Guru Amar Das Ji
Harmony, Compassion and Human Equality.
Guru Amar Das is the third Guru of the Sikhs. He was born at Basarke in Amritsar on May 5, 1479. He was married to Bibi Ramo Ji. He had two sons Mohan and Mohri, and two daughters, Bibi Daani and Bibi Bhaani.
After meeting with Guru Angad Dev Ji, Amar Das started living at Khadur. Routine of Amar Das at Khadur was to get up early in the morning and fetch water from river Beas for Guru's bath. After discharging other duties, he would listen to Gurbani hymns.
Once, it was a dark and rainy night. It was cold outside during January, 1552. As usual, Amar Das went to bring water for the Guru to bathe. He filled the brass pitcher with water from the river and started his way back. Due to heavy rain, the way was filled with knee deep water. While groping through the dark, his foot stumbled against a peg of Karir tree (Capparis aphylla).
He fell into the pit of a weaver's loom. Amar Das held fast on to the pitcher. On hearing the crashing sound, the weaver and his wife woke up to see who it was. The weaver asked his wife, "who has fallen at our door", Weaver's wife grumbled and said to her husband sarcastically, "who else could he be, but the Amru Nithawan (homeless Amru) who neither sleeps nor rests".
Guru Amar Das is known for his humility and selfless service. He preached the good values of Simran, Sewa and Humility to realize self and Akal Purakh. Gurgaddi was bestowed upon him at the age of 73 at Khadur Sahib on March 29, 1552. He spent most of his life at Goindwal.
Guru Amar Das established missionary system to spread Sikhism. He constructed wells and water reservoirs. He compiled Bani of his successors in the shape of Mohan Pothis. He made Langar an essential part of the Sikh congregations.
Bani of Guru Amar Das in Sri Guru Granth Sahib is clear and in simple words. Bani of Anand Sahib (Hymn of Bliss) is spiritual masterpiece of Guru Amar Das.
Contribution
Guru Amar Das established 22 Manjis to strengthen the economy and religious preaching of the Sikh faith.
He continued the tradition of free kitchen started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Emperor Akbar was asked first to partake Langar when he came to visit the Guru. He impressed upon the Emperor to abolish Jazia (Discriminatory Tax) imposed on non-Muslims. He encouraged the Sikhs to get together in the shape of Sangat. He developed the spirit of Sewa (selfless service) among the Sikhs irrespective of caste, color and creed.
He was a great reformer. He rejected the caste system and discarded the evil custom of Sati. He took active steps in organizing the Sikhs as a community.
Succession to Gurgaddi
Guru Amar Das selected Bhai Jetha (Ram Das), his son-in-law to be the fourth Guru of the Sikhs. The Guru left for eternal abode on September 1, 1574 at Goindwal Sahib.
Bani Composition
Guru Amar Das composed 907 hymns in 17 Ragas. He composed Anand Sahib in Rag Ramkali. His Bani describes the eternal bliss.
City Founded
Guru Amar Das founded the city of Goindwal on the banks of river Beas.
Contemporary Ruler of India
Emperor Akbar from 1556 to 1605 A.D.
For more reading,
- see The Teachings of Guru Amar Das Ji under Publications.