Guru 5 / 10
Guru Arjan Dev Ji
- Born
- 1563
- Guru from
- 1581–1606
- Known for
- Building Harmandir Sahib and compiling the holy book
Guru Arjan Dev Ji built Harmandir Sahib (now also called Sri Darbar Sahib, or the Golden Temple) in the middle of the pool at Amritsar. He gave it four doors, one on each side, to show that people from every direction and every background are welcome.
He collected hymns from the Gurus and from Hindu and Muslim saints into one holy book, the Adi Granth.
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In 1606 the Mughal Emperor Jahangir ordered Guru Arjan to be tortured. He was made to sit on a burning hot iron plate, but he stayed calm and kept repeating that God’s will is sweet. He was the first Sikh martyr. He also wrote Sukhmani Sahib, the “Psalm of Peace”.