Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1563–1606) was the fifth Sikh Guru and the first Sikh martyr. He was the youngest son of Guru Ram Das Ji.
Key Contributions
- Compiled the Adi Granth (1604) — the first edition of what would become Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, collecting the bani of the first four Gurus along with Hindu and Muslim saints
- Completed the construction of Harmandir Sahib (the Golden Temple) in Amritsar, with its foundation stone laid by the Sufi saint Mian Mir
- Composed Sukhmani Sahib — the Psalm of Peace, one of the most beloved Sikh prayers
Martyrdom Guru Arjan Dev Ji was arrested by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir and tortured for five days. He was made to sit on a hot iron plate, burning sand was poured over him, and he was immersed in boiling water. He accepted his martyrdom with grace, becoming the first Sikh martyr in 1606.
Bani in SGGS Guru Arjan Dev Ji is the largest single contributor to SGGS, with 2,218 hymns.