Guru Arjan Dev, the son of Guru Ramdas and Bibi Bhani, was born in Goindwal on 15 April, 1563.
Childhood: Even from early childhood, he could perform the most wondrous acts. One day, as a toddler, he crawled towards his maternal grandfather‟s bed and once he was there, he tried to climb up. “Who is it?” asked Guru Amardas. “It‟s your grandson (Dohta),” replied His daughter, Bibi Bhani. To this, the Guru responded spontaneously, „Dohta Bani ka Bohitha‟ (the grandson is a treasure-house of Hymns) and added, “O my grandchild! Be in no hurry, your time would come soon to ascend this Divine seat.”
Marriage: Guru Arjan Dev married Mata Ganga at village Mau in Tehsil Phillaur of Jalandhar district. Their only child was a son, named Hargobind.
Guruship: He attained Guruship on 1 September, 1581.
Prithi Chand’s Hostility: Prithi Chand, the eldest brother of Guru Arjan Dev, always nurtured ill will for him, because he feared that the Guruship might be conferred upon him. When Guru Arjan Dev indeed became the fifth Guru, Prithi Chand‟s rage knew no bounds. He hatched a conspiracy with the Mughal General, Sulhi Khan; and invited him to attack Guru Arjan Dev. When Sulhi Khan started from Lahore to launch his attack on the Guru, some of the Sikhs in the congregation requested Guru Arjan Dev to send a letter to the General clarifying their stand that they had not done any damage to the rule of the Mughal Empire, so why should they attack the Guru? After hearing the suggestion, the Guru remained calm and serene, because He was immersed in the Divine within.
When the devotees perceived that this suggestion was not acceptable to the Guru, they submitted an alternative suggestion of sending a couple of noble Sikhs to General Sulhi Khan to clarify that the followers of Guru Arjan Dev had not taken any action against the rules and regulations of the Government. After hearing that suggestion, the Guru again remained quiet and immersed in the Divine within.
Then the holy congregation submitted the third proposal that they should do something to prevent General Sulahi Khan‟s attack. After hearing the third suggestion, the Guru told the congregation, “We should have utmost faith in the Divine and should concentrate our minds to recite the Divine Name.” The Guru‟s tune merged with the Divine within and prayed that whatever is the Divine Will, would be acceptable to them. The virtues of the Divine Lord were to protect His devotee. At this, Guru Arjan Dev humbly responded in the voice of the Divine in the following hymn:
ਪ੍ਰਥਮੇ ਮਤਾ ਜਿ ਪਤ੍ਰੀ ਚਲਾਵਉ ॥ ਦੁਤੀਏ ਮਤਾ ਦੁਇ ਮਾਨੁਖ ਪਹੁਚਾਵਉ ॥
ਤ੍ਰਿਤੀਏ ਮਤਾ ਕਿਛੁ ਕਰਉ ਉਪਾਇਆ ॥ ਮੈ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਛੋਡਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਤੁਹੀ ਧਿਆਇਆ ॥
Pratham-ai mataa je patree chalaavou. Duttee-ai mataa du-e maanukh pahuchaavou.
Trittee-ai mataa kichhu karou upaa-e-aa. M-ei sabh(u) kichh(u) chhod(i) Prabh tuhee dhiaa-e-aa. (371)
As per the Divine Order, General Sulhi Khan, riding the horseback, came with a huge force to attack Guru Arjan Dev at Amritsar. On the way, Prithi Chand requested Sulhi Khan to visit his brick kiln, because, he wanted to show the General his great influence on the masses and his own established sound business. As soon as Sulhi Khan reached the boundary of the burning brick kiln, his horse was so frightened that the Divine Force pushed the General into the burning kiln. Thus, General Sulhi Khan, along with the horse, was roasted in the burning bricks. After perceiving this horrible scene, the army of the dead General fled for fear of the Divine.
When word of Sulhi Khan‟s death reached Guru Arjan Dev, he prayed to the Divine Lord, expressing His Divine spiritual feelings through the following hymn.
ਸੁਲਹੀ ਤੇ ਨਾਰਾਇਣ ਰਾਖੁ ॥
ਸੁਲਹੀ ਕਾ ਹਾਥੁ ਕਹੀ ਨ ਪਹੁਚੈ ਸੁਲਹੀ ਹੋਇ ਮੂਆ ਨਾਪਾਕੁ ॥
Sul-hee t-ai Naaraa-e-nh raakh(u).
Sul-hee kaa haath(u) kahee na pahuch-ei Sul-hee ho-e mooaa naapaak(u). (825)
(The Almighty Lord saved us from Sulhi Khan. He could do nothing and the Divine Power pushed him to the burning kiln, where he was roasted completely.)
~ Extract form Sikh Faith Book
~ Written by Iqbal Singh Ji(Baba)
