Guru Arjan Dev is the fifth of the
ten Sikh Gurus, was the first martyr of the Sikh faith. He had compiled the
first official edition of the Sikh scripture called the Adi Granth, which later
expanded into the Guru Granth Sahib.
Born in 1563 in Goindval, Tarn
Taran district during the reign of the Mughal Empire, Guru Arjan Dev was
martyred in Lahore in 1606. On June 16, 1606, Guru Arjan died after being
tortured for five days by the Mughal government led by Emperor Jahangir.
Observance
The Sikhs observe the martyrdom of
the Sikh Guru Arjan each year on June 16. His martyrdom is remembered as Shaheedi Divas of Guru Arjan.
On this day, people often organise
events where they read Sri Guru Granth Sahib and distribute langar.
The place where Guru Arjun Dev's
body was extinct in the River Ravi, Gurudwara
Dera Sahib (now in Pakistan) has been built. Shri Guru Arjun Dev is
remembered for his humility.
Guru Arjan Dev's son, Hargobind
Singh, became the sixth guru of the Sikhs after him.
Works
In 1588 AD, Arjan Dev had laid the
foundation of the Golden Temple and also prepared the map of the temple. The
doors of the temple on all sides signify the acceptance of all 4 castes and
religions.
Guru Arjan Dev expanded the Sikh scripture written by the previous Gurus and placed a copy of the Adi Granth in the completed Harimandir Sahib temple on August 16, 1604, and appointed Baba Buddha as the first Granthi. He also contributed more than 2,000 hymns himself, which was more than a third and the largest collection of hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib. He was also the author of the well known Sukhmani Sahib Bani.