Guru Arjan Dev

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Guru Arjun Dev (Punjabi: ) (15 April 1563 - 30 May 1606) was the fifth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on 1 September 1581 following in the footsteps of Guru Ram Das. He was born at Goindval. Before he died, he nominated his son Guru Har Gobind as the next Guru of the Sikhs.

The following is a summary of the main highlights of Guru Arjun's life:

Huge number of hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib – over 2000
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.
Built the Harimandir Sahib
Developed Amritsar as a Centre of Excellence.
Founded the towns of Tarn Taran Sahib (Majha), Kartarpur (Doaba) and Sri Hargobindpur (on the banks of the Beas river)
Enhanced the Structure of Sikh Society by introducing the Masund system
First Sikh Guru to be martyred.

Guru Arjan dictating the Adi Granth to Bhai Gurdas.

Hymn by Guru Arjun Dev from the Sukhmani Sahib (Guru Granth Sahib page 262):

Meditate, meditate, meditate peace is obtained, Worry and anguish is expelled from the body.
Remembering God, you’re not reborn. Remembering God, the fear of death is dispelled.
Remembering God, death is eliminated. Remembering God, your enemies are repelled.
Remembering God, no obstacles are met. Remembering God, night and day you’re fully awake.
Remembering God, fear cannot touch you. Remembering God, you don’t suffer with sorrow.
Remembrance of God, in the Company of Saints. All treasures, O Nanak, are by Lord’s Blessing. ||2||

Guru Arjan Dev Ji was the first Guru to be born in a Sikh family and was the first martyr of the Sikhs. He compiled all the former Gurus teachings into one holy book - the Adi Granth. The Adi Granth was compiled in 1604. Guru Arjan Dev Ji was martyred because the Emperor Jehangir was jealous that many people were converting to this new religion. Emperor Jehangir imprisoned Guru Arjan Dev Ji and later handed him over to Chandu Shah (an official of Jehangir) to torture Guru Arjan Dev Ji to death. Guru Arjan Dev Ji was made to sit on a scorching iron plate and had boiling sand poured over his body. Guru Arjan Dev Ji tolerated this pain and sat there chanting hymns. During this torture, he asked for some water but was refused it. In June, Gurdwaras give out cold drinks and ice creams to remember how Guru Arjan Dev Ji was tortured.

Preceded by: Guru Ram Das (24 September 1534 - 1 September 1581)	Guru Arjan	Followed by: Guru Hargobind (19 June 1595 - 03 March 1644)

The Ten Gurus of Sikhism
Guru Nanak Dev \| Guru Angad Dev \| Guru Amar Das \| Guru Ram Das \| Guru Arjun Dev \| Guru Har Gobind \| Guru Har Rai \| Guru Har Krishan \| Guru Teg Bahadur \| Guru Gobind Singh \| (Followed by Guru Granth Sahib, Perpetual Guru of the Sikhs)

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