The founder of the Sikh religion, Guroo Nanak was born on April 15, 1469 in the Western Punjab village of Talwandi. He was born to a simple Hindu family. His father Mehta Kalian Das was an accountant in the employment of the local Muslim authorities. From an early age Guroo Nanak made friends with both Hindu and Muslim children and was very inquisitive about the meaning of life. At the age of six he was sent to the village school teacher for schooling in reading and writing in Hindi and mathematics. He was then schooled in the study of Muslim literature and learned Persian and Arabic. He was an unusually gifted child who learned quickly and often question his teachers. At age 13 it was time for Guroo Nanak to be invested with the sacred thread according to the traditional Hindu custom. At the ceremony which was attended by family and friends and to the disappointment of his family Guroo Nanak refused to accept the sacred cotton thread from the Hindu priest. He sang the following poem;

"Let mercy be the cotton, contentment the thread, Continence the knot and truth the twist. O priest! If you have such a thread, Do give it to me. It'll not wear out, nor get soiled, nor burnt, nor lost. Says Nanak, blessed are those who go about wearing such a thread" (Rag Asa)

As a young man herding the family cattle, Guroo Nanak would spend long hours absorbed in meditation and in religious discussions with Muslim and Hindu holy men who lived in the forests surrounding the village. Thinking that if bound in marriage Guroo Nanak might start taking interest in household affairs a suitable match was found for him. At age 16 he was married to Sulakhani daughter of a pious merchant. Guroo Nanak did not object as he felt that married life did not conflict with spiritual pursuits. Guroo Nanak was happily married, he loved his wife and eventually had two sons Sri Chand in 1494 and Lakshmi Chand three years later. Now that he had a family of his own Guroo Nanak was persuaded by his parents to take a job as an accountant in charge of the stores of the Muslim governor of Sultanpur Daulat Khan Lodi. Guroo Nanak agreed and was joined by his family and an old Muslim childhood friend Mardana, a musician by profession. Guroo Nanak would work during the days, but early in the mornings and late at nights, he would meditate and sing hymns accompanied by Mardana on the rabab ( a string instrument). These sessions attracted a lot of attention and many people started joining the two.

Early one morning accompanied by Mardana, Guroo Nanak went to the river Bain for his bath. After plunging into the river, Guroo Nanak did not surface and it was reported that he must have drowned. The villagers searched everywhere, but their was no trace of him. Guroo Nanak was in holy communion with God. the Creator God revealed himself to Guroo Nanak and enlightened him. In praise of the Creator, Guroo Nanak uttered;

"There is but One God, His name is Truth, He is the Creator, He fears none, he is without hate, He never dies, He is beyond the cycle of births and death, He is self illuminated, He is realized by the kindness of the True Guroo. He was True in the beginning, He was True when the ages commenced and has ever been True, He is also True now." (Japji)

These words are enshrined at the beginning of the Sikh Holy Scriptures, the Guroo Granth Sahib. Guroo Nanak did not believe in a Trinity of Gods, or the belief that God can be born into human form.

After three days Guroo Nanak appeared at the same spot from where he had disappeared. He was no longer the same person he had been, there was a divine light in his eyes and his face was resplendent. He remained in a trance and said nothing. He gave up his job and distributed all of his belongings to the poor. When he finally broke his silence he uttered "There is no Hindu, no Muslim". Daulat Khan asked what he meant when he said to Guroo Nanak, "Perhaps the Hindus were no longer Hindus but the Muslims remain devout to their faith." Guroo Nanak replied,

"Let God's grace be the mosque, and devotion the prayer mat. Let the Quran be the good conduct. Let modesty be compassion, good manners fasting, you should be a Muslim the like of this. Let good deeds be your Kaaba and truth be your mentor. Your Kalma be your creed and prayer, God would then vindicate your honour." (Majh)

Guroo Nanak was thirty years old at this time in 1499. The next stage of his life began with extensive travels to spread the message of God. Accompanied by his Muslim rabab player Mardana for company, Guroo Nanak undertook long journeys to convey his message to the people in the form of musical hymns. Guroo Nanak choose this medium to propagate his message because it was easily understood by the population of the time. Wherever he traveled he used the local language to convey his message to the people. He traveled throughout the Indian Subcontinent and further east, west, and north to spread his mission. Wherever he went he set up local cells called manjis, where his followers could gather to recite hymns and meditate.

Once when Guroo Nanak came to the small town of Saidpur in West Punjab he choose to stay there with Lalo, a low caste carpenter. At the same time the local chief of the town Malik Bhago, who was quite wealthy and a very proud man was holding a feast to which all holy men were invited. When Malik Bhago found out that Guroo Nanak would not attend his feast but instead partook of the simple fare of his host Lalo, he was quite angry and had the Guroo brought to him for questioning. When asked why he didn't join in the feast, the Guroo sent for the meal served by Malik Bhago and also some of the simple meal served by Lalo. Holding these in separate hands he squeezed them, blood appeared out of the rich food of Malik Bhago, while milk oozed out of Lalos simple fare. Malik Bhago was put to shame and realized that his riches had been amassed by exploiting the poor, while what Lalo offered was the milk of hard earned honest work.

Another time while camped out at a town during the rainy season, several devotees would come to the Guroo on a regular basis. One of them while on the way to see the Guroo, came across a prostitute and was allured by her. Thereafter he would leave home on the pretext of going to see the Guroo, but instead visited the prostitute. A few days later his friend who daily came to pay homage to the Guroo was pricked by a thorn, while his neighbor, who visited the prostitute, found a gold coin in the street. The incident bewildered the Guroo's devotee who came every day religiously. He mentioned it in the morning prayer meeting where Guroo Nanak heard it and was amused. He told the Sikh;

"Your friend was destined to come across a treasure but due to his evil ways, it has been reduced to a single coin. While on the account of your past karma you were to have been impaled with a stake, but having reformed yourself, you have been let off with the mere prick of a thorn." (Janamsakhi)

When the Guroo visited Kurukshetra in Haryana, a big fair was being held at the holy tank to celebrate the solar eclipse. There were a large number of pilgrims all over the country. On his arrival at the fair, Guroo Nanak had Mardana cook them a meat dish of a deer presented to them by one of his followers. Upon finding that meat was being cooked on the holy premises, a large angry crowd gathered in anger to attack the Guroo for what they thought amounted to sacrilege (Bhai Mani Singh, Gyan Ratnavali, pg. 123). Upon hearing the angry crowd Guroo Nanak responded;

"Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. They don't understand truth nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is meat and what is plant? Who knows where the sin lies, being a vegetarian or a non- vegetarian?" (Malhar)

When Guroo Nanak stopped at Hardwar a pilgrimage center on the Ganges river he found a large gathering of devotees. They were taking ritual baths in the holy river and offering water to the sun. When the Guroo asked "Why do you throw water like that?" The pilgrims replied that they were offering it to their ancestors. Guroo Nanak upon hearing this started throwing water in the opposite direction towards the west. When the pilgrims asked him what he was doing?. Guroo Nanak replied "I am sending water to my farm which is dry". They asked, "How will water reach you crops so far away?". Guroo Nanak replied, "If your water can reach your ancestors in the region of the sun, why can't mine reach my fields a short distance away?" The pilgrims realized their folly and fell at the Gurus feet.

