Indian History and World History (Part-22)

• Guru Nanak was born on 15th April 1469 in Pakistan.
• His birthplace is marked by Gurdwara Janam Asthan.
• He was the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. He died on 22nd September 1539.
• His birthday is observed worldwide as Guru Nanak Gurpurab.

• He inaugurated the digging of the holy tank Amritsar (pool of nectar) on a piece of land that was gifted by the Mughal Emperor Akbar to Guru Ram Das wife Bibi Bhani.
• Amritsar was originally called Ramdaspur - Guru Ramdas's City (literally the City of God's Servant).

He fled to Punjab, where Guru Arjun Dev blessed him and provide some financial aid.

Jahangir became displeased with the Guru by this incident.

He fined the Guru with two and a half lakhs of rupees.

On refusal to give it, the Guru was taken prisoner and after being subjected to severe torture in the prison, he was given a death sentence.

Tarn Taran Sahib is a city in the Majha region of the state of Punjab in northern India. It is the district headquarters and covers the municipal council of Tarn Taran district.

Gurdwara Sri Tarn Taran Sahib, a major Sikh pilgrimage center is located in the central part of the city. He founded a town named Tarn Taran, which became district in the year 2006.

It is the holy shrine of the Sikhs. The Golden Temple complex includes the

• Akal Takht,
• Sikh history museum,
• the Amrit Sarovar
• and Guru Ram Das Langar (a large dining hall).

The Golden Temple, also known as Harmandir Sahib, was founded by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, in 1581. However, the structure was completed and the golden covering was added by Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, in 1589.

Key Points:

1. Founder: Guru Ram Das laid the foundation for the Golden Temple in 1581.

2. Completion: The temple was completed by his successor, Guru Arjan Dev, who also oversaw the installation of the Adi Granth (the central religious scripture of Sikhism) in the temple in 1604.

3. Golden Facade: The golden façade of the temple, which gives it its name, was added much later in the 19th century by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the leader of the Sikh Empire.

It is built on the banks of the River Sutlej.

Guru Hargobind in 1644 as well as Guru Har Rai in 1661 were cremated at Gurdwara Patal Puri.

1. Guru Arjan Dev was executed by Jahangir.
2. Guru Arjan Dev is known and remembered as the founder of Golden Temple.
3. Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the first Guru of Sikhs.
4. The 10th and last Guru was Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Guru Angad was second, Guru Hargobind was sixth, and Guru Ramdas was the fourth Guru.

The Khalsa tradition was instituted in 1699 by the Tenth Sikh Guru of Guru Gobind Singh.

The founding of Khalsa is celebrated by Sikhs during the festival of Vaisakhi.

Khalsa according to McLeod, is derived from the Arabic or Persian word 'Khalisa" which means "to be pure, to be clear, to be free from"

The Khalsa tradition was instituted in 1699 by the Tenth Sikh Guru of Guru Gobind Singh.

The founding of Khalsa is celebrated by Sikhs during the festival of Vaisakhi.

Khalsa according to McLeod, is derived from the Arabic or Persian word 'Khalisa" which means "to be pure, to be clear, to be free from"