Guru Angad Dev
Guru Angad Dev ji (
Gurmukhi: ਗਰੂ ਅੰਗਦ ਦੇਵ) (
Thursday March 31 1504 -
Saturday April 16 1552) was the second of
The Ten Gurus of Sikhism. Guru ji became Guru on
Thursday,
September 18 1539 following in the footsteps of
Guru Nanak Dev ji, who was the founder of the
Sikh religion.
Before Guru Angad Dev Ji
left for his heavenly abode, he nominated
Guru Amar Das as the third Guru of the Sikhs.
The second Sikh Guru contributed the following to the people of the world:
Invention of Gurmukhi
Guru Angad invented the present form of the
Gurmukhi script. It became the medium of writing the
Punjabi
language in which the hymns of the Gurus are expressed. This step had a
far-reaching purpose and impact. Firstly, it gave the common people a
language that is simple to learn and write. Secondly, it helped the
community to dissociate itself from the very reserved and complex nature
of the Sanskrit religious tradition so that the growth and development
of the Sikhs could take place unhampered and unprejudiced by the backlog
of the earlier religious and social philosophies and practices.
Earlier, the Punjabi language was written in the Landa or
Mahajani script This had no vowel sounds, which had to be imagined or
construed by the reader in order to decipher the writing. Therefore,
there was the need of a script which could faithfully reproduce the
hymns of the Gurus so that the true meaning and message of the Gurus
could not be misconstrued and misinterpreted by each reader to suit his
own purpose and prejudices. The devising of the
Gurmukhi
script was an essential step in order to maintain the purity of the
doctrine and exclude all possibility of misunderstanding and
misconstruction by any person.
Further establishment of Langar
The institution of
Langar was maintained and developed. The Guru's wife,
Mata Khivi
personally worked in the kitchen. She also served food to the members
of the community and the visitors. Her devotion to this institution
finds mention in Guru Granth Sahib.
The Guru earned his own living by twisting coarse grass into
strings used for cots. All offerings went to the common community fund.
This demonstrates that it is necessary and honourable to do even the
meanest productive work. It also emphasises that parasitical living is
not in consonance with the mystic and moral path. In line with Guru
Nanak's teaching, the Guru also declared that there was no place for
passive recluses in the community.
Details
Guru Nanak bestows Guruship on to Bhai Lehna
Guru Angad, (Bhai Lehna ji) was born in the village named
Harike in
Ferozepur district in
Punjab, on Vaisakh Vadi 1st , (5th Vaisakh) Samvat 1561, (March 31, 1504). He was the son of a sucessful trader named
Bhai Pheru Mall usually referred to as Bhai Pheru. His mother 's name was
Mata Ramo
ji (also known as Mata Sabhirai, Mansa Devi, Daya kaur). Baba Narayan
Das Trehan was his grand father, whose ancestral house was at
Matte-di-Sarai near Mukatsar. Pheru ji moved back to this place.
Under the influence of his mother,
Mata Ramo, Bhai Lehna ji began to worship Durga (A Hindu mythological Goddess). He used to lead a batch of worshippers to
Jawalamukhi Temple every year. He was married to
Mata Khivi ji in Jaunary 1520 and had two sons (
Bhai Dasu and
Bhai Datu) and two daughters (
Bibi Amro and
Bibi Anokhi). The whole family of Bhai Pheru had to leave their ancestral village because of the ransacking by the
Mughal and Baloch militia who had come with
Babur. After this the family settelled at village
Khadur Sahib beside the
Beas river, near
Tarn Taran Sahib (A small town about 25 km. away from
Amritsar City).
Once Bhai Lehna ji heard the recitation of a hymn of
Guru Nanak Sahib from
Bhai Jodha (a sikh of Guru Nanak Sahib) and was thrilled and decided to proceed through
Kartarpur to have a glimpse of
Guru Nanak Sahib at the time of yearly pilgrimage to Jwalamukhi Temple. His very first meeting with
Guru Nanak Sahib completely transformed him. He renounced the worship of Hindu Goddess, dedicated himself to the service of the
Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak became his
Sikh and began to live at
Kartarpur.
