Life and work of Guru Arjan : history, memory, and biography in the Sikh tradition

A comprehensive study of the life and work of Guru Arjan (1563–1606), the fifth Guru of the Sikhs, this volume reconstructs his life based on history, memory, tradition, and mythic representation. Pashaura Singh focuses on the major influences that shaped Guru Arjan's thought. He discusses the socio-political conditions that moulded the Guru's life, inspiring him to become one of the greatest religious leaders of the world. Presenting a systematic analysis of Guru Arjan's teachings, the author examines the Guru's role as leader of the growing Sikh Panth. The book discusses major institutional developments and the formation of the Sikh canon during the Guru's reign. It also explores the circumstances surrounding the Guru's martyrdom and the subsequent impact on the crystallization of the Sikh Panth This book presents a scholarly treatment of the life and work of Guru Arjan (1563-1606), the fifth Guru of the Sikhs. First, it discusses the theoretical framework of a religious biography, and follows a multidisciplinary paradigm to reconstruct Guru Arjan's life based upon history, tradition, memory, and mythic representation. In constructing the historical setting of Guru Arjan's times, the book focuses on major influences in the formation of his thought before he became a Guru, and discusses his role as the leader of the growing Sikh Panth. It also explores the major institutional developments as well as the formation of the Sikh canon during his reign, his teachings, and the social and political context of his life that contributed to his rise to cultural pre-eminence as one of the world's great religious leaders. Moreover, it examines the various causes that led to Guru Arjan's execution at the hands of the Mughals, and how his martyrdom influenced the crystallisation of the Sikh Panth This is a comprehensive study of Guru Arjan (1563-1606), the fifth Guru of the Sikhs. The book reconstructs his life based on history, memory, tradition, and mythic representation A Comprehensive Study Of The Life And Work Of Guru Arjan (1563-1606), The Fifth Guru Of The Sikhs. Pashaura Singh. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Guru Arjun, 1563-1606, 5th guru of the Sikhs