Guru Arjan Dev ji was born on April 15, 1563 A.D. at Goindwal,
a small town on the bank of the river Beas in the district of
Amritsar, in the house of Guru Ram Das, the fourth Guru. He had
destined to be the first martyr to the Sikh cause and religious
toleration, enjoyed the distinction of being the grandson of Guru
Amar Das.
As a child, Arjan was equally blessed as the progeny of Bibi
Bhani, known for her piety, service and humility and Jetha Ji.
Before Guru Arjan Dev ji died, he named Guru Hargobind Ji, his
son as the next Guru of the Sikhs. Guru ji was married to Ganga,
daughter of Krishen Chand, a resident of Meo village near Phillaur
in Jalandhar district. The marriage took place in 1589 when he
was about 26 years old.
- First Sikh Guru to be martyred.
- Guru Ji contributed a total of 2218 hymns to the Sri Guru Granth
Sahib.
- Author of Sukhmani Sahib Bani – Prayer for Peace
- Compiled and installed for the first time the holy Sikh Book,
which at this stage is called Adi Granth, a major achievement.
- Built the Golden Temple
- Developed Amritsar as a Centre of Excellence.
- Enhanced the Structure of Sikh Society by introducing the Masund
system
Guru Arjan Dev ji stood steadfastly for the principles he believed
in, sacrificed his own life, and attained a unique and unparalleled
martyrdom in the history of mankind. He contributed towards the
welfare of the society, treasure of celestial knowledge and spiritual
excellence.
Akbar Mughal Emperorhad already been convinced of the piety of
the Sikh Gurus. During one of his campaigns he had come to Goindwal
and partook of the Langar; sitting on the floor he ate coarse
meal, and paid his obeisance to Guru Amar Das.
After the death of Akbar,‘Jehangir summoned Guru Arjan
Dev Ji to Lahore’. With preconceived ideas, Jehangir showed
dissatisfaction with the Guru’s explanation of Khusro’s
shelter. He labelled the Guru as a party to rebellion and ‘wanted
to punish him with death’. But on the recommendation of
Pir Mian Mir he commuted it by a fine of two lakh rupees’
plus ‘an order to erase a few verses’ from the Granth
Sahib. Guru Arjan Dev Ji refused to accept. The Sikhs of Lahore
wanted to pay off the fine but the Guru desisted them.
Jehangir wrote in his biography, “ A Hindu named Arjan
lived at Goindwal...simple minded Hindus and ignorant and foolish
Muslims have been persuaded to adopt his ways... this business
(shop) has been flourishing for three generations. For long time
it had been in my mind to put a stop to this affair or to bring
him into the fold of Islam...”
Guru Arjan Dev ji was imprisoned and tortured. His body was exposed
in the scorching heat of May-June sun. He was forced to sit on the
red-hot sand, and boiling hot water was poured on his naked body.
Pir Mian Mir approached him and offered to demolish the whole city
of Lahore with his ecclesiastic power in punishment but the Guru
refrained him to take such an action..
And on this day of May 30, 1606, he enveloped his blistering body
in the cool waves of the River Ravi and journeyed to his heavenly
abode. Bhai Gurdas, a contemporary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and the
pioneering scribe of Guru Granth Sahib, summed up.
Gurudwara Dera Sahib Panjvin Patshahi (Gurudwara Dera Sahib) is
situated opposite Lahore Fort near Badshahi Mosque. This is the
place where Sat Gur Arjun Dev Ji was martyred in the River Ravi
facing the tortures inflicted by Chandu on 30th May 1606 AD.
The Gurudwara was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the memory
of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru who complied the Adi Granth,
the principal part of Sikh scriptures. This shrine has a highly
gilded attractive dome. The followers of Guru Arjan Singh assert
that it is the same spot where Guru Arjan Dev miraculously disappeared
in 1606 A.D. in the waters of river Ravi. The site where Guru Arjun
Dev was martyred a Thara (platform) Sahib was built at by Guru Hargobind
Ji in Samvat 1919 when he came to Lahore visiting Gur Asthans.
Sources- Eternal Glory of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Sikh Missionary
Society, Guru Arjan, the Apostle of Peace - eBook- BBC Guru Arjan
Dev, Guriqbal Singh (Gurdwara Mata Kaulan Amritsar Wale) - Sri Sukhmani
Sahib Ji Diyan Visheshtaian
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