His devotion to Guru Nanak and his holy mission was so great that he
was installed as the Second Nanak in September 7, 1539 by Guru Nanak
himself. Earlier Guru Nanak tested him in various ways and found an
embodiment of obedience and service in him. Guru Nanak gave him a new
name "Angad" (Guru Angad Sahib). He spent six or seven years in the
service of Guru Nanak Sahib at Kartarpur.
After the death of Guru Nanak Sahib on September 22, 1539, Guru Angad Sahib left
Kartarpur for
Khadur Sahib Village (near
Goindwal Sahib).
He carried forward the thought of Guru Nanak Sahib both in letter and
spirit. Yogis and Saints of different sects visited him and held
detailed discussions about
Sikhism and
Dharam with him .
Guru Angad Sahib introduced a new alphabet known as
Gurmukhi script,
modifying the old Punjabi script's characters. Very soon, it become the
script of the masses. He took great interest in the education of the
children by opening many schools for their education and thus increased
the number of literates. For the youth he started the tradition of
Mall Akhara,
where physical as well as spiritual exercises were held. He collected
the facts about Guru Nanak Sahib's life from Bhai Bala ji and wrote the
first biography of Guru Nanak Sahib. (Bhai Bale Wali Janamsakhi
available now a days in not the same as the one that Guru Angad Sahib
had compiled.) He also wrote 63 Saloks (stanzas), which were later
included in
Guru Granth Sahib by the fifth
Sikh Guru,
Guru Arjan. He popularized and expanded the institution of '
Guru ka Langar' that had been started by Guru Nanak.
Guru Angad visited all important places and centres established by Guru Nanak for preaching
Sikhism. He also established hundreds of new "
Dharamsalas" (Sikh religious Institutions) and thus strengthened the base of Sikhism. The period of his
Guruship was the most crucial one. The Sikh community being in infancy, had to face many dangers. It was not difficult for
Hinduism to swallow the newly born
Sikhism
in due course of time. Moreover Sri Chand's Udasis sect community and
the activities of Jogies had not yet abated. At this hour of juncture he
lived Guru Nanak Sahib's tenets in true spirit and there were manifest
signs of establishing a distinct "way of life" away from
Hinduism. Sikhism became to established its own separate religious identity.
Guru Angad, by following the example of Guru Nanak, nominated
Amar Das
as his successor (The Third Nanak) before his death. He presented all
the holy scripts including those he received from Guru Nanak, to
Guru Amar Das. He breathed his last on March 29, 1552 at the age of forty-eight. It is said that he started to build a new town, at
Goindwal near
Khadur Sahib and
Guru Amar Das was appointed to supervise its construction. It is also said that
Mughal emperor,
Humayun, when defeated by Sher Shah Suri, came to obtain blessings of
Guru Angad in regaining the throne of
Delhi.
With compliments to www.sgpc.net for the above account.
Guru Angad Dev Ji's Contributions
This is the nature of ego, that people perform their actions in ego.
This is the bondage of ego, that time and time again, makes people
suffer”
Eliminate your conceit and then perform service to humanity,
Only then you will be get honor - Guru Angad Dev
On April 18, 2007, the Sikhs marked the 503rd Birth anniversary
of Guru Angad Dev ji, the second Guru in Sikhism. The appointment of
Guru Angad by Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, as his own successor
was an event of far reaching significance in the evolution of Sikhism.
The second Guru, who believed to have embodied the spirit of his great
predecessor, consolidated the infant faith movement through his energy
and his global vision.
On this auspicious occasion, let us remind ourselves of the
simple and sublime teachings of Guru Angad, which are non-sectarian and
universal in their application. Guru Angad is one of the world teachers
whose message is of universal application and is valid for all time. It
has particular relevance not only to us but to the whole of mankind at
this critical period of human history, If only we pay heed to it, we can
surely foster universal brotherhood based on mutual love, respect and
understanding, and we can build and promote international peace.
