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Guru Arjan Dev Ji (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਦੇਵ) (Born in Amritsar, Punjab, India on 15 April 1563 – 30 May 1606 Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan) was the fifth of the Eleven Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on 1 September 1581 following in the footsteps of Guru Ram Das. He was born at Goindval. Before his matyrdom, he nominated his son Guru Har Gobind as the next Guru of the Sikhs.

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 in 1606 because the Emperor Jahangir suspected him of supporting a rival to the throne of Emperor, after the death of Emperor Akbar. Emperor Jehangir imprisoned Guru Arjan Dev Ji and later handed him over to Murtaza Khan (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. Historian record Guru Arjan Dev Ji was impervious to this pain and sat there chanting hymns. During this torture, the torturer asked if the Guru would like some water but the Guru refused it defiantly, historians record this spiritual strength of the Guru trembled the torturer's confidence.

Contents 1 Highlights of Guru Arjan's life 2 Hymn by Guru Arjun Dev 3 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan 4 The Eleven Gurus of Sikhism 5 External links 6 References

The following is a summary of the main highlights of Guru Arjan'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.

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||

On the 16 June of every year since 1606, the Sikhs have commemorated the death of their first martyr, the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev. Sikh history until then had been peaceful and non-violent. All the Sikh Gurus had taught the message of compassion, love, dedication, hard work, worship of one God and the commitment to peace and harmony for all the peoples of the world.

During the Guruship of Guru Arjan many thousands of India's native people, both Hindus and Muslims, had began to follow the teachings of the Sikh Gurus. Gobindwal, the centre of the Sikhs during the late 1500s was noticeably flourishing. The Mughal Emperor Akbar had been an admirer of the Sikh Gurus and their social endeavours. The Sikh Gurus had taught of one God, a God of peace and love neither Hindu or Muslim. Akbar had himself promulgated a religion meant to unite all the subjects of his kingdom under one God. In his last years he had been challenged by his own son, Salim who had fought to take over the Mugal Throne.

With the death of his father Akbar in 1605, Salim took the title of "Jahangir" (Conqueror of the World). He was immediately challenged by his own son Khusrau whose forces were defeated. Khusrau was jailed and later blinded, at the command of his father. The Muslim Ulema, who had been largely ignored by Akbar, and Muslim members of Jahangir's Court were concerned at the rapid increase in the popularity of Guru Arjan, urged Jahangir to take actions against the Guru. Many baseless allegations were levelled against the Sikh Guru, one of those was helping Khusrau.

This is what Emperor Jahangir wrote in his diary called the "Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri", which translates to "Memoirs of Jahangir"

“	In Gobindwal, which is on the river Biyãh (Beas), there was a Hindu named Arjun, in the garments of sainthood and sanctity, so much so that he had captured many of the simple-hearted of the Hindus, and even of the ignorant and foolish followers of Islam, by his ways and manners, and they had loudly sounded the drum of his holiness. They called him Guru, and from all sides stupid people crowded to worship and manifest complete faith in him. For three or four generations (of spiritual successors) they had kept this shop warm. Many times it occurred to me to put a stop to this vain affair or to bring him into the assembly of the people of Islam. At last when Khusrau passed along this road this insignificant fellow proposed to wait upon him. Khusrau happened to halt at the place where he was, and he came out and did homage to him. He behaved to Khusrau in certain special ways, and made on his forehead a finger-mark in saffron, which the Indians (Hinduwän) call qashqa, (Tilak) and is considered propitious. When this came to my ears and I clearly understood his folly, I ordered them to produce him and handed over his houses, dwelling-places, and children to Murtaza Khan, and having confiscated his property commanded that he should be put to death."	„
—Jahangir, Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri

Accordingly in late May 1606, Guru Arjan Dev was arrested and brought to Lahore where he was given a beating and fined against his release. Refusing to pay the fine he was then severely tortured. He was made to sit on a burning hot plate while hot sand was poured over his head and body. It is said that Mian Mir (a Muslim Sufi Saint and friend of the Guru) tried to intercede on behalf of Guru Arjan but the Guru forbade him to interfere in the "Workings of the Almighty". Guru Arjan's body was covered in blisters and burns. For five days, the Guru was subjected to this unrelenting torture. It was at that time when Guru Arjan Dev asked his frustrated jailers, who had not been able to break the Sikh Holy Man, to bathe in the river, Ravi. Thousands watched as the Guru, who could barely walk for the blisters on the souls of his feet, reached the river. It is related down through his devotees that he repeated again and again, "Sweet is Your Will, O God; the gift of your Name alone I seek." Bidding farewell to his devotees he entered the river never to be seen again. Thus Guru Sahib embraced death on Jeth Sudi 4th (1st Harh) Samvat 1663, (May 16, 1606).

