Sikh History | 1469 to Present

In this episode, we shall talk about the tenth and final living Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh and his role in giving a final shape to the Sikh beliefs and ethics. The life of Guru Gobind was marked by Aurangzeb’s unprecedented policies of oppression against the Sikhs as well as the Hindus, Buddhists and the Jains. It would be fair to characterize Aurangzeb as a ruthless, power hungry ruler who had an utter disregard for human rights and was also intolerant and hostile to all faiths other than Islam.

In such an oppressive political and social environment, Guru Gobind played a pro active role in shaping the Sikh society as we know it today. He took concrete and positive steps in formulating new structures and strategies to promote the cause of the Sikhs. He was the architect of the Khalsa, the Sikh society, which was a model deeply rooted in the concepts of equality, freedom and justice first proposed by Guru Nanak almost 200 years before him.

In this episode, we shall talk about the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru TegBahadur and the political turbulence which had turned against the Sikhs in the 17th century in India. The time of Guru TegBahadur’s Guruship was marked by Aurangzeb’s unprecedented policies of oppression against the Sikhs as well as the Hindus, Buddhists and the Jains. It would be fair to characterize Aurangzeb as a ruthless, power hungry ruler who had an utter disregard for human rights and was also intolerant and hostile to all faiths other than Islam.

Guru Teg Bahadur laid down his life in order to protect the rights of the common man – the right to live a life of dignity, the right to live a life without fear and the right to live a free life in their own lands. Guru Teg Bahadur’s legacy guides Sikhs to stand up against oppression.

In this episode, we shall talk about the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru HarKrishan and the political turbulence which had turned against the Sikhs in the 17th century in India. The time of Guru HarKrishan’s Guruship was marked not only by Aurangzeb’s oppression of the Sikhs, but also by the Minas , Dhir Mal and his own brother Ram Rai.

All of these people had established their own sects and broke off from the tenets of early Sikh gurus and their teachings. They were openly striving to divide the Sikhs with their numerous and focused attempts to dilute Sikh teachings. Guru HarKrishan was only 5 years old when he assumed the Guruship, but admirably he kept all of the Sikhs together.

In this episode, we shall talk about the seventh Sikh Guru, Guru HarRai and his unique leadership of the Sikhs during the turbulence of the 17th century in India – the time of Guru HarRai’s Guruship was marked not only by serious infighting between the various contenders to the Mughal throne, but also by the Minas or the descendants of Prithi Chand, who were striving to divide the Sikhs with their numerous and focused attempts to dilute Sikh teachings. Guru HarRai was only 14 years old when he assumed the Guruship, and had two immediate tasks at hand – the first was to protect the ideals of the Sikh faith first laid by Guru Nanak and second to defend the Sikhs from the atrocities of the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan.

In this episode, we will talk about the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru HarGobind and his unique leadership of the Sikhs after the brutal execution of Guru Arjan by the Mughal emperor Jehangir. Guru Hargobind was only 11 years old when he was appointed the Guru. The Sikhs were already a community of people who had a culture that was distinct from all others – Sikhs were a community that regarded all humanity as equal, gave women an equal status as men and rejected the vicious caste structures that plagued the Indian society. Under the leadership of Guru Hargobind, Sikhs acquired the skills to defend themselves and the young Sikh faith from the atrocities of the Mughal rulers.

In this episode, we will talk about the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev and his role in crystallizing the concepts of the Sikh faith. By the time Guru Arjan was appointed as the fifth Sikh Guru, the Sikhs were already a community of people who had a culture that was distinct from all others – Sikhs were a community that regarded all humanity as equal, gave women an equal status as men and rejected the vicious caste structures that plagued the Indian society.

In 1588 Guru Arjan first constructed the Darbar Sahib or the Harmandir Sahib and established Amritsar as the nerve center of the Sikh faith. By 1604, he had compiled the Adi Granth, the first version of the Guru Granth Sahib, which was put into its final form by Guru Gobind Singh. In 1606, the Indian subcontinent was under the control of the Mughal ruler Jehangir, and Guru Arjan became the first Sikh Guru to sacrifice his life to uphold the fundamental rights to equality, justice, freedom and religion.

In this episode, we will talk about the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ramdas and his role in building upon the rock solid foundation established by Guru Nanak, Guru Angad and Guru Amardas before him. In the process Guru Ramdas established the city of Amritsar as the Sikh Center and outlined a moral code of conduct for Sikhs.

Guru Ramdas was a true visionary for his ability to foresee the city of Amritsar as a center for the Sikh faith. His everlasting legacy is the building of the Darbar Sahib in Amritsar – a place that has gained immense historical importance and is one of the most revered places for the Sikhs. His appointment of masands to take care of collections from the followers paved a way for later Gurus to organize the Sikh community in times of conflicts with the Mughals. Above all, Guru Ramdas foresaw a need for a moral and ethical code of conduct for Sikhs and showed them a way to remember God in their actions. In a unique manner, at every Sikh marriage celebration

In this episode, we will talk about the third Sikh Guru, Guru Amardas and his role in consolidating the legacy of Guru Nanak and Guru Angad – and in furthering institutions that gave the Sikh religion a firm and solid foundation. Before we do that, let’s revisit the social and political climate of India in the 16th century and the birth of Sikhism under Guru Nanak.

In this episode, we will talk about the second Sikh Guru, Guru Angad and his role in consolidating the legacy of Guru Nanak – and in furthering institutions that gave the Sikh religion a firm and solid foundation. Before we do that, let’s revisit the social and political climate of India in the 16th century and the birth of Sikhism under Guru Nanak.

This episode of the Sikh History podcasts, concentrates on the life and times of Guru Nanak from 1469 to 1539. To understand the birth of the Sikh religion and philosophy, it is very important to first understand the social, cultural and political environment of 15th century in Northern India – and particularly in the Punjab and Delhi. In 1451, before the birth of Nanak, Bahlol Lodi occupied Delhi and founded the Lodi dynasty - Guru Nanak was a first hand witness to the rise and establishment of the Lodi dynasty and then the defeat of the Lodis at the hands of Ba