The Sikh Timeline
From Guru Nānak’s first journey to the eternal Guruship of the Granth — the unfolding of the Sikh path.
1st Guru · 1469–1539 · Guruship from 1499
Guru Nānak Dev
The founder of the Sikh path, who taught that there is One God present in all, and that the truest worship is honest work, sharing, and remembrance of the Name.
Core message: Ik Onkar — there is One. Reject ritualism and caste; live by Nām (remembrance), Kirat (honest labour) and Vand Chhako (sharing).
2nd Guru · 1504–1552
Guru Aṅgad Dev
Shaped the Gurmukhī script and built up the young community through discipline of body and spirit.
Contribution: Standardised the Gurmukhī alphabet so the Guru's word could be written and learnt; collected Guru Nānak's hymns; promoted physical fitness (maḷḷ akhāṛā) and education for children.
3rd Guru · 1479–1574
Guru Amar Dās
A great social reformer who used the institutions of the faith to dissolve caste and lift the standing of women.
Reforms: Insisted all share laṅgar seated in one row (pangat) before meeting him; opposed satī and the veil; encouraged widow remarriage.
4th Guru · 1534–1581
Guru Rām Dās
Founder of the city of Amritsar and composer of the Lāvāṅ, the hymns of the Sikh wedding.
Amritsar: Founded the town around the sacred pool (Amrit Sarovar) that became the site of the Golden Temple.
5th Guru · 1563–1606 · first martyr
Guru Arjan Dev
Compiled the first scripture and built the Harmandir Sāhib — and became the first Sikh martyr, bearing torture in serene surrender to the Divine Will.
The Ādi Granth: In 1604 he compiled the first canon of the Guru's word, including hymns of Hindu and Muslim saints, and installed it in the Harmandir Sāhib.
6th Guru · 1595–1644
Guru Hargobind
Joined the spiritual and the temporal — wearing two swords of mīrī and pīrī — and raised the Akāl Takht as the seat of worldly authority.
Mīrī–Pīrī: Took up arms to defend the faith, balancing saintliness with the duty to resist injustice.
7th Guru · 1630–1661
Guru Har Rāi
A gentle Guru known for compassion, healing herbs and care for all living things.
Character: Maintained a garden of medicinal plants and a free dispensary; taught kindness to people and nature alike while keeping the community's strength.
8th Guru · 1656–1664
Guru Har Krishan
The child Guru, who gave his life serving the sick during an epidemic in Delhi.
Seva: Became Guru at five; in Delhi he tended those struck by smallpox and cholera until he too fell ill. Gurdwārā Banglā Sāhib stands where he stayed.
9th Guru · 1621–1675 · Hind dī Chādar
Guru Teg Bahādur
Gave his life defending the right of others — Kashmiri Pandits — to their own faith: the 'shield of India'.
Sacrifice: Martyred in Delhi in 1675 for refusing to accept forced conversion, defending religious freedom that was not even his own.
10th Guru · 1666–1708
Guru Gobind Siṅgh
Founder of the Khālsā, who shaped the Sikhs into saint-soldiers and made the scripture the eternal Guru.
The Khālsā: On Vaisākhī 1699 he initiated the first Pañj Piāre with amṛit and the five articles of faith (the five Ks), dissolving caste in one family.
The eternal Guru · from 1708
Gurū Granth Sāhib
The living Guru of the Sikhs — the Word itself, to which every Sikh turns directly for guidance.
The living Guru: 1,430 aṅgs of hymns by the Gurus and by Hindu and Muslim saints, set to raag. Guidance every Sikh can seek directly, with no further human Guru.