Page 7 - Gurmat Book 6

more. Guru Arjan was a prolific writer himself. About half of

the Adi Granth has the Bani written by the fifth Guru himself.

Guru Ji also completed the construction of Amritsar Sarovar and

built Harimandar Sahib in Amritsar. His divine nature was evident

when he invited the Muslim Pir Saeen Mian Mir to lay the

foundation of Harimandar. He also designed the Harimandar to

have the four doors. It symbolized that people of all castes

were welcome there. But it also symbolized that the message

going out of the Harimandar was universally applicable to all.

Langar was cooked and served to all who came.

The Adi Granth was installed in Harimandar Sahib on August 16,

1604. Bhai Budha Ji was chosen to be the first Granthi who

would open the Granth and read Hukam from it while Guru

Arjan Dev Ji stood behind him with Chaur Sahib in his hands.

From then on Kirtan would go on most of the day and early

night at Harimandar Sahib.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji traveled across Punjab. His calm and radiant

personality attracted followers from as far as Kabul in

Afghanistan. Emperor Akbar respected Guru Arjan Dev Ji and

the Sikhs felt free and happy to follow the message of the

Guru. However, Akbar died in 1605 and he was followed by his

son Jahangir, a fanatic Muslim. He felt endangered by the

increasing influence of Guru Arjan and the rising number of

Sikh History and Gurmat Sikhia Book 6 Page 5