Which Sikh Guru was executed by Emperor Jahangir?
Answer
Guru Arjan
Which Sikh Guru was executed by Emperor Jahangir? Guru Arjan was executed in 1606 under Emperor Jahangir.
Guru Arjan was the fifth Sikh Guru and the father of his successor, Guru Hargobind. He completed the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar and compiled the first authoritative Sikh scripture, the Adi Granth, bringing together hymns by earlier Gurus and other devotional figures.
Jahangir’s memoirs describe his hostility toward Arjan and connect the case with the Guru’s alleged support for Jahangir’s rebellious son, Khusrau Mirza. Arjan was arrested and held in Lahore in 1606. Sikh tradition remembers his death as martyrdom after torture and refusal to compromise his faith. Historical accounts differ over the precise method—some describe torture, while others associate his death with drowning in the Ravi River—but the responsibility of Mughal authorities under Jahangir is the standard identification.
His execution transformed Sikh history. Guru Hargobind subsequently emphasized Sikh military readiness and the combined spiritual and temporal responsibilities symbolized by two swords.