On an eastern journey Guroo Nanak visited Gorakhmata where he discussed the true meaning of asceticism with some yogis;

"Asceticism doesn't lie in ascetic robes, or in walking staff, nor in the ashes. Asceticism doesn't lie in the earring, nor in the shaven head, nor blowing a conch. Asceticism lies in remaining pure amidst impurities. Asceticism doesn't lie in mere words; He is an ascetic who treats everyone alike. Asceticism doesn't lie in visiting burial places, It lies not in wandering about, nor in bathing at places of pilgrimage. Asceticism is to remain pure amidst impurities. (Suhi)

After his first long journey, Guroo Nanak returned home after twelve years of propagating his message. He then set out on a second journey traveling as far south as Sri Lanka. On his return north he founded a settlement known as Kartharpur (the Abode of God) on the western banks of the Ravi river. Guroo Nanak would one day settle down here in his old age. It was also here that he met a young devotee who would later go on to serve five of the following Gurus, Baba Buddha (the revered old one). On his third great journey Guroo Nanak traveled as far north as Tibet. Wherever Guroo Nanak traveled he always wore a combination of styles worn by Hindu and Muslim holy men and was always asked whether he was a Hindu or Muslim. Guroo Nanak visited Sheikh Ibrahim the muslim successor of Baba Fareed the great Sufi dervish of the twelfth century at Ajodhan. When asked by Ibrahim which of the two religions was the true way to attain God, Guroo Nanak replied; "If there is one God, then there is only His way to attain Him, not another. One must follow that way and reject the other. Worship not him who is born only to die, but Him who is eternal and is contained in the whole universe."

On his fourth great journey in life Guroo Nanak dressed in the blue garb of a Muslim pilgrim traveled to the west and visited Mecca, Medina and Baghdad. Arriving at Mecca, Guroo Nanak fell asleep with his feet pointing towards the holy Kabba. When the watchman on his night rounds noticed this he kicked the Guroo, saying, "How dare you turn your feet towards the house of God". At this Guroo Nanak woke up and said, "Good man, I am weary after a long journey. Kindly turn my feet in the direction where God is not." When pilgrims and the holy men of the shrine gathered to hear Guroo Nanak and question him, he sang in Persian;

"I beseech you, O God! pray grant me a hearing. You are the truthful, the great, the merciful, and the faultless Creator. I know for certain, this world must perish, And death must come, I know this and nothing else. Neither wife, nor son, nor father, nor brothers shall be able to help. I must go in the end, none can undo what is my fate. I have spend days and nights in vanity, contemplating evil. Never have I thought of good; this is what I am. I am ill-starred, miserly, careless, short-sighted, and rude. But says Nanak, I am yours, the dust of the feet of your servants." (Tilang)

While in Baghdad contradicting the Muslim priests views that their were only seven upper and as many lower regions Guroo Nanak shouted out his own prayer saying,

"There are worlds and more worlds below them and there are a hundred thousand skies over them. No one has been able to find the limits and boundaries of God. If there be any account of God, than alone the mortal can write the same; but Gods account does not finish and the mortal himself dies while still writing. Nanak says that one should call Him great, and God Himself knows His ownself." (Japji)

In 1916 a tablet with the following inscription was uncovered in Baghdad, "In memory of the Guroo, the holy Baba Nanak, King of holy men, this monument has been raised anew with the help of the seven saints." The date on the tablet 927 Hijri corresponds to A.D. 1520-1521.

On his return journey home he stopped at Saidpur in western Punjab during the invasion of the first Mughal Emperor Babar. On seeing the extent of the massacre by the invaders, Mardana asked Guroo Nanak why so many innocent people were put to death along with those few who were guilty. Guroo Nanak told Mardana to wait under a banyan tree and after a while he would return to answer his question. While sitting under the tree Mardana was suddenly bitten by an ant. In anger Mardana killed as many ants as he could with his feet. Guroo Nanak said to him, "You know now Mardana, why do the innocents suffer along with the guilty?"

Guroo Nanak and Mardana were both taken prisoner by the Mughal's. While in jail Guroo Nanak sang a divine hymn about the senseless slaughter of the innocents by the Mughal invaders. Upon hearing it the jailer reported it to his king. Babar sent for the Guroo and upon hearing him realized that Guroo Nanak was a great religious figure. He asked for the Gurus forgiveness and set him free offering him a pouch of hashish. Guroo Nanak refused saying the he was already intoxicated with the love and name of God.

After having spent a lifetime of traveling abroad and setting up missions, an aged Guroo Nanak returned home to Punjab. He settled down at Kartharpur with his wife and sons. Pilgrims came from far and near to hear the hymns and preaching of the Master. Here his followers would gather in the mornings and afternoons for religious services. He believed in a castless society without any distinctions based on birthright, religion or sex. He institutionalized the common kitchen called langar in Sikhi. Here all can sit together and share a common meal, whether they were kings or beggars.

While working the fields one day in 1532 Guroo Nanak was approached by a new devotee who said, "I am Lehna," Guroo Nanak looked at him and replied, "So you have arrived Lehna - the creditor. I have been waiting for you all these days. I must pay your debt." ("Lehna" in Punjabi means debt or creditor.) Lehna was a great devotee of the Hindu God Durga. One day having hearing about Guroo Nanak and his teachings, he decided to visit and see the Guroo for himself. Once Lehna met Guroo Nanak he left his previous beliefs and became an ardent disciple of the Guroo. Lehna's devotion to Guroo Nanak was absolute, when he was not working on the farm, he would devote his spare time to the contemplation of God. Over time he became Guroo Nanak's most ardent disciple. Guroo Nanak put his followers to many tests to see who was the most faithful. Once while accompanied by Lehna and his two sons Guroo Nanak came across what looked like a corpse covered with a sheet. "Who would eat it?" asked Guroo Nanak unexpectedly. His sons refused, thinking that their father was not in his senses. Lehna though agreed and as he removed the cover he found that it was a tray of sacred food. Lehna first offered it to Guroo Nanak and his sons and then partook of the leftovers himself. Guroo Nanak on seeing this replied;

