Guru Arjan Dev: The Fifth Sikh Guru

Guru Arjan Dev, honoured as Guru Arjan Dev Ji, was the fifth of the ten Sikh Gurus and the successor of Guru Ram Das. He is remembered for two great works that stand at the heart of the Sikh faith: the compiling of the Adi Granth, the first Sikh scripture, in which the hymns of the Gurus and of other revered voices were gathered, and the completion of the Harmandir Sahib, the central shrine now widely known as the Golden Temple, at the sacred pool at Amritsar. He is also revered as the first great martyr of the Sikh faith, having died in 1606 under the Mughal emperor Jahangir, a sacrifice honoured soberly and with deep reverence in the tradition. His life belongs to the devotional world that shaped the wider Bhakti movement of India, and this guide presents it as the Sikh tradition holds it, with reverence and care.

Key Takeaways

• Guru Arjan Dev was the fifth of the ten Sikh Gurus and successor of Guru Ram Das.
• He compiled the Adi Granth, the first Sikh scripture.
• He completed the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar, now widely known as the Golden Temple.
• The Adi Granth gathered the hymns of the Gurus and of other revered saints.
• He is revered as the first great martyr of the Sikh faith.
• He died in 1606 under the Mughal emperor Jahangir, a sacrifice honoured with reverence.

The sections below explain, as the Sikh tradition holds, who Guru Arjan Dev was, his names, how he became the fifth Guru, the compiling of the Adi Granth, the completion of the Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple, his teachings, his honoured martyrdom, its meaning for the faith, and his continuing reverence in the Sikh tradition.

Quick Facts

Who Was Guru Arjan Dev?

Guru Arjan Dev was the fifth of the ten Sikh Gurus and the successor of Guru Ram Das. Sikh tradition honours him for two great works at the heart of the faith: the compiling of the Adi Granth, the first Sikh scripture, and the completion of the Harmandir Sahib, the central shrine at Amritsar now widely known as the Golden Temple.

Honoured as Guru Arjan Dev Ji, he is also revered as the first great martyr of the Sikh faith, having died in 1606 under the Mughal emperor Jahangir. He lived in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, and the details of his life are preserved within the Sikh tradition. His guruship marked a time of great building and consolidation for the faith, giving it both a scripture and a completed central shrine. Guru Arjan Dev stands as a Guru of immense importance, revered with deep reverence across the Sikh world for his works and for his sacrifice.

What Are the Other Names of Guru Arjan Dev?

Guru Arjan Dev is honoured with the respectful title Guru Arjan Dev Ji, and he is also referred to simply as Guru Arjan. The honorific Ji is added as a sign of reverence, as is customary in speaking of the Sikh Gurus, and the title Guru marks his place in the lineage of the ten Gurus.

In accounts of his life and work he may appear as Guru Arjan or Guru Arjan Dev, both pointing to the same revered figure, the fifth of the Sikh Gurus. Knowing these forms helps a reader recognise him across different sources, where the honorifics may or may not be included. Whichever form is used, he is honoured as the fifth Sikh Guru, the compiler of the Adi Granth, the completer of the Harmandir Sahib and the first great martyr of the faith. The reverence expressed in his names reflects the special honour in which the Sikh tradition holds him for his works and his sacrifice.

How Did Guru Arjan Dev Become the Fifth Guru?

Guru Arjan Dev became the fifth Sikh Guru when Guru Ram Das, as the Sikh tradition holds, chose him as his successor in recognition of his devotion, humility and gifts. The choice continued the pattern by which the guruship passed to a disciple proven in faith.

Sikh tradition tells that Guru Arjan Dev was recognised for the depth of his devotion and for his learning and spiritual gifts, so that he was appointed to carry on the work of the Gurus. Taking up the guruship, he gave himself to great works for the faith, above all the gathering of the Sikh scripture and the completion of the central shrine at Amritsar. The succession of Guru Arjan Dev is honoured within the Sikh tradition as a step of the greatest consequence, for under his guruship the faith received its scripture and its completed holy shrine, and it reflects the faithful handing down of the light of the Gurus from one to the next.