Gurmukhi Script and Education
Guru Angad Dev Ji Teaching Gurmukhi to children
Guru Angad Dev ji started the schools and also developed the
Gurmukhi
language in order to make education available to the downtrodden and
the underprivileged of the society at that time. Guru Angad was a great
teacher who personally taught Punjabi in Gurmukhi script to children. He
provided education and means of communication to common folk who would
no longer be dependent on the religious or political establishment to
pursue their own economic, educational or spiritual goals. This was his
way of empowering people to have higher goals in life.
An imperfect Punjabi alphabet existed at the time of Guru Nanak,
but Guru Angad modified and polished it. Since the Guru Angad had
adopted the modified alphabet, it was called 'Gurmukhi'- meaning that
which is spoken through the mouth of the Guru. Gurumukhi became the
medium of writing in which the hymns of the Gurus were expressed and it
also suited to the language of the people. Although the origins of the
Punjabi Alphabets are unclear, it is clear that Guru Angad popularized
the use of this simplified
Gurumukhi script among the Sikhs starting around
1541.
The invention of Gurumukhi helped the early Sikh community to
dissociate itself from the Sanskrit religious tradition. Sanskrit
language was used by the Brahmins, the upper castes and it was the
language of the Vedas, the Hindu religious texts. People of lower castes
and untouchables were barred from reading any spiritual literature.
This maintained the status of the superiority of the upper castes.
Gurmukhi enabled the Sikhs to grow and develop their own unprejudiced
spiritual literature. Creating this new script was significant for many
reasons. It gave the people who spoke this language an identity of their
own, enabling them to express their thought without any restrictions.
The guru also saw the need of a script which could faithfully reproduce
the hymns of the Gurus keeping its purity and which would also prevent
misinterpretation or misconstruction by any reader to suit his own
purpose and prejudices.
This step by
Guru Angad Dev
helped secure the unhindered development and growth of Sikhism. Guru
Angad also initiated the writing of the first authorized biography of
Guru Nanak completed in
1544, as well as having a number of copies of Guru Nanak's hymns written out in the new
Gurmukhi script.
Physical Fitness
Guru Angad took a keen interest in physical fitness, and encouraged
his devotees to be involved in sports after their morning prayers. Guru
Angad Dev ji inspired people to lead healthy lives. According to Guru
ji, if you are physically fit only than you can pursue higher goals in
life, because a sound mind can exist only in a sound body. He provided
opportunities to underprivileged sections of the society to maintain
good health. He encouraged all people to be involved in wrestling bouts
or Mal Akharas to compete in physical competitions. This was again his
way of doing away with social taboos of people of lower caste not having
physical contact with higher castes. These steps initiated by him laid
the foundation for a spiritually, educated and enlightened, healthy Sikh
community, without distinctions of caste and creed.
Women’s role
The position of woman at the time was deplorable. She was looked down
upon because she was thought to be inferior to man and was regarded as
merely a temptress. She was confined to her home and was not allowed to
participate in any public work. Guru preached that man and women were
equal before God. He welcomed women to the Sangat, offered them seats
side by side and gave them religious rights that have so far been denied
to her.
Guru Angad scarcely worked alone. His wife and partner, Mata
Khivi, is a very important woman who contributed significantly to
Sikhism. Mata Kheevi played a major role in enlarging the women
participation in the leadership position in Guru’s court. Mata Khivi was
instrumental in creating and maintaining the institution of langar,
whereby all devotees of the Guru and all people in general, were invited
to come and eat together. This practice started initially with Mata
Khivi serving food to the members of the community and the visitors who
would come to see Guru Angad and it came to symbolize the Guru’s
teachings; emphasizing the humanity in every single person and
abolishing any innate discriminations. She did her job in a skillful and
selfless manner, characteristic of her, and evoked spontaneous respect
among the people. Her role in that capacity was unique and revolutionary
because women were usually not seen in the forefront of the society.
