Sikh Gurus

The Sikh Gurus The word "Guru" is a Sanskrit word meaning teacher, honoured person, religious person or saint. Sikhism though has a very specific definition of the word Guru. It means the descent of divine guidance to mankind provided through ten Enlightened Masters. This honour of being called a Sikh Guru applies only to the ten Gurus who founded the religion starting with Guru Nanak in 1469 and ending with Guru Gobind Singh in 1708; thereafter it refers to the Sikh Holy Scriptures the Guru Granth Sahib. The divine spirit was passed from one Guru to the next as "The light of a lamp which lights another does not abate. Similarly a spiritual leader and his disciple become equal, Nanak says the truth." "They distinguish and separate one Guru from the other. And rare is the one who knows that they, indeed, were one. They who realised this in their hearts, attained Realisation of God." (Guru Gobind Singh, Dohira, Vachitra Natak) Important Note: Pictures of the Gurus: Sikhism rejects any form of idol worship including worship of pictures of the Gurus. Although some of the Gurus did pose for paintings, unfortunately none of these historical paintings have survived. Artists renditions are for inspirational purposes only and should not be regarded as objects of worship themselves.
First Guru and the founder of Sikh religion Name: Guru Nanak Dev ji Guruship on: 15 April 1469 Prakash DOB: 15 April 1469 Date of Demise: 22 September 1539 Age: 69 Father: Mehta Kalu Mother: Mata Tripta
Second Guru Name: Guru Angad Dev ji Guruship on: 7 September 1539 Prakash DOB: 31 March 1504 Date of Demise: 29 March 1552 Age: 48 Father: Baba Pheru Mother: Mata Ramo
Third Guru Name: Guru Amar Das ji Guruship on: 25 March 1552 Prakash DOB: 5 May 1479 Date of Demise: 1 September 1574 Age: 95 Father: Tej Bhan Bhalla Mother: Bakht Kaur
Fourth Guru Name: Guru Ram Das ji Guruship on: 29 August 1574 Prakash DOB: 25 September 1534 Date of Demise: 1 September 1581 Age: 47 Father: Baba Hari Das Mother: Mata Daya Kaur
Fifth Guru Name: Guru Arjan Dev ji Guruship on: 28 August 1581 Prakash DOB: 15 April 1563 Date of Demise: 30 may 1606 Age: 43 Father: Baba Ram Das Mother: Mata Bhani
Sixth Guru also knows as miri piri de Malik Name: Guru Har Gobind ji Guruship on: 30 May 1606 Prakash DOB: 19 june 1595 Date of Demise: 3 March 1644 Age: 49 Father: Guru Arjan Mother: Mata Ganga
Seventh Guru Name: Guru Har Rai ji Guruship on: 28 Feburary 1644 Prakash DOB: 26 Feburary 1630 Date of Demise: 6 October 1661 Age: 31 Father: Baba Gurditta Mother: Mata Nihal Kaur
Eighth Guru Name: Guru Har Krishan ji Guruship on: 6 October 1661 Prakash DOB: 7 July 1656 Date of Demise: 30 March 1664 Age: 8 Father: Guru Har Rai Mother: Mata Krishan Kaur
Ninth Guru Name: Guru Tegh Bahadur ji Guruship on: 20 March 1665 Prakash DOB: 1 April 1621 Date of Demise: 11 November 1675 Age: 54 Father: Guru Har Gobind Mother: Mata Nanki
Tenth Guru and the creator of Khalsa Name: Guru Gobind Singh ji Guruship on: 11 November 1675 Prakash DOB: 22 December 1666 Date of Demise: 6 october 1708 Age: 42 Father: Guru Tegh Bahadur Mother: Mata Gujri