How Did Guru Arjan Dev Compile the Adi Granth?

Guru Arjan Dev compiled the Adi Granth, the first Sikh scripture, gathering the hymns of the Gurus who went before him together with his own and with the compositions of other revered saints, and setting them in order. This is honoured as one of the most momentous works in the history of the Sikh faith.

Sikh tradition holds that he collected the sacred compositions and arranged them with great care, so that the community might have an authoritative scripture of the word of the Gurus. The Adi Granth brought together the devotional voice of the Sikh Gurus and of saints of other backgrounds whose teaching accorded with the message of the faith, expressing a vision open to all. It was installed at the Harmandir Sahib, the central shrine. The compiling of the Adi Granth is cherished as a gift of lasting value, giving the Sikh faith a scripture that would guide and unite the community and that forms the foundation of the sacred book revered as the living Guru in later Sikh tradition.

What Is the Adi Granth?

The Adi Granth is the first Sikh scripture, compiled by Guru Arjan Dev, which gathers the hymns of the Sikh Gurus together with the compositions of other revered saints. It is honoured as the foundation of the sacred book that the later Sikh tradition reveres as the living Guru.

The scripture brings together devotional poetry expressing the remembrance of the one divine, the call to honest and humble living, and the equality of all people, in a spirit open to voices of different backgrounds. Compiled with great care and set in order by Guru Arjan Dev, it was installed at the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar. The Adi Granth gave the Sikh community an authoritative scripture of the word of the Gurus, a source of guidance and unity. In the later tradition it became the basis of the Guru Granth Sahib, the scripture revered as the eternal Guru, so that the work of compiling begun by Guru Arjan Dev lies at the very heart of the Sikh faith.

How Did Guru Arjan Dev Complete the Harmandir Sahib?

Guru Arjan Dev completed the Harmandir Sahib, the central shrine at the sacred pool at Amritsar begun by the Gurus before him, giving the Sikh faith its holiest place of worship. The shrine is now widely known as the Golden Temple, and its completion is honoured as a great work of his guruship.

Sikh tradition holds that the sacred pool had been begun by Guru Ram Das, and that Guru Arjan Dev saw to the completion of the shrine at its centre and installed within it the Adi Granth, the scripture he had compiled. The Harmandir Sahib became the focus of Sikh devotion, open on its sides as a sign of welcome to all. Its completion gave the holy precinct of Amritsar its central shrine and the community its spiritual heart. The completion of the Harmandir Sahib by Guru Arjan Dev is cherished as the crowning of the sacred city founded by his predecessor, and the shrine remains the most revered place of the Sikh faith.

What Is the Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple?

The Harmandir Sahib is the central shrine of the Sikh faith at Amritsar, completed under Guru Arjan Dev and now widely known as the Golden Temple. It stands at the sacred pool begun by Guru Ram Das and is the holiest place of worship in Sikhism.

The shrine is honoured as the spiritual heart of the faith, where the Sikh scripture is kept and where devotees gather for worship and the singing of the sacred hymns. It is remembered for its openness, set at the centre of the sacred pool and welcoming to people of every background, a sign of the Sikh teaching of equality. The name Golden Temple came into common use from the gilded appearance it acquired in later times. The Harmandir Sahib remains the most revered place of the Sikh faith, drawing devotees and visitors from across the world, and its completion under Guru Arjan Dev is cherished as one of the great works of his guruship.

What Did Guru Arjan Dev Teach?

Guru Arjan Dev taught, as the Sikh tradition holds, the message of the Gurus who went before him, calling people to remember the one divine, to live honestly and humbly, to serve others and to regard all as equal. His own hymns are among the most cherished in the Sikh scripture.

Sikh tradition remembers him as a Guru of profound devotion whose compositions express peace, surrender and the joy of the remembrance of the divine. Through the Adi Granth he gathered and preserved the teachings of the Gurus and of other revered saints, and through his own hymns he enriched the devotional treasury of the faith. His teaching joined the inner life of devotion to the service and equality of the community. The teaching of Guru Arjan Dev is cherished for its faithfulness to the founding vision of Guru Nanak and for the serenity and depth of its devotion, and it continues to guide and inspire the Sikh faith through the scripture he helped to compile.

