Birth: September 24,1534, at Chune Mandi, Lahore Parentage: Father: Sri Haridas ji Sodhi,

Mother: Mata Daya Kaur Ji

Spouse: Bibi Bhaani ji, D/o Sri Guru Amar Das ji

Offspring:

Sons: Sri Prithi Chand, Sri Mahadev, Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji Demise: September 1, 1581 at Goindwal

Guru Ram Das was known as ‘Jetha’, meaning the ‘Third born’. He was fond of the company of religious men right from his childhood. He soon became a disciple of Guru Amar Das. His hard work and devotion eventually won him the hand of Guru Amar Das’s younger daughter, Bibi Bhaani. He successfully represented Guru Ram Das before the Mughal royal court to defend the charges by jealous Hindus that Sikhism maligned both the Hindu and Muslim religions.

Eventually Jetha was ordained as Guru Amar Das’s successor and named Guru Ram Das (meaning ’servant of God’). Under the directions of Guru Amar Das, his father-in-law, Guru Ramdas laid down the foundation for a new township called Ramdaspur, which later became the present day Amritsar, the holiest city of the Sikhs. The standard Sikh marriage ceremony known as the Anand Karaj is centered on the Lawan, the four stanza hymn composed by Guru Ram Das. Guru Ram Das was born on September 24, 1534 to simple God-fearing parents, Hari Das and Anup Devi of Lahore. Known as Jetha meaning the first born, he was a handsome young man. When he grew up he could always be found in the company of religious men. 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. His hard work, and devotion eventually won him the hand of Guru Amar Das’s younger daughter, Bibi Bhani. They went on to have three sons, Prithi Chand, Mahadev and Arjan Dev. Jetha became a trusted disciple of Guru Amar Das.

Eventually Jetha was ordained as Guru Amar Das’s successor and named Guru Ram Das (meaning servant of God). Guru Ram Das started building the city of Ramdaspur (the abode of Ram Das) by digging of the second sacred pool as he had been instructed by Guru Amar Das. Pilgrims came in large 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 which is the holiest center of Sikhism has come to be know as Amritsar. Guru Ram Das urged his Sikhs that one could fulfill one’s life not merely by quiet meditation but in actively participating in the joys and sorrows of others.

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 asked his eldest son Prithi Chand to attend on his behalf, but he refused. Prithi Chand feared that his father was perhaps trying to eliminate him in order to install his youngest brother Arjan as the next Guru. Arjan was a great favorite of his father. Mahadev the Guru’s middle son 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 was very pleased. Arjan Dev now proceeded to Lahore, where his father asked him to remain until called for and to take charge of the needs and education of the Sikhs in Lahore, his ancestral home. After two years of feeling intensely homesick, Arjan Dev composed a poem of love and devotion and sent it to Guru Ram Das. This poem along with another one a few month’s later were intercepted by the Guru’s jealous son Prithi Chand who made sure his father never received them. Finally Arjan wrote a third poem and numbered it with a 3 and gave strict instructions to the messenger to only hand it over to the Guru personally. “A moment’s separation and it was like an age. When do I see you now, my beloved Lord? My night does not pass, nor do I get sleep, Without seeing the Guru’s darbar. I am a sacrifice, I am a sacrifice again to the true darbar of the Guru. 3? (Majh) Upon finally receiving this poem, Guru Ram Das sensed what must have happened to the earlier two messages so he confronted his eldest son Prithi Chand. At first, Prithi Chand denied everything, but seeing the insistence of the Guru and the consequences of refusal to obey him, he finally confessed his treachery and produced the other two letters. When Guru Ram Das read them, he was moved to tears by the humility and sincerity of his son Arjan’s compositions. Guru Ram Das immediately sent for Baba Buddha to journey to Lahore and to bring back his son Arjan Dev with full honour. The Guru then had Bhai Budhha apply the saffron mark to the forehead of Arjan Dev and declared him his successor. Prithi Chand would not accept his fathers wishes and continued to misbehave and abuse Guru Arjan Dev. Guru Ram Das had to publicly condemn his son Prithi Chand for his actions. Shortly thereafter Guru Ram Das breathed his last on September 1 1581.

Guru Arjun Dev : Born in 1563, the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, was made a Guru, by Guru Ramdas Ji in 1581. Guru Arjan was a saint and scholar of the highest order. He compiled the hymns and compositions of Guru Nanak, and his predecessors selected the sacred scriptures of some Hindu and Muslim saints, composed his own hymns and thus compiled the Adi Granth4. The achievements and the works of Guru Arjan upset the reigning Emperor, Jahangir who implicated him and tortured him. He breathed his last in 1606.