Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Life History

Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth sikh guru was the son of Guru Ram Das ji and grandson of Guru Amar Das ji, was born on April 15, 1563 A.D. at Goindwal, a small town on the bank of the river Beas in Amritsar. Guru Arjan Dev spent 11 years of his life under the grace of his grandfather at Goindwal. Guru Arjan was married to Ganga, daughter of Krishen Chand, a resident of Meo village near Phillaur in Jalandhar district. The marriage took place in 1589 when he was about 26 years old.

He completed the construction of Amritsar and founded Taran Taran and Kartarpur. He constructed a Baoli at Lahore. His most important waork was that, he collected all the hymns of the first four Gurus in 1604, and compiled them in the form of a holy book named Adi Granth. Guru Arjan dev ji organised a group of representatives to taught and spread the teachings of the Gurus and also asked people to contribute one-tenth of their income, also known as 'Dasvand' for the name of God, to support the buildings of Gurdwaras, to contribute for Langars or to help the needy. The Langars organized in the gurudwaras were to remove the caste system as all the people irrespective of the castes and creed were allowed to join.

The aim of Guru Arjan Dev ji's life was to spread the message and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev ji. He laid the formation Amritsar for the purpose so that people could connect to sikh religion. It was a centre which would bond the people of all th religions. Thus gradually the city became very popular and a great place of pilgrimage of the Sikh people. As the time passed, the teaching of Nanak took a firm hold on the minds of his followers.

Guru Arjan dev ji also composed many hymns of his own, which he included in the Adi Granth. He appointed Baba Budha Ji as the chief priest of the Golden Temple, as he was the companion of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and an associate of each of the subsequent Gurus. He placed the Adi Granth on the Gaddi (throne) reserved for him. Thus, became a Guru on September 1581 following in the footsteps of Guru Ram Das Ji.

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Accession of Guruship and Formation Of Amritsar

Thus, serving the people for many years, Guru Amar das Ji transferred the 'Divine Light' to Guru Ram Das Ji. Bhai Jetha Ji owned guruship on August 1574, following in the footsteps of his father in law.

Guru Ram Das continued Kirtan, langar and sewa. During his Guruship period, Guru Ram Das always emphasized the value of sewa, which should be the primary duty of every Sikh and his family. Besides every Sikh should be engaged in honest labour during which the name of God should always be on ones lips.

Before he was appointed as Fourth Guru, Guru Amardas ji sent him to a magical place in the vicinity of the villages of Sultanwind, Tung, Gumtala and Gilwali. Guru Amardas ji wanted him to create another Sikh center apart from Goindwal. Guru Ramdas liked the palce very much and visited it every Sagrand (The first day of the Punjabi month), and Amavasaya (the dark moonless night of the month). Later villagers of Sultanwind presented some land to Guru out of regard for the Guru. After having the land Guru Amardas ji told him to digg a tank (now called Santokhsar at Baba Atal). He also found the town of Ramdaspur, later known as Amritsar. Just then Guru Amardas ji were nearing his end and thus Amritsar project had to be put on hold for some time. Guru Ramdas ji decided to start it again in 1577.

Guru Amardas ji had again told him to digg another tank about 1 km down from the old one. This is the current Sarovar of the Golden Temple. He dug a tank which became the main place of pilgrimage. Phrase came to be associated with the tank dug at Amritsar says 'Ramdas Sarovar Nahate, ab uttre paap kamate' which says, "I bath in the tank of Ramdas and all my sins were washed away".

He composed 679 hymns in varying musical measures, which were incorporated into Adi Granth by his son and successor, Guru Arjan Dev. Thus, the momentous career of the Guru came to its end on September 1, 1581. Thus after him, his youngest son, Arjan Dev Ji beacame the fifth Guru Of the sikhs and promoted and took care of Sikh religion.

Contributions:

The main contributions by Guru Ram Das Ji were:

* He organized the structure of Sikh society.
* He was the author of Laava, the hymns for the Marriage Rites
* His main contribution was, he designed the Harmandir Sahib
* Also, planned and created the town of Ramdaspur, later called Amritsar

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Devotion, Love and Service Towards Religion

Bhai Jetha ji was an ideal of love, devotion, service and resignation. For him Guru Amar Das was not only his father-in-law but he treated him as his ideal Guru. He surrendered his life in his sewa. He along with his wife used to work in the Guru's kitchen, cook food, serve meals from the kitchen and then wash the dishes.
The more he served the Guru the more his love for him and for the mankind increased.