"Lehna, you were blessed with the sacred food because you could share it with others. If the people use the wealth bestowed on them by God for themselves alone or for treasuring it, it is like a corpse. But if they decide to share it with others, it becomes sacred food. You have known the secret. You are my image." (Janamsakhi)

Guroo Nanak then blessed Lehna with his ang (hand) and gave him a new name, Angad, saying "you are a part of my body". Guroo Nanak placed five coins and a coconut in front of Guroo Angad and then bowed before him. He then had Bahi Budhha anoint Angad with a saffron mark on his forehead. When Guroo Nanak gathered his followers together for prayers he invited Angad to occupy the seat of the Guroo. Thus Guroo Angad was ordained as the successor to Guroo Nanak. Feeling his end was near, the Hindus said we will cremate you, the Muslims said we will bury you. Guroo Nanak said; "You place flowers on either side, Hindus on my right, Muslims on my left. Those whose flowers remain fresh tomorrow will have their way." He then asked them to prey and lay down covering himself with a sheet. Thus on September 22, 1539 in the early hours of the morning Guroo Nanak merged with the eternal light of the Creator. When the followers lifted the sheet they found nothing except the flowers which were all fresh. The Hindus took theirs and cremated them, while the Muslims took their flowers and buried them.

Thus having spread the words of reform throughout his lifetime, Guroo Nanak successfully challenged and questioned the existing religious tenants and laid the foundations of Sikhi.

