Sikh Gurus

The ten human spiritual teachers who founded and shaped Sikhism, from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh. Their teachings established Sikh scripture, institutions, and community practices.

Guru Nanak: The first Sikh Guru, whose teachings founded the Sikh tradition in fifteenth-century Punjab. His teachings established the path followed and developed by the nine later Gurus.
Guru succession: The transfer of spiritual authority from one Sikh Guru to the next. The succession linked the ten teachers into a continuous line of authority.
Punjab: A historical region of South Asia spanning parts of present-day India and Pakistan. The Gurus lived and taught in the region where Sikhism took shape.
Sikhism: A monotheistic religion founded in Punjab, centered on devotion to one God and the teachings of the Sikh Gurus. The ten Gurus established its teachings, institutions, and distinctive community.
Nirankari movement: A Sikh reform movement founded in the nineteenth century that recognizes a continuing line of human spiritual leaders. Its continuing human leadership contrasts with the Sikh mainstream’s recognition of the scripture as Guru.
Guru Angad: The second Sikh Guru, who developed the Gurmukhi script and strengthened the Sikh community. He carried Guru Nanak’s succession forward and helped give Sikh teachings a written form.
Gurmukhi: A script used to write Punjabi, standardized and promoted by the Sikh Gurus. Its development helped preserve and circulate the Gurus’ teachings.
Bhakti movement: A broad South Asian devotional movement emphasizing personal devotion to the divine. Its devotional currents provide context for the Gurus’ emphasis on direct spiritual devotion.
Sikh Rehat Maryada: The code of conduct and conventions issued by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for Sikh life and worship. It formalizes communal practices rooted in the Gurus’ teachings and the Khalsa tradition.
Namdhari: A Sikh movement whose adherents recognize a living human Guru in a continuing succession. Its account of Guruship differs from the mainstream Sikh succession established by Guru Gobind Singh.

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History of SikhismNarrower topic: Their leadership shaped Sikh belief, institutions, and collective identity.