She also made sure that the food being fed was nutritious and wholesome
because many who came to see Guru were needy and destitute. Mata Kheevi
would embrace them all and offer love and food. She was, to use the
simile of the contemporary ministrel Balwand, like a shady tree to the
Guru’s disciples and afforded them effectual shade. Her role and praise
is recorded in the Guru Granth Sahib.
To this day, after every service, visitors to a Sikh gurudwara
witness a congregation who join and eat Langar together. Langar also
emphasized that service to fellow man was an important tenet of the Sikh
way of life, as it is customary for members of the congregation to
serve one another.
Guru Angad Dev ji’s Message:
The first duty Guru Angad performed after his morning devotions and kirtan was to tend the sick and succour the needy
Equality
Guru Angad stood for a casteless and classless society, in which no
one was superior to the other and no one, through greed or selfishness,
could be allowed to encroach upon the rights of others. In short, he
visualized a society in which members lived like a family, helping and
supporting one another. He not only preached equality but practiced it.
To promote the acceptance of human equality, Guru established a
community kitchen where all sat together in a row, regardless of caste
or status, and ate the same food.
Guru Angad said, “He Himself creates, O Nanak; He establishes the
various creatures. How can anyone be called bad?. There is One Lord and
Master of all; He watches over all, and assigns all to their tasks.
Some have less, and some have more; no one is allowed to leave empty.” –
Guru Angad Dev
Furthermore, the guru stressed the importance of adopting a
uniform way of praising God and the utility of a social organization
based on equality. He established a holy congregation, or Sangat, where
people of different beliefs and varying social status sat together to
hear the Master’s singing of hymns and to be inspired to lead a noble
life.
Devotion and Love towards God
Guru stressed the oneness of God. The purpose of life is to seek God,
find him and be united to Him. He called upon the people to give up
formal and superficial rituals and rally around the Creator, who alone
was Omnipotent and Omnipresent. According to Guru Angad, no one has ever
found acceptance or achieved self-realization without true devotion to
God.
“ O Nanak, if someone judges himself, only then is he known as a
real judge. If someone understands both the disease and the medicine,
only then is he a wise physician. Do not involve yourself in idle
business on the way; remember that you are only a guest here.”
Good deeds are important but winning God’s Grace is still more
important. Pride, greed and ego are the greatest distractions to keep
away humans from the Creator. A guru or a spiritual divine teacher is
needed to guide the man on the true path.
“That virtuous person who does not walk in the way of greed, and who abides in Truth, is accepted and embraced by God”.
This is the nature of ego, that people perform their actions in
ego. This is the bondage of ego, that time and time again, makes people
suffer”
Guru Angad Dev also emphasized that one must control the greed
and worldly attachment because they are impediments in the path of God.
One must stay focused on the inner development.
“They know that they will have to depart, so why do they make
such ostentatious displays? Those who do not know that they will have to
depart, continue to arrange their affairs. He accumulates wealth during
the night of his life, but in the morning, he must depart. O Nanak, it
shall not go along with him, and so he regrets.”
“The mouth is not satisfied by speaking, and the ears are not
satisfied by hearing. The eyes are not satisfied by seeing—each organ
seeks out one sensory quality. The hunger of the hungry is not appeased;
by mere words, hunger is not relieved. O Nanak, hunger is relieved only
when one utters the Glorious Praises of the Praiseworthy Lord.”
Fearlessness
He was a constructive architect of a society which focused on the
social and religious freedom and equality, promoting dignity of action
without distinction of caste and status. He was born at a time when
ritual, caste distinctions and superstition had reduced the people to a
low level of existence. He gave them courage and uplifted them.
He taught the people to lead a righteous life and show due reverence and
respect to God instead of supplicating before men. By his own example
he made the people fearless and put a new life and spirit in them.
“Those who have the Fear of God, have no other fears; those who
do not have the Fear of God, are very afraid. O Nanak, this mystery is
revealed at the Court of the Lord.”
The Guru also extolled the dignity of labor and decried the
division of society on grounds of birth and founded a classless society
based on the idea of equality and universal brotherhood.