The Second Master Guroo Angad Dev Jee (1504-1552) The son of a prosperous Hindu trader, Bhai Pheru, Guroo Angad was an ardent devotee of the Hindu goddess Durga. Lehna, as he was known before becoming Guroo was born on March 31, 1504 in the village of Matte-di-Sari but eventually his family moved to Khadur. He was married to Khivi and had two sons, Datu and Dasu, and one daughter Amro. Lehna would annually lead groups of pilgrims to visit the temple of Durga at Jwalamukhi for preying and dancing. Here the flames emitted by the volcano are worshipped by devout Hindus. One day Lehna heard a Sikh named Bhai Jodha reciting the Japji, the early morning prayer composed by Guroo Nanak. Finding out about Guroo Nanak from Bhai Joda, Lehna decided to visit the Guroo and pay his respects. Upon meeting Guroo Nanak at the age of 27, Lehna became a devout disciple of Guroo Nanak and renounced his former practices. Guroo Nanak instructed Lehna to return to Khadur to instruct people in the ways of Sikhi. Here Lehna spent his time in prayer and serving the people. He distributed food to the poor daily. Longing to be with Guroo Nanak he eventually returned to Karthapur where he became totally devoted to the service of Guroo Nanak. After undergoing countless tests, Guroo Nanak eventually appointed Guroo Angad as his successor on July 14, 1539 as described previously. Upon the death of Guroo Nanak, Guroo Angad returned to Khadur where he went into seclusion and meditation for six months. Eventually a delegation of Sikhs led by Baba Buddha convinced the Guroo that they needed him. Guroo Angad longed for Guroo Nanak, when he said to Baba Buddha; "He whom you love, die for him. Accursed is the life without the beloved. The head should be sliced that does not bow before the Master. O Nanak! the body should be burnt that suffers not the agony of separation." (Sri Rag) "He who has been blessed by Guroo Nanak is lost in the praises of the Creator. What could one teach those, Who have Divine Nanak as their Guroo?" (Majh) Guroo Angad was the embodiment of humility as Guroo Nanak had been before him. The renowned yogi Daya Nath visited Guroo Angad to try to convert him. Daya Nath believed that mental purity could only be obtained through renunciation of the world, observance of rituals, introspection, and yoga. Guroo Angad engaged him in discussion saying that only through living a simple truthful life as Guroo Nanak had lived can God be realized, by remaining pure amidst impurity. The yogi was eventually won over by the purity and innocence of Guroo Angad and asked the Guroo if there was anything that he could do for him. The humble Guroo Angad replied that he only seeked the learned yogis blessings. Guroo Angad followed the daily routine that Guroo Nanak had. He would wake up early at dawn to recite Guroo Nanak's Japji (morning prayer) as well as sing Asa di var with his congregation, work during the daytime and then have evening prayers. Guroo Angad also maintained langar where people of all religions and casts could gather for a free meal. Guroo Angad also took a keen interest in physical fitness, and encouraged his devotees to be involved in sports after their morning prayers. After the Mughal emperor Babur's death he was succeeded by his son Humayun. He was soon defeated by Sher Shah and on his retreat out of India he stopped at Khadur to seek the Guroo's blessings. When Humayan arrived, Guroo Angad and the congregation were absorbed in singing religious hymns. After a while Humayan became impatient and angry at being ignored and put his hand on the hilt of his sword to attack the Guroo. Guroo Angad was unmoved by this and said "When you should have used the sword you did not, rather you ran away from the battlefield like a coward. Here you show off, threatening to attack unarmed devotees engaged in prayer." Humayan was humbled by this and asked the Guroo's forgiveness and blessings. Guroo Angad blessed him, and as history was to have it he eventually regained his throne. Guroo Angad was very fond of children and took a great interest in their education. He advocated that they should be taught to read and write in their mother tongue, Punjabi. Although the origins of the Gurmukhi script are unclear, it is clear that Guroo Angad popularized the use of this simplified script among the Sikhs starting around 1541. Being the successor of Guroo Nanak he also got the first authorized biography of Guroo Nanak written in 1544, as well as having a number of copies of Guroo Nanak's hymns written out in the new Gurmukhi script. Guroo Angad further expanded the number of Sikh religious centers. There lived a very devout Vaishanavite Hindu named Amar Das. He had regularly made pilgrimages to the Ganges river for ritual baths for over 20 years. While returning from his twelfth such pilgrimage he was asked by a monk "Who is your Guroo?" Amar Das felt frustrated as he could not answer this question having searched his whole life, but still not achieving the peace of mind that he longed for. One day he heard Bibi Amro the daughter of Guroo Angad, who was recently married to his nephew singing the hymns of Guroo Nanak. Amar Das started to listen to them every day until he was enchanted by them. Bibi Amro told Amar Das about the mission of Guroo Nanak and promised to introduce him to her father Guroo Angad. When the time finally came and they met, Guroo Angad got up from his seat on his arrival to embrace Amar Das as he was his relative and also much older than the Guroo. Amar Das instead fell to the Guroo's feet out of respect and humility, forgetting his age and family status. On this day of their meeting, Guroo Angad was eating meat and being a Vaishnav Hindu, Amar Das felt uncomfortable. Guroo Angad told Amar Das that the meats one should avoid are envy, greed, ego, slander and usurpation of others rights. He told Amar Das that there is life in everything, whatever is eaten while remembering God is like nectar itself. Amar Das thus became a devoted disciple of Guroo Angad. One of the Guroo Angad's wealthy disciple named Gobind decided to build a new township on the river Beas to honour the Guroo. Guroo Angad sent Amar Das to supervise the construction of this new township which came to be known as Goindwal. When it was completed Guroo Angad instructed Amar Das and his family to move there. Amar Das complied. Every morning he would get up early in the morning and carry water from the river to the Guroo and remain in his company the entire day before returning to Goindwal in the evenings. Each year Guroo Angad would present a turban as a symbol of honour to his devoted followers. Such was the devotion of Amar Das that he would wear one on top of the other, refusing to discard the Guroo's gift. People ridiculed Amar Das for his blind faith, but he was never concerned. As Guroo Angad's popularity continued to spread among the people, this caused much jealousy among the Hindu high castes because Guroo Angad was gaining popularity with his preaching about a castless society. They conspired to turn the people away from the Guroo. During a drought year a Hindu recluse told the villagers "You go to Guroo Angad day and night for spiritual guidance, why can't he get rain for your dying crops?" The recluse forecasted that there would only be rain when Guroo Angad left the village. When confronted by the desperate farmers Guroo Angad replied, "Nature cannot bend to your will merely by human sacrifice to the gods, or by injuring someone's heart. But if your rain god is satisfied by my leaving this village, I shall do so without a moment's hesitation." Leaving the village Guroo Angad was refused shelter in neighboring villages and finally settled in a forest south of Khadur. When the rains did not come as promised the villagers grew angry at the Hindu recluse and wanted to kill him. Amar Das was disappointed with the way that the villagers had treated Guroo Angad. He suggested that instead of killing the recluse the farmers tie the recluse to a plow and drag him through their fields. The rains finally came. The villagers now emplored the Guroo to return to the village. When Guroo Angad heard to the punishment the Hindu recluse had received he told Amar Das; "You should have shown endurance, in the face of adversity, like the earth, steadfastness like a mountain and compassion like a river. For the wise and the holy, it is unforgivable if they practice not humility and remain not even-minded in weal or woe." Amar Das asked for and received forgiveness. Guroo Angad did not believe in performing miracles unnecessarily. When Amar Das blessed a devotee of the Guroo's with a son, Guroo