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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Special Contributions

Special contributions made by Guru Angad Dev Ji includes:

* Guru Angad Dev Ji also introduced Gurmukhi script. This script became a medium in which the hymns of the Gurus could are expressed. This script helped the community, in the growth and development of the Sikhs. The script was also important as it helped in the growth of sikhism.

* He also compiled the biography of Guru Nanak Dev, known as ‘Bale Wali Janam Sakhi’.

* He started a school at Khadur Sahib to teach children Gurmukhi alphabets.

* The tradition of langar, which means people of all castes and creed can sit together with each other under a shelter to have food, was maintained and developed by the Guru. The Guru's wife personally worked in the kitchen.

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Accession to Gurugaddi

Serving the sikhs at his village for some years when Bhai Lehna ji returned to Kartarpur, Guru Nanak Dev Ji was very happy to see his service. Bhai Lehna Ji was was given a series of tests of his obedience and service. In one test he had to eat what appeared to the Guru's sons to be carrion (the dead and rotting body of an animal), which only Lehna Ji was willing to eat, which magically turned into the sweetest of foods.

After giving more several tests, Bhai Lehna Ji was given the Guruship and was instated as the 2nd Guru of the sikhs. Guru Nanak Dev Ji had touched him and renamed him Angad (part of the body) or the second Nanak on 1539. Before becoming the new Guru he had spent six or seven years in the service of Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Kartarpur. Guru Nanak Dev Ji, left their body on September 22, 1539, Guru Angad Dev Ji went back to his village Khadur Sahib, Kartarpur. He carried forward the principles of Guru Nanak Dev Ji along with him and spread the message of sikhism. As said by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Ahgad Dev Ji maintained the institution of langar. He spread Guru Nanak Dev Ji's facts, by studing the life of Bhai Bala. Also, he wrote the first biography of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He also wrote 63 Saloks, which are included in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. At last; on 28 March 1552, Guru Angad Dev Ji left his body.

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Life History

Guru Angad Dev Ji, the second Guru of the Sikhs was born on 31 March 1504, in the village of Sarae Naga in Muktsar district in Punjab. His name as given by his parents was Lehna. His father, Pheru was a small successful trader. His mother, Mata Ramo was known known by other names such as Mata Sabhirai, Mansa Devi and Daya Kaur. Bhai Lehna was a devotee of Maa Durga, by influence of his mother Daya Kaur. He used to organize yearly pilgrimage to Jawalamukhi, a place of Durga temple in the lower Himalayas. He used to lead Durga dance around the fire in a harness of jingling bells.

Bhai Jodha, a follower of Guru Nank Dev Ji was the neighbor of Bhai Lehna Ji. One day, Bhai Jodha recited a hymn of Guru Nanak Dev Ji which Bhai Lehna Ji also heard. Bhai Lehna Jis mind was all captured by the Guru Nanak's thoughts. While going to his annual pilgrimage to Jwalamukhi Temple he asked his group if they could come along with him to see the Gur, but everyone refused. At that time he did not say anything, but as he was a man of honor and dharma, the hymns and prayers (kirtan) of Guru Nanak Dev Ji still held onto his every thought. He could not stop himself to see the Guru. So one night without telling anyone he mounted his horse and proceeded to the village Kartarpur, wherte Guru Nanak Dev Ji was residing.

Having seen the noor of Guru, he threw himself at Nanak's feet. At his first meeting with Guru Nanak Dev Ji, he dedicated his life to the service of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and became his disciple (Sikh). He decided to stay there along with the Guru. People staying there along with the Guru became jealous of Bhai lehna jI by seeing his devotion and Sewa towards the Guru. Having some time spent with Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji asked him to go back to his home town and serve the sikhs in and around Khadur.

Guru Angad Dev Ji married Mata Khivi in January 1520 and had two sons named Dasu and Datu, and two daughters named Amro and Anokhi. Guru-jis family had to leave their home because of Babar. They went to Khadur Sahib, a village by the side of River Beas and settled there, a small town near Tarn Taran, about 25 km from the city of Amritsar.

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Last Days

Guru Nanak Dev Ji, ended his itineration (journey from place to place, preaching his divine mission), by the age of fifty two years. After, he settled on the right bank of river Ravi at Kartarpur. There he adopted the life of a peasant. People visited Kartarpur and were blessed by the Guru and 'Sangat' and 'Pangat' was started to serve people, where men and women irrespective of caste, color or creed were welcomed. "Dana Pani Guru Ka, Taihal Bhawna Sikhan Ki" was common saying of the time, which means "provisions are provided by the Providence (God) and service is rendered by the Sikhs".

On September 22, 1539, taking God's name, and being lost in God's name, Guru Nanak Dev ji went into Samadhi and was no more. Now a quarrel took place between the Hindus and the Muslims. The Hindus wanted his body to be cremated while the Muslims wanted his body to be buried. As the dispute was growing more and more between the two, they decided to keep some fresh flowers on Guru Nanak Dev Jis body for the night, and flowers of whomsoever will dry up first, will let the other religion person take his body and perform the last ritual. However, in the morning it was discovered that the same was no more there. There were only flowers and silence. Thus, they agreed to divide the sheet into two halves which was subsequently buried by the Muslims and cremated by the Hindus.

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Teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji

The teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji are found in the 'Guru Granth Sahib Ji', considered to be the eleventh Guru of the Sikhs. It consists of the faiths and belief of our gurus. It is described as the indestructible form. The words of Guru Nanak Dev Ji always enlightened the brotherhood of man. According to him, God always destroys 'the evil doers', this being God's nature and will, and it is man's goal to carry out that will. Also, it is the spiritual duty of the seeker and his society to resist evil and injustice.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji always focused upon the harm by egotism (known as haumai- 'I am') and calls upon the devotees to worship word of God (Naam - the Reality), to meditate the shabad, and follow hukam, the order of the Guru. Guru Nanak Dev Ji said that our worship should be selfless and is then called sewa, in God's house.

The teachings given by Guru Nanak can be practiced in three ways:

* Naam Japna which means, Singing the Holy Name and thus keeping God within u, every time
* Kirat Karō which means, Earning a living with honestly
* Vand Chakkō which means, Sharing with others

Guru Nanak emphasized on word 'God'. One should follow the direction awakened by the individuals rather than the individuals who are led by Self will ( Manmukh )

Teachings:

* Women should be given equal importance as that of men
* Abolish caste system
* Was against Sati system
* Against superstitions
* In Sikhism everyone has equal rights irrespective of caste, creed, color, race, sex or religion

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