“One
who calls himself a Sikh of the True Guru shall get up early morning
and meditate on the Lord’s Name. Make effort regularly to cleanse, bathe
& dip in the ambrosial pool. Upon Guru’s instructions, chant Har,
Har singing which, all misdeeds, sins and pains shall go away.”
Guru Ram Das (
Gurmukhi: ਗਰੂ ਰਾਮ ਦਾਸ) (
Friday October 9 1534 -
Saturday 16 September 1581) was the fourth of
the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on
Monday 16 September 1574 following in the footsteps of
Guru Amar Das
ji. The Guru's original name was Bhai Jetha. Before Guru Ji died, he
nominated his youngest son as the next Guru of the Sikhs -
Guru Arjan Dev.
Brief Information
The fourth Sikh Guru contributed the following to the people of the world:
- Author of Laava, the hymns of the Marriage Rites
- Designed the Golden Temple
- Planned & created the township of Ramdaspur (later Amritsar)
- Organization Structure of Sikh Society
Detailed Account
Early Life
Very little is known about the early years of Guru Ram Dass. Guru Ram Das ji was born at Chuna Mandi Bazaar,
Lahore
at the site of the present shrine on 24th September 1534 where he spent
the first seven years of his life. Soon after birth, he was given the
name
Jetha, meaning
the first born. When he was of 7 Years his father died so her maternal grandmother took him to Basarke, near Amritsar.
Jetha's simple and God-fearing parents,
Hari Das and
Anup Devi of
Lahore were delighted at this precious gift from
Waheguru.
As he was growing up and in his teens, he could always be found in the
company of religious men. Jetha became a handsome young man.
Company of Guru Amar Das
One day Jetha came across a party of
Sikhs who were on their way to
Goindwal to pay homage to
Guru Amar Das. Jetha decided to join them and also travel to
Goindwal. Upon their arrival and meeting,
Guru Amar Das at once noticed the young Jetha with his pleasant manner and sense of devotion. While his fellow travelers returned to
Lahore, Jetha decided to stay and become a disciple of
Guru Amar Das.
Bhai Jehta worked hard in Goindwal in the various construction projects that were taking place.
Guru Amar Das was very impressed with the
Sewa performed by
Bhai Jetha and susequently a marriage was arranged between
Bibi Bhani, his daughter
Bibi Bhani and his dedicated devotee, Bhai Jehta.
The marriage took place on
18 February 1554. After their marriage, the couple remained in
Goindval which was an upcoming Sikh town and carried out voluntary service (
Sewa) in the construction of the
Baoli Sahib (sacred well), serving the Guru and the congregation (
Sangat).
Guru Ramdas From Max.Arthur.Macafuilee Book the Sikh
Sewa of Guru Amar Dass
Jetha became a trusted disciple of
Guru Amar Das ji. He undertook many
sewas and also successfully represented
Guru Amar Das ji before the
Mughal royal court to defend charges by some jealous
Hindus who had taken exception to some of the wording of the Sikh teachings, saying that
Sikhism maligned both the
Hindu and the
Muslim religions. The following is a translation of what Jetha said in the Court of Akbar:
- "Birth and caste are of no avail before God. It is ones deeds
which make or unmake a man. To exploit ignorant people with
superstitions and to call it religion is a sacrilege against God and
man. To worship the infinite, formless and absolute God in the form of a
totem, an image or an insignificant time-bound object of nature; to
lead people to beleive that they can wash away their sins, not through
compassion and self-surrender, but through ablutions; to insist upon
special diets-what to eat and what not to eat; to say that a certain
language and dress allows accesss to God and to condemn masses of human
beings, men, women and children, to the status of sub-humans, who are
not even allowed to learn to read the scriptures that they are told
rule their lives; never allowed to enter a house of worship; who are
allowed to do only the lowest degrading work, is to tear man apart from
man. This is not religion nor is it religion to deny the world by
becoming an ascetic, for it is in the world alone that man can find his
spiritual possibilities."
Impressed by the tenets of
Sikhism as explained by Bhai Jetha
Emperor Akbar dismissed all of the charges.
