fell ill. His wife, Noorjahaan, asked him that it was not good to imprison any saint, like Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. Bhai Gajaa-dhar Ji and Bhai Haridas Ji cured the disease of the King. Now, the King decided to release Guru Ji. However, Guru Ji asked to release 52 Hindu kings also, who were imprisoned in the fort of Gwalior. At last, Guru Ji was released with 52 kings.

The King Jahangeer also handed Chandu Saahi over to Guru Ji. Chandu was responsible for martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. However, the angry Sikhs killed Chandu in the streets of Lahore.

In Samvat 1669 Bikrami, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji was married to Mother Mahadevi Ji. Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji had five sons and a daughter. His two sons, Baba Gurditta Ji and Ani Rai Ji, were born to Mother Damodari Ji. Two sons, Soorat Singh Ji and Baba Atal Ji, were born to Mother Mahadevi Ji. A son, Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Ji, and a daughter, Bibi Veero Ji, were born to Mother Nanaki Ji.

For different reasons, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji had to fight four battles against the rulers. Guru Ji won all the battles.

In Samvat 1692 Bikrami, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji established his grandson, Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji, on the holy throne. Three years later, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji left for his heavenly abode in Samvat 1695 Bikrami. He was just 48 years old.

(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

The youngest son of the fourth Guru Sri Guru Ramdas Ji and mother Bibi Bhani Ji, Guru Arjan Dev Ji was born in Samvat 1610 Bikrami. In Samvat 1622 Bikrami, (Guru) Arjan Dev Ji was married to Bibi Ram Deyee Ji. Guru Amardas Ji, the third Guru, himself tied ‘Sehra’ on (Guru) Arjan Dev Ji’s head.

In Samvat 1638 Bikrami, Guru Arjan Dev Ji was appointed the fifth Guru by his father and fourth Guru Sri Guru Ramdas Ji. In Samvat 1646, Guru Arjan Dev Ji was married mother Ganga Ji. In Samvat 1647 Bikrami, Guru Arjan Dev Ji and mother Ganga Ji become parents of their only son, (Guru) Hargobind Sahib Ji.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s elder brother Prithi Chand wanted to become the Guru by himself, but Guru Ramdas Ji established Guru Arjan Dev Ji on the holy throne. At that time, Prithi Chand remained silent, though he was not happy by heart. When Guru Arjan Dev Ji could not become father for a long period, Prithi Chand started to believe that now his own son would be the next Guru. But, then (Guru) Hargobind Sahib Ji was born in Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s house. Now, Prithi Chand lost his hopes. He started to think that (Guru) Hargobind Sahib Ji was an obstacle in getting the Gurushipe for his son. Therefore, he decided to kill (Guru) Hargobind Sahib Ji. He hobnobbed with a Brahman. It was finalised that (Guru) Hargobind Sahib Ji would be distributed poison.

However, that sinner Brahman died himself. Guru Arjan Dev Ji recited a ‘Shabd’ in this circumstance: –

Lep Na Laago Til Ka Mool.
Dusht Brahman Mooya Hoye Kai Sool.
(The poison had absolutely no harmful effect. But the wicked Brahman died in pain. ) (Sri Guru Granth Sahib JI, page 1137).

Prithi Chand did not give up. He appointed another person, named Roopa Dogra, to give poison to child (Guru) Hargobind Sahib Ji. Even this time again all went in vain, because child Hargobind Sahib Ji did not eat the ‘Choori’, in which the poison was mixed.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji compiled ‘Pothi Sahib’, which is mostly known as ‘Sri Adi Granth Sahib’, which was installed in Sri Darbar Sahib, in the city of Sri Amritsar Sahib Ji.

However, Prithi Chand could not succeed to kill (Guru) Hargobind Sahib Ji, he did not give up either. Instead, he started to oppose Guru Arjan Dev Ji openly. He got the help of Chandu Saahi, who was a minister in Mughal government. Chandu wanted his daughter to be married with (Guru) Hargobind Sahib Ji, but Guru Arjan Dev Ji refuse to do so. Now, Chandu wanted to settle his score. Many fanatics were not happy with Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s religious movement. All these factors caused a big conspiracy agianst Guru Arjan Dev Ji. In a result, Guru Arjan Dev Ji was summoned to the Lahore court.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji established his son, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, on the holy throne and went to the city of Lahore. He was arrested and was brutally tortured by orders of Chandu Saahi.

Guru Ji was tortured for seven months. In Samvat 1663 Bikrami, he left for his heavenly abode.

(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

Born in Samvat 1587 Bikrami in the city of Lahore (now in Pakistan), Guru Ramdas Ji was son of Sri Hardas Ji. (Guru) Ramdas Ji had one brother, whose name was Haridyal Ji. He had a sister also; whose name was Ramdasi Ji.

