Guru Arjan
Guru Arjan entered the world on the 15th of April 1563 in Goindval, Punjab. He was the youngest son of Bhai Jetha and Mata Bhani. His father later became known as Guru Ram Das. His mother was the daughter of Guru Amar Das. This lineage placed him at the center of Sikh leadership from birth. The site of his birth is now marked by Gurdwara Chaubara Sahib. Historical records offer two possible years for his arrival: 1553 or 1563. Scholars generally accept 1563 as the correct date. He spent his first eleven years in Goindwal before moving to Ramdaspur with his father. At age eighteen, he assumed the role of fifth Sikh Guru following his father's death in 1581. His succession sparked immediate internal conflict within the community. His elder brother Prithi Chand rejected his authority and formed a rival faction called Minas. Another challenger emerged from the line of Guru Amar Das named Baba Mohan. These disputes led to competing manuscripts claiming different spiritual lineages.
The year 1604 marked a pivotal moment when Guru Arjan completed the Adi Granth. He gathered hymns from previous Gurus and selected saints including seventeen Hindu bards and two Muslim bards. He rejected compositions he deemed fake or divergent from core teachings. The finished text contained over 2,218 hymns composed by Arjan himself. More than half of the final volume consists of his work. He installed this scripture inside Harimandir Sahib on the 1st of September 1604. A contemporary Jesuit missionary Jerome Xavier documented events surrounding this period. The compilation included hymns from the first four Gurus alongside new additions. Arjan used thirty rāgs for his musical settings similar to his father's style. His language favored Sanskritic and Hindi vocabulary. One famous composition is Sukhmani Sahib which remains widely recited today. The text was placed in a temple complex near a large man-made water pool. This act unified diverse religious voices under one official canon. Mughal Emperor Akbar received a copy sent on a thali plate after hearing about its creation. The meeting between Arjan and Akbar occurred in 1598 according to the Akbarnama.
Emperor Jahangir ordered Guru Arjan's arrest in 1606 CE due to accusations of supporting rebellion. Khusrau Mirza was suspected of attempting patricidal coup against his father. Some accounts suggest Arjan blessed Khusrau which angered the Mughal court. Other versions blame Hindu minister Chandu Shah who sought revenge over marriage disputes involving his daughter. A Jesuit account records Sikhs trying to commute the sentence through payment of heavy fines. The fine demanded reached 200,000 rupees or 100,000 crusados. Jahangir's autobiography mentions Arjan capturing many simple-hearted Hindus and even some Muslims. He referred to Arjan as a Hindu whose teachings kept their shop warm across generations. Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi supported punishment calling the Guru an infidel. Conversely Sufi friend Mian Mir lobbied for deferred confiscation orders. Historical evidence remains unclear whether death resulted from torture drowning or execution methods. Contemporary sources like Dabistan-i Mazahib describe attempts to extract money and public
repudiation of faith.
Common questions
When was Guru Arjan born and where did he enter the world?
Guru Arjan entered the world on the 15th of April 1563 in Goindval, Punjab. Historical records offer two possible years for his arrival: 1553 or 1563, but scholars generally accept 1563 as the correct date.
Who were the parents of Guru Arjan and what was their relationship to previous Sikh Gurus?
His father later became known as Guru Ram Das and his mother was the daughter of Guru Amar Das. This lineage placed him at the center of Sikh leadership from birth.
What year did Guru Arjan complete the Adi Granth and when was it installed inside Harimandir Sahib?
The year 1604 marked a pivotal moment when Guru Arjan completed the Adi Granth. He installed this scripture inside Harimandir Sahib on the 1st of September 1604.
Why did Mughal Emperor Jahangir order the arrest of Guru Arjan in 1606 CE?
Emperor Jahangir ordered Guru Arjan's arrest in 1606 CE due to accusations of supporting rebellion involving Khusrau Mirza who was suspected of attempting patricidal coup against his father. Some accounts suggest Arjan blessed Khusrau which angered the Mughal court while other versions blame Hindu minister Chandu Shah who sought revenge over marriage disputes involving his daughter.
How many hymns did Guru Arjan compose for the final volume of the Adi Granth and what languages did he use?
The finished text contained over 2,218 hymns composed by Arjan himself with more than half of the final volume consisting of his work. His language favored Sanskritic and Hindi vocabulary.