The Guru Sahibs
One Jot, eleven forms — their lives, teachings and contributions.
1Guru Nanak Dev Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ
- Prakash
- 15 April 1469
- Joti Jot
- 22 September 1539
- Pita Ji
- Mehta Kalu Ji
- Mata Ji
- Mata Tripta Ji
- Birthplace
- Rai Bhoi di Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib, Pakistan)
“Ik Onkar — there is One Creator. Worship through Naam, honest living and sharing with others. There is no Hindu, no Musalman — only humanity.”
Contributions
- Founded the path of Sikhi and the institution of sangat & pangat (langar).
- Travelled four great Udasis — across India, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Mecca, Baghdad — spreading Naam.
- Composed Japji Sahib, Asa di Vaar, Sidh Gosht, Baramaha Tukhari and many more.
SakhiAt Mecca, when challenged for sleeping with his feet toward the Kaaba, Guru Ji asked the qazi to turn his feet where God was not. Whichever direction the feet were moved, the Kaaba turned with them.
2Guru Angad Dev Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਅੰਗਦ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ
- Prakash
- 31 March 1504
- Joti Jot
- 29 March 1552
- Pita Ji
- Bhai Pheru Ji
- Mata Ji
- Mata Daya Ji
- Birthplace
- Matte di Sarai (Sarai Naga)
“Seva of the Guru, discipline of the body and mind, and the Naam are the path. The Guru's word is the true measure of a Sikh.”
Contributions
- Standardised the Gurmukhi script so Gurbani could be written and read by all.
- Established mall akharas (gymnasiums) to keep Sikhs physically strong.
- Collected the bani and biography of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
3Guru Amar Das Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਅਮਰ ਦਾਸ ਜੀ
- Prakash
- 5 May 1479
- Joti Jot
- 1 September 1574
- Pita Ji
- Bhai Tej Bhan Ji
- Mata Ji
- Mata Lakhmi Ji
- Birthplace
- Basarke, Amritsar
“All people are equal before Waheguru. Reject caste, sati, purdah and superstition. Sangat and pangat express the oneness of humanity.”
Contributions
- Made it mandatory to eat in langar before meeting the Guru — even kings sat on the floor.
- Composed Anand Sahib at Goindwal Sahib.
- Organised the Sikh world into 22 manjis (preaching seats).
4Guru Ram Das Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਰਾਮ ਦਾਸ ਜੀ
- Prakash
- 24 September 1534
- Joti Jot
- 1 September 1581
- Pita Ji
- Bhai Hari Das Ji
- Mata Ji
- Mata Daya Ji
- Birthplace
- Chuna Mandi, Lahore
“Live as a Gursikh — wake at amrit vela, do simran, earn honestly, and serve sangat with humility.”
Contributions
- Founded the city of Ramdaspur — today's Amritsar.
- Began the digging of the Sarovar around Harmandir Sahib.
- Composed Lavaan — the four hymns of the Anand Karaj ceremony.
5Guru Arjan Dev Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਅਰਜਨ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ
- Prakash
- 15 April 1563
- Joti Jot
- 30 May 1606
- Pita Ji
- Guru Ram Das Ji
- Mata Ji
- Mata Bhani Ji
- Birthplace
- Goindwal Sahib
“ਤੇਰਾ ਕੀਆ ਮੀਠਾ ਲਾਗੈ — sweet is Your will. Accept Hukam in joy and in suffering.”
Contributions
- Compiled the Aad Granth (1604) at Ramsar Sahib, including bani of Hindu and Muslim Bhagats.
- Built Sri Harmandir Sahib with doors on all four sides.
- First Sikh martyr — gave shaheedi sitting on a tava in Lahore for refusing to alter Gurbani.
SakhiTortured by Mughal order, hot sand poured over Him, He uttered only ‘Tera bhana meetha lage’ — Your will is sweet.
6Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ
- Prakash
- 19 June 1595
- Joti Jot
- 3 March 1644
- Pita Ji
- Guru Arjan Dev Ji
- Mata Ji
- Mata Ganga Ji
- Birthplace
- Guru Ki Wadali, Amritsar
“Miri and Piri — temporal authority joined with spiritual sovereignty. A saint must also be a soldier.”
Contributions
- Wore two kirpans — Miri (worldly) and Piri (spiritual).
- Built the Akal Takht facing Harmandir Sahib — the throne of the Timeless.
- Freed 52 Hindu kings from Gwalior Fort — Bandi Chhor Divas.
7Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ
- Prakash
- 16 January 1630
- Joti Jot
- 6 October 1661
- Pita Ji
- Baba Gurditta Ji
- Mata Ji
- Mata Nihal Kaur Ji
- Birthplace
- Kiratpur Sahib
“Even when armed, the Sikh's first instinct must be compassion. Care for every leaf and life.”
Contributions
- Maintained a cavalry of 2,200 yet never raised a sword in aggression.
- Established a herbal hospital at Kiratpur Sahib.
- Sent healing herbs to the ailing prince Dara Shikoh.
SakhiOnce, as a young child, the wide hem of His chola brushed against a flower bed and broke a stem. He wept, learning: a saint-soldier must move through the world with awareness of every life.
8Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ
- Prakash
- 7 July 1656
- Joti Jot
- 30 March 1664
- Pita Ji
- Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji
- Mata Ji
- Mata Krishan Kaur Ji
- Birthplace
- Kiratpur Sahib
“Sri Harkrishan dhiyaaiye jis dithe sabh dukh jaaye — even a child, full of Naam, can dispel suffering.”
Contributions
- Became Guru at age 5; gave shaheedi at age 7.
- Served the sick during a smallpox epidemic in Delhi at Bangla Sahib.
- Silenced a pandit's pride by having an illiterate water-carrier explain Gita verses by Guru's kirpa.
9Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਤੇਗ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ
- Prakash
- 1 April 1621
- Joti Jot
- 11 November 1675
- Pita Ji
- Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji
- Mata Ji
- Mata Nanaki Ji
- Birthplace
- Guru Ke Mahal, Amritsar
“Bhai kaahoo ko det neh, neh bhai maanat aan — frighten no one, fear no one. Defend the freedom of conscience for all.”
Contributions
- Composed 115 shabads now in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
- Founded the city of Anandpur Sahib.
- Gave shaheedi at Chandni Chowk, Delhi to protect the religious freedom of Kashmiri Pandits — Hind di Chadar.
10Guru Gobind Singh Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ
- Prakash
- 22 December 1666
- Joti Jot
- 7 October 1708
- Pita Ji
- Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji
- Mata Ji
- Mata Gujri Ji
- Birthplace
- Patna Sahib
“Sava lakh se ek ladaaun — when righteousness calls, one Sikh stands against a hundred and a quarter thousand. Recognise the whole human race as one.”
Contributions
- Created the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib on Vaisakhi 1699.
- Father of the Char Sahibzade — Baba Ajit Singh, Baba Jujhar Singh, Baba Zorawar Singh, Baba Fateh Singh — all shaheed.
- Composed the Dasam Granth — Jaap Sahib, Tav Prasad Savaiye, Chaupai Sahib, Akal Ustat, Zafarnama and more.
- In 1708 at Hazur Sahib, gave eternal Guruship to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
11Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ
- Prakash
- Compiled 1604 (Aad Granth) · Final form 1705
- Joti Jot
- Eternal Guru since 1708
- Birthplace
- Damdama Sahib (final recension)
“Shabad is the Guru. ਪੋਥੀ ਪਰਮੇਸਰ ਕਾ ਥਾਨੁ — the Pothi is the dwelling of the Divine.”
Contributions
- 1430 angs of bani from 6 Gurus, 15 Bhagats, 11 Bhatts and 4 Gursikhs.
- 31 raags structure the entire Granth.
- Universal voice — no caste, no creed, only Naam.