Let’s pay tribute to Shri Guru Arjan Dev ji who sacrificed his life for truth, peace and compassion.

Introduction

Guru Arjan Dev Ji is the youngest son of Guru Ramdas Sahib and Mata Bhani Ji.He was born at Govindwal Sahib on Vaisakh Vadi 7th, (19th Vaisakh) Samvat 1620 (April 15,1563). He learnt Gurmukhi script and Gurbani from Baba Budha ji. He had two elder brothers, Prithi Chand ji and Mahadev ji. He was hardly 18 years old when his father Guru Ramdas Sahib appointed him as the Fifth Nanak. He was married to Mata Ganga ji and had a son (Guru) Hargobind Sahib.

Contributions

• On the 5th day of Kartik month in 1645 of Bikrami calendar Guru Arjan Dev Ji had the foundation stone of Sri Harimandir Sahib laid in the middle of the Amrit sarovar by the Moslem Sufi saint Miyan Mir. This was an attempt to end all religious divisions. . The temple has four entrances signifying the acceptance of all four castes and welcoming people from all four directions. There is no discrimination here on the basis of caste, color or creed.

• Guru ji compiled and installed for the first time the holy Sikh Book, which at this stage is called Adi Granth, a major achievement.

• Guru Ji is the author of Sukhmani Sahib Bani.

Hymn by Guru Arjan Dev from the Sukhmani Sahib- SGGS from page 262[1]

• Meditate, meditate, meditate peace is obtained, Worry and anguish is expelled from the body.
• Remembering God, you’re not reborn. Remembering God, the fear of death is dispelled.
• Remembering God, death is eliminated. Remembering God, your enemies are repelled.
• Remembering God, no obstacles are met. Remembering God, night and day you’re fully awake.
• Remembering God, fear cannot touch you. Remembering God, you don’t suffer with sorrow.
• Remembrance of God, in the Company of Saints. All treasures, O Nanak, are by Lord’s Blessing. ||2||

Shaheedi

Jehangir ordered that Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji be tortured to death if he did not agree to remove the alleged derogatory references in the Holy Granth. He was made to sit on a red hot iron sheet. They poured burning hot sand on his body. The Guru was dipped in boiling water. For five long days he was tortured. When the torturer's found that the Guru was unresponsive to their torture they did not know what to do. On May 30, 1606 the Guru asked for a bath in the river Ravi by the side of the Mughal fort. Thousands of followers watched the Guru who could barely walk make his way to the river with tears in their eyes. His bare body was covered with blisters, Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji repeated over and over;

"Sweet is Your will, O God; the gift of your Name alone I seek."

Key Learnings

Guru Ji showed his Sikhs how to accept the will of God. This is a great lesson the Guru has taught and all Sikhs should look at this event from Sikh history as an example as to how we should live in our lives.

Let‘s pay our tribute to Guru Arjan DevJi by accepting and maintaining Guruji’s preaching’s of always accept the god will and remembering God.

References

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia
• http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Main_Page