Construction of Ramdaspur
Eventually Bhai Jetha was ordained as
Guru Amar Das's
successor and named Guru Ram Das ji. (Ram Das means servant of God).
Guru Ram Das ji now eagerly continued the building of the city of
Ramdaspur (the abode of Ram Das) by the digging of the second sacred pool as he had been instructed by
Guru Amar Das
ji. Pilgrims came in ever growing numbers to hear the Guru and to help
in the excavation work of the tank. The holy tank would be called
Amritsar meaning pool of nectar. Today the city of Ramdaspur, which now
is the holiest center of Sikhism has come to be know as
Amritsar. Guru Ram Das ji urged his
Sikhs
that one could fulfill one's life not merely by quiet meditation, but
by actively participating in the joys and sorrows of others. This is how
one could also rid oneself of the prime malady - Ego, and end their
spiritual loneliness.
One of the new entries into the
Sikh fold at this time was
Bhai Gurdas Bhalla, the son of the younger brother of
Guru Amar Das ji.
Bhai Gurdas
ji was a superb poet and scholar of comparative religion who would
later go on to become the scribe of the first edition of the
Guru Granth Sahib ji.
Guru Amar Das ji was impressed with
Bhai Gurdas's existing knowledge of
Hindi and
Sanskrit and the
Hindu scriptures. Following the tradition of sending out Masands across the country
Guru Amar Das ji deputed
Bhai Gurdas to Agra to spread the gospel of Sikhism.
Bani of Guru Ram Das
There are 688 Hymns of Guru Ram Dass included in Guru Granth Sahib
which have various teachings for sikhs. Guru Sahib's Bani is also part
of Rehras Sahib and Kirtan Sohila which are daily prayers of Sikhs.
Page 305 of the Guru Granth Guru Sahib decries the morning activity of
one who calls himself a Sikh of the True Guru (God):
- One who calls himself a Sikh of the True Guru shall get up
early morning and meditate on the Lord's Name. Bathe daily in the
ambrosial pool and following the Guru's instructions, chant Har, Har.
All sins, misdeeds and negativity shall be erased.
Guru Sahib on Sadhu People and Pilgrimage Bath
ਮਲਾਰ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥ ਗੰਗਾ ਜਮਨਾ ਗੋਦਾਵਰੀ ਸਰਸਤੀ ਤੇ ਕਰਹਿ ਉਦਮ ਧੂਰਿ
ਸਾਧੂ ਕੀ ਤਾਈ ॥ ਕਿਲਵਿਖ ਮੈਲ ਭਰੇ ਪਰੇ ਹਮਰੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਹਮਰੀ ਮੈਲ
ਸਾਧੂ ਕੀ ਧੂਰਿ ਗਵਾਈ ॥੧॥
Malaar, Fourth Mehl: The Ganges, the Jamunaa, the Godaavari and the
Saraswati - these rivers strive for the dust of the feet of the Holy.
Overflowing with their filthy sins, the mortals take cleansing baths in
them; the rivers' pollution is washed away by the dust of the feet of
the Holy. ||1||
ਤੀਰਥਿ ਅਠਸਠਿ ਮਜਨ ਨਾਈ ॥ ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਕੀ ਧੂਰਿ ਪਰੀ ਉਡਿ ਨੇਤਰੀ ਸਭ ਦਰਮਤਿ ਮੈਲ ਗਵਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Instead of bathing at the sixty-eight sacred shrines of pilgrimage, take
your cleansing bath in the Name. When the dust of the feet of the Sat
Sangat rises up into the eyes, all filthy evil-mindedness is removed.
