Today marks the Shaheedi Diwas of our fifth guru Sri Guru Arjan Dev Jee Maharaj who became the 5th guru after Sri Guru Ramdas Jee.
Sri Guru Arjan Dev Jee was the embodiment of devotion, selfless sewa and universal love.
Guru Arjan Dev Jee laid the foundation of Sri Harmandar Sahib, the present day Golden Temple. Guru Jee designed doors on all four sides of the building which signified acceptance of all four castes and every Religion.
Guru Jee also instituted the principle of Dasvand, by declaring that all Sikhs should donate a tenth of their earnings to charity.
Guru Arjan Dev Jee was the first Sikh guru to be martyred. In 1606, the Muslim Mughal Emperor Jahangir demanded that Guru Arjan Dev jee erase some of the hymns in Guru Granth Sahib Jee that he found offensive. According to the Sikh tradition, Guru Jee refused to remove the lines which led to his shaheedi. Guru Jee is revered as Shaheedan-De-Sartaaj, or the Crown of Martyrs.
ਤੇਰਾ ਕੀਆ ਮੀਠਾ ਲਾਗੈ ॥
teraa keeaa meeThaa laagai ||
Your actions seem so sweet to me.
ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਮਾਂਗੈ ॥੨॥੪੨॥੯੩॥
har naam padhaarath naanak maa(n)gai ||2||42||93||
Nanak begs for the treasure of the Naam, the Name of the Lord. ||2||42||93||
*Today marks the Gurta Gaddi divas of Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Jee Maharaj.*
Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Jee was born at village Guru Ki Wadali (district Amritsar).
Guru Jee succeeded Guru Arjan Dev Jee in 1606, at the age of eleven years. After the martyrdom of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Jee, the moment was crucial for the Sikhs. Now for the first time, the Sikhs began to think seriously to counter the high-handedness of the mighty and theist Muslim Empire. Now a change had taken place in the character of Sikh Nation on the force of circumstances. Guru Jee wore two swords, one of Spiritual Power – Piri and the other of Military Power – Miri. Now the Sikh became “Saint-Soldier.” In due course of action, Guru Sahib erected a wall around Amritsar city and constructed a small fort named ‘Lohgarh’ on the outskirts of the city.
Guru Jee revealed Sri Akal Takht Sahib also known as Akal Bunga just in front of Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in 1609. This place became the seat of preaching and praying in due course of time. At this place, Guru Sahib used to gave sermons to the Sikhs, and discussions were held on the problems faced by the Sikh nation.
Guru Jee carried the same light of Guru Nanak Dev Ji; but he added to it the lustre of the sword. Guru Hargobind Sahib Jee was also the inventor of the Taus. Guru Jee watched a peacock singing one day, and wished to make an instrument to mimic the same sound as the peacock, thus came the Taus.