Guru Angad Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Guru Angad
ਗੁਰੂ ਅੰਗਦ
Miniature painting depiction of Guru Angad
Religion	Sikhism
Known for	Standardising the Gurmukhi Script
Other names	Second Master Second Nanak
Personal
Born	Lehna (1504-03-31)31 March 1504 Matte-di-Sarai (Sarainaga), Sri Muktsar Sahib, Panjab
Died	29 March 1552(1552-03-29) (aged 47) Khadur Sahib, Tarn Taran district
Spouse	Mata Khivi
Children	Baba Dasu (1521–1598) Baba Dattu (1524–1575) Bibi Amro (1529–1601) Bibi Anokhi (1531–1608)
Parents	Mata Ramo and Baba Pheru Mal
Religious career
Based in	Khadur
Predecessor	Guru Nanak
Successor	Guru Amar Das

Guru Angad (born Lehna; March 31, 1504 – March 29, 1552) was the second of the ten Sikh gurus. A Guru is a spiritual teacher in Sikhism.

Before becoming a Guru, Lehna met Guru Nanak, who founded Sikhism. Lehna became a Sikh and served Guru Nanak for many years. Guru Nanak was so impressed that he gave Lehna the name Angad, which means "my own limb." He then chose Angad to be the second Sikh Guru.

After Guru Nanak passed away in 1539, Guru Angad took over leading the Sikh community. He is especially remembered for making the Gurmukhi alphabet official. This alphabet is used to write the Punjabi language. He also started collecting the hymns (religious songs) of Guru Nanak. Guru Angad himself wrote 63 of his own hymns. Instead of choosing one of his own sons, he picked his follower Guru Amar Das to be the third Guru of Sikhism.

Biography
Influence and contributions
Images for kids
See also

Biography

Early life and family

Guru Angad was born as Lehna in a village called Matte-di-Sarai in the Punjab region. His father, Pheru Mal, was a successful trader. His mother's name was Mata Ramo. Like all Sikh Gurus, Lehna belonged to the Khatri caste.

When he was 16, Angad married Mata Khivi in 1520. They had two sons, Dasu and Datu, and two daughters, Amro and Anokhi. His family had to leave their home because of the armies of Babur, a powerful ruler. They then settled in a village called Khadur Sahib, near the Beas River.

Before he became a Sikh, Lehna was a religious teacher in Khadur. He followed the goddess Durga. In his late twenties, Lehna met Guru Nanak. He became Guru Nanak's follower and served him loyally for about six or seven years. During this time, he gave up his old Hindu way of life.

Chosen as the next Guru

A fresco (wall painting) from Gurdwara Baba Atal showing Angad being chosen as the next Guru.

There are many stories about why Guru Nanak chose Lehna to be his successor instead of his own sons. One story tells of a jug that fell into the mud. Guru Nanak asked his sons to pick it up, but they refused because it was too dirty. Then he asked Bhai Lehna. Lehna immediately picked the jug out of the mud, cleaned it, and filled it with water for Guru Nanak.

Guru Nanak was very pleased. He touched Lehna and renamed him Angad, meaning "part of my body." On September 7, 1539, Guru Nanak named him his successor and the second Nanak.

After Guru Nanak passed away on September 22, 1539, Guru Angad was very sad. He went into a room in a follower's house and stayed there for a while. Baba Buddha, a respected Sikh, found him and asked him to return and lead the community. Guru Angad then moved from Kartarpur to Khadur Sahib.

At first, not many Sikhs accepted Guru Angad as their leader. Guru Nanak's sons also claimed to be the rightful successors. But Guru Angad focused on teaching Guru Nanak's ideas. He also worked to build the community by organizing charitable activities like Langar.

Meeting the Mughal Emperor

Around 1540, the second Mughal Emperor of India, Humayun, visited Guru Angad. Humayun had just lost his throne to Sher Shah Suri.

According to Sikh stories, when Humayun arrived, Guru Angad was teaching children. Humayun was angry because the Guru did not immediately greet him. Guru Angad reminded Humayun that he should have fought for his throne instead of running away. He told Humayun that he should not try to attack someone who is praying. Sikh texts written later say that Guru Angad blessed the emperor and told him he would regain his throne one day.

Death and successor

A fresco (wall painting) of the second Sikh Guru at Baoli Sahib, Goindval.

Before he passed away, Guru Angad chose Guru Amar Das as his successor. This followed the example set by Guru Nanak. Amar Das was born into a Hindu family and had traveled a lot, even going on pilgrimages to the Himalayas.

Around 1539, Amar Das met a holy man who asked him why he didn't have a spiritual teacher. When he returned home, he heard Bibi Amro, Guru Angad's daughter, singing a hymn by Guru Nanak. Amar Das learned about Guru Angad from her. He then met Guru Angad in 1539 and accepted him as his spiritual teacher, even though Guru Angad was much younger than him.

Amar Das showed great dedication and service to Guru Angad. Sikh tradition says he would wake up early to fetch water for Guru Angad's bath. He also cleaned and cooked for the volunteers and spent a lot of time meditating and praying. Guru Angad named Amar Das as his successor in 1552. Guru Angad passed away on March 29, 1552.

Influence and contributions

Gurmukhi script

The original 35 letters of the Gurmukhi script, called the paintī.

Guru Angad is given credit for developing the Gurmukhi script. This script is now the standard way to write the Punjabi language in India. The first Sikh scriptures and most old Sikh writings are in Gurmukhi.

Guru Angad improved and standardized the writing styles used in the region to create Gurmukhi. He also wrote 62 or 63 hymns, which are included in the Guru Granth Sahib. His main importance was in organizing Guru Nanak's hymns. Guru Angad oversaw the writing down of Nanak's hymns, preparing the way for the Sikh holy book. This also helped start Punjabi literature.

Langar and community work

Guru Angad made the Langar system more organized. Langar is a free community kitchen found in all Sikh temples. Visitors can get a simple, free meal together. He also set rules for the volunteers (called sevadars) who worked in the kitchen. He taught them to treat the Langar as a place of rest and safety, and to always be polite and welcoming to everyone.

Guru Angad also visited other places where Guru Nanak had taught Sikhism. He started new centers, which helped make the Sikh community stronger.

Mall Akhara (Wrestling Arenas)

A 19th-century painting of two Sikh wrestlers.

Guru Angad loved wrestling. He started a system of Mall Akharas, which are like wrestling arenas or gyms. In these places, people learned physical exercises, martial arts, and wrestling. He also taught about staying healthy and avoiding things like tobacco.

He believed it was important to keep the body healthy and to exercise every day. He founded many such Mall Akharas in different villages, including some in Khadur. People would usually wrestle after their daily prayers, and they also played games and did light wrestling.

Images for kids

Guru Nanak (left) with Bhai Lehna (right, who would later be known as Guru Angad).
Guru Angad taking-leave of Guru Nanak, painting from an 1830's Janamsakhi.
Bhai Bala (left) recites the life story of Guru Nanak to Guru Angad amid onlookers. Janamsakhi painting.
Miniature painting of Guru Angad.
Guru Angad drawing from early 19th century.
Guru Angad Seated on a Terrace Beneath a Canopy With an Attendant, Punjab Plains, circa 1830.