Guru Arjan, the fifth of the Sikh Gurus, shaped the faith in ways that still define it today. Born on 15 April 1563 in Goindval, he completed the most sacred Sikh shrine, gathered the hymns of his predecessors into a single authoritative scripture, and composed some of the most beloved poetry in the tradition. His guruship of twenty-five years was a period of growth and confidence for the young community. It ended in 1606 with his death in Mughal custody at Lahore, an event remembered as the first martyrdom in Sikh history and a turning point in how the community understood itself.
A Younger Son Becomes Guru
Arjan was the youngest of the three sons of Guru Ram Das, the fourth Guru, and his wife Bibi Bhani. Though youngest, he was chosen for the spiritual office in 1581 on the strength of his devotion and humility, a decision that disappointed his eldest brother, Prithi Chand. The succession passing to a younger son reflected a principle seen across the line of the ten Gurus, where merit rather than birth order guided the choice. Arjan accepted the responsibility while still a young man and devoted himself to building both the institutions and the spiritual heritage of the faith.
Completing the Harmandir Sahib
One of Guru Arjan's most enduring achievements was the completion of the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar, the shrine known today as the Golden Temple. His father had founded the town and excavated the sacred pool; Arjan oversaw the building of the central temple within it. According to tradition, he had the foundation laid low rather than raised high, and he gave the building doors on all four sides. These features carried meaning: the lowered entrance asked visitors to step down in humility, while the four doors signalled that people of every background were welcome.
The four open doors of the shrine expressed a conviction at the heart of the faith: the divine is accessible to all, without distinction of caste, creed, or origin.
Compiling the Adi Granth
In 1604 Guru Arjan completed the Adi Granth, the first authoritative scripture of the Sikhs. He gathered the hymns of the earlier Gurus together with his own and arranged them by musical measure. Remarkably, he also included verses by Hindu and Muslim devotional poets, the bhagats, among them Kabir, Ravidas, and the Sufi Sheikh Farid. This act of inclusion reflected the breadth of the tradition he was preserving. The volume he assembled would later be elevated to the status of eternal Guru, and its story is told further in the Guru Granth Sahib.
Installing the Scripture
Once the Adi Granth was complete, Guru Arjan installed it within the newly finished Golden Temple. He appointed the venerable Baba Buddha, a companion who had served since the time of Guru Nanak, as the first granthi, or custodian of the scripture. Placing the sacred volume at the centre of the shrine gave the community a fixed spiritual focus. Worship now gathered around the recited word, a practice that continues in Sikh devotion to the present day.
A Poet of Devotion
Guru Arjan was himself a prolific poet, and his contribution to Sikh scripture is the largest of any single Guru. His best-known composition is the Sukhmani Sahib, often translated as the Psalm of Peace, a long meditation on contentment, remembrance of the divine, and inner stillness. Its gentle, reassuring tone has made it a daily prayer in countless homes. Through such works he gave ordinary devotees language for their faith, deepening the spiritual life that the institutions he built were meant to serve.
A Community That Prospered
Under Guru Arjan the Sikh community grew in numbers, organisation, and prosperity. The network of local congregations expanded, and offerings supported new building works and charitable service. The free community kitchen, or langar, continued as a sign of equality and shared sustenance, feeding all who came regardless of status. This visible flourishing strengthened the community, though it also drew the attention of those who viewed a confident new movement with suspicion.
Martyrdom at Lahore
In 1606 Guru Arjan was arrested on the orders of the Mughal emperor Jahangir and taken to Lahore. He died in custody there on 30 May, enduring his ordeal with a composure that became central to how Sikhs remember him. His death is honoured as the first Sikh martyrdom and is commemorated each year. Sikh tradition holds that, before his passing, he counselled his young son and successor to prepare the community to defend itself. That guidance shaped the path of Guru Hargobind, who took up arms and adopted a more defensive posture, a development that can be traced across the wider story of The Ten Gurus.