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Ten Sikh Gurus: Adi Granth Compilation & Khalsa Panth 1699

Sikhism originated in the Punjab region during the late fifteenth century, founded by Guru Nanak Dev (1469–1539), born at Rai Bhoi di Talwandi (modern Nankana Sahib, Pakistan). Guru Nanak preached absolute monotheism centered on Ik Onkar (One Supreme Reality), rejecting ritualism, caste inequality, and idolatry. His spiritual system linked devotion with household duties through three pillars: Naam Japna (constant remembrance of God), Kirat Karo (honest labor), and Vand Chhako (community sharing). To institutionalize social equality, Guru Nanak established Sangat (devotional assembly) and Pangat (communal dining seated together without caste rank), which developed into the enduring practice of Langar. Spiritual authority progressed through a lineage of ten human Gurus over two centuries.

Successive Gurus consolidated distinct institutional structures: Guru Angad standardized the Gurmukhi script; Guru Amar Das organized twenty-two administrative Manji districts and composed the Anand Sahib; Guru Ram Das founded Amritsar and authored the Lavan marriage hymns; Guru Arjan Dev compiled the Adi Granth in 1604, enshrining it in Harmandir Sahib, before suffering martyrdom under Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1606. In response, Guru Hargobind introduced the doctrine of Miri (temporal authority) and Piri (spiritual authority), constructing the Akal Takht in 1606. Following Guru Har Rai and Guru Har Krishan, the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was executed in Delhi in 1675 under Aurangzeb while defending freedom of worship, commemorated at Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib.

The tradition culminated under the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708), who founded the Khalsa Panth at Anandpur Sahib on Baisakhi, 13 April 1699. Administering the Amrit Sanchar ceremony to the Panj Pyare, he mandated the Five Ks (Kesh, Kangha, Kara, Kachera, Kirpan) and the titles Singh and Kaur. Guru Gobind Singh authored the Persian moral letter Zafarnama to Aurangzeb, and in 1708 declared the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru, concluding personal Guruship. In UPSC Civil Services (GS Paper I) and State PSCs, examiners frequently test the chronological contributions of the Gurus, institutional practices like Langar and the Manji system, the Akal Takht concept, and the historical formation of the Khalsa.
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  1. #1
    Guru Nanak founded Sikhism, establishing core tenets of Ik Onkar, Nam Japna, Kirat Karo, Vand Chhako, and the Langar institution.
  2. #2
    Guru Arjan Dev completed Harmandir Sahib, compiled the Adi Granth in 1604, and became the first Sikh martyr in 1606.
  3. #3
    Guru Hargobind militarized the Sikh community, establishing the dual doctrine of Miri-Piri and founding the Akal Takht.
  4. #4
    Guru Tegh Bahadur was martyred at Chandni Chowk in 1675 for resisting forced religious conversions under Emperor Aurangzeb.
  5. #5
    Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa Panth at Anandpur Sahib in 1699, instituting the Five Ks and naming the Guru Granth Sahib eternal Guru.
  6. #6
    Guru Angad Dev (second Guru) formalized and standardized the Gurmukhi script and expanded the community dining institution of Guru ka Langar.
  7. #7
    Guru Amar Das (third Guru) established the Manji administrative system consisting of 22 regional preaching branches and campaigned vigorously against the practices of Sati and female infanticide.
  8. #8
    Guru Ram Das (fourth Guru) founded the holy city of Ramdaspur (modern Amritsar) in 1577 on land granted by Mughal Emperor Akbar and initiated the excavation of the sacred Amrit Sarovar tank.
  9. #9
    Guru Arjan Dev (fifth Guru) installed the Adi Granth at Harmandir Sahib in 1604, appointing the venerable scholar Baba Buddha as its first Granthi (head custodian).
  10. #10
    Guru Hargobind (sixth Guru) donned two ceremonial swords of Miri (temporal authority) and Piri (spiritual authority) and erected the Akal Takht (Throne of the Timeless) facing Harmandir Sahib in 1606.
  11. #11
    Guru Har Rai (seventh Guru) maintained a peaceful cavalry force of 2,200 soldiers and established an extensive herbal medicine dispensary that particularly treated Prince Dara Shikoh.
  12. #12
    Guru Har Krishan (eighth Guru) assumed the Guruship at the age of five and served victims of a smallpox and cholera epidemic in Delhi, passing away at age seven in 1661.
  13. #13
    The martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur on November 11, 1675, took place at the site where Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib stands today in Delhi, while his cremation site is commemorated by Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib.
  14. #14
    Guru Gobind Singh initiated the Panj Pyare (Five Beloved Ones) into the Khalsa brotherhood via Khande di Pahul (amrit ceremony) on Baisakhi day, April 13, 1699, mandating the Five Ks (Kesh, Kangha, Kara, Kachera, Kirpan).
  15. #15
    Guru Gobind Singh finalized the Damdami Bir edition of the Guru Granth Sahib at Talwandi Sabo in 1705, conferring perpetual Guruship upon the sacred text at Nanded (Hazur Sahib) in October 1708 before his demise.

Subject Specialist Commentary

Analytical perspective & practical exam advice from the Master10 academic board

Educator's Insight
Sikh history traces the spiritual and social teachings of ten Gurus, beginning with Guru Nanak, who taught equality, honest labor, and community dining through the institution of Langar. Over two centuries, subsequent Gurus organized the community, with Guru Angad formalizing the Gurmukhi script and Guru Arjan Dev compiling the Adi Granth in 1604. In response to religious persecution, the community developed martial traditions under Guru Hargobind, culminating in Guru Gobind Singh founding the Khalsa Panth in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib.
For competitive exams including UPSC and SSC, questions test the chronological sequence, institutional contributions, and historical martyrdoms of the Sikh Gurus. Be careful of a common exam trap regarding holy sites and scripture: Guru Ram Das founded Amritsar, while Guru Arjan Dev completed Harmandir Sahib and compiled the Adi Granth. Remember that Guru Hargobind established the dual doctrine of Miri and Piri alongside the Akal Takht. Memorize the Five Ks introduced by Guru Gobind Singh for factual question revision.

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