Angad warned him, "Do not go about disbursing your blessings and curses without due deliberation. God is merciful to all men of prayer and good intentions, and one need not exhibit one's spiritual prowess by such showmanship." A village women once ridiculed Amar Das for his faithful devotion as being "Amaroo Nithaavaa" or "Amaroo, the homeless one" who always wanders about doing work for his Guroo. When Guroo Angad heard this he embraced Amar Das and told his congregation; "Amar Das is not homeless, he is the shelter of the unsheltered. He is the strength of the weak and the emancipation of the slave!" Finding that Amar Das was his most worthy disciple and feeling that his end was near Guroo Angad announced that Amar Das would be his successor. Guroo Angad's two sons were unhappy with their fathers decision but the Guroo told them that the honour would go to Amar Das because he was the most worthy and humble. Guroo Angad bowed before Guroo Amar Das placing five copper coins and a coconut before him signifying as Guroo Nanak had done before him. Guroo Angad then had Baba Buddha anoint the forehead of Guroo Amar Das with a saffron mark. Shortly thereafter Guroo Angad left this world on March 28, 1552.                                                                                                               Guroo Amar Das was born in the village of Basarke on May 5, 1479. He was the eldest son of Tej Bhan a farmer and trader. Guroo Amar Das grew up and married Mansa Devi and had two sons Mohri and Mohan and two daughters Dani and Bhani. He was a very religious Vaishanavite Hindu who spent most of his life performing all of the ritual pilgrimages and fasts of a devout Hindu. It was not until his old age that Amar Das met Guroo Angad and converted to the path of Sikhi. He eventually became Guroo at the age of 73 succeeding Guroo Angad as described previously. Soon large numbers of Sikhs started flocking to Goindwal to see the new Guroo. Datu one of Guroo Angad's sons proclaimed himself as Guroo at Khadur following his fathers death. He was so jealous of Guroo Amar Das that he proceeded to Goindwal to confront the Guroo. Upon seeing Guroo Amar Das seated on a throne surrounded by his followers he said; "You were a mere menial servant of the house until yesterday and how dare you style yourself as the Master?", he then proceeded to kick the revered old Guroo, throwing him off his throne. Guroo Amar Das in his utter humility started caressing Datu's foot saying; "I'm old. My bones are hard. You may have been hurt." As demanded by Datu, Guroo Amar Das left Goindwal the same evening are returned to his native village of Basarke. Here Guroo Amar Das shut himself in a small house for solitary meditation. There he attached a notice on the front door saying, "He who opens this door is no Sikh of mine, nor am I his Guroo." A delegation of faithful Sikhs led by Baba Buddha found the house and seeing the notice on the front door, cut through the walls to reach the Guroo. Baba Buddha said, "The Guroo being a supreme yogi, cares for nothing in the world - neither fame, nor riches nor a following. But we cannot live without his guidance. Guroo Angad has tied us to your apron, where should we go now if you are not to show us the way?" At the tearful employment of the Sikhs, Guroo Amar Das was overwhelmed by their devotion and returned to Goindwal. Datu having been unable to gather any followers of his own had returned to Khadur. Guroo Amar Das further institutionalized the free communal kitchen called Langar among the Sikhs. The langar kitchen was open to serve all day and night. Although rich food was served there, Guroo Amar Das was very simple and lived on coarse bread. The Guroo spent his time personally attending to the cure and nursing of the sick and the aged. Guroo Amar Das made it obligatory that those seeking his audience must first eat in the Langar. When the Raja of Haripur came to see the Guroo. Guroo Amar Das insisted that he first partake a common meal in the Langar, irrespective of his cast. The Raja obliged and had an audience with the Guroo. But on of his queens refused to lift the veil from her face, so Guroo Amar Das refused to meet her. Guroo Amar Das not only preached the equality of people irrespective of their caste but he also tried to foster the idea of women's equality. He tried to liberate women from the practices of purdah (wearing a veil) as well as preaching strongly against the practice of sati (Hindu wife burning on her husbands funeral pyre). Guroo Amar Das also disapproved of a widow remaining unmarried for the rest of her life. Goindwal continued to experience growth as many Sikhs thronged there for spiritual guidance. Pilgrims moved there in large numbers to be close to the Guroo. Muslims and Hindus also moved to the thriving town. When there was racial fighting between the three groups and calls for revenge, Guroo Angad instructed his Sikhs; "In God's house, justice is sure. It is only a matter of time. The arrow of humility and patience on the part of the innocent and the peaceful never fail in their aim." Once during several days of rain while Guroo Amar Das was riding by a wall which he saw was on the verge of falling he galloped his horse past the wall. The Sikhs questioned him saying; "O Master, you have instructed us, 'fear not death, for it comes to all' and 'the Guroo and the God-man are beyond the pale of birth and death', why did you then gallop past the collapsing wall?" Guroo Amar Das replied; "Our body is the embodiment of God's light. It is through the human body that one can explore one's limitless spiritual possibilities. Demi-god's envy the human frame. One should not, therefore, play with it recklessly. One must submit to the Will of God, when one's time is over, but not crave death, nor invite it without a sufficient and noble cause. It is self surrender for the good of man that one should seek, not physical annihilation. " With a view of providing the Sikhs with a place where they could have a holy dip while visiting Goindwal the Guroo had a type of deep open water reservoir called a baoli dug. As the Hindus believed in reincarnation in 84 hundred thousand species, Guroo Amar Das had the well dug with exactly 84 steps. To symbolize that God could be reached through his remembrance rather than just a cycle of reincarnations he declared that who ever would descend the 84 steps for a bath while reciting the Japji of Guroo Nanak at each step would be freed from the cycles of births and deaths. When it came time for the Guroo to marry his younger daughter Bibi Bani, he selected a pious and diligent young follower of his called Jetha from Lahore. Jetha had come to visit the Guroo with a party of pilgrims from Lahore and had become so enchanted by the Guroo's teachings that he had decided to settle in Goindwal. Here he earned a living selling wheat and would regularly attend the services of Guroo Amar Das in his spare time. In 1567 while on his way to Lahore the Emperor Akbar decided to visit and see for himself Guroo Amar Das. He stopped at Goindwal to meet the Guroo, whose teachings he had heard about. The Guroo agreed only to seem Akbar if he would first eat in the Langar. Akbar agreed and here the Emperor sat down and ate with the poorest of the poor in his company. Akbar was so impressed by Guroo Amar Das that he wanted to give the Guroo a parting gift of the revenue collected from several villages to help support the Langar kitchen. Guroo Amar Das refused saying that the Langar must be self supporting and only depend upon the small offerings of the devout. The jealousy of the teachings of the Gurus by the high caste Khatris and Brahmins continued. They pleaded with Akbar at the royal court that the teachings of Sikhi would lead to disorder as they went against the teachings of Hindus and Muslims. Akbar summoned the Guroo to his court for an explanation. Guroo Amar Das politely excused himself on account of his old age, but sent Jetha to answer the charges leveled against the Sikhs. In the royal court Jetha explained the teachings of Sikhi. Akbar was open minded and deeply impressed by the religious doctrine of the Sikhs and decided that no further actions were required.                                                                                                           