Why Is Guru Arjan Dev Revered as the First Great Martyr?

Guru Arjan Dev is revered as the first great martyr of the Sikh faith because he gave his life for his faith, having died in 1606 under the Mughal emperor Jahangir. His martyrdom is honoured soberly and with the deepest reverence in the Sikh tradition.

Sikh tradition holds that he endured his suffering with calm and with steadfast faith, accepting his fate without bitterness and in surrender to the divine will. His death is remembered as a witness of faith and constancy, and it marked a turning point in the history of the Sikh community. The tradition recalls his martyrdom not with graphic detail but with reverence for the steadfastness and serenity he is held to have shown. The reverence for Guru Arjan Dev as the first great martyr reflects the honour in which his sacrifice is held, and his example of faith under trial became a source of strength and resolve for the Sikh community in the generations that followed.

What Did the Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Mean for the Sikh Faith?

The martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev marked a significant turning point for the Sikh faith, and Sikh tradition holds that it deepened the community’s resolve and its readiness to stand firm in faith. It is honoured with reverence as a witness of constancy and surrender to the divine will.

The tradition remembers that after his sacrifice the community came, under his successor Guru Hargobind, to take up the defence of the faith and the protection of the vulnerable, so that the spiritual mission of the Gurus was joined to a readiness to stand for justice. The martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev is thus seen as a moment that shaped the later character and resolve of the Sikh community. It is recalled soberly, with reverence for his steadfastness, and understood within the tradition as a sacrifice that strengthened the faith. The meaning of his martyrdom endures as an example of faith held firm under trial, honoured deeply in the Sikh tradition.

How Was the Adi Granth Installed and Honoured?

The Adi Granth, compiled by Guru Arjan Dev, was installed at the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar and honoured as the sacred scripture of the Sikh faith. Its installation at the central shrine gave the community a focus for its devotion around the word of the Gurus.

Sikh tradition holds that the scripture was placed with great reverence within the shrine, where the sacred hymns it contained could be sung and its guidance received by the community. The honouring of the Adi Granth expressed the central place of the word of the Gurus in the life of the faith. In the later tradition the scripture, expanded and completed, became the Guru Granth Sahib, revered as the living and eternal Guru, before whom the community gathers in devotion. The installation and honouring of the Adi Granth begun under Guru Arjan Dev lies at the foundation of this reverence for the sacred scripture, which remains at the very heart of Sikh worship and life.

Who Succeeded Guru Arjan Dev?

Guru Arjan Dev was succeeded by his son, Guru Hargobind, who became the sixth of the ten Sikh Gurus. As the Sikh tradition holds, the guruship passed to a successor who would guide the community through a time of trial following the martyrdom of the fifth Guru.

Tradition tells that Guru Hargobind took up the guruship in the aftermath of his father’s sacrifice and introduced the principle of Miri-Piri, the joining of worldly and spiritual authority, building the Akal Takht facing the Harmandir Sahib. Under him the community came to take up arms in self-defence, so that the spiritual mission of the Gurus was joined to a readiness to stand for justice. The succession from Guru Arjan Dev to Guru Hargobind reflects the continuity of the Sikh guruship, and it links the compiler of the scripture and first great martyr to the Guru who gave the community a new resolve in the face of trial.

How Does Guru Arjan Dev Fit the Sikh Tradition of the Gurus?

Guru Arjan Dev fits within the Sikh tradition as the fifth of the ten Gurus, the compiler of the scripture, the completer of the central shrine and the first great martyr of the faith. His guruship was a time of great building and consolidation, and his sacrifice shaped the resolve of the community that followed.

The Sikh tradition holds that the light of the first Guru passed in turn to each of his successors, so that the ten Gurus are revered as a single continuous guidance. Within this lineage Guru Arjan Dev holds a place of special honour, for under him the faith received its scripture and its completed holy shrine, and in him it found its first great martyr. His works gave the community a lasting foundation. Seeing Guru Arjan Dev within the lineage of the ten Gurus helps a reader appreciate how the Sikh faith was given its scripture, its central shrine and an enduring example of steadfast faith under trial.