||1||Pause||
ਜਾਹਰਨਵੀ ਤਪੈ ਭਾਗੀਰਥਿ ਆਣੀ ਕੇਦਾਰ ਥਾਪਿਓ ਮਹਸਾਈ ॥ ਕਾਂਸੀ ਕਰਿਸਨ ਚਰਾਵਤ ਗਾਊ ਮਿਲਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਸੋਭਾ ਪਾਈ ॥੨॥
Bhaageerat'h the penitent brought the Ganges down, and Shiva established
Kaydaar. Krishna grazed cows in Kaashi; through the humble servant of
the Lord, these places became famous. ||2||
ਜਿਤਨੇ ਤੀਰਥ ਦੇਵੀ ਥਾਪੇ ਸਭਿ ਤਿਤਨੇ ਲੋਚਹਿ ਧੂਰਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਕੀ ਤਾਈ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਸੰਤ ਮਿਲੈ ਗਰ ਸਾਧੂ ਲੈ ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਧੂਰਿ ਮਖਿ ਲਾਈ ॥੩॥
And all the sacred shrines of pilgrimage established by the gods, long
for the dust of the feet of the Holy. Meeting with the Lord's Saint,
the Holy Guru, I apply the dust of His feet to my face. ||3||
ਜਿਤਨੀ ਸਰਿਸਟਿ ਤਮਰੀ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਆਮੀ ਸਭ ਤਿਤਨੀ ਲੋਚੈ ਧੂਰਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਕੀ ਤਾਈ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਲਾਟਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਜਿਸ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਤਿਸ ਸਾਧੂ ਧੂਰਿ ਦੇ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਰਿ ਲੰਘਾਈ ॥੪॥੨॥
And all the creatures of Your Universe, O my Lord and Master, long for
the dust of the feet of the Holy. O Nanak, one who has such destiny
inscribed on his forehead, is blessed with the dust of the feet of the
Holy; the Lord carries him across. ||4||2||
The standard
Sikh marriage ceremony known as the
Anand Karaj is centered around of , a four stanza hymn composed by
Guru Ram Das ji. During the marriage ceremony the couple circumscribe the
Guru Granth Sahib ji as each stanza of the
Lawan
is read. The first round is the Divine consent for commencing the
householders life through marriage. The second round states that the
union of the couple has been brought about by God. In the third round
the couple is described as the most fortunate as they have sung the
praises of the Lord in the company of saints. In the fourth round the
feeling of the couple that they have obtained their hearts' desire and
are being congratulated is described.
Guru Ram Das Sahib composed a beautiful bani called
Laavan
about the meaning of marriage to a Sikh couple – Effectively, the Guru
defines a Sikh marriage in these 2 lines: "They are not said to be
husband and wife who merely sit together. Rather they alone are called
husband and wife, who have one soul in two bodies."
Guru Sahib on Jogis
ਹਥਿ ਕਰਿ ਤੰਤ ਵਜਾਵੈ ਜੋਗੀ ਥੋਥਰ ਵਾਜੈ ਬੇਨ ॥ ਗਰਮਤਿ ਹਰਿ ਗਣ ਬੋਲਹ ਜੋਗੀ ਇਹ ਮਨੂਆ ਹਰਿ ਰੰਗਿ ਭੇਨ ॥੧॥
You may pluck the strings with your hand, O Yogi, but your playing of
the harp is in vain. Under Guru's Instruction, chant the Glorious
Praises of the Lord, O Yogi, and this mind of yours shall be imbued with
the Lord's Love. ||1||
ਜੋਗੀ ਹਰਿ ਦੇਹ ਮਤੀ ਉਪਦੇਸ ॥ ਜਗ ਜਗ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਝਕੋ ਵਰਤੈ ਤਿਸ ਆਗੈ ਹਮ ਆਦੇਸ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
O Yogi, give your intellect the Teachings of the Lord. The Lord, the
One Lord, is pervading throughout all the ages; I humbly bow down to
Him. ||1||Pause||
ਗਾਵਹਿ ਰਾਗ ਭਾਤਿ ਬਹ ਬੋਲਹਿ ਇਹ ਮਨੂਆ ਖੇਲੈ ਖੇਲ ॥ ਜੋਵਹਿ ਕੂਪ ਸਿੰਚਨ ਕਉ ਬਸਧਾ ਉਠਿ ਬੈਲ ਗਝ ਚਰਿ ਬੇਲ ॥੨॥
You sing in so many Ragas and harmonies, and you talk so much, but this
mind of yours is only playing a game. You work the well and irrigate
the fields, but the oxen have already left to graze in the jungle. ||2||
ਕਾਇਆ ਨਗਰ ਮਹਿ ਕਰਮ ਹਰਿ ਬੋਵਹ ਹਰਿ ਜਾਮੈ ਹਰਿਆ ਖੇਤ ॥ ਮਨੂਆ ਅਸਥਿਰ ਬੈਲ ਮਨ ਜੋਵਹ ਹਰਿ ਸਿੰਚਹ ਗਰਮਤਿ ਜੇਤ ॥੩॥
In the field of the body, plant the Lord's Name, and the Lord will
sprout there, like a lush green field. O mortal, hook up your unstable
mind like an ox, and irrigate your fields with the Lord's Name, through
the Guru's Teachings. ||3||
ਜੋਗੀ ਜੰਗਮ ਸਰਿਸਟਿ ਸਭ ਤਮਰੀ ਜੋ ਦੇਹ ਮਤੀ ਤਿਤ ਚੇਲ ॥ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੇ ਪਰਭ ਅੰਤਰਜਾਮੀ ਹਰਿ ਲਾਵਹ ਮਨੂਆ ਪੇਲ ॥੪॥੯॥੬੧॥
The Yogis, the wandering Jangams, and all the world is Yours, O Lord.
