Guru Amar Das Ji

Guru Amar Das purchased some land in Goindwal and laid the foundation of a Bawli (a well with descending steps) in 1559. All Sikhs joined in the work of digging the Bawli. There was great activity throughout the construction of the Bawli.

Hari Das, a Khatri of Sodhi tribe, lived with his wife, Daya Kaur, in Chuna Mandi, a suburb of Lahore. Both husband and wife were very religious. After twelve years of their marriage, a son was born to them on September 24, 1534. They called him Ram Das. He was very handsome having fair complexion with pleasing personality. As he grew up he liked the company of holy men. One day his mother boiled some pulse, put it into a basket and gave it to him to sell and make profit. Ram Das went to the river Ravi. Soon he saw a company of holy men, and Ram Das gave the boiled pulse to them and went home. The holy men were very much pleased and prayed for the boy.

One day Ram Das saw a company of Sikhs singing the hymns and proceeding with great rejoicing. He asked where they were going, one of them said," We are going to Goindwal where Guru Amar Das holds his court. Every blessing in this world and the next is obtained by his favor. Come with us." On hearing this Ram Das was delighted and he joined them.

On seeing the Guru, Ram Das's heart was filled with love and devotion. When he made his obeisance to the Guru, he was attracted by his pleasing personality. The Guru remarked," If you have come abandoning all worldly desires, you shall obtain a true sovereignty. Perform work and service." Ram Das happily applied himself to the Guru's service. He worked in the kitchen, cleaned dishes, and brought firewood from the forest. He worked in the excavation of the Bawli during his leisure time.

Guru's eldest daughter, Bibi Dani (also known as Sulakhni) was married to Rama. The other daughter, Bibi Bhani was very religious from the very childhood. When she was of marriageable age, her mother reminded the Guru that it was time to search for a match for her. The Guru ordered the search. When his agent was ready to depart, Bibi Bhani's mother saw a young person standing outside and she said to the agent," Search for a boy like him." The Guru heard her remarks and exclaimed, “He is his own parallel, for God had made none other like unto him.” The young man thus chosen was Ram Das.

At the time of marriage, the bridegroom was asked by the Guru to choose a gift for himself, as it was customary to do so. Ram Das replied," Sir, bless me with the gift of Naam." Prithi Chand was their first son and three years later Mahadev, the second son made his appearance. On April 15, 1563 Ram Das and Bibi Bhani were blessed with their third son, Arjan, at whose birth there were unusual rejoicing.

Meanwhile the Sikhs continued excavation of the Bawli. After digging very deep they found large stones which hindered the progress. The Guru asked the Sikhs if there was any one who would be courageous to drive a peg into the base to remove the obstruction. He had, however, warned that the operation had great danger because if the person could not avert the gush of the water, he might be drowned. All the Sikhs remained silent and no one came forward to take such a risk. At last Manak Chand of Vairowal, who was married to a niece of the Guru, offered his services.

Manak Chand, invoking God's name and through the grace of the Guru, was able to wedge through the stone and the stream of water immediately overflowed the Bawli. He was overtaken by the gush of the water. He drowned but by the grace of the Guru, his body came to the top of the water from where he was taken out by Sikhs. He was then brought back to life by Guru Amar Das Ji with the grace of God. Therefore, he was called 'Marjiwra' (revived after death).

The Bawli when finished yielded sweet drinking water. The Sikhs rejoiced at the successful completion of their labor.

Guru's free kitchen (Langar) which was started by Guru Nanak and developed by Guru Angad, was further strengthened by Guru Amar Das. The Guru intended to remove the caste restrictions and prejudices of untouchability. It was, therefore, declared unequivocally that all persons of all castes, high or low, rich or poor, Brahmans or Sudras, Hindus or Muslims, must sit in the same line and eat the same food from Guru's kitchen. When Raja of Haripur or even Akbar, the Mughal Emperor of India, came to see the Guru, they had to sit with common people and dine with them before they could have audience with the Guru. In this way people were lifted above the hypocrisy of caste system and were able to look at one another as brothers and equals.

Mai Das was a renowned Pandit and a devout worshipper of Krishna. He was a strict Vaishnav, he would eat only what he had cooked with his own hands within a purified square. The Guru rejects these purified squares: "All outlined purified squares are false; O Nanak, Only God is pure" (Guru Granth Sahib, 1090).

When he came to see the Guru, he was informed that unless he had eaten from Guru's kitchen, he could not see him. Being a strict Vaishnav he could not do that, so he left for Dwarka where he thought to have a glimpse of Krishna. On the eleventh day of lunar month Mai Das used to fast and would eat just fruits during that period. Due to winter season the fruits were not available in the forest. Mai Das wandered hungry in the forest looking for fruits but could not find them. Finally he started calling on his minor gods for help.

At last he heard a voice, “You have not eaten food from the Guru's kitchen, and you have not had holy sight of him; therefore shalt thou not obtain perfection. If you desire to do so, then first behold Guru Amar Das." Upon this Mai Das returned to Goindwal. He partook of food from the Guru's kitchen, and then was allowed to see the Guru. The Guru welcomed him and initiated him as his Sikh, blessed him with Naam and bestowed on him the spiritual power of conferring salvation.

Akbar, the Emperor of India, on his way to Lahore, paid a visit to the Guru at Goindwal. He was informed that he could not see the Guru until he had dined with others from the Guru's kitchen. Akbar partook of the food in the Langar, the more he had it, the more he relished it. After that the Emperor met the Guru. It is said that the Guru rose to receive the Emperor in his arms, but Akbar spontaneously bowed to touch the feet of the Guru. The monarch felt a thrill of joy and peace by the holy touch.

