Guru Angad Dev
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| Image:Guru Angad Dev.jpg Guru Angad Dev | |||||
| Religion | Sikhism | ||||
| Other Names: | Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਅੰਗਦ ਦੇਵ | ||||
| Senior posting | |||||
| Based in | |||||
| Title |
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| Period in office | 1539 - 1552 | ||||
| Predecessor | Guru Nanak Dev Founder of Sikhism | ||||
| Successor | Amar Das 3nd of the Eleven Gurus of Sikhism | ||||
| Religious career | |||||
| Ordination | 07 September 1539 | ||||
| Previous post | Guru | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Date of birth | 31 March, 1504 | ||||
| Place of birth | Image:Flag of India.svg Muktsar, Punjab, (now India) | ||||
| Date of death | March 28 1552 (aged 47) | ||||
| Place of death | Image:Flag of India.svg - Amritsar, Punjab, (now India) | ||||
Guru Angad was the second of the eleven Sikh Gurus. Born Bhai Lehna in the village of Harike in Ferozepur district in Punjab, on March 31 1504, he was the son of a small successful trader named Pheru. His mother's name was Mata Ramo (also known as Mata Sabhirai, Mansa Devi, Daya kaur). Baba Narayan Das Trehan was his grand father, whose ancestral house was at Matte-di-Sarai near Mukatsar.
In 1538, Guru Nanak chose Lehna, his disciple, as a successor to the Guruship rather than one of his sons.[1] Bhai Lehna was named Guru Angad and became the second guru of the Sikhs. He continued the work started by the Founder, Guru Nanak.
Bhai Lehna was raised as a Hindu, as was Guru Nanak, growing up he became a devout worshiper of Durga. Every year he lead a group of Hindu worshippers to Jawalamukhi Temple singing all the way doing puja to his Goddess. He married Mata Khivi in January 1520 and had two sons (Dasu and Datu) and two daughters (Amro and Anokhi). The whole family of his father had left their ancestral village in fear of the invasion of Babar's armies. After this the family settled at the Khadur Sahib village by the River Beas, near what is now Tarn Taran a small town about 25 km. from the city of Amritsar the Holiest site of the Sikhs. The city of Amritsar was later built on land given to the Sikh Guru's daughter as a wedding gift by the Emperor Akbar.
One day, Bhai Lehna heard the recitation of a hymn of Guru Nanak from Bhai Jodha a neighbor who was a follower of the Guru. His mind was captured by the tune and while on his annual pilgrimage to Jwalamukhi Temple he asked his group if they would mind going to see the Guru. Everyone thought this most inappropriate and refused. Not one to shirk his responsibilities, he was after all the guide and leader of the group, how could he abandon them with thieves along the way. But man of honor and dharma that he was the poems and prayers (kirtan) of Nanak still held onto his every thought. So one night without telling anyone he mounted his horse and proceeded to the village now known as Kartarpur (God's city) to have his visit with Guru Nanak. As soon as he found the Guru he threw himself at Nanak's feet. His very first meeting with Guru Nanak completely transformed him. He dedicated himself to the service of Guru Nanak and so became his disciple (Sikh) and began to live in Kartarpur.
His deep devotion and service (Sewa) to Guru Nanak was so intense that the Guru's family grew jealous. He was therefore sent by his new master back to his home to tend to his family and watch over the Guru's Sikhs there. Later after several tests of his obedience and service (one where he had to eat what appeared to the Guru's sons to be carrion, which only Lehna was willing to eat, which magically turned in to the sweetest of foods) he was instated as the 2nd Guru, Guru Angad. Guru Nanak had touched him and renamed him Angad (part of the body) or the second Nanak on September 7, 1539. Before becoming the new Guru he had spent six or seven years in the service of Guru Nanak at Kartarpur.
After the death of Guru Nanak on September 22, 1539, Guru Angad left Kartarpur for the village of Khadur Sahib (near Goindwal Sahib). He carried forward the principles of Guru Nanak both in letter and spirit. Yogis and Saints of different sects visited him and held detailed discussions about Sikhism with him.
Guru Angad introduced a new alphabet known as Gurmukhi Script, modifying the old Punjabi Script's characters. Soon, this script became very popular and started to be used by the people in general. He took great interest in the education of children by opening many schools for their instruction and thus increased the number of literate people. For the youth he started the tradition of Mall Akhara, where physical as well as spiritual exercises were held. He collected the facts about Guru Nanak's life from Bhai Bala and wrote the first biography of Guru Nanak. He also wrote 63 Saloks (stanzas), which are included in the Guru Granth Sahib. He popularised and expanded the institution of Guru ka Langar (the Guru's communal kitchen) that had been started by Guru Nanak.
