Lehal Library

58 The Punjab and the Binh of Sikhism on his behalf was the Muslim divine, Mian Mir. 30 Arjun was tortured until he was unable to stand any more. He sent word to his son," Hargobind, who was only eleven years old, to ask Bhai Buddha to instal him as the sixth guru and to assume the ministry of the community. During one of the intermissions in the torrure, Arjun was allowed to wash himself in the Ravi, which ran alongside the prison. On 30 May 1606, the Guru entered the stream. The impact of the cold water proved too much for his fevered body, and the current bore him beyond the reach of bis tormentors. A.ijun was an unusually gifted and prolific writer. His lines were resplendent with bejewelled phrases and his hymns full of haunting melody. His most popular composition was the Su.khmani (the psalm of peace), in which hi! wrote: 'Of all creeds the sovereign creed is to pray to God and do a goodly deed. •'7 Arjun had become the most quoted poet of the Punjab. His songs were on che people's lips and while they eagerly awaited his voice, Jehangir brutally silenced it for ever. In the twemy-five years of Arjun's ministry. the seed sown by Nanak blossomed into its fullness. Nanak's teaching, which was embodied in the hymns, of his successors, had been compiled in the Granth. Nanak•sway oflife had become the way oflife ofcommunities of Sikhs scattered all over nonhern India. The Sikhs bad become conscious of the fact that they were now neither Hindus nor Muslims but formed a third community of their own. This feeling was expressed by Arjun in many of his writings: I do not keep the Hindu fast, nor the Muslim Ramadan. 1 sen.e Him alone who is my refuge. 30 Macauliffe, The Silih RPli{{lon, Ill, 94. 31 According LO Macauliffe, The .Silih &ligion. (m, 99) tl1e message Guru Arjun sent 10 AmriLSar was worded as follows: 'Let him sit fully armed on his throne and man1tam an army 10 the best of his ability... • Let him in aU respects, except thr wearing of arms hereby enjoined, adopt 1he pracuccs of the preceding gurus.' Macauliffe docs not indicate his source, nor has the author been able to locat~ it. Bhai Gurdas does not mention any farewell message in these words. 32 Sarb dharm 11le!J srtit dham, han ltii niim jap nirmal lutnn.