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The Founder:

Guru Nanak Dev and The Gurus

The prophet of Sikhism is called “Guru,” and the Guru Nanak said that he was only a teacher, therefore,
Founder of the religion is Guru Nanak Dev. He was born in 1469 upon completion of his daily teaching, he would return home and
in Talwandi, presently Nankana Sahib, a small village southwest of be with his family. In contrast to the practices of Indian Hindu
Lahore, Punjab Province in Pakistan. ascetics, he taught that everyone can obtain eternal happiness without
forsaking his ordinary worldly duties. He did not persuade people to
During Guru Nanak’s time, the Sunni Denomination
give up the secular world to meditate, and could remain as a family
of Islam was taking the leading role in society. Its teaching focused
person. In his belief, laymen can be liberated from samsara too, if
on the liberation from desire of luxury and facility. Concurrently,
they always practice meditation to cleanse their minds at all times.
another religion, Hinduism in the cult of Bhakti, emphasized that
loyalty and belief in God without asking for any reciprocation was According to his biography, Guru Nanak Dev was a
the correct way of life. Guru Nanak Dev paid attention to and was kind and humble man but very strict on religious practice and always
interested in all religious thinking since his childhood, and studied held on to righteousness. Throughout his lifetime, he had traveled
both Hinduism and Islam, by talking about the teachings with the to teach his doctrine all over the country of India and the nearby
clergies of both religions. Later, after marriage, he removed himself countries. He emphasized love and devotion, the repetition of God’s
to meditate and study the teachings by himself. After realizing the name and the lesson that as men sow so shall they reap. During those
path, he became enlightened and began preaching to people. journeys, he had tried to create an atmosphere of harmony and unity
During that period, India was under the rule of the among different religions in India. He told everyone to consider
Moghul Dynasty whose religion was Islam, while most Indians were they are siblings because, in the end, everyone is created from the
Hindu. Thus, there were continual conflicts between the adherents same God and that God is for the only One mankind which is all.
of both religions. Guru Nanak Dev played an important role in After the Guru Nanak passed away, there were 9
solving the conflicts by showing them how to live together in descendants of the prophets in the Sikhism religion, they were:

harmony without segregation. In the beginning, he only had two
1. Guru Nanak Dev (1469 – 1540)
disciples, one was a Hindu while the other was an Islamic musician.
2. Guru Angad Dev (1504 – 1552)
Both followed the prophet, Guru Nanak Dev, in preaching in various
places. Guru Nanak spoke in poems or verses to which his disciple 3. Guru Amar Das (1479 – 1574)
composed musical compositions on his stringed instrument; these 4. Guru Ram Das (1534 – 1581)
hymns were called Ragas. They received much interest from people
5. Guru Arjan Dev (1563 – 1606)
every place he traveled.
6. Guru Har Gobind (1595 – 1645)
7. Guru Har Rai (1630 – 1661)

8. Guru Har Krishan (1656 – 1664)
9. Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621 – 1675)

10. Guru Gobind Singh (1666 – 1708)

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