According to the wisdom which You give them, so do they follow their
ways. O Lord God of servant Nanak, O Inner-knower, Searcher of hearts,
please link my mind to You. ||4||9||61||
Guru Ram Dass on Benifits of Reciting God's Name
ਆਸਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥ ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਮਿਲੀਝ ਹਰਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਮਿਲਿ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਹਰਿ ਗਣ
ਗਾਇ ॥ ਗਿਆਨ ਰਤਨ ਬਲਿਆ ਘਟਿ ਚਾਨਣ ਅਗਿਆਨ ਅੰਧੇਰਾ ਜਾਇ ॥੧॥
Aasaa, Fourth Mehl: Join the Sat Sangat, the Lord's True Congregation;
joining the Company of the Holy, sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord.
With the sparkling jewel of spiritual wisdom, the heart is illumined,
and ignorance is dispelled. ||1||
ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਨਾਚਹ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਧਿਆਇ ॥ ਝਸੇ ਸੰਤ ਮਿਲਹਿ ਮੇਰੇ ਭਾਈ ਹਮ ਜਨ ਕੇ ਧੋਵਹ ਪਾਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
O humble servant of the Lord, let your dancing be meditation on the
Lord, Har, Har. If only I cold meet such Saints, O my Siblings of
Destiny; I would wash the feet of such servants. ||1||Pause||
ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮ ਜਪਹ ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਅਨਦਿਨ ਹਰਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਇ ॥ ਜੋ ਇਛਹ ਸੋਈ ਫਲ ਪਾਵਹ ਫਿਰਿ ਭੂਖ ਨ ਲਾਗੈ ਆਇ ॥੨॥
Meditate on the Naam, the Name of the Lord, O my mind; night and day,
center your consciousness on the Lord. You shall have the fruits of
your desires, and you shall never feel hunger again. ||2||
ਆਪੇ ਹਰਿ ਅਪਰੰਪਰ ਕਰਤਾ ਹਰਿ ਆਪੇ ਬੋਲਿ ਬਲਾਇ ॥ ਸੇਈ ਸੰਤ ਭਲੇ ਤਧ ਭਾਵਹਿ ਜਿਨਹਹ ਕੀ ਪਤਿ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਥਾਇ ॥੩॥
The Infinite Lord Himself is the Creator; the Lord Himself speaks, and
causes us to speak. The Saints are good, who are pleasing to Your
Will; their honor is approved by You. ||3||
ਨਾਨਕ ਆਖਿ ਨ ਰਾਜੈ ਹਰਿ ਗਣ ਜਿਉ ਆਖੈ ਤਿਉ ਸਖ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਭਗਤਿ ਭੰਡਾਰ ਦੀਝ ਹਰਿ ਅਪਨੇ ਗਣ ਗਾਹਕ ਵਣਜਿ ਲੈ ਜਾਇ ॥੪॥੧੧॥੬੩॥
Nanak is not satisfied by chanting the Lord's Glorious Praises; the more
he chants them, the more he is at peace. The Lord Himself has
bestowed the treasure of devotional love; His customers purchase
virtues, and carry them home. ||4||11||63||
Meeting with Sri Chand
When the aged son of Guru Nanak Dev ji, Baba Sri Chand, who had
chosen to become an ascetic (Baba Sri Chand was the founder the '
Udasis'
sect), came to visit Guru Ram Das ji he asked him why he kept such a
long beard? Guru Ram Das ji replied; "To wipe the dust off the feet of
holy men like yourself" and then he proceeded to perform this supreme
act of humility. Seeing this Sri Chand held his hand and embraced Guru
Ram Das ji saying; "It's enough. This is the kind of character by which
you have deprived me of my ancestral heritage. Now, what more is left
with me that I could offer you for your piety and goodness of heart?"
