Lives of the Gurus · 5th Guru

Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1563–1606): Builder of the Harmandir Sahib, Compiler of the Adi Granth and the First Martyr

Guru Arjan Dev Ji gave the Sikhs their scripture and their central shrine, and with his martyrdom gave them a new resolve. In twenty-five years as Guru he built towns, tanks and the Harmandir Sahib, organised the community's finances and compiled the Adi Granth. He also composed more hymns than any other Guru. This guide follows his life in detail.

By PunjabExams Editorial Team · Updated 29 October 2026 · 7 min read · How we prepare guides

Life at a glance

Early years

Arjan grew up at Goindwal under the eye of his grandfather, Guru Amar Das Ji, who, according to tradition, blessed him as a future "boat to carry people across the ocean of the world". He became Guru at the age of eighteen in 1581.

His eldest brother Prithi Chand never accepted this and set up a rival centre. Prithi Chand's son Meharban composed his own hymns and a Janamsakhi, and the group became known as the Mine. Their hostility, and their influence at the Mughal court, shaped many of the difficulties Guru Arjan Dev Ji faced.

Building the Harmandir Sahib

Guru Arjan Dev Ji completed the tanks begun by his father and decided to place a temple in the middle of the Amritsar sarovar.

• Construction began around 1588. By tradition, the foundation stone was laid by the Sufi saint Sai Mian Mir of Lahore — a symbol of the shrine's openness to all.
• Unlike temples placed on high plinths, the Harmandir Sahib was built lower than the surrounding ground, so that people had to step down to enter, a reminder of humility.
• It has four doors, one on each side, showing that people of every caste and direction are welcome.
• The Guru also built Ramsar and completed Santokhsar.

New towns and public works

During a famine around 1595–96, the Guru helped organise relief in Lahore and the surrounding area.

Organising the community: masands and dasvandh

Guru Arjan Dev Ji turned the masand arrangement into a regular system. Sikhs were asked to give dasvandh — one-tenth of their income — for community purposes. Masands collected these offerings and brought them to the Guru at Baisakhi. This gave the community a steady income for building works and langar, and strengthened links with distant sangats from Kabul to Bengal.

The growing trade links of Sikhs — including horse-trading with Central Asia — helped the community prosper.

Compiling the Adi Granth (1604)

By the late 16th century, false hymns attributed to the Gurus were being circulated by rivals. To fix an authentic text, the Guru:

1. gathered the Goindwal pothis from Baba Mohan (son of Guru Amar Das Ji) — tradition says he sang a hymn outside Mohan's house to win them;
2. sat beside the Ramsar tank and selected and arranged hymns by raag;
3. dictated the text to Bhai Gurdas, who wrote it down.

The Adi Granth included hymns of the first five Gurus and of saints from different backgrounds: Kabir, Namdev, Ravidas, Sheikh Farid, Trilochan, Beni, Dhanna, Sain and others, together with compositions of bards (Bhatts) and of Satta and Balwand.

It was installed in the Harmandir Sahib in 1604, with Baba Buddha as the first granthi. Tradition records that Emperor Akbar, on receiving complaints that the book insulted other faiths, had passages read to him and found nothing objectionable.

His bani

Guru Arjan Dev Ji contributed the largest number of hymns of any Guru — over 2,000. Notable works:

• Sukhmani Sahib ("Jewel of Peace") in Gauri raag, with 24 ashtpadis (sections of eight stanzas), each opening with a shalok.
• Bavan Akhri and Barah Maha (in Majh raag).
• Many hymns of the Kirtan Sohila and daily prayers.

Akbar and Jahangir

Relations with Akbar were cordial. Tradition records that Akbar visited the Guru at Goindwal in 1598 and, at his request, reduced the land revenue of Punjab's peasants during a hard year.

After Akbar's death in 1605, Jahangir became emperor. In 1606, Jahangir's son Prince Khusrau rebelled and passed through Punjab; the Guru is said to have received him with kindness. In his memoirs, the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, Jahangir wrote with hostility about the Guru's growing influence and recorded his decision to end it.

