SIKH GURUS

GURU ANGAD SAHIB
(1504-1552 )

GURU ANGAD SAHIB, son of Mata Ramo (also known as Mata Sabhirai, Mansa Devi, Daya Kaur) and Baba Pheru Mall, was born at village Matte-Di-Saran, near Muktsar. His first name was (Bhai) Lehna/Lahina. His parents were devotees of the mythical Hindu goddess Durga. Bhai Lehna was married to Mata Khivi in January 1520 and had two sons (Dasu, in 1524 and Datu, in 1537) and two daughters (Amaro, in 1526 and Anokhi, in 1535). Once, in 1532, on his way to pilgrimage, he stopped at Kartarpur. He paid a visit to Guru Nanak Sahib. He was so impressed by Guru Nanak Sahib that he renounced the worship of the Hindu goddess. He felt that the goddess, whose blessing he had been seeking for the past several years, was not even like a servant of Guru Sahib. He spent the next six years in the service of Guru Nanak Sahib.

In 1539, Guru Nanak Sahib appointed Bhai Lehna as his successor-in-mission and also gave him a new name, Angad (Guru Angad Sahib). On September 7, 1539, Guru Angad Sahib was formally installed as the Second Nanak. Guru Nanak Sahib merged his light with the light of Guru Angad Sahib and presented all his Scriptures to the latter. After the death of Guru Nanak Sahib, Guru Angad Sahib moved to Khadur Sahib. Guru Angad Sahib visited several places throughout the Sikh zone and preached the mission of Guru Nanak Sahib. He promoted Punjabi language and Gurmukhi script (the script of the masses, which had also been used by Guru Nanak Sahib for writing his hymns). The usage of a common language and a script ushered a cohesion among the Sikhs. He continued Langar, the sacred kitchen, in the tradition of Guru Nanak Sahib. He started the tradition of Mall Akhara (wrestling/playing grounds) and trained the Sikh youth. Guru Angad Sahib wrote 63 Saloks (stanzas). All his verses have been included in Guru Granth Sahib. During his time Khadur Sahib become a prominent centre of the Sikh Homeland. Guru Angad Sahib died in 1552 at the age of 48. Before his departure he appointed Guru Amar Das Sahib as his successor-in-mission and presented him all the Sikh Scriptures he had with himself including those he had received from Guru Nanak Sahib.