(Guru) Ramdas Ji was married to Bibi Bhani Ji, who was a daughter of the third Guru, Guru Amardas Ji. Guru Ramdas Ji had three sons, Prithi Chand, Mahadev and (Guru) Arjan Dev Ji.

In Samvat 1631 Bikrami, Guru Amardas Ji established Guru Ramdas Ji on the holy throne and thus, Guru Ramdas Ji became the fourth Guru of the Sikh people.

In Samvat 1633 Bikrami, Guru Ramdas Ji shifted to the city of Sri Amritsar Sahib, which was known as ‘Guru Ka Chakk’.

Guru Ramdas Ji established his son, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, on the holy throne and left for his heavenly abode in Samvat 1638 Bikrami.

(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

(Guru) Amardas Ji was born in Samvat 1536 Bikrami. His father’s name was Tejo (Tej Bhan) Ji. In Samvat 1589 Bikrami, (Guru) Amardas Ji was married to Mother Mansa Devi Ji. (Guru) Amardas Ji had two sons, Mohan and Mohari Ji, and two daughters, Bibi Bhani Ji and Bibi Dani Ji.

Once, a Brahman, named Durga Datt, met (Guru) Amardas Ji and said, “You will be worshipped by the people. The flywhisk will be waved over your head. The Kings will meet you with their offerings”.

When (Guru) Amardas Ji tried to donate him some sweets, Durga Datt asked, “Who is your Guru?”

(Guru) Amardas Ji replied, “I have not found the Guru yet”.

Pandit Durga Datt said, “I do not take anything from a person, who has not any Guru. It is a sin even to see such a person. When you find a Guru, only then I will accept your offerings”.

The words by the Brahman depressed (Guru) Amardas Ji. He, then, decided to find a true Guru for him. In Samvat 1590 Bikrami, (Guru) Amardas Ji went to Hardwar, a sacred city for Hindus, to take bath in river Ganges. He met Bhai Hari Ram Ji, who was reciting the holy hymns of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. (Guru) Amardas Ji was fascinated by the hymns. He decided to meet Guru Nanak Dev Ji. However, due to his busyness in his family affairs, he could not see Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji established Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji on the holy throne in Samvat 1596 Bikrami. In Samvat 1598 Bibi Amro Ji, a daughter of Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji, was married to (Guru) Amardas Ji’s nephew.

Once, she was reciting this holy hymn of Guru Nanak Dev Ji: –

Maaroo Mahla 1, Ghar 1. Karni Kaagad Man Masvaani Bura Bhalaa Duye Lekh Paye. (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, page 960).

(Translation of whole of the holy hymn: – Actions are the paper, and the mind is the ink; good and bad are both recorded upon it. As their past actions drive them, so are mortals driven. There is no end to Your Glorious Virtues, Lord. 1.Why do you not keep Him in your consciousness, you mad man? Forgetting the Lord, your own virtues shall rot away. 1. Pause. The night is a net, and the day is a net; there are as many traps as there are moments. With relish and delight, you continually bite at the bait; you are trapped, you fool – how will you ever escape? .2. The body is a furnace, and the mind is the iron within it; the five fires are heating it. Sin is the charcoal placed upon it, which burns the mind; the tongs are anxiety and worry. 3. What was turned to slag is again transformed into gold, if one meets with the Guru. He blesses the mortal with the Ambrosial Name of the One Lord, and then, O Nanak, the body is held steady. 4. 3.). (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, page 960).

(Guru) Amardas Ji’s mind was pierced through with the arrow of love. He decided to meet Guru Angad Dev Ji. In Samvat 1601 Bikrami, he went to village Khadoor Sahib Ji along with Bibi Amro Ji to have the holy ‘Darshan’ of Guru Angad Dev Ji.

(Guru) Amardas Ji started to live in the holy company of Guru Angad Dev Ji in Sri Khadoor Sahib Ji. He served the Guru for 7 years. In Samvat 1602 Bikrami, (Guru) Amardas Ji’s daughter Bibi Bhani Ji was married to (Guru) Ramdas Ji.

In Samvat 1609 Bikrami, he was established the third Guru, by Guru Angad Dev Ji.

Guru Amardas Ji strengthened Guru’s free kitchen (Guru ka Langar), which was started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and developed by Guru Angad Dev Ji. It was the injunction of Guru Amardas that none would have his audience unless he had first eaten from the Langar. It was a good effort to remove the caste restrictions and prejudices of untouchability. All persons of all castes, high or low, rich or poor, Brahmans or Sudras, Hindus or Muslims, used to sit in the same line and eat the same food from Guru’s kitchen. Even Akbar, the Emperor of India had to take food in the Langar.

He established his son-in-law Guru Ramdas Ji on the holy throne and left for his heavenly abode in Samvat 1631 Bikrami and the spirit blended with the Master Spirit.

