Sri Guru Amar Das Ji
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.
This weekend will mark the Parkash (birth) of our third Guru, Sri Guru Amar Das Ji. Guru Ji was born in 1479, 10 years after Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Guru Sahib was a shopkeeper and lived in a village called Barsake, close to Amritsar, and married Mata Mansa Devi and they had four children. They had two sons and two daughters. One of Guru Sahib's daughters, Bibi Bhani Ji, would later marry Bhai Jetha, who became Sri Guru Ram Das Ji, the fourth Guru.
Bhai Amar Das Ji was born into a Hindu family and lived as a very religious Vaishanavite Hindu, who spent most of his life performing rituals and keeping fasts. One day, Bhai Sahib heard the Shabad of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji being sung by the daughter of Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji. Bhai Sahib was so impressed by this, that he went and visited Guru Angad Dev Ji immediately. It was recorded that Bhai Amar Das Ji was 61 at the time of this visit. Bhai Sahib was so touched by Sikhi, that he became a devout Sikh and immediately began doing Seva to the Guru and community. It is said that Bhai Sahib did Seva for a whole year, 22 hours a day and every single day, he was bestowed with a Siropa from Guru Angad Dev Ji, which he tied around his head with great respect. In 1552, as a result of his devout commitment to Sikhi and its principles, Guru Angad Dev Ji, appointed Bhai Amar Das Ji as the third Guru, after which he became Sri Guru Amar Das Ji, at the age of 73.
Sikh masses flocked to Goindwal Sahib to see the Guru, and hearing about this, Guru Angad Dev Ji's son, Datu, became jealous. He, along with his followers, went to Goindwal Sahib and confronted Guru Sahib. Datu kicked Guru Sahib off his throne and Guru Ji fell to the ground. Guru Amar Das Ji spoke with great humility and asked Datu if his old and hardened bones had hurt his foot. After asking this, Guru Sahib returned to his native village of Barsake, where he locked himself in a small house and began meditating. Guru Ji left a notice on the door stating that whoever opened the door would not be a Sikh of his and he would not be their Guru. After reading this notice, Baba Buddha Ji cut a hole through the door and asked Guru Ji to come out and guide the Sikhs. Overwhelmed by their devotion, Guru Sahib returned to Goindwal Sahib.
Guru Amar Das Ji made many contributions to Sikhi, these include; composing Sri Anand Sahib, establishing the city of Goindwal, contributing 907 Shabads to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, further abolished the caste system, and further preached the equality of men and women. Guru Amar Das Ji left for Sachkhand in 1574, at the age of 95, before which he nominated Bhai Jetha to be the next Guru.
We can all learn from the devotion of Guru Amar Das Ji. His commitment to Guru Angad Dev Ji was rare, the Seva which he did was humbling and this can be used as a guide on how we should live our lives. Seva is very important in progressing along this path, on a small scale and a large scale. Anything which we can give towards a good cause, should be given without any need for a reward.
Such devotion brings peace to our lives and even if we don't notice it at first, it will always come clear in the end.
- Daas
This weekend will mark the Parkash (birth) of our third Guru, Sri Guru Amar Das Ji. Guru Ji was born in 1479, 10 years after Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Guru Sahib was a shopkeeper and lived in a village called Barsake, close to Amritsar, and married Mata Mansa Devi and they had four children. They had two sons and two daughters. One of Guru Sahib's daughters, Bibi Bhani Ji, would later marry Bhai Jetha, who became Sri Guru Ram Das Ji, the fourth Guru.
Bhai Amar Das Ji was born into a Hindu family and lived as a very religious Vaishanavite Hindu, who spent most of his life performing rituals and keeping fasts. One day, Bhai Sahib heard the Shabad of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji being sung by the daughter of Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji. Bhai Sahib was so impressed by this, that he went and visited Guru Angad Dev Ji immediately. It was recorded that Bhai Amar Das Ji was 61 at the time of this visit. Bhai Sahib was so touched by Sikhi, that he became a devout Sikh and immediately began doing Seva to the Guru and community. It is said that Bhai Sahib did Seva for a whole year, 22 hours a day and every single day, he was bestowed with a Siropa from Guru Angad Dev Ji, which he tied around his head with great respect. In 1552, as a result of his devout commitment to Sikhi and its principles, Guru Angad Dev Ji, appointed Bhai Amar Das Ji as the third Guru, after which he became Sri Guru Amar Das Ji, at the age of 73.
Sikh masses flocked to Goindwal Sahib to see the Guru, and hearing about this, Guru Angad Dev Ji's son, Datu, became jealous. He, along with his followers, went to Goindwal Sahib and confronted Guru Sahib. Datu kicked Guru Sahib off his throne and Guru Ji fell to the ground. Guru Amar Das Ji spoke with great humility and asked Datu if his old and hardened bones had hurt his foot. After asking this, Guru Sahib returned to his native village of Barsake, where he locked himself in a small house and began meditating. Guru Ji left a notice on the door stating that whoever opened the door would not be a Sikh of his and he would not be their Guru. After reading this notice, Baba Buddha Ji cut a hole through the door and asked Guru Ji to come out and guide the Sikhs. Overwhelmed by their devotion, Guru Sahib returned to Goindwal Sahib.Guru Amar Das Ji made many contributions to Sikhi, these include; composing Sri Anand Sahib, establishing the city of Goindwal, contributing 907 Shabads to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, further abolished the caste system, and further preached the equality of men and women. Guru Amar Das Ji left for Sachkhand in 1574, at the age of 95, before which he nominated Bhai Jetha to be the next Guru.
We can all learn from the devotion of Guru Amar Das Ji. His commitment to Guru Angad Dev Ji was rare, the Seva which he did was humbling and this can be used as a guide on how we should live our lives. Seva is very important in progressing along this path, on a small scale and a large scale. Anything which we can give towards a good cause, should be given without any need for a reward.
Such devotion brings peace to our lives and even if we don't notice it at first, it will always come clear in the end.
Bhul chuk maaf karni (forgive me for my many mistakes).
- Daas
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