Exactly 400 years ago, the fifth Sikh guru, Arjan Dev (1563-1606), sacrificed his life. What Sikhs the world over are celebrating today is his unique contribution. He compiled the Guru Granth Sahib, holy book of the Sikhs, which contains hymns of great saints, irrespective of the religions they belonged to. The task took many years and, when completed, it shared spiritual shelf space with the Vedas, the Koran and the Bible. Guru Arjan was a lyricist with divine grace and his short hymns in simple language touch one’s heart even today. Sukhmani (psalm of peace) remains a masterpiece, captivating the reciter and listener, together and simultaneously.

In addition to his hymns, this connoisseur of music also composed them using various ragas. The Vani of Granth Sahib is a poetry of devotion, moral rather than cerebral, lyrical without prescribing any social code. The universality of his message can be gauged from one such hymn — Tati wao na lagie, par brahm sharnai, chowgird hamere Ram ka dukh lage na bhai. Satgur pura bhetia jin banat banai. Ram nam aukhadia, eka liv lie (I have taken shelter under the transcendent Lord, blasts of hot air touch me not. I am begirt around with Rama’s Arc, suffering penetrates me not).

Also known as the first Sikh martyr, Guru Arjan will be remembered his Great Sacrifice. The Moghul emperor, Jehangir, was uncomfortable with the Guru’s religious popularity and the message of secularism being propagated by him. When told that he had given refuge to prince Khusro, who had revolted, Jehangir summoned the Guru and charged him with conspiracy and treason. Post-trial, he was sentenced to death by “siyasat and yasa” (death by torture without bloodshed) and made to sit on a hot iron plate kept on a burning furnace. That he died because of his faith in and propagation of plurality of religious thought makes his sacrifice relevant even today as we celebrate the 400th anniversary of his martyrdom.

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