• What were names of Wives of Sikh Gurus? What is the significance of the 5Ks when introduced?

A Congress leader expressed concern if Sikhs could wear Turban or Kada in India. That goaded me to compile this.

It is based on reading of The History and Culture of Indian People by the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Volumes 7-8 and A History of the Sikhs by Khuswant Singh.

First, what is origin of word Sikh? The word Sikh is derived from the Sanskrit word SHISHYA meaning student. To know Why Sikhs wear Turbans

All the Gurus were Khatris but today the community is controlled by the Jaats through the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee. Nanak was a Bedi, Angad a Trehan, Amar Das a Bhalla and the rest were Sodhis.

The words Mata or Ji is added to wife names as a symbol of respect. In case of any errors in name spelling no offence meant, mail back with edits and source.

Format is few lines about the Guru followed by wife’s name.  

1. Guru Nanak  (1469-1539), (child of Kaluchand) 

Nanak called his religion Gurmat or Guru’s wisdom. This word occurs in Guru Nanak’s hyms more than two hundred times. The public called his followers Nanak Panthis. His disciples called themselves Sikhs from “Sanskrit word sishya meaning a learner or a person who takes spiritual lessons from a teacher.” Volume 7, Pg 659

Wife - Sulakshana Devi or called Sulakhni in Punjab.

2. Angad or Bhai Lahna Trehan (Guru from 1539-1552)

Angad started collecting Nanak’s hymns which were written in Lande Mahajani, in a rather rough/crude script. To avoid their misinterpretation, Angad decided to beautify the Lande alphabets to give birth to a new script called Gurumukhi meaning that which came out from the mouth of the Guru.

Wife – Khivi. 

3. Amar Das Bhalla (Guru from 1552-1574)

Guru Amar Das became Guru at 73 and was against torturing the body and the purdah system. From here onwards gurudom became hereditary.

Wife - Mansa Devi. (Haridwar has a Mansa Devi temple).

4. Ram Das (Guru from 1574-1581, Khatri Sodhi)

He added to the growing solidarity of the community with a sacred tank in the city of Amritsar, earlier known as Ramdaspur or the town of Guru Ram Das.

Wife - Bhani or Bibi Bhani.

5. Guru Arjun (Guru from 1581-1606)

Guru Arjun was an original thinker, illustrious poet, philosopher, and organizer. His greatest achievement was the compilation of the Adi Granth in 1604.  

Wife - Mata Ramdevi (called Ramdei in Punjab) and Ganga ji.

6. Guru Har Govind (Guru from 1606-1644)

Instructed by his father, he began the arming of his followers. He hung by his side two swords signifying Miri and Piri. He armed and drilled some of his sturdy disciples. “According to Sikhan di Bhagat Ratan Mala (written in the 17th century), Guru Hargobind was taught Shastarvidya by two Rajputs, namely Rao Sigara and Rao Jaita.” Source

He constructed the Akal Takt or God’s Throne in 1609.

Wife – Damodari ji, Nanki ji and Marwahi ji. Some people say he had 2 wives.  

7. Har Rai (1644-1661) and 8. Har Kishan (1661-1664) have not left much of history behind them.

Guru Govind Singh prayer to Lord Shiva at Siachen War Memorial. 

9. Guru Tegh Bahadur (Guru from 1664-1675)

He was the youngest son of Guru Har Govind, the sixth Guru. 

Wife – Mata Gujri. 

10. Govind Rai later Guru Govind Singh (Guru from 1675 to 1708).

The murder of his father and grandfather, oppression of Hindus got Guruji fired up to create a national awakening in Punjab similar to what Shivaji had done in Maharashtra.

Wife – Jito ji, Sundari or Sundar Kaur and Sahib Devi /Kaur (Sahib Dewan). 

2 Maratha Queens L to R Yesubai, Tarabai, Laxmibai, Ahilyabai Holkar.

Why do Sikhs sport the 5 Ks?

According to Khalsa tradition, its followers had to sport the five Ks i.e. Kesh (long hair), Kangha (comb), Kirpan (sword), Kara (steel bracelet), Kachcha (knickers).

Long hair and turbans were supposed to protect the face and head from sword cuts and lathi blows. The kara was a reminder that the Sikh spirit was strong and unbending. The kara was also useful in hand to hand fights and “guarded the vulnerable portion of the right hand which wielded the kripan. The kachcha was more suitable for fighting the Mughals in than the dhotis and loose trousers of the Muslims.” Comb and Sword do not need an explanation. 

The Quilewale Bedi family, 13th generation descendants of Guru Nanak. Credits The Week

According to a 2019 article in The Week, The 16th Generation descendant of Guru Nanak, Baba Vikramaditya Bedi does not sport the 5Ks (i.e. Kesh (long hair), Kangha (comb), Kirpan (sword), Kara (steel bracelet), Kachcha (knickers) because his great grand- father believed 5Ks were only for time of war.

Also read

1. All articles on Sikh History

2. Why do Sikh wear Turbans

3. How the British divided Punjab into Hindu and Sikh

4. The unbreakable Hindu Sikh bond

5. History of Sikhs

6. About Nishan Sahib and Khanda

7. Why was the First Son made a Sikh  

8. Comparing Indic vs Abrahamic Faiths – A Primer

9. Why Guru Nanak/Guru Goving Singh wore a janeu

10. About Sikh Gurus