-
Apr 15, 1469
1. Guru Nanak Dev Ji is born
(Lived to be 69) -
Period: Apr 15, 1469 to Aug 22, 1539
Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Founder of Sikhi. Proclaimed "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim!" after undergoing a spiritual experience with god for three days. He traveled the world preaching the oneness of God or "Ik Onkaar". He emphasized the equality of man and woman, dismantled the Hindu caste system, and condemned the persecutions of religious minorities by the Mughal Empire. He started the Langar, or free communal kitchen, program. His teachings were collected and eventually became the Guru Granth Sahib -
May 5, 1479
3. Guru Amar Das Dev Ji is born
(Lived to be 95) -
Mar 31, 1504
2. Guru Angad Dev Ji is born
(Lived to be 48) -
Sep 24, 1534
4. Guru Ram Das Dev Ji is born
(Lived to be 46) -
Period: Aug 7, 1539 to Mar 29, 1552
Guru Angad Dev Ji
Built upon the spiritual teachings of Guru Nanak. Emphasized educational, spiritual, and physical growth. Opened many schools and expanded many Sikh institutions. Standardized the Gurumukhi Script and expanded upon what would become the Guru Granth Sahib. -
Period: Mar 26, 1552 to Sep 1, 1574
Guru Amar Das Dev Ji
The oldest man to become Sikh Guru at 75. Built upon the two Gurus before him. Emphasized the equality of women and equality amongst people in the caste. Preached against "widow burning" and believed that widows can remarry, as well as asked (Muslim) women to remove different forms of veiling. -
Apr 15, 1563
5. Guru Arjan Dev Ji is born
(Martyred at 43) -
Period: Sep 1, 1574 to Sep 1, 1581
Guru Ram Das Dev Ji
Continued to build upon the teachings of Sikhi. Continued to preach the equality amongst genders and caste. Laid the foundation of Chak Ramdas, or what is modern day Amritsar, the most holy place for all Sikhs. -
Period: Sep 1, 1581 to
Guru Arjan Dev Ji
Began to officially compile the Guru Granth Sahib and continued to expand upon it. Completed the Harmandir Sahib, The Sikh Golden Temple in Amritsar. He was executed in 1606, by Mughal Emperor Jahangir, for refusing to alter Sikh Scripture which the Emperor found insulting. He was the first Sikh Guru to be martyred. -
6. Guru Hargobind Dev Ji is born
(Lived to be 48) -
Period: to
Guru Hargobind Dev Ji
The son of Guru Arjan. Militarized the Sikh community after the death of his father. He created what he called "warrior saints" and began to wage war against tyrannical rulers such as Jahangir and Shah Jahan. -
9. Guru Tegh Bahadur Dev Ji is born
(Martyred at 54) -
7. Guru Har Rai Dev Ji is born
(Lived to be 31) -
Period: to
Guru Har Rai Dev Ji
Grandson of Guru Hargobind. Maintained a large army of Sikh warriors yet avoided any military conflict. Excommunicated his eldest son for changing verses in the Guru Granth Sahib at the behest of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. -
8. Guru Har Krishan Dev Ji is born
(Lived to be 7) -
Period: to
Guru Har Krishan Dev Ji
The youngest to become Sikh Guru at just the age of five. He had a short life due to a smallpox epidemic and died at just the age of seven. Even still he was still looked up to for his wisdom at such a young age, with some even dubbing him "The Child Prophet". -
Period: to
Guru Tegh Bahadur Dev Ji
Continued the spread of Sikhi across the Indian subcontinent. He continually preached the equality of all religions and opposed the forceful conversions of Hindus. This act got Bahadur persecuted, imprisoned, and eventually executed. He was the second Sikh Guru to be executed by the Mughal Empire. -
10. Guru Gobind Singh Dev Ji is born
(Died from wounds at 41) -
Period: to
Guru Gobind Singh Dev Ji
The last of the human Sikh Gurus. He created the Sikh Khalsa, a special group of initiated warrior Sikhs, to stand up and fight for justice for all ethnic, religious, and caste groups. The founding of the Khalsa is still celebrated by Sikhs worldwide during Vaisakhi and the Khalsa still fights for justice to this day. He made final edits and compilations of The Guru Granth Sahib, which he then made the eternal Guru for the rest of history. He died due to complications from stab wounds in 1708. -
11. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
(Eternal Guru) -
Period: to
Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
The collection of writings, poems, hymns, and general teachings of all Sikh Gurus. It serves as the the current and eternal Sikh Guru after the death of the 10th human Guru. It is still treated and given the utmost respect by Sikhs today.