Guru Angad Dev Ji

Guru Angad Dev Ji, born Lehna in 1504 in Harike, Punjab, became the second Sikh Guru after being chosen by Guru Nanak Dev Ji over his own sons. His devotion to Guru Nanak was so profound that the first Guru named him "Angad," meaning "my own limb," signifying that he was an extension of the Guru himself. This selection established the revolutionary principle that spiritual leadership is based on merit and devotion, not hereditary succession.

Guru Angad Dev Ji's most significant contribution was the standardization and popularization of the Gurmukhi script, which became the script for writing Punjabi and the medium for recording Sikh scripture. He collected and preserved the hymns of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, adding his own 62 saloks (verses) to the growing body of Sikh literature. This work of preservation was essential for the later compilation of the Guru Granth Sahib.

He greatly expanded the institution of Langar, making it a prerequisite for anyone seeking an audience with the Guru — even the Mughal Emperor Humayun had to eat in the Langar before meeting the Guru. He also promoted physical fitness through Mall Akhara (wrestling arenas) and encouraged education, establishing schools for children. His tenure strengthened the organizational foundations of the growing Sikh community.