Dr. Awatar Singh Sekhon. Guru Amar Das Ji was born on 5th of May 1479, in the

Amritsar district of Punjab, to an orthodox family of the Vashnay cult. He was a devout person and for a period of time, he would partake in an annual dip in the holy waters of the Ganges River. Despite following all the rituals of the Hindu religion, his mind remained far from settled and he was in search of eternal peace and solace, One day, Amar Das heard a female voice singing some couplets of a poem. This singing took him to where this voice originated: a girl. Amar Das inquired from the girl, Bibi Amro, what she was singing. Bibi Amro replied that she was singing the compositions (teachings) of Guru Nanak.

He asked Bibi Amro to take him to her father, since the hymns he had listened to had provided him with contentment, solace and joy which he had been looking for in desperation. After meeting with Bibi Amro’s father, Guru Angad Dev Ji, Amar Das became his follower and began to spend his time in the Gurv’s service. Amar Das would rise early in the morning to bring water for the Guru’s bath; during the daytime, Amar Das utilized his time for the service of the Guru, his congregation, and in the Langar or the free community kitchen which had been established by Guru Angad Dey as one of the sacred institutions of the Sikh faith.

Amar Das was bestowed with the Guruship in March 1552 by the second master, ie. the father of Bibi Amro and the successor of Guru Nanak. Guru Amar das ji married Bibi Mansa Devi at the age of 23 and had two sons and two daughters.

Langar: Free Food For One & All

During his time, he strengthened the institution of “Langar” or free community kitchen. He had instructed his followers that no one should go without having food in the Langar. Once Emperor Akbar, known as Jileilahi, or Shahanshah Akbar, came to see Guru Amar Das. The Guru’s followers told him that he should, according to custom, eat first in the Langar, which is served without distinction of caste, creed, race, sex, or wealth, and requires that everybody sit on the floor. Like any other visitor or member of the congregation the Emperor ate his food which he liked so much that he asked for a second serving. After eating, the Emperor was taken to the Guru where he expressed to the Guru Amar Das Ji his liking for the food.

“In relation to the seed which had become a plant during his predecessor’s times. The third master constructed a fence around it, watered it, and nurtured it, so that it could grow and fructify.”

He further said that “you have huge expenses to run this institution of the free kitchen. I want to give you some estate and or monies to operate it.” The Guru thanked the Emperor for his thoughtfulness, but declined the offer, replying that God had given him enough. “The visitors and followers, including both the rich and poor, who came from far and near bring the necessary supplies to the Langar. Each day’s collections are spent the same day and for the next day I trust him.” The Emperor was very happy to know about it and respected the Guru’s wishes.

Langar: Equality Of All Men

Since the second Nanak’s time or Guru Angad Dev’s period the Langar has become an integral part of the Sikh faith and an institution in itself, According to Guru Gobind Singh the Tenth Master, the mouth of the poor is the Guru’s receptacle of gifts (Singh, p. 1986) Deg Teg Fateh. Gurdwara Gazette, December issue, p. 416), More recently, in her comment on the Langar,

Miss D.L. Harris a United States citizen, wrote in 1962 that “I ate cross-legged on the floor, it had a strange appeal, Sikhism’s religious core. The essence of the Langar: equality of man, cast or creed no bar, nor even evil done. No one can pick up his food, nor friends to eat it with, for all nature’s bounty is good, all human kin and kith. Sikhism’s ritual Langar, simple free love feast. Hatred will never marry. This bridge of West and East or this bridge of great and least! (Singh p. 1964 The Sikh Gurus and the Temple of Bread. Tej Printing Press Amritsar p. 120.)

As S.S. Johar commented in his book Sikh Guru’s and their shrines in relation to the seed which had become a plant during his predecessor’s times, the third master constructed a fence around it, watered it, and nurtured it, so that it could grow and fructify.”

Guru Amar Das, in his composition of teachings of 907 yerses contained in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (The Holy Granth), stressed that one should not do anything or take any action that causes one to feel regret or embarrassment during their life. During his guruship, he stressed the importance of remembering the Name of the Almighty (Waheguru ji or the Lord). His teachings became a part of almost any prayer of the Sikhs (Anand Saheb or the Teaching of bliss).

Guru Amar Das ji told his disciples that there is nothing comparable to doing good to others; try to serve others at all times. This can be done by giving the wealth you possess to the poor and the distressed. Wherever you may find a destitute person, food and clothes can be given to him. The greatest gift of all is to give food at all times. Food gives life to mankind, how can other gifts be equal to it in value?

One of the masterpieces amongst his many teachings is;

O my mind, abide thou ever with God If thou dost abide in his presence ever more No more sin, no more sorrow If He accepts thee All the affairs will be settled The Lord is perfect and powerful in every way Why shouldst thou forget the Lord?

Abide ever with God

Guru Amar Das Ji did not consider any of his two sons to be worthy of being the next Guru, and instead he chose his son-in-law and his follower, Ram Das to succeed him. Guru Amar Das Ji bade farewell to this world on 1st September, 1574.

 *However the institution of “Langar” and its supplies became. The target of brutal attack when Indira Gandhi launched an all ‘out war on the Sikh Nation in June 1984, to humiliate the Sikhs and destroy their heritage.

DEGIDE to forgive for resentment is negative, Resentment is poisonous, Resentment diminishes and deyours the cells.

Be the first to forgive, to smile and to take the first step, And you will see happiness bloom On the face of your human brother,

Your sister.

Article extracted from this publication >>  April 7, 1989