Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji was the successor of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He continued the message of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in published forms as well as daily sermons. He invented the Gurmukhi Script and wrote down the sermon of Guru Nanak Dev Ji on a book, calling it a Pothi.
Sri Guru Amardas Ji was the 3rd Guru and he established 52 centres of Sikhism all across Punjab calling them Manjis. He vigorously opposed the practice of Sati and encouraged widow remarriage. He also appointed 13 priests in the Sikh centres who were women, thus: making Sikhism the first organized religion, to give equal opportunity to Women.
Sri Guru Ramdas Ji established the City of Amritsar on a land he bought and was donated by Sikhs. He continued the teachings of his predecessors.
Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji compiled the teachings of first Four Gurus and his own as well as the writings of many famous saints into a book called the Adi Granth (also known as the Guru Granth Sahib) and he also constructed the Golden Temple. Guru Arjan Dev Ji was the first martyr of the Sikh faith and was executed by the Mughals at Lahore.
Sri Guru Hargobind Ji took a more aggressive approach due to the atrocities of the Mughals and established the Akal Takht where Sikhs would solve all their political and pragmatic troubles. He kept an army of over 700 men and was the first Sikh to steer Sikhs towards being more militant.
Sri Guru Har Rai Ji also kept an army but instead of a direct confrontation with the Mughals he took a more retroactive approach and concentrated on preaching. His elder son deliberately changed the sermon of Nanak to impress the Mughal emperor for which he forbade his elder son to become the next Guru. Instead, he made his 5-year-old son, Har Krishan the Seventh Guru.
Sri Guru Har Krishan Ji was the only Child Guru. Sikhs were impressed at his recitation of the Adi Granth, which he knew by heart at the tender age of 5. Guru Har Krishan Ji had a great future but chicken pox caused his untimely death at Delhi and made his uncle, Tegh Bahadur, the Ninth Guru.
Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji established the city of Anandpur. He happily picked death when given a choice by Aurungzeb of "converting to Islam or death."
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji was a Saint, Warrior, poet, and a martyr. He created the Khalsa (the order of Sikhs) by giving Sikhs a distinct identity. He told the world that "My Sparrows are Hawk killers."
Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is our Guru now.
Each one of the ten Gurus represents a divine attribute:
�������������������������� Guru Nanak - Humility
�������������������������� Guru Angad - Obedience
�������������������������� Guru Amar Das - Equality
�������������������������� Guru Ram Das - Service
�������������������������� Guru Arjan - Self-Sacrifice
�������������������������� Guru Hargobind - Justice
�������������������������� Guru Har Rai - Mercy
�������������������������� Guru Harkrishan - Purity
�������������������������� Guru Tegh Bahadur - Tranquillity
�������������������������� Guru Gobind Singh - Royal Courage
Guru Nanak taught his way of life through 3 teachings:
1) Nam Japna: To get up each day before sunrise, to clean the
body, meditate on God's Name and recite the Guru's hymns to
clean the mind. Throughout the day, continuously remember God's
Name with every breath.
2) Dharam di Kirat Karni - To work and earn by the sweat of the
brow, to live a family way of life, and practice truthfulness and
honesty in all dealings.
3) Vand Ke Chakna - To share the fruits of one's labour with others
before considering oneself. Thus, to live as an inspiration and a
support to the entire community.
Manu, an ancient scholar, introduced four groups called Varanas, which represent all the castes of India.
The groups were designated as Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras. The Brahmins were allotted the duty of preaching and teaching. The Kshatriyas were soldiers, rulers and administrators. Vaisyas were merchants and craftsmen and Sudras were farmers and labourers.
This caste system was designed as a division of labour to make society more efficient and industrious, however it degenerated into a caste system, which is still a scar on the Indian society and results in bitterness and harsh behaviour amongst different groups of people.