Guru Angad travelled widely and visited all important religious places and centres established by Guru Nanak for the preaching of Sikhism. He also established hundreds of new centres of Sikhism (Sikh religious Institutions) and thus strengthened the base of Sikhism. The period of his Guruship was the most crucial one. The Sikh community had moved from having a founder to a succession of Gurus and the infrastructure of Sikh society was strengthened and crystallised – from being an infant, Sikhism had moved to being a young child and ready to face the dangers that were around. During this phase, Sikhism established its own separate religious identity.
Guru Angad, following the example set by Guru Nanak, nominated Sri Amar Das as his successor (The Third Nanak) before his death. He presented all the holy scripts, including those he received from Guru Nanak, to Guru Amar Das. He breathed his last on March 29, 1552 at the age of forty-eight. It is said that he started to build a new town, at Goindwal near Khadur Sahib and Guru Amar Das ji was appointed to supervise its construction. It is also said that the Mughal Emperor Humayun, running from Sher Shah Suri, came to obtain the blessings of Guru Angad in regaining the throne of Delhi.
[edit] The Eleven Gurus of Sikhism
| # | Name | Date of Birth | Guruship on | Date of Ascension | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nanak Dev | 15 April 1469 | 20 August 1507 | 22 September 1539 | 69 |
| 2 | Angad Dev | 31 March 1504 | 7 September 1539 | 29 March 1552 | 48 |
| 3 | Amar Das | 5 May 1479 | 26 March 1552 | 1 September 1574 | 95 |
| 4 | Ram Das | 24 September 1534 | 1 September 1574 | 1 September 1581 | 46 |
| 5 | Arjan Dev | 15 April 1563 | 1 September 1581 | 30 May 1606 | 43 |
| 6 | Har Gobind | 19 June 1595 | 25 May 1606 | 28 February 1644 | 48 |
| 7 | Har Rai | 16 January 1630 | 3 March 1644 | 6 October 1661 | 31 |
| 8 | Har Krishan | 7 July 1656 | 6 October 1661 | 30 March 1664 | 7 |
| 9 | Tegh Bahadur | 1 April 1621 | 20 March 1665 | 11 November 1675 | 54 |
| 10 | Gobind Singh | 22 December 1666 | 11 November 1675 | 7 October 1708 | 41 |
| 11 | Guru Granth Sahib | N/A (Not applicable) | 7 October 1708 to (Never ending) | N/A | N/A |
[edit] References
Template:Sikh Gurus, Their Lives and Teachings, K.S. Duggal
[edit] External links
- sikhs.org
- sikh-history.com
- sikhmissionarysociety.org
- Guru Angad Dev Ji Biography
- allaboutsikhs.com
- Learn more about Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji
- Guru Angad Sahib
Audio:
| Preceded by: Guru Nanak (20 October1469 - 7 May1539) | Guru Angad Dev | Followed by: Guru Amar Das (5 April 1479 - 1 September 1574) |
| The Eleven Gurus of Sikhism | ||
|
Guru Nanak Dev | Guru Angad Dev | Guru Amar Das | Guru Ram Das | Guru Arjun Dev | Guru Har Gobind | Guru Har Rai | Guru Har Krishan | Guru Teg Bahadur | Guru Gobind Singh | (Followed by Guru Granth Sahib, Perpetual Guru of the Sikhs) | ||
Image:Khanda.png Topics in Sikhism Image:Khanda.png | |
|---|---|
| Gurus | Guru Nanak Dev • Guru Angad Dev • Guru Amar Das • Guru Ram Das • Guru Arjan Dev • Guru Har Gobind • Guru Har Rai • Har Krishan • Guru Teg Bahadur • Guru Gobind Singh • Guru Granth Sahib • Sikh Bhagats |
| Philosophy | Beliefs and principles • Underlying values • Prohibitions • Technique and methods • Other observations |
| Practices | Ardās • Amrit Sanskar • Chaṛdī Kalā • Dasvand • Five Ks • Kirat Karō • Kirtan • Langar • Nām Japō • Simran • Three Pillars • Vaṇḍ Chakkō |
| Scripture | Guru Granth Sahib • Adi Granth • Dasam Granth • Bani • Chaupai • Jaap Sahib • Japji Sahib • Mool Mantar • Rehras • Sukhmani Sahib • Tav-Prasad Savaiye |
| More | History • Ek Onkar • Gurdwara • Harmandir Sahib • History • Khalsa • Khanda • Literature • Music • Names • Places • Politics • Satguru • Sikhs • Waheguru • Bhagat Farid • Bhagat Kabir • History of the Punjab • Sardar • Takhat |
| Image:Khanda.png Portal:Sikhism Image:Khanda.png | |
fr:Gurû Angad hi:गुरू अंगद देव mr:गुरु अनंग देव nl:Goeroe Angad nn:Guru Angad Dev fi:Guru Angad Dev