Guroo Ram Das was born on September 24, 1534 to simple God-fearing parents, Hari Das and Anup Devi of Lahore. Known as Jetha meaning the first born, he was a handsome young man. When he grew up he could always be found in the company of religious men. One day Jetha came across a party of Sikhs who were on their way to Goindwal to pay homage to Guroo Amar Das. Jetha decided to join them and also travel to Goindwal. Upon their arrival and meeting, Guroo Amar Das at once noticed the young Jetha with his pleasant manner and sense of devotion. While his fellow travelers returned to Lahore, Jetha decided to stay and become a disciple of Guroo Amar Das. His hard work, and devotion eventually won him the hand of Guroo Amar Das's younger daughter, Bibi Bhani. They went on to have three sons, Prithi Chand, Mahadev and Arjan Dev. Jetha became a trusted disciple of Guroo Amar Das. As described previously he successfully represented Guroo Ram Das before the Mughal royal court to defend the charges by jealous Hindus that Sikhi maligned both the Hindu and Muslim religions. "Birth and caste are of no avail before God. It is deeds which make or unmake a man. To exploit ignorant people with superstitions and to call it religion is a sacrilege against God and man. To worship the infinite, formless and absolute God in the form of a totem, an image or an insignificant or time-bound object of nature, or to wash one's sins not through compassion and self-surrender, but through ablutions; to insist upon special diets, languages and dresses, and fads about what to eat and what not, and to condemn the mass of human beings, including women, to the status of sub-humans and to deny them the reading of the scriptures and even work of every kind is to tear apart man from man. This is not religion, not is it religion to deny the world through which alone man can find his spiritual possibilities." The Emperor Akbar was greatly impressed by the tenants of Sikhi as explained by Jetha and dismissed all of the charges. Eventually Jetha was ordained as Guroo Amar Das's successor and named Guroo Ram Das (meaning servant of God). These events have previously been described. Blessed, blessed is Guroo Raam Daas; He who created You, has also exalted You. Dhan Dhan raamdaas gur jin siri-aa tinai savaari-aa. Perfect is Your miracle; the Creator God Himself has installed You on the throne. pooree ho-ee karaamaat aap sirjanhaarai Dhaari-aa. The Sikhs and all the Congregation recognize You as the Supreme God, and bow down to You. sikhee atai sangtee paarbarahm kar namaskaari-aa. You are unchanging, unfathomable and immeasurable; You have no end or limitation. atal athaahu atol too tayraa ant na paaraavaari-aa. Those who serve You with love - You carry them across. jinHee tooN sayvi-aa bhaa-o kar say tuDh paar utaari-aa. Greed, envy, sexual desire, anger and emotional attachment - You have beaten them and driven them out. lab lobh kaam kroDh moh maar kadhay tuDh saparvaari-aa. Blessed is Your place, and True is Your magnificent glory. Dhan so tayraa thaan hai sach tayraa paiskaari-aa. You are Nanak, You are Angad, and You are Amar Daas; so do I recognize You. naanak too lahnaa toohai gur amar too veechaari-aa. When I saw the Guroo, then my mind was comforted and consoled. ||7|| gur dithaa taaN man saaDhaari-aa. ||7|| -Sri Guroo Granth Sahib, 968 When the aged ascetic son of Guroo Nanak Baba Sri Chand came to visit Guroo Ram Das he asked him why he kept such a long beard? Guroo Ram Das replied; "To wipe the dust off the feet of holy men like yourself" and then proceeded to perform this supreme act of humility. Sri Chand held his hand and embraced Guroo Ram Das saying; "It's enough. This is the kind of character by which you have deprived me of my ancestral heritage. Now, what more is left with me that I could offer you for your piety and goodness of heart?" Guroo Ram Das now eagerly continued the building of the city of Ramdaspur (the abode of Ram Das) by digging of the second sacred pool as he had been instructed by Guroo Amar Das. Pilgrims came in large numbers to hear the Guroo and to help in the excavation work of the tank. The holy tank would be called Amritsar meaning pool of nectar. Today the city which is the holiest center of Sikhi has come to be know as Amritsar. Guroo Ram Das urged his Sikhs that one could fulfill one's life not merely by quiet meditation but in actively participating in the joys and sorrows of others. This is how one could also rid oneself of the prime malady - Ego, and end their spiritual loneliness. One of the new entries into the Sikh fold at this time was Bhai Gurdas Bhalla, the son of the younger brother of Guroo Amar Das. Bhai Gurdas was a superb poet and scholar of comparative religion who would later go on become the scribe of the first edition of the Guroo Granth Sahib Jee. Guroo Amar Das was impressed with Bhai Gurdas's existing knowledge of Hindi and Sanskrit and the Hindu scriptures. Following the tradition of sending out Masands across the country Guroo Amar Das deputed Bhai Gurdas to Agra to spread the gospel of Sikhi. Before leaving Guroo Amar Das prescribed the following routine for Sikhs; "He who calls himself a Sikh of the True Guroo, He must get up in the morning and say his prayers. He must rise in the early hours and bathe in the holy tank. He must meditate on God as advised by the Guroo. And rid himself of the afflictions of sins and evil. As the day dawns, he should recite scriptures, and repeat God's name in every activity. He to whom the Guroo takes kindly is shown the path. Nanak! I seek the dust of the feet of the Guroo's Sikh who himself remembers God and makes others remember Him." (Gauree) The standard Sikh marriage ceremony known as the Anand Karaj is centered around the Lawan, a four stanza hymn composed by Guroo Ram Das. The marriage couple circumscribe the Guroo Granth Sahib Jee as each stanza is read. The first round is the Divine consent for commencing the householders life through marriage. The second round states that the union of the couple has been brought about by God. In the third round the couple is described as the most fortunate as they have sung the praises of the Creator in the company of saints. In the fourth round the feeling of the couple that they have obtained their hearts desire and are being congratulated is described. Guroo Ram Das's first cousin Sahari Mal came to invite the Guroo to visit Lahore in connection with the marriage of his son. The Guroo being much too busy with his work promised to send one of his sons instead. Guroo Ram Das asked his eldest son Prithi Chand to attend on his behalf, but he refused. Prithi Chand feared that his father was perhaps trying to eliminate him in order to install his youngest brother Arjan as the next Guroo. Arjan was a great favorite of his father. Mahadev the Guroo's middle son was a recluse and excused himself on the ground that he was not interested in the affairs of the world. The Guroo therefore asked his youngest son Arjan Dev to attend, which he agreed to do with such grace and humility, that Guroo Ram Das was very pleased. Arjan Dev now proceeded to Lahore, where his father asked him to remain until called for and to take charge of the needs and education of the Sikhs in Lahore, his ancestral home. After two years of feeling intensely homesick, Arjan Dev composed a poem of love and devotion and sent it to Guroo Ram Das. This poem along with another one a few month's later were intercepted by the Guroo's jealous son Prithi Chand who made sure his father never received them. Finally Arjan wrote a third poem and numbered it with a 3 and gave strict instructions to the messenger to only hand it over to the Guroo personally. "A moment's separation and it was like an age. When do I see you now, my beloved God? My night does not pass, nor do I get sleep, Without seeing the Guroo's darbar. I am a sacrifice, I am a sacrifice again to the true darbar of the Guroo. 3" (Majh) Upon finally receiving this poem, Guroo Ram Das sensed what must have happened to the earlier two messages so he confronted his eldest son Prithi Chand. At first, Prithi Chand denied everything, but seeing the insistence of the Guroo and the consequences of refusal to obey him, he finally confessed his treachery and produced the other two letters. When Guroo Ram Das read them, he was moved to tears by the humility and sincerity of his son Arjan's compositions. Guroo Ram Das immediately sent for Baba Buddha to journey to Lahore and to bring back his son Arjan Dev with full honour. The Guroo then had Bhai Budhha apply the saffron mark to the forehead of Arjan Dev and declared him his successor. Prithi Chand would not accept his fathers wishes and continued to misbehave and abuse Guroo Arjan Dev. Guroo Ram Das had to publicly condemn his son Prithi Chand for his actions. Shortly thereafter Guroo Ram Das breathed his last on September 1 1581.   