He was particularly aware of the degradation which the lower
classes of the people suffered through centuries at the hands of rulers
and the so called high caste people. He aligned himself with the
down-trodden and the less fortunate sections of the people and preferred
to stay with the working class people.
Company of the Holy
Guru Angad confirms that “those who meditate on the Eternal Lord, who
is fearless and is All Pervasive, are not only themselves emancipated,
but they rescue many others form this net of illusion.”
Sewa
Guru Angad believed in the service and well-being of all mankind and
not just of his own followers. He laid stress on character building
rather than observance of rituals and formalities. The path which Guru
Angad pointed out to his Sikhs for achieving enlightenment was through
service and good actions and devotion and worship of one God. He asked
his followers to win Divine grace by prayer, singing His praises,
cultivating humility, a spirit of service and submitting at all time to
His will.
Paying a fine under pressure, does not bring either merit or goodness.
That alone is a good deed, O Nanak, which is done by one’s own free
will. Sewa has to be done selflessly.
Eliminate your conceit and then perform service to humanity,
Only then you will be get honor - Guru Angad Dev
Divinity Within
He stressed the importance of the physical body as an instrument of
spiritual development. He told his followers that there was a spark of
divinity in every human being. The body is the temple of God as it
houses the soul. God’s presence can be felt by deeper contemplation and
reflection within.
“Twenty-four hours a day one looks for contentment in eight
different directions but one must also explore the ninth place, which is
to their own body and contemplate within. Within the body are the nine
treasures of the Name of the Lord—seek the depths of these virtues.
Those blessed with the karma of good actions praise the Lord and become
true devotees” – Guru Angad Dev
“Those who are blessed with the glorious greatness of Your Name —
their minds are imbued with Your Love. O Nanak, there is only One
Ambrosial Nectar; there is no other nectar at all. O Nanak, the
Ambrosial Nectar is obtained within the mind, by Guru’s Grace.”
Life of Action
He held firmly that physical austerity was not necessary and that
spiritual development was not dependent on ritual and external
wanderings.
“austerity and everything come through immersing oneself in the
meditation of the Lord’s Name. All other actions are useless. O Nanak,
believe in the One who is worth believing in. By Guru’s Grace, he is
realized.”
Guru Angad was at once a spiritual teacher and a man of action.
To Guru Angad, religion was not only a spiritual experience but a way of
life. Every action must have an impact of spirituality, humility and
love. This can be achieved if one is always conscious of the presence of
God. Guru Angad insisted that there should be harmony between thought
and action and purity in life.
“Doing some thing unwillingly or doing under pressure from someone, does
not bring either merit or goodness. That alone is a good deed, O Nanak,
which is done by one’s own free will.”
“Mortals are known by their actions; this is the way it has to
be. They should show goodness, and not be deformed by their actions;
this is how they are called beautiful. Whatever they desire, they shall
receive; O Nanak, they become the very image of God.” -Guru Angad Dev
“O Nanak, the worldly achievements and glory is worthy of being
burnt in the fire if it causes one to forget God. Usually these worldly
things has caused mortals to forget the the Name of the Lord. Not even
one of them will go along with you in the end.” - Guru Angad Dev
Gurdwara connected with Guru Angad
These following are famous historical
Gurdwaras connected with Guru Angad Dev Ji:
- 1. Gurudwara Mai Bhrayi: Mai Bhrayi was Guru Ji's paternal aunt. When the Guru moved to Kartarpur from Khadur Sahib on Guru Nanak's behest, this is where he stayed and worshipped in solitude.
- 2. Gurudwara Darbar Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji, Khandi Sahib: Guru Ji would gather his followers here and disseminate his teachings.
- 3. Gurudwara Tapiana Sahib: After the religious gatherings, Guru Ji used to chant and worship here.
- 4. Gurudwara Mal Akhara: This was the arena for exercising.
- 5. Gurudwara Matte di Serai: This is Guru Angad Dev Ji's place of birth.
- 6. Gurdwara Khadur Sahib, Dist. Amritsar