Martyrdom (1606)

The Guru was summoned to Lahore and fined; he refused to pay or to alter his scripture. According to Sikh tradition he was:

• made to sit on a red-hot iron plate (tatti tavi),
• had burning sand poured over him,
• and was put in a cauldron of boiling water.

Through it all he remained calm, accepting God's will with the words "tera bhana meetha laage" ("sweet is Thy will"). He was then taken to the Ravi, where he passed away in 1606. Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore, stands at the site.

In his memory, Sikhs set up chhabeel stalls offering cold sweetened water to passers-by on his martyrdom day in the heat of summer.

Legacy

His martyrdom marked a turning point. His son Guru Hargobind Ji concluded that the community must be able to defend itself, and introduced miri-piri. Guru Arjan Dev Ji is honoured as Shaheedan de Sartaj — "crown of the martyrs".

Exam traps

• Bhai Gurdas was the scribe of the Adi Granth; Baba Buddha was its first granthi.
• The Adi Granth was compiled at Ramsar, Amritsar, and installed in 1604.
• Sukhmani Sahib is by Guru Arjan Dev Ji; Japji Sahib is by Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
• The Mughal emperor responsible for the martyrdom was Jahangir, not Akbar.

Key points to remember

• Born 1563 at Goindwal; Guru 1581–1606; rival brother Prithi Chand.
• Harmandir Sahib begun c. 1588; foundation stone by Mian Mir (tradition).
• Towns: Tarn Taran, Kartarpur, Sri Hargobindpur.
• Dasvandh and masands.
• Adi Granth 1604 — scribe Bhai Gurdas, first granthi Baba Buddha.
• Over 2,000 hymns; Sukhmani Sahib (Gauri, 24 ashtpadis).
• Martyred at Lahore, 1606, under Jahangir; Dera Sahib.

Practice questions

1. Q1. Guru Arjan Dev Ji was born at:

   • (a) Amritsar
   • (b) Goindwal Sahib
   • (c) Lahore
   • (d) Khadur Sahib
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) Goindwal Sahib — He was born at Goindwal in 1563.

2. Q2. The Adi Granth was compiled beside which tank?

   • (a) Santokhsar
   • (b) Ramsar
   • (c) Kaulsar
   • (d) Bibeksar
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) Ramsar — Guru Arjan Dev Ji compiled it at Ramsar, Amritsar.

3. Q3. Sukhmani Sahib contains how many ashtpadis?

   • (a) 12
   • (b) 22
   • (c) 24
   • (d) 38
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) 24 — Sukhmani Sahib has 24 ashtpadis in Gauri raag.

4. Q4. Which Mughal emperor's memoirs mention his hostility towards Guru Arjan Dev Ji?

   • (a) Akbar
   • (b) Jahangir
   • (c) Shah Jahan
   • (d) Babur
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) Jahangir — Jahangir wrote about it in the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri.

5. Q5. Gurdwara Dera Sahib, marking Guru Arjan Dev Ji's martyrdom, is in:

   • (a) Delhi
   • (b) Lahore
   • (c) Amritsar
   • (d) Goindwal
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) Lahore — It stands near the Lahore Fort, on the old bank of the Ravi.

6. Q6. Which Guru contributed the largest number of hymns to the Guru Granth Sahib?

   • (a) Guru Nanak Dev Ji
   • (b) Guru Amar Das Ji
   • (c) Guru Arjan Dev Ji
   • (d) Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) Guru Arjan Dev Ji — Guru Arjan Dev Ji composed over 2,000 hymns.

Frequently asked questions

Why was the Harmandir Sahib built lower than the surrounding ground?

To remind everyone entering to come with humility.

What is dasvandh?

The Sikh practice of giving one-tenth of one's income for community purposes, organised by Guru Arjan Dev Ji.

Why is Guru Arjan Dev Ji called Shaheedan de Sartaj?

Because he was the first Sikh Guru to be martyred, and his calm acceptance of torture became a model for later martyrs.

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