Guroo Amar Das continued a systematic planned expansion of the Sikh Institutions. He trained a band of 146 apostles (52 were women) called Masands and sent them to various parts of the country. He also set up 22 dioceses called manjis across the country. These twenty two dioceses helped to spread Sikhi among the population while collecting revenues to help support the young religion. Guroo Amar Das also declared Baisakhi (April 13), Maghi (1st day of Magha, mid January) and Diwali (festival of lights in October/November) as three special days where all the Sikhs should gather to hear the Guroo's words. Although advanced in years, Guroo Amar Das undertook a tour of a number of Hindu places of pilgrimage along the banks of the Yamuna and Ganga rivers as well as Kurukshetra. Here the Guroo would hold religious services and large numbers of people would come to hear his preaching. For their religious scriptures Guroo Amar Das collected an anthology of writings including hymns of Guroo Nanak and Guroo Angad and added his own as well as those of other Hindu saints whose poems conformed to the teachings of Sikhi. All of these were in Punjabi and easily understood by the common people. When a learned Brahmin once questioned the Guroo; "Why do you impart instruction to your disciples not in Sanskrit, the language of gods in which all the Hindu lore is written, but in their mother-tongue, like Punjabi, the language of the illiterate mass." To this Guroo Amar Das replied; "Sanskrit is like a well, deep, inaccessible and confined to the elite, but the language of the people is like rain water - ever fresh, abundant and accessible to all." He said; "I want my doctrines to be propagated through every language which the people speak, for it is not language but the content that should be considered sacred or otherwise." Seeing the rapid expansion of Sikhi, Guroo Amar Das asked his son-in-law and trusted follower Jetha to oversee the founding of another city. He wanted him to dig a tank there and to build himself a house. Jetha first purchased the lands for the price of 700 Akbari rupees from the Zamindars of Tung. Here he started the digging on the tank. This new township called Ramdaspur would in due time become present day Amritsar, the holiest city of the Sikhs. On September 1, 1574 sensing that his end was near, Guroo Amar Das sent for Baba Buddha and other prominent Sikhs including his tow sons Mohan and Mohri. He declared; "According to the tradition established by Guroo Nanak, the leadership of the Sikhs must go to the most deserving. I, therefore, bestow this honour on my son-in-law Jetha." Guroo Amar Das then renamed Jetha as Ram Das, meaning Servant of God. As was the custom Baba Buddha was asked to anoint the forehead of Amar Das with the saffron mark. All those present bowed before Guroo Ram Das except for Mohan, Guroo Amar Das's eldest son. Shortly thereafter Guroo Amar Das breathed his last on the full moon day of Bhadon in 1574 at the ripe old age of 95.                                                                                                       Guroo Arjan Dev was the youngest son of Guroo Ram Das and Mata Bhani. He was born at Goindwal on April 15, 1563. In 1579 Guroo Arjan was eventually married to Ganga Devi daughter of Krishan Chand in 1579. Eventually Arjan Dev was invested with the gurooship by his father Guroo Ram Das in 1581 as narrated previously. Guroo Arjan now left Goindwal for Ramdaspur (Amritsar) to complete the work started there by his father and to get away from his jealous older brother Prithi Chand. Guroo Arjan Dev completed the two tanks of Santoksar and Amritsar and undertook the expansion of Ramdaspur. The Guroo laid the foundation of the Harimandir Sahib (the "Abode of God") in the middle of the tank of Amritsar. All of the Sikhs desired that it should be the tallest building in the new town. Guroo Arjan Dev however felt otherwise. He reminded his followers that humility should be a great virtue. The temple was therefore built on as low an elevation as possible. To counter the Muslim belief that God's House is in the west and the Hindu belief that it is in the east where the sun rises, the Harimandir Sahib had entrances on all four sides. Guroo Arjan Dev exclaimed; "My faith is for the people of all castes and all creeds from whichever direction they come and to whichever direction they bow." To help raise money for these monumental public works projects, the Guroo declared that all Sikhs should donate 1/10th of their earnings to charity. Around the year 1590 Guroo Arjan Dev decided to go on an extensive tour of Punjab accompanied by such trusted Sikhs as Bhai Gurdas and Bidhi Chand. He visited Khadur, Goindwal, Sarhali, Bhaini, Khanpur, Taran Taran, Lahore, Dera Baba Nanak, as well as Barath where he met the aged ascetic son of Guroo Nanak, Baba Sri Chand. Guroo Arjan Dev also purchased some land near Jullundur and laid the foundations of a new township called Kartarpur as well as digging a well called Ganga Sagar. The Guroo eventually returned to Amritsar to find his eldest brother Prithi Chand jealous as ever. With the Guroo having no children as yet, Prithi Chand hoped that his own son Mehrban would be able to succeed Guroo Arjan Dev as the next Guroo. Guroo Arjan in his humility asked his wife Ganga Devi; "If you need a boon, ask not me but a pious Sikh like Baba Buddha, the aged seer and devout disciple of Guroo Nanak". She proceeded with a large entourage and much fanfare to Baba Buddha who lived in a jungle near Amritsar. There she presented him with many delicacies to eat. Baba Buddha resented this and refused to provide any blessings. Upon hearing what happened, Guroo Arjan Dev told his wife to return this time on foot, with a simple meal prepared by herself. This time Baba Buddha was delighted and partook of the simple food. He prophesied; "A son will be born to thee who will crush the enemies of Nanak's house, just as I have crushed this piece of onion with my hand." Soon thereafter Ganga Devi became pregnant. Prithi Chand meanwhile cultivated Sulhi Khan, a revenue officer of the Mughal court to raid Amritsar on the pretext of collecting a tribute. Guroo Arjan Dev along with his family left Amritsar and settled at Wadali a few miles away. It was here that on June 14, 1595 that the Guroo was blessed with a son, Hargobind. The love of a father for his son can be seen in the following lines: "My True Guroo is my Savior and Protector. Showering us with His Mercy and Grace, God extended His Hand, and saved Hargobind, who is now safe and secure. The fever is gone - God Himself eradicated it, and preserved the honor of His servant. I have obtained all blessings from the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy; I am a sacrifice to the True Guroo." (Guroo Arjan Dev, Sorath, pg. 620) Meanwhile Sulhi Khan upon hearing that both Guroo Arjan Dev and his treasure were no longer in Amritsar put off his attack on the city. In Amritsar Prithi Chand tried to convince the Sikhs that he was the real Guroo and not Arjan Dev. He only met with disappointment though, as the Sikhs continued to flock to see Guroo Arjan Dev. Prithi Chand therefore concocted a plan to assassinate the Guroo's only child Hargobind. He sent a wet-nurse with poison, got a snake charmer to release a snake near Hargobind, and on another attempt sent a servant with poison milk. All of these attempts failed with the perpetrators all publicly confessing that Prithi Chand had sent them. "The poison had absolutely no harmful effect. But the wicked Brahmin died in pain. || 1 || The Supreme God Himself has saved His humble servant. The sinner died through the Power of the Guroo." (Guroo Arjan Dev, Bhairon, pg. 1137) Eventually a large delegation of Sikhs were able to convince the Guroo to return to Amritsar. Guroo Arjan now started the training for his son Hargobind for the responsibilities which he would one day have to face. He had the young Hargobind not only trained in languages and religious philosophy, but also in riding, the use of weapons, astronomy, medicine, agriculture, public administration and the sciences. Baba Buddha was put in charge of the religious education of the young Hargobind, while a team of experts were employed for instruction in their areas of expertise. Guroo Arjan Dev meanwhile kept quite busy attending to the spiritual needs of the large masses of Sikhs who came to see him daily. He would daily perform devotional music from the Harmandir Sahib, being a great instrumentalist and vocal singer. A situation now arose which would require the Guroo's complete attention. Reports came to the Guroo that Prithi Chand was composing his own hymns and was