(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji was born in a village called Harike in Ferozepur district of the Punjab. His father’s name was Bhai Phiraaya Ji (mostly known as Bhai Pheru Ji). Guru Ji’s mother name was Bibi Raamo Ji. Originally, Guru Angad Dev Ji’s name was ‘Laihna’. In Samvat 1576 Bikrami, Laihna ji was married to Bibi Khivi ji.

Bhai Laihna Ji (Guru Angad Dev Ji) was father of two daughters, Bibi Amro ji and Bibi Anokhi ji, and two sons, Baba Dasu ji and Baba Datu ji.

Laihna Ji was a devotee of Goddess. He often used to go to Jawaala Ji, a foumous temple of Goddess in India. Once, he went there and sat in company of some saints. There, he heard them talking about Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Laihna Ji decided to meet Guru Nanak Dev Ji. For some reasons, it could not be possible for some time.

Then, Bhai Laihna Ji moved to village ‘Baasar-ke’ and started to live there with his family. It was here in village ‘Baasar-ke’ that Bhai Laihna Ji planned to visit the goddess temple with a group of people. When they reached in the city of Sri Kartarpur Sahib, Bhai Laihna Ji heard that Guru Nanak Dev Ji was present in the city. Bhai Laihna Ji went to meet Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Bhai Laihna Ji obtained the real peace of mind. Next morning, when other people asked Bhai Laihna Ji to go to the goddess temple, he refused to go with them. Other members of his group went to the goddess temple, but Bhai Laihna Ji stayed with Guru Nanak Dev Ji for four days. It was in Sri Kartarpur Sahib that Bhai Laihna Ji saw the goddess doing service in Guru’s house. He became Sikh of Guru Ji. Then, he returned to his village ‘Baasar-ke’.

Next time, when Bhai Laihna Ji went to Guru Nanak Dev Ji, he spent nine months in the holy company of Guru Ji. In this period, he was being prepared for a big holy job.

And one day, people saw that Guru Nanak Dev Ji seated Bhai Laihna on the holy throne, put five ‘paise’ and a coconut in front of him and bowed before him. Bhai Laihna got new name, Guru ‘Angad Dev’. He was now the Guru of his people. Both the sons of Guru Nanak Dev Ji created disturbance, but in vain.

After becoming the Guru, Bhai Laihna Ji, who was now Guru Angad Dev Ji, went to Sri Khadoor Sahib, a village in Punjab and started to live there.

Guru Angad Dev Ji left for his heavenly abode in Samvat 1609 Bikrami (1552 AD).

(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)

Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji was born in 1469 in Rai bhoi di Talwandi, a village in the Sheikhupura district, 65 kilometers West of Lahore (now in Pakistan). His father was a village official in the local revenue administration.

On the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Pandit Hardyal predicted that this infant would be a great religious leader. Thus Pandit Hardyal was the first man, who recognized the holy soul of the Guru.

Guru ji was married to Bibi Sulakhkhani Ji. He had two sons, Sri Chand and Lakhami Chand. Guru Nanak worked as an official in charge of the stores of Nawab Daulat Khan Lodhi, the Muslim ruler of Sultanpur Lodhi.

He began his missionary tours. Bhai Mardana was with him. Guru ji preached against caste distinctions, ritualism, idol worship and the pseudo-religious beliefs that had no spiritual content.

He chose to mix with all. He dined and lived with men of the lowest castes and classes Considering the then prevailing cultural practices and traditions, this was something socially and religiously unheard of in those days of rigid Hindu caste system sanctioned by the scriptures and the religiously approved notions of untouchability and pollution. It is a matter of great significance that at the very beginning of his mission, the Guru’s first companion was a low caste Muslim.

He performed five long tours all over the country and even outside it. Every tour is called “Udasi”. He visited most of the known religious places and centers of worship. During his tours, he visited numerous places of Hindu and Muslim worship. He explained and exposed through his preaching the incongruities and fruitlessness of ritualistic and ascetic practices.

He spent twenty-five years of his life preaching from place to place. Many of his hymns were composed during this period. They represent answers to the major religious and social problems of the day and cogent responses to the situations and incidents that he came across. Some of the hymns convey dialogues with Yogis in the Punjab and elsewhere. He denounced their methods of living and their religious views.

Finally, on the completion of his tours, he settled as a peasant farmer at Kartarpur, a village in the Punjab.

His followers throughout the country were known as Nanak-panthies or Sikhs. The places where Sikh congregation and religious gatherings of his followers were held were called Dharamsalas. These were also the places for feeding the poor.

He chose his successor and in his own lifetime established him as the future Guru or enlightener of the community.

Guru ji left this world on September 22, 1539 (23rd day of Asu, Vadi 10, Sambat 1596). The light blended with Light and the spirit went back and merged with the Master spirit. He was about seventy years of age.