Later on, while the construction of the Baoli (a well with stairs) was undertaken, Ram Das ji worked day and night. He carried baskets of earth on his head like everybody else. Once when his relatives were returning from a pilgrimage to the river Ganga, they stopped for sometime at Goindwal on their way to Lahore. They saw Bhai Jetha ji working like a common labourer, they got angry and asked him not to displease their family working like this. Bhai Jetha jI replied, "In your estimation the Guru is my father-in-law but for me, he is God".

They were very much annoyed on having the answer and went to the Guru complaining about what they had made of his son-in-law. Guruji replied, I have caused the umbrella of true sovereignty to wave over him. If he had not been born in your family, you would all have been damned. It is he, who saved the whole of your tribe."

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Guru Ram Das Ji

Guru Ram Das ji, the forth Guru Of the sikhs was born on 9 October 1534, in Lahore, into a Sodhi Khatri family residing in Mohalla Chuna Mandi. His father's name was Hari Das and mother's name was Anup Devi. Before being called
Guru Ram Das, his name given to him by his parents was 'Jetha', 'first born'.
His wife Bibi Bhani, was the the younger daughter of Guru Amar Das Ji, the third guru of the Sikhs. Bhai Jetha ji had three sons, named Prithi Chand, Mahadev and Arjan Dev.

Bhai Jetha was too much fascinated by his nanake, the home of his grandparents, that he use to visit the village Basarke, where his grandparents reside.

How Guruji's Wedding Took Place

A very interesting story narrated by almost all writers says,

One day the Guru Amar Das Ji's wife, seeing Bibi Bhani said they ought to find a husband for her, as Bhani has grown up. She saw a boy outside her door hawking some articles of food. On seeing him, they called the youth and enquired from his about his family. Guru Amardas felt so much impressed with him that he decided to marry his second daughter bibi Bhani, to him. After that he sent him with marriage presents to his father Har Das in Lahore and had the betrothal (engagement) ceremony performed.

Bibi Bhani served Bhai Jetha ji not merely as her husband but also as a saint.
They gave birthy to three sons. After sometime, Bhai Jetha ji went along with his family to Goindwal, Amritsar. Today Goindwal had been founded several years back in the time of Guru AngaBhai Jetha ji had three sons, named Prithi Chand, Mahadev and Arjan Devd Dev, and soon after its foundation Amar Das with the whole of his family had shifted his residence here from his native place Basarke. After that whenever Jetha and Bhani felt like meeting them, they naturally had to come to Goindwal.

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Teachings of Sri Guru Amardas Ji

The life history of Guru Amardas ji gives every human being an example of an ideal life. His selfless sewa of Guru Angad Dev ji and the entire Sangat for a period of more than eleven years, shows an ideal living. According to him, sewa was a medium to bind with the GOD.

Steps Taken To Serve Humanity:

* He established new centres for conveying to the people the message of Guru Nanak.
* Also allowed widow remarriage
* Against Caste systems he started Guru Ka Langar
* He undertook the construction of a baoli, a well with a perennial source of spring water
* Resign yourself to the will of God and do not find fault with the doings of the Creator
* Guru Amar Das ji gave women equality with men. He preached against the custom of purdah.

According to him,

"Sati is not she who burns herself upon her husbands pyre
Sati is she for whom the pang of separation is itself like Death.
Sati is she who lives Contented
Who cherishes her husband every moment
Who rises every morning remembering him.

The Guru holds the key to the spiritual treasure. Guru Amardas ji says in his connection:

"In the True Guru's hand is the key. None else can open the door. By perfect good luck, the Guru is met"

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Daughters Wedding and Contributions

Bhani's Marriage

Bibi Ramoji was the wife of Guru Amar Das Ji. She was very keen to get her youngest daughter married, as she had reached the age of puberty. Guru Amardas ji asked her about his choice of boy, she desired for her simple girl. She pointed to Bhai Jetha who was standing at some distance indicating that someone like him would be suitable for Bibi Bhani. Who was later to become Guru Ramdas Ji. Their wedding took place at Goindwal early in 1553.

Contribution

Guru Amardas composed his hymns in 17 Ragas. He wrote 171 Chaupadas, 91 other Padas including Ashtapadas, Chhants, 430 Salokas, 85 Pauris and 97 Pauris of special compositions like Kafi, Patti, AThhaniva, Satvara, Anand and Sohilay. The aim of devotional words is not giving delight to the mind or the satisfaction of the reader's aesthetic taste, but the revelation of higher values and a glimpse of the ultimate destiny of man.

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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.

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