Sikh gurus
The Sikh gurus were the ten human spiritual leaders who founded and developed Sikhism, a monotheistic religion emphasizing devotion to one formless God, ethical conduct, and social equality, originating in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent from 1469 to 1708.[1]
Guru Nanak Dev (1469–1539), the first guru, rejected ritualism, caste hierarchy, and idolatry prevalent in Hindu and Muslim practices of the time, instead advocating direct personal communion with the divine through meditation on God's name, honest labor, and sharing with others.[2][3]
Successive gurus, including Guru Angad who standardized the Gurmukhi script, Guru Amar Das who instituted the langar communal kitchen to promote equality, and Guru Ram Das who founded Amritsar as the faith's center, systematically organized the Sikh community (sangat) and compiled sacred hymns into the Adi Granth.[4]
Guru Arjan, the fifth guru, completed the initial scripture and constructed the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), but was executed by Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1606 amid rising tensions, marking the first major martyrdom and shifting the faith toward self-defense.[5]
Later gurus like Guru Hargobind introduced the concept of miri-piri (temporal and spiritual authority), arming followers against persecution, while Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded in 1675 for defending religious freedom of Hindus against forced conversion.[5]
Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708), the tenth and final human guru, established the Khalsa in 1699—a baptized order of saint-soldiers committed to the five Ks (kesh, kangha, kara, kachera, kirpan)—to foster martial discipline and resist Mughal tyranny, before declaring the Guru Granth Sahib the eternal, living guru, thereby concluding human guru succession.[6][7]
Definition and Concept
Etymology and Terminology
The term Sikh originates from the Punjabi word sikh, denoting a disciple or learner, which derives from the Sanskrit root śiṣya (शिष्य), meaning "student" or "one who studies."[8][9] This etymology underscores the foundational emphasis in Sikhism on discipleship to divine truth, as articulated by Guru Nanak (1469–1539), the first guru, who positioned followers as seekers of enlightenment rather than blind adherents.[10] The word guru in Sikhism stems from the Sanskrit gurū (गुरु), literally signifying "teacher," "enlightener," or "guide," with a folk etymology breaking it into gu (darkness or ignorance) and rū (light or remover), thus "dispeller of darkness."[11][12] In the Sikh context, the guru is not merely an instructor but the human embodiment of divine wisdom (joti), serving as the conduit for Gurbani (sacred utterances) that reveal God's will (hukam).[1] This role evolved across the ten human gurus, from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708), after whom the Guru Granth Sahib—the scriptural compilation of their teachings—was designated the eternal, living guru in 1708, terminating human succession to prevent fragmentation.[13] Sikh terminology for the gurus employs honorifics such as Sri Guru [Name] Dev Ji, where Sri invokes auspiciousness, Dev means divine, and Ji denotes respect, reflecting the gurus' perceived spiritual preeminence.[14] The collective lineage is termed the Guru Parampara (chain of gurus), emphasizing unbroken transmission of authority (Guru Gaddi), with each successor nominated by the predecessor based on merit rather than heredity in the early phases.[15] Terms like Gurmukh (one oriented toward the guru) contrast with Manmukh (self-willed), highlighting adherence to guru-guided living over ego-driven paths.[12]Theological Role and Authority
In Sikh theology, the ten human Gurus are regarded as enlightened spiritual guides who embody a singular divine light (jyot) passed successively from Guru Nanak Dev (1469–1539) to Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708), serving as direct channels for divine revelation and instruction to humanity. This light represents the manifestation of God's will in human form, enabling the Gurus to dispel spiritual ignorance and illuminate the path to realization of the formless, singular God (Waheguru). Their role emphasizes monotheism, ethical conduct, meditation on the divine name (Naam), and communal service (seva), with teachings rejecting caste hierarchies, idolatry, and empty rituals in favor of inner devotion and truthful living.[12][16] The Gurus' authority derives from their enlightenment and alignment with eternal truth, rather than institutional or hereditary claims alone, allowing them to compose sacred hymns (bani) that form the doctrinal core of Sikhism, as preserved in the Guru Granth Sahib. Each Guru reinforced and expanded the foundational message of Nanak, maintaining doctrinal continuity through personal selection of successors—often from devoted disciples rather than biological kin—to ensure the transmission of spiritual wisdom untainted by worldly motives. This authority extended to interpreting divine will, establishing community practices like the langar (communal kitchen), and guiding adherents toward liberation (mukti) from the cycle of rebirth via remembrance of God.[17][18] Theological authority culminated in 1708 when Guru Gobind Singh, recognizing the perpetuity of scripture over human frailty, installed the Adi Granth—comprising the Gurus' compositions alongside contributions from 15 other enlightened saints of diverse backgrounds—as the eternal Guru Granth Sahib, thereby eternalizing the Gurus' light within its verses. This transfer ended human succession, positioning the scripture as the living, infallible authority for all spiritual matters, consulted daily in gurdwaras for guidance through its random opening (hukamnama). Sikhs are instructed to regard the Guru Granth Sahib as the final arbiter, embodying the collective wisdom of the Gurus without alteration or addition.[19][20][21]Succession of the Gurus
Timeline of the Ten Gurus
The ten human Gurus of Sikhism provided successive spiritual leadership from 1469 to 1708, with each designating a successor before death to ensure continuity of authority and teachings.[22] This lineage began with Guru Nanak Dev, the founder, and concluded with Guru Gobind Singh, who established the Guru Granth Sahib and Guru Panth as perpetual guides.[23] The following table outlines the Gurus, their approximate lifespans, and periods of guruship, based on traditional Sikh historical records accepted by institutions like the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.[24] Dates reflect the Vikrami calendar conversions to the Gregorian, with minor variations due to lunar-solar reckoning.| No. | Guru | Lifespan | Guruship Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guru Nanak Dev | 1469–1539 | 1469–1539 |
| 2 | Guru Angad Dev | 1504–1552 | 1539–1552 |
| 3 | Guru Amar Das | 1479–1574 | 1552–1574 |
| 4 | Guru Ram Das | 1534–1581 | 1574–1581 |
| 5 | Guru Arjan Dev | 1563–1606 | 1581–1606 |
| 6 | Guru Hargobind | 1595–1644 | 1606–1644 |
| 7 | Guru Har Rai | 1630–1661 | 1644–1661 |
| 8 | Guru Har Krishan | 1656–1664 | 1661–1664 |
| 9 | Guru Tegh Bahadur | 1621–1675 | 1664–1675 |
| 10 | Guru Gobind Singh | 1666–1708 | 1675–1708 |