Honoring Guru Arjan Dev’s Sacrifice: Faith, Courage, and Legacy Liv

Guru Arjan Dev: Sacrifice for Faith and Truth

The execution of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth among the ten Sikh Gurus on May 30, 1606 (some sources also give the date as June 16, 1606) in Lahore is one of the most significant and most tragic events in the history of Sikhs. His death had given a U-turn to the situation as the infant Sikh religion was hardened into a more conscious and self-defending community, ready to protect its values against tyranny.
Guru Arjan Dev was born in Goindwal, Punjab in the year 1563 and he became the successor of his father Guru Ram Das in the year 1581. His Guruship was marked by enormous spiritual and organizational growth of Sikhism. He undertook the task of compilation of the Adi Granth, the holy book of the Sikh religion which was subsequently renamed as Guru Granth Sahib. This was a complete compilation of hymns by the Sikh Gurus and other saints, authenticated and compiled by Guru Arjan Dev himself, which cemented the theological and philosophical underpinnings of the religion. He placed Adi Granth in the newly built Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar which he had planned and supervised its construction whose four doors signified its openness to all people of different caste and creed. He also founded other key Sikh centers such as Tarn Taran and Kartarpur.

But the rise of influence and separation identity of Sikh community under the leadership of Guru Arjan Dev started to become a threat to Mughal Empire, especially to Emperor Jahangir. Jahangir, who was a firm Sunni Muslim, perceived the growing popularity of Sikhism as a threat to Islamic orthodoxy and his power. He particularly referred to the teachings of the Guru which he assumed were luring both the Hindus and the Muslims out of their original religions. There were many factors that led to the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev:

* Religious Intolerance: Jahangir had an intense aversion to non-Islamic religions and associated the growing influence of the Sikh faith with future challenges to his agenda of establishing an Islamic state. Jahangir’s autobiography, Tuzk-e-Jahangiri, states that he wanted to “put an end” to Guru Arjan Dev’s “false shop” and convert Guru Arjan Dev to Islam.

* The Adi Granth: Compiling the Adi Granth with scripture of many religious traditions while making it clear that Sikhism was a separate religion and identity was seen as resistance and an effort to consolidate a separate religious system.

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* Political Accusations: The principal and immediate pretext for arresting Guru Arjan Dev was that he had blessed or assisted Prince Khusrau, the rebellious son of Jahangir who was escaping. Jahangir made use of this interaction, which was probably a customary act of comfort or outrage, as treason in order to vilify Guru Arjan Dev.

Ultimately, Guru Arjan Dev died after five days of torture. Sikh tradition has Guru Arjan Dev asking to bath in the Ravi River, and after plunging into the water he was never recovered.

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