Having seen the large number of people fed from the Guru's kitchen, Akbar requested the Guru to accept his services and his offerings. But the Guru replied, “I have obtained lands and rent- free tenures from my Creator. Whatever comes daily is spent daily, and for the morrow my trust is in God.” Akbar then replied, “I see you desire nothing. From thy treasury and thy kitchen countless people receive bounties, and I also entertain similar wishes, I will grant 84 villages to thy daughter, Bibi Bhani.”

When the Brahmans and the Khatris failed in their mission to derail the Guru from Guruship they made a special complaint to Emperor Akbar. In their complaint they alleged, “Every man's religion is dear to him. Guru Amar Das of Goindwal has abandoned the religious and social customs of both Hinduism and Islam, and abolished the distinction of the four castes. He makes his followers of all castes sit in a line and eat together from his kitchen irrespective of caste or religion. There is no offering of water to ancestors, no pilgrimages, no worship of idols of gods or goddesses. The Guru revereneth not Jogis, Jatis or Brahmans. We, therefore, pray thee to restrain him now, else it will be difficult later on.”

Akbar said, “I see no hostility to Hinduism in this man, nor do I find any fault with his compositions.” The Brahmans left the court in utter defeat.

The status of women in Hindu society at that time was very low. When the husband died, the wife either voluntarily burnt herself on the pyre of her husband or was thrown into the fire without her consent. In popular term the woman who did perform this act was called Sati, meaning pure. Guru Amar Das carried out a vigorous campaign against the practice of Sati. He gave special attention to the improve the status of women and thus prohibited this practice. G.B. Scott acclaims the Guru as the first reformer who condemned the prevailing Hindu practice of Sati. The Guru advocated the following:

“Satis are not those who are burnt with husbands, O Nanak, true Satis are whom pangs of separation can finish. Those are considered Satis who live contented, embellish themselves with good conduct; And cherish the Lord ever and call on Him” (Guru Granth Sahib, 787).

The Guru lifted the status of women as equal to men. He prohibited the practice of Sati and preached in favor of widow marriage.

Guru Amar Das established another organization called Piri system. The incharges of the Piris were ladies whose objective was to lit the flame of Guru's word and spread the fragrance of Naam among women. Bibi Bhani, Bibi Dani and Bibi Pal were some of the most revered incharges of the different Piris. Guru Amar Das gave authority and power to 146 of his apostles to go to various parts of the country and unfold the glory of God. Out of these 146 persons, 94 were men and 52 were women.

Guru Ji's eldest daughter, Bibi Dani was married to Rama who was a zealous Sikh. He used to work in Guru's kitchen and administer to the needs of the pilgrims. Ram Das was his younger son-in-law. One day the Guru asked Rama and Ram Das, “Each one of you make a platform by the side of Bawli. I will sit on one in the morning and on the other in the evening." When the platforms were completed, the Guru went to inspect them. Rama showed his work and thought that he had done well. The Guru told Rama, “Your platform is not straight, bring it down and rebuild it.” Rama dissented but rebuilt another one. It still failed to please the Guru. Rama after long argument, pulled the platform down but refused to build it third time.

The Guru inspected Ram Das's platform and said, “Ram Das, I do not like it. Demolish it and build another one.” Ram Das built the second one which was also not of Guru's liking. He demolished it and rebuilt it. The Guru continued to find fault with it until it was destroyed and rebuilt seven times. Ram Das then fell at Guru's feet and begged, “I am a fool and lack understanding, while thou possesseth all knowledge. kindly bless me with the wisdom so that I may be able to erect the platform of your liking.” On hearing this the Guru smiled and embraced Ram Das and commented, “This was just a test, you are the rightful person to sit on the throne of Guru Nanak.”

Bibi Bhani, Guru's youngest daughter, used to attend her father. She used to draw water for him and work in the kitchen. One day the Guru was sitting on his couch in deep meditation, when Bibi Bhani noticed that one leg of his couch had broken. Fearing that his meditation would be disturbed, she put her arm in place of the broken leg to support the couch. When the Guru opened his eyes, he found blood coming out of Bibi Bhani's arm. On inquiry Bibi explained that broken leg might have caused disturbance in his meditation and so she thought herself fortunate to serve Guru by substituting her arm for the broken leg of the couch. The Guru commented, “Whosoever does good work, shall reap the reward thereof.”

Guru Amar Das having tested Ram Das in every way, found him perfect and asked for special congregation. Then he asked Bhai Ballu to bring coconut and five paise. He asked Ram Das to bathe and clothe in new raiment. Then the Guru descended from his throne and made Ram Das seat on it and called him Guru Ram Das. Thus Guru Amar Das passed on the Divine Light of Guruship to Guru Ram Das, the fourth Guru. Thus God created a fourth Nanak. “Divine Light is the same. Way and Mode are the same. The Master has only changed the body” (Guru Granth Sahib, 966).

Bhai Buddha, according to the custom, attached the tilak of Sovereignty to Guru Ram Das's forehead. Among great rejoicing, all Sikhs made offerings according to their means and saluted Guru Ram Das on his appointment. This ceremony was performed on August 30, 1574 at Goindwal.

Guru Amar Das proclaimed, “God's summons hath come. Let there be no mourning when I have gone, sing God's praises, read God's Word (Gurbani), hear God's Word and obey God's Will.” On the first of September, 1574, Guru Amar Das left this world to Unite with the Almighty God.