Guru Amar Das Ji - Life History

Guru Amar Das Ji was born on 5 may, 1479 in the village Basarke, near Amritsar. His father, Bab Tej Bhan, was a noble person and the name of his mother was Mata Lachmi Ji. Amar Das was the eldest of the four brothers. Das married Mata Mansa Devi and had four children. Two sons named Bhai Mohan and Bhai Mohri and two daughters named Bibi Dani Ji and Bibi Bhani Ji. Bibi Bhani later married Bhai Jetha Ji, who became the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das Ji. He happened to hear the recitation of Holy Japji Sahib from Bibi Amro, a daughter of Sri Guru Angad Sahib, who was married to Baba Jassu, son of the youngest brother of Guru Amar Das Ji, named Bhai Manak Chand.


Guru Amar Das ji, went for a dip in the sacred Ganga river 21 times. One day after a dip in the tank of Kurukshetra once, baba Amar das came across a brahmachari. He brought him into his room, served him food. The brahmachari was very pleased. he asked who his Guru was. When Guru Amar Das ji said that he's still in search of one, the Brahmachari uttered," Oh God! how shall i ever be pardoned for this. I've been in the company of such person who is without a Guru." Thus the brahmachari left the place. The rude words of the brahmachari left Bab Amar das Ji thinking. Next day, at dawn , he heard the hymns of Guru Nanak Dev ji from Bibi Amro. Guru Amar Das JI was so much overwhelmed by the Nectar of Immortality oozing out of the Holy Japji Sahib, that he asked bibi Amro about the bani. He instantly rushed Khadur sahib, to the holy feet of Sri Guru Angad Sahib, the second Guru Nanak. This happened in 1540.

Bibi Amro now went back to basarke, but Baba Amar Das Ji stayed behind and devoted their life in the Guru's Seva. He used to fetch a pitcher of water from the distant river Beas every night for the bath of Sri Guru Angad Sahib. Also, he used to clean the utensils in the community kitchen. Thus, every moment of his life was served in the selfless seva of the Guru. For twelve years, the aged but madly love-intoxicated Guru Amar Das Ji. He served his beloved Satguru with selfless devotion and worship. His unique and selfless Guru-Sewa, Guru-Bhavna, Guru-Prem, and Guru-Puja shines like a divine sun. He was nominated as the third Guru Nanak in 1552 by Sri Guru Angad Sahib ji. 907 Hymns of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji stand enshrined in Sri Guru Granth Sahib.