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