(Outraged that his father Guru Nanak had chosen to pass the Guruship to
Guru Angad
Sri Chand had attempted to install himself as the second Guru of the
Sikhs and had hoped to alter the direction of Sikhi that Guru Nanak had
chartered.)
Prithi Chand's deception
Guru Ram Das's first cousin
Sahari Mal
came to invite the Guru to visit Lahore in connection with the marriage
of his son. The Guru being much too busy with his work promised to send
one of his sons instead. Guru Ram Das ji asked his eldest son
Prithi Chand
to attend on his behalf, but he refused. Prithi Chand found a reason to
avoid the trip, perhaps, he feared that his father would, in his
absence, install his youngest brother, Arjan Dev as the next Guru.
Prithi was sure that Arjan was the favorite son of his father. Next the
Guru asked his next eldest son Mahadev to attend the wedding, but
Mahadev was a recluse and excused himself on the ground that he was not
interested in the affairs of the world. The Guru therefore asked his
youngest son
Arjan Dev to attend, which he agreed to do with such grace and humility, that
Guru Ram Das ji was very pleased.
Guru Arjun Dev Letters
Arjan Dev
proceeded to Lahore where, his father had asked him to remain until
called for and to take charge of the needs and education of the
Sikhs in Lahore, his father's ancestral home. Two years later, feeling intensely homesick,
Arjan Dev composed a poem of love and devotion and sent it to
Guru Ram Das
ji. This poem along with another one, sent a few month's later were
intercepted by his elder brother Prithi Chand who made sure his father
never received them. Finally Arjan wrote a third poem marking it with
the number 3 and gave strict instructions to the messenger to give it to
the Guru personally.
- My mind longs for the Blessed Vision of the Guru's Darshan.
- It cries out like the thirsty song-bird.
- My thirst is not quenched, and I can find no peace, without the
- Blessed Vision of the Beloved Saint. ||1||
- I am a sacrifice, my soul is a sacrifice,
- To the Blessed Vision of the Beloved Saint Guru.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- (SGGS, Raag Maajh, Pannaa 96)
Receiving this poem, Guru Ram Das ji seeing the number 3 sensed that
there must have been two earlier letters. Aware of the jealousy of his
eldest son he confronted Prithi Chand, asking him if he knew anything
about previous letters. At first, Prithi Chand denied everything, but
seeing the insistence of the Guru and the consequences of his refusal to
obey him, he finally confessed his treachery and produced the two
earlier letters. (Another story often told has the Guru sending someone
to Prithi Chand's quarters who finds the letters in Prithi's clothing.)
When Guru Ram Das ji read them, he was moved to tears by the humility
and sincerity of his son Arjan's compositions.
Gaddi to Guru Arjun Dev & Death
Guru Ram Das ji immediately sent for
Baba Buddha
to journey to Lahore and to bring back his son Arjan Dev with full
honours. On his return the Guru declared him his successor.
Prithi Chand's
deception had resulted in bringing about his fears, he never accepted
his father's choice and continued to misbehave and abuse Guru Arjan Dev
ji. Eventually Guru Ram Das ji had to publicly condemn his son Prithi
Chand for his actions.
Shortly thereafter Guru Ram Das left his physical form on
September 16,
1581.