How Is Guru Arjan Dev Honoured and Remembered?

Guru Arjan Dev is honoured in the Sikh tradition as the fifth of the ten Gurus, the compiler of the Adi Granth, the completer of the Harmandir Sahib and the first great martyr of the faith. His memory is cherished with the deepest reverence by Sikhs across the world.

His hymns are among the most treasured in the Sikh scripture, and his martyrdom is remembered soberly and with reverence as a witness of faith and constancy. The Harmandir Sahib he completed remains the holiest place of the Sikh faith, and the scripture he compiled lies at the foundation of the Guru Granth Sahib revered as the living Guru. His sacrifice is honoured each year in the devotional life of the community. The honour given to Guru Arjan Dev reflects the reverence in which all the Sikh Gurus are held and the special place of his works and his martyrdom, keeping his memory present in the worship, scripture and sacred geography of the faith.

Guru Arjan Dev Today

Guru Arjan Dev today is remembered as the fifth of the ten Sikh Gurus, honoured for compiling the Adi Granth, for completing the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar and as the first great martyr of the Sikh faith. His legacy stands at the very heart of Sikh worship and life.

The scripture he compiled lies at the foundation of the Guru Granth Sahib, revered as the living Guru, and the Harmandir Sahib he completed remains the holiest place of the faith, drawing devotees from across the world. His martyrdom, which the tradition dates to 1606 under the Mughal emperor Jahangir, is remembered soberly and with reverence as a witness of steadfast faith. His life is presented as the Sikh tradition holds it, with care and respect. The legacy of Guru Arjan Dev endures in the scripture and the shrine he gave the faith, and in the example of serene constancy under trial that continues to inspire the Sikh community.

Sources & Further Reading

• Ministry of Culture, Government of India (indiaculture.gov.in).
• Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Punjab.
• General Sikh studies references on the lives of the Sikh Gurus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Guru Arjan Dev?

Guru Arjan Dev was the fifth of the ten Sikh Gurus and the successor of Guru Ram Das. He compiled the Adi Granth, the first Sikh scripture, completed the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar now widely known as the Golden Temple, and is revered as the first great martyr of the Sikh faith, having died in 1606.

What is the Adi Granth compiled by Guru Arjan Dev?

The Adi Granth is the first Sikh scripture, compiled by Guru Arjan Dev, which gathers the hymns of the Sikh Gurus together with the compositions of other revered saints. It was installed at the Harmandir Sahib and forms the foundation of the Guru Granth Sahib revered in later Sikh tradition as the living Guru.

Why did Guru Arjan Dev complete the Harmandir Sahib?

Guru Arjan Dev completed the Harmandir Sahib, the central shrine at the sacred pool at Amritsar begun by Guru Ram Das, to give the Sikh faith its holiest place of worship. He installed the Adi Granth within it, and the shrine, now widely known as the Golden Temple, remains the most revered place in Sikhism.

Why is Guru Arjan Dev revered as the first great martyr?

Guru Arjan Dev is revered as the first great martyr of the Sikh faith because he gave his life for his faith, having died in 1606 under the Mughal emperor Jahangir. Sikh tradition honours his martyrdom soberly, recalling the calm and steadfast faith with which he is held to have accepted his fate.

What did the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev mean for the Sikhs?

The martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev marked a turning point for the Sikh faith, deepening the community’s resolve. Sikh tradition holds that under his successor, Guru Hargobind, the community came to take up its own defence, joining the spiritual mission of the Gurus to a readiness to stand for justice.

Who succeeded Guru Arjan Dev?

Guru Arjan Dev was succeeded by his son, Guru Hargobind, who became the sixth of the ten Sikh Gurus. Guru Hargobind introduced the principle of Miri-Piri and built the Akal Takht, guiding the community through the time of trial that followed the martyrdom of the fifth Guru.