passing them to the visiting Sikhs as the compositions of Guroo Nanak as well as other Guroo's. Others were also passing of their own compositions as the works of the Sikh Guroo's. Guroo Arjan Dev realized that if this situation was allowed to continue it would be the undermining of the Sikh religion. Having given the Sikhs a central place of worship, they now needed an authentic compilation of the hymns of their Guroo's. Thus Guroo Amar Das started collection the original verses of all the Guroo's. He sent trusted Sikhs such as Bhai Piara, Bhai Gurdas and Baba Buddha across the country in search of original manuscripts. Guroo Arjan Dev made trips to Goindwal, Khadur and Kartarpur to visit the families of the previous Guroo's. Guroo Arjan Dev collected original manuscripts of the Guroo's from Mohan (son of Guroo Amar Das), Datu (son of Guroo Angad) as well as Sri Chand (son of Guroo Nanak). Putting Baba Buddha in charge of the spiritual needs of the large number of pilgrims visiting Harmandir Sahib, Guroo Arjan now pitched a tent by the side of Ramsar tank and started the arduous task of compiling the first edition of the Holy Guroo Granth Sahib Jee. Bhai Gurdas was entrusted as the Guroo's scribe for the master copy. Unlike any other religious book in history, Guroo Arjan Dev decided to also include the compositions of Hindu and Muslim saints which he considered consistent with the teachings of Sikhi and the Guroo's. Guroo Arjan Dev included the works of such Hindu Bhaktas as Kabeer, Jaidev, Namdev, Dahnna, Ravidas, Pipa and Ramanand. The Guroo also included the works of such Muslim divines as Fareed, Mardana, Satta and Balwand, the Guroo's minstrels, as well as several bards (Bhatts). Bhai Gurdas was invited by the Guroo to include his own verses, but declined out of modesty. The monumental task was finally completed. This first edition of the Guroo Granth Sahib Jee known at that time as Pothi Sahib was installed on a high pedestal within the Harimandir Sahib in August 1604. Guroo Arjan Dev seated himself at a lower level and instructed all Sikhs to bow before it, not as an idol, but as the book of divine inspiration which instructed living men in the ways of God and dedicated secular life. The revered Baba Buddha was appointed the first Granthi (custodian) of the book. Guroo Arjan Dev dictated that unlike the Hindu scriptures, the Pothi Sahib could be open to reading by anyone of any caste, creed or sex. This original copy is still in existence today. A rich arrogant Hindu banker of Delhi called Chandu Shah tried to marry his daughter to Hargobind. But due to his arrogance Guroo Arjan Dev refused the match. Prithi Chand knew that Chandu Shah welded some influence with the imperial court. He used Chandu Shah's anger at being rejected to cause further trouble. Prithi Chand had Chandu Shah complain to the Emperor Akbar that the Guroo had prepared a book which was derogatory in nature to Muslim's and Hindu's. Upon hearing this Akbar ordered the Guroo to be brought before him along with the. Guroo Arjan Dev sent the revered Baba Buddha and Bhai Gurdas to the Mughal court along with a copy of the Holy Granth. Akbar opened the Holy Book and the first hymn read out was; "My God has breathed His Light into the dust. And so brought the world into being. He it is who created the sky, the earth, the waters and all vegetation. O man, whatever one sees, passes away. But the world usurps anothers due and is forgetful of God. It is the world of the animal, nay, of ghosts and goblins. It eats the forbidden fruit, usurping what belongs to another. Hold thy mind, O man, or God will burn thee in the fire of Hell. Thy benefactors, thy brothers, thy courts and kingdoms and thy homes. Are of no avil to thee, when seized thee the Angel of Death. My God, purest of the pure, knows all that is within thee. Nanak: pray thou to His Saints that they lead thee on the Truth Path." (Tilang) Upon hearing this Akbar was satisfied as he had always looked upon the Sikh Gurus as social reformers and believed in the unity of God and the brotherhood of man. However Chandu Shah accused Bhai Gurdas of not really read the text but recited a hymn from memory. Akbar therefor got one Sahib Dyal who could read Gurmukhi to appear before the court and opened a page at random for him to read, he read the following; "You don't see God who dwells in your heart. And you carry about an idol around your neck. A nonbeliever, you wander about churning water, And you die harassed in delusion. The idol you call God will drown with you. The ungrateful sinner. The boat will not ferry you across. Says Nanak, I met the Guroo who led me to God. He who lives in water, earth, nether region, and firmament. " (Sulhi) The Emperor now exclaimed; "Excepting love and devotion to God, I so far find neither praise nor blame to anyone in this Granth. It is a volume worthy of reverence." Not only this but Akbar wanted to offer Guroo Arjan a suitable gift. Guroo Arjan asked the Emperor to instead exempt the people of Punjab from the annual land revenue that year since their was a severe drought. Akbar graciously complied with the Guroo's wishes, this greatly increased the Guroo's popularity with the peasants. On October 17, 1605 Akbar died and was succeeded by Jahangir as Emperor. Jahangir was a person of lax morals, pleasure loving and fond of drinking. He left much of the administration duties of running his kingdom to others. Because of his lax morals Jahangir set out to please the orthodox Muslim clergy which he knew did not approve of his actions, or the tolerant attitude that his father Akbar had previously displayed to other religions. Jahangir wrote the following in his memoirs called Tuzak-i-Jehangiri; "At Goindwal on the banks of the river Beas, lived a Hindu, Arjan by name, in the garb of a Pir or Sheikh. Thus, many innocent Hindus and even foolish and ignorant Muslims he brought into his fold who beat the drum noisily of his self-appointed prophethood. He was called Guroo. From all sides, worshippers came to offer their homage to him and put full trust in his word. For three or four generations, they had warmed up this shop. For a long time I had harbored the wish that I should set aside this shop of falsehood or I should bring him into the fold of Islam." Jahangir further writes; "In these days, Khusro (Jahangir's rebel son) passed through this way. The foolish person resolved to call on him. Khusro halted for a time at this place and this man came to see him and discoursed with him on many matters and also applied with saffron on his forehead what the Hindus call kashkeh (tilak) and consider a good omen. When I heard this account personally, I knew about his false pretenses. So I ordered that he be brought into my presence, that his property be confiscated and his sons and other possessions be made over to Murtaza Khan and he be dealt with in accordance with the political and common law of the land." When Guroo Arjan received the summons to appear before Jahangir, he knew that it was not a good sign. The Guroo declared that his son Hargobind should be installed as the next Guroo. Prominent Sikhs gathered and revered Baba Buddha applied the saffron mark on Hargobind's forehead anointing him as Guroo Hargobind. Upon reaching Lahore, Jahangir demanded that Guroo Arjan Dev revise the Holy Granth, removing all references to Islam and Hinduism. This of course the Guroo refused to do. Since Jahangir was on his way to Kashmir, he asked Murtaza Khan to deal with the Guroo. Murtaza Khan immediately jailed the Guroo, and ordered the Guroo Arjan Dev to be tortured to death if he did not agree to remove the alleged derogatory references in the Holy Granth. The Guroo was cruelly tortured. He was made to sit on a red hot iron sheet. They poured burning hot sand on his body. The Guroo was dipped in boiling water. The bore all of these brutalities with calm serenity, for five long days he was tortured. When the torturers found the Guroo unresponsive to their torture they did not know what to do. On May 30, 1606 the Guroo asked for a bath in the river Ravi by the side of the Mughal fort. Thousands of followers watched the Guroo who could barely walk make his way to the river with tears in their eyes. His bare body was covered with blisters, Guroo Arjan Dev repeated over and over; "Sweet is Your will, O God; the gift of your Name alone I seek." The Guroo then calmly walked into the river bank, bidding his farewell to his followers and was gone forever, his body carried away by the currents. This act of brutality in ending such a saintly life with such cruelty was to forever change the course of Sikhi.