Jan-March 2006 - Institute of Sikh Studies

70ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : JAN-MARCH 2006 / 537-38 NSadaptable to changing situations. The figure of the Guru, who hadthe same authority as the founding Guru, allowed the religion to changeand adapt to a growing community and growing hostility from theMughal emperors.THE GURUSThe first four Gurus of Sikhism established many of the customsand rituals of Sikhism. The fourth Guru, Guru Ram Das (1574-1581)founded the city of Amritsar as a place of Sikh pilgrimage. It is to thisday the most important city in Sikh geography; the central temple ofSikhism, the Golden Temple, is located there.The most important of the early Gurus, however, was GuruArjun, who led the Sikh community as Guru from 1581 to 1606. GuruArjun was the Guru who assembled the verses of Guru Nanak andthe first four Gurus into the anthology, Adi Granth , which becamethe scripture of the Sikh community. Guru Arjun was the first SikhGuru to fall foul of the Mughal authorities, thus setting the tone forthe remaining history of the Mughal Empire. When Prince Khusraurebelled against his father, Jahangir, Guru Arjun helped him. Jahangir,growing suspicious of the steady growth of the Sikh community andGuru Arjun’s increasing influence over the region, arrested him in 1606and tortured him to death.This event, more than any other, converted the Sikh communityinto a militant community. Guru Arjun was succeeded by his son,Guru Hargobind (1606-1644), who built the Sikh community into amilitary power. He elevated martyrdom to an ideal of the religion;this was not merely dying for the faith, but being killed while fightingfor the Sikh community. At this point in history, the Sikh communitybegan to actively resist the Mughal Empire and several battles werefought between the two sides.GURU GOBIND SINGH JIThe most militant of the Gurus was the tenth and the last, GuruGobind Singh. Under Aurangzeb, who fanatically tried to suppressnon-Muslim practices, the Sikhs were persecuted viciously by theMughal government. In response, Guru Gobind Singh transformedthe Sikh community into a military community. For the Mughals and