The Fourth Guru (1539 1581) By Dr. H.-S. Shergill

Guru Ram Das was born on Sept. 24, 1534 in Chuna Mandi, Lahore, in the house of Hardas Sodhi and Daya Kaur, He was married to Bibi Bhani (Guru Amarddas’s daughter) and had three sons: Pirthi Chand, Mahan Dev and Arjun Dev. Being the first child, he ‘was called ‘Jetha’ (First born). He ‘was still a child when he lost his parents. He moved to his maternal grandmother’s home, He started earning his living as a Hawker, selling roasted grains. Here he came in contact with Amardas, a Sikh of Guru Angad. When Guru ‘Amar Das moved to Goindwal he also moved with him, In his free time he would come and spend his time in the service of the Guru, He also helped in the construction of “Bowli” (well), Gura Amar Das was so impressed by him that he married his daughter, Bhani, to him and thus he became a member ‘of Guns household. In spite of being a son-in-law, there was no change in his behavior towards Guru Amar Das. He always served him with the same dedication and humility.

When the time came to choose the successor, Guru Amar Das chose Ram Das as his successor, not because he was his son-in-law but because he was the only worthy one to carry on Nanak’s mission, He was 43 at the time of taking over Guruship (August 30, 1574).

‘When he assumed Guruship, ‘Sikhism was still facing many challenges. Age old Brahmin influence vas still holding strong socio-spiritual life in Punjab, Even prior to his assumption of Guruship, Ram Das defended the claims of Sikhism against Brahmins in the court of Akbar. During his Guruship be took the following steps:

  1. He founded Amritsar. The land was given to Bibi Bhani by Emperor Akbar who came to see Guru ‘Amar Das. Since the land was bought from a landlord, initially, it was known as chak that Ram Dass but later on came to be known as Amritsar. It gave the Sikhs the central seat to serve as Sikhism’s base temporal as well as spiritual base.
  2. To promote Sikhism, he established new centers and sent missionaries like Bhai Gurdas to Agra, in the East and other missionaries to Kabul in the West. He also took new step to consolidate, enrich and protect the new faith.
  3. He encouraged traders to settle in Amritsar and thus, strengthened the economy of the Sikh.
  4. He introduced new ceremonies of birth, marriage and death etc through appropriate Hymns composed by him and thus gave Sikhs a separate identity.
  5. He appointed Masands to regularly collect funds from the Sikhs & use them for propagation of Sikhism.
  6. He won the support of udasis (a sect started by Guru Nanak’s Son Baba Sri Chand) which helped to carry on Sikhism at the time of persecution of Sikhs.
  7. He composed Hymns. His 679 shalokas are included in Gura Granth Sahib.

Even after becoming Guru, he was humble as ever. When Baba Sri Chand came to see him, pointing to his long beard he asked, “Why are you keeping such a long beard” the Guru replied, “to wipe the feet of holy-men like you.” He attempted to actually do it but Sri Chand moved back and said, “You are in my father’s place. This humility has won for you the spiritual throne of my father. I was superseded because I did not possess this quality. Your greatness is beyond description”.

Guru Ram Das is known as Sodhi Patshah (Sodhi King) and also as an Apostle of love and humility,

He died at Goindwal in 1581 and appointed his younger son Avan Dev to Gurehin:

Article extracted from this publication >> April 25, 1986