Sikh Missionary Society
Sikh Missionary Society U.K. (Regd)
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Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the Apostle of Peace
 
Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the Apostle of Peace
by G. S. Sidhu M.A., Dip Ed, B. T.

 
"Thy doings seem sweet unto me.
Nanak craves for the wealth of God's Name."

Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji

This book includes a brief biography of Sri Guru Arjan Dev.

Contents

Foreword

1. Biography

2. Politico-religious conditions of the times

3. Martyrdom

4. The Master's character & philosophy

Foreword

Guru Arjan Dev, a saint and scholar of rare piety and literary attainments, fourth in succession to Guru Nanak - the founder of Sikh religion, was the first martyr of the Sikh Church. Sikhism which had been founded to transcend the division between Hindus and Muslims by preaching the gospel of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man, was exceedingly galling to the bigoted mind of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir who had firmly reasserted and declared the 'Islamic Shariyat' as the foundation of his Government when he ascended the throne. The heroic martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev demonstrated once again the stark fact that religious persecution is sinful, because no one has the right to stand between human soul and God, that violence in this field at least is futile, for religion cannot be inculcated by force. that there is no such thing as a belief that is not held voluntarily through a genuine spontaneous inner conviction. He laid down his life for a principle and his example generated a new impulse for calm suffering and sacrifice.

Guru Arjan Dev upheld the belief that every religion is true if only its adherents sincerely and honestly follow it, that truth is not the monopoly of any one religion or person of any one caste. Guru Granth the Sikh scripture written in the spoken language of the people to whom the masters delivered their message of devotion to God and service to humanity, includes impartially hymns written by Hindus and Muslims along with the writings of the Sikh Gurus and the social outcasts. Guru Arjan's catholicity of outlook is reflected in the compilation of Guru Granth which may aptly be called ''The Bible of the people.''

Guru Arjan Dev gave the Sikhs a central place of worship. Amritsar became the fountainhead of the spiritual and social activities of the nascent commonwealth. The doors of the Harimandar (the house of God) commonly known as the Golden Temple, were thrown open to the seekers of truth irrespective of the sex and status or caste and creed.

The 'One World' in which we live with its close communications makes nonsese of religious isolation. The Western World must adjust its thinking to the fact that not only do other religions exist but that they persist. The need of the moment is not one religion but mutual respect and tolerance of the devotees of different reunions. A sympathetic study of oriental faiths and their religious heritages is therefore considered imperative for cementing the bonds of friendship and understanding in this strife-torn world of today. The work of the Sikh Missionary Society; U.K. in bringing out booklets explaining the Sikh way of life to the western public is to be commended as being in the best Sikh tradition.

Piara Singh Sambhi


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