Sikh History Notes for UPPCS & UPSC 2026 | Medieval Indian History

The 10 Gurus of Sikhism

#	Guru	Period	Key Contributions
1	Guru Nanak	1469-1539	Founder of Sikhism. Born at Nankana Sahib
2	Guru Angad	-	Gurumukhi script progenitor PYQ!
3	Guru Amar Das	-	Divided Sikh empire into 22 Manjis
4	Guru Ram Das	-	Founded Amritsar city Super PYQ!
5	Guru Arjun Dev	1581-1606	Compiled "Adi Granth" (1604) Super PYQ! Executed by Jahangir
6	Guru Hargovind	-	Miri & Piri concept
7	Guru Har Rai	-	-
8	Guru Harkishan	-	-
9	Guru Tegh Bahadur	1664-1675	Executed by Aurangzeb (1675, Chandni Chowk) PYQ!
10	Guru Gobind Singh	1666-1708	Born in Patna PYQ! Founded Khalsa Panth (1699)

1. Guru Nanak (1469-1539)

Born: Nankana Sahib (now in Pakistan)
Founded: Sikhism during Sikandar Lodi's reign
Death: 22 September 1539 (age 70)
Successor: Guru Angad (Bhai Lehna) PYQ!
Philosophy: Monotheism, equality, "God knows virtues, not caste"
Innovation: "Guru Ka Langar" (community kitchen)

2. Guru Angad

Real name: Bhai Lehna
Major contribution: Gurumukhi script - standardized script for Punjabi Super PYQ!
Used for: Guru Granth Sahib is written in Gurumukhi

3. Guru Amar Das

Division: Divided Sikh religious empire into 22 Manjis
Manji system: Each Manji had a local Sikh preacher

4. Guru Ram Das

Founded: Amritsar city Super PYQ!
Land grant: Akbar donated 500 bighas land with natural pond PYQ!
Wife: Bibi Bhani
Original name: Ramdaspur (later → Amritsar)

5. Guru Arjun Dev (1581-1606)

📖 Major Works

Compiled "Adi Granth"/"Guru Granth Sahib" (1604) Super PYQ Hit!
• Contains preachings of 6 Sikh Gurus
• Hindu devotees: Kabir, Baba Farid, Namdev, Raidas
• First line by Bengali Vaishnav poet Jaydev
• Last line by Guru Tegh Bahadur
Built "Harmandir Sahib" (Golden Temple) in middle of Amritsar pond
Founded cities: Taran Taran, Kartarpur
Masand custom: Sikhs had to pay 1/10th income to Guru

⚖️ Execution

Helped: Prince Khusrau (rebelled against Jahangir in 1606)
Gave: Shelter & financial help to Khusrau
Punishment: Jahangir fined 2.5 lakh rupees
Martyrdom: Executed by Jahangir (1606) PYQ! - First great Sikh martyrdom

9. Guru Tegh Bahadur (1664-1675)

9th Sikh Guru (Revered as "9th Nanak")
Protected: Kashmiri Hindus from Aurangzeb's persecution
Summoned to Delhi: By Aurangzeb
Offered: Convert to Islam
Refused & Executed: 11 November 1675 Super PYQ!
• Place: Chandni Chowk, Delhi (public execution)
• By: Aurangzeb
Contribution: Wrote last lines of Adi Granth

10. Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708)

🗡️ The Last Guru

Born: 1666 in Patna, Bihar PYQ!
Son of: Guru Tegh Bahadur

⚔️ Khalsa Panth

Founded: "Khalsa Panth" (military order of Sikhs) Super PYQ!
Date: 13 April 1699 (Baisakhi day)
Place: Anandpur Sahib
Converted: Sikhs into warrior community

5 Ks (Kakkars)

                Every Sikh must have:
                1. Kesh - Uncut hair
2. Kangha - Wooden comb
3. Kachha - Cotton undergarment
4. Kripan - Iron/steel sword
5. Kada - Iron bracelet

            

Surname: Each Sikh should have surname "Singh"

💀 Assassination

Assassinated at: Nanded, Maharashtra PYQ!
By: Afghan noble
Year: 1708
Gurudwara: Nanded Gurudwara is at his mausoleum

Two Sikh Gurus Martyred

                Only 2 Sikh Gurus were executed: Super PYQ!
                
                1. Guru Arjun Dev → Executed by Jahangir (1606)
                
2. Guru Tegh Bahadur → Executed by Aurangzeb (1675)

Important Sikh Pilgrimage Sites

Gurudwara	Location	Significance
Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple)	Amritsar, Punjab	Built by Guru Arjun Dev Holiest shrine
Nanded Gurudwara	Nanded, Maharashtra	Mausoleum of Guru Gobind Singh PYQ!
Hem Kund Sahib	Chamoli, Uttarakhand	Famous pilgrimage site
Anandpur Sahib	Punjab	Khalsa Panth founded here

Banda Bahadur

Real name: Laxman Dev / Lakshan Dev
Name given by: Guru Gobind Singh
Role: Military commander after Guru Gobind Singh

🎯 PYQ Sniper Shots

Q: Who started Gurumukhi script?
A: Guru Angad (2nd Sikh Guru).

Q: Who founded Amritsar?
A: Guru Ram Das (4th Guru). Akbar donated 500 bighas land.

Q: Who compiled Adi Granth?
A: Guru Arjun Dev (5th Guru, 1604).

Q: Which 2 Gurus were executed & by whom?
A: Arjun Dev (Jahangir, 1606) & Tegh Bahadur (Aurangzeb, 1675).

Q: Where was Guru Gobind Singh born?
A: Patna, Bihar (1666).

Q: When & where was Khalsa Panth founded?
A: 13 April 1699 at Anandpur Sahib by Guru Gobind Singh.

Q: Where was Guru Gobind Singh assassinated?
A: Nanded, Maharashtra (1708).

Q: Guru Nanak's successor?
A: Guru Angad (Bhai Lehna).