Question

Which of the following Sikh Gurus instituted the Khalsa Panth?
1. Guru Gobind Singh
2. Guru Tegh Bahadur
3. Guru Nanak Dev
4. Guru Angad Dev

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : Guru Gobind Singh

The correct answer is Guru Gobind Singh.

• Guru Gobind Singh:
  • The last of the ten Sikh Gurus, Guru Gobind Singh was born on 22nd December 1666 in Patna, Bihar.
  • His birth anniversary is based on the Nanakshahi calendar according to which it will fall on January 20 in 2021 while for the last year, it was celebrated on January 2.
  • He became the Sikh Guru at the age of 9, following the demise of his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru.
  • He was assassinated in 1708.
  • Guru Gobind Singh instituted the Khalsa Panth.

• Guru Tegh Bahadur:
  • Guru Tegh Bahadur was the 9th Sikh Guru, often venerated as the ‘Protector of Humanity’ (Srisht-di-Chadar) by the Sikhs.
  • Guru Tegh Bahadur was also an excellent warrior, thinker, and poet, known as a great teacher.
  • He wrote detailed descriptions of the nature of God, mind, body, and physical attachments among other things spiritual.
  • His writings are housed in the sacred text, ‘Guru Granth Sahib,’ in the form of 116 poetic hymns.
  • He was also an avid traveler and played a key role in setting up preaching centers throughout the Indian subcontinent.
  • During one such mission, he founded the town of Chak-Nanki in Punjab, which later became a part of Punjab’s Anandpur Sahib.
• Guru Nanak Dev:
  • Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539) was born in a village, Talwandi Rai Bhoe, near Lahore (it was renamed later as Nankana Sahib).
  • Guru Nanak Dev initiated inter-faith dialogue way back in the 16th century and had conversations with most of the religious denominations of his time.
  • His written compositions were included in the Adi Granth compiled by Guru Arjan (1563-1606), the fifth Sikh guru.
  • This came to be known as Guru Granth Sahib after the additions made by Guru Gobind Singh(10th Guru) (1666-1708).
  • In compiling the Adi Granth, Guru Arjan showed a remarkable commitment to pluralism while retaining the unity of thought initiated by Guru Nanak Dev.
• Guru Angad Dev:
  • Guru Angad Dev was the second among the 10 sikh Gurus.
  • He invented and introduced the Gurmukhi script.
  • He compiled the writings of Nanak Dev in Guru Granth Sahib in Gurmukhi Script.
  • He Popularized and expanded the institution of Guru ka Langar which was started by Guru Nanak Dev.