The death of Guru Sahib changed the entire character of Sikhism radically from a passive people to courageous saint soldiers.

#	Name	Date of Birth	Guruship on	Death	Age
1	Nanak Dev	15 April 1469	20 August 1507	22 September 1539	69
2	Angad Dev	31 March 1504	7 September 1539	29 March 1552	48
3	Amar Das	5 May 1479	26 March 1552	1 September 1574	95
4	Ram Das	24 September 1534	1 September 1574	1 September 1581	46
5	Arjan Dev	15 April 1563	1 September 1581	30 May 1606	43
6	Har Gobind	19 June 1595	25 May 1606	28 February 1644	48
7	Har Rai	16 January 1630	3 March 1644	6 October 1661	31
8	Har Krishan	7 July 1656	6 October 1661	30 March 1664	7
9	Teg Bahadur	1 April 1621	20 March 1665	11 November 1675	54
10	Gobind Singh	22 December 1666	11 November 1675	7 October 1708	41

• The Sikh History Web Site
• Eternal Glory of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji
• Video on 400th Martyrdom Anniversary of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji
• Video as a Tribute to Guru Arjan Partakh Har
• Learn more about Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji
• Guru Arjan, the Apostle of Peace - eBook
• AllAboutSikhs.com
• www.bbc.co.uk
• www.sgpc.net
• www.sikh-heritage.co.uk

Audio:

• Audio Tribute to Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji
• Sukhmani Sahib Mp3,Real Audio, Real Audio download
• Guriqbal Singh (Gurdwara Mata Kaulan Amritsar Wale) - Sri Sukhmani Sahib Ji Diyan Visheshtaian
• Giani Thakur Singh (Patiala Wale Damdami Taksal) - Katha Sukhmani Sahib
• Dya Singh (Australia) - Sukhmani Simren
• Gurdial Singh Paras - Sukhmani Sahib
• Harbans Singh (Jagadhari Wale) - Sukhmani Keertan
• Jarnail Singh (Damdami Taksal Wale) - Sri Sukhmani Sahib

• 1. "Tuzuk-i-Jahagiri or Memoirs of Jahagir" Translated by Alexander Rogers. Edited by Henry Beveridge Published by Low Price Publication www.lppindia.com ISBN 978-81-7536-148-5
• 2. History of the Panjab, Syad Muhammad Latif, Published by: Kalyani Publishers, Ludhiana, Punjab, India ISBN 978-81-7096-245-8

Preceded by: Guru Ram Das (24 September 1534 - 1 September 1581)	Guru Arjan Dev	Followed by: Guru Har Gobind (19 June 1595 - 03 March 1644)
The Eleven 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)

v • d • e   Topics in Sikhism
Gurus	Guru Nanak Dev • Guru Angad Dev • Guru Amar Das • Guru Ram Das • Guru Arjan Dev Guru Har Gobind • Guru Har Rai • Har Krishan • Guru Teg Bahadur • Guru Gobind Singh Guru Granth Sahib • Sikh Bhagats
Philosophy	Beliefs and principles • Underlying values • Prohibitions • Technique and methods • Other observations
Practices	Ardās • Amrit Sanskar • Chaṛdī Kalā • Dasvand • Five Ks • Kirat Karō • Kirtan • Langar • Nām Japō Simran • Three Pillars • Vaṇḍ Chakkō
Scripture	Guru Granth Sahib • Adi Granth • Dasam Granth • Bani • Chaupai • Jaap Sahib • Japji Sahib • Mool Mantar Rehras • Sukhmani Sahib • Tav-Prasad Savaiye
More	History • Ek Onkar • Gurdwara • Harmandir Sahib • History • Khalsa • Khanda • Literature • Music • Names Places • Politics • Satguru • Sikhs • Waheguru • Bhagat Farid • Bhagat Kabir • History of the Punjab Sardar • Takhat
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