Sikhism was established by ten Gurus, teachers or masters, over the period 1469 to 1708. These teachers, believed to be sent from God for the troubled people of the land, were enlightened souls whose main purpose in life was the spiritual and moral well-being of the masses, or the equivalent of Prophets & Messiahs of the other major respective monotheist religions. Each master added to and reinforced the message taught by the previous, resulting to the creation of the religion of Sikhism. Guru Nanak was the first Guru and Guru Gobind Singh the final Guru in human form. When Guru Gobind Singh left this world, he made the Guru Granth Sahib the ultimate and final Sikh Guru.

The Ten Gurus of Sikhism

In addition to the Ten Gurus of Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib was made the eleventh perpetual guru of Sikhs. Together they make up the Eleven Gurus of Sikhism. Some Sikhs would say that the Panth, the continuing community of disciples, also manifests a continuing Guruship.

While, the orthodox Sikh understanding of guruship rests on the definitive character of the line of ten human Gurus, there are smaller Sikh communities who recognise continuing successions of personal Gurus, in particular the Namdhari.

Sikh Gurus Family Tree

See also

• Khalsa Panth

Sikh gurus | Glossary of Sikh Terms Religion timelines | Gurus

Gurûs du sikhisme