GURU AMAR DAS JI--A REFORMER PAR EXCELLENCE

                

                     

Guru Amar Das Ji was born on 5 May 1479, AD in village basarke in Dist Amritsar in Punjab in India, in the home of Mata Lachmi and father Tej bhan, a farmer and petty trader. He adhered to the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism for much of his life and followed Hindu ritual pilgrimages and fasts, being born in Hindu family. He was married to Mansa Devi and had four children.

One day on return from pilgrimage in 1539 AD, after a Hindu saint left his company after knowing that Amar Das had not adopted any spiritual Guru, he came to village khadur and heard his daughter Bibi Amro reciting hymns by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and was deeply moved by it. He persuaded her to introduce him to Guru Angad Dev ji, who was his father in -law's brother and was living in the adjoining house. After meeting Him, He adopted Him as his spiritual Guru at the age of 61 years. Thereafter he performed the service of bringing of water daily for bathing etc. for Guru Angad Dev Ji for a long period of 12 years from Goindwal located on river Beas at a distance of about 5 km from village khadur, despite any odds. Before leaving this world, Guru Angad Dev Ji transmigrated the light to him and handed over to him the pothi containing BAANI of Guru Nanak Dev ji, after adding His own BAANI and directed him to live in Goindwal. Thus He became Third NANAK and The Guru of the Sikhs on 26th march, 1552 AD.

Soon large numbers of Sikhs started flocking to Goindwal to meet The Guru. After his father's death, Datu one of Guru Angad's sons proclaimed himself as Guru at village Khadur, against the wishes of his father. He was so jealous of Guru Amar Das Ji that he, with a small group of his supporters, proceeded to Goindwal to confront the Guru. Upon seeing Guru Amar Das Ji seated on a throne surrounded by his followers he said, "You were a mere menial servant of the house until yesterday; how dare you style yourself as Guru and he kicked the aged Guru Amardas ji so hard that he fell to the floor. Taking the seat of the Guru he then proclaimed himself Guru to the assembly of Sikhs. The Sangat was indeed shocked as he not only acted against Guru Angad's wishes, but against centuries of respect that the people of India and the Punjab had for their elders and Gurus. Guru Amar Das, however, in utter humility, righted himself and caressed Datu's foot saying, "I am old and my bones have grown very hard, I fear they have hurt your tender foot. " After this Guru Amar Das left Goindwal that evening and returned to his native village of Basarke.

Guru Amar Das shut himself in a small house in that village for solitary meditation. He had told no one where he was headed, but just in case someone tracked him down, he put up a notice on the front door saying, "He who opens this door is no Sikh of mine, nor am I his Guru." A delegation of faithful Sikhs led by Baba Buddha found the house and seeing the notice on the front door, finally chose to 'go between the Guru's words', cutting a hole through a wall to reach their beloved Guru. Then Baba Buddha said to the Guru, "Guru Sahib, being a supreme yogi, we know you care for nothing in the world - neither fame, nor riches nor a following, but we cannot live without your guidance. Guru Angad has tied us to your apron, where should we go now if you do not show us the way ?" At the tearful entreaty of the Sikhs, Guru Amar Das Ji overwhelmed by their devotion, returned to Goindwal where Datu, who had been unable to gather any followers of his own, had returned to Khadur.

Third Nanak i.e. Guru Amar Dass ji  abolished casteism by institutionalizing the practice of “Pehle Pangat, Pachhe Sangat”, telling all to take meals in communal seating for bringing a feeling of equality among rich and poor, low caste and high caste etc. He instructed that anyone who wants to meet Him , he must first take meals in the LANGAR and then come to meet Him. He even asked Akbar to take meals in LANGAR by sitting in communal seating, before meeting Him. It was a crusade against a caste ridden society. When Akbar came to meet Him, He persuaded Akbar to abolish collection of tax (ZAZIA) from Hindu pilgrimages going to Haridwar.

Guru Amar Das Ji was an important innovator in Sikhism, who appointed 22 trained Sikh preachers called 'Manjis', a system that expanded and survived into the contemporary era. He orated a large no of hymens and added them to Pothi, received from Guru Angad Dev Ji. Guru Amar Das Ji gave us the gift of BAANI of Anand Sahib to be recited at time of all Sikh occasions such as baby birth/naming, wedding, funeral etc. He founded the town of Goindwal as centre of Sikh pilgrimage and dug a well( baoli with 84 steps below ground level). He also bought about 700 bigas of land for site of Harmandir Sahib from villagers of Tung, Dist Amritsar in Punjab.

He was a great reformer and discouraged the practices of ‘Sattee’ ( dying in funeral fire of husband by Hindu women) and the practice of observance of “Purdah”(veiling by Muslim women), which were prevalent at that time.  He introduced the practice of 'Daswand' (one tenth of income of Sikhs ) for utilizing for welfare of community and running of free kitchen for all, irrespective of caste, creed, low or high.

He emphasized that the human body is temple of The God and as such we must keep it clean and healthy. He prohibited use of intoxicants/alcohol in the strongest words, as it spoils the intelligence of human being and one even forgets The God and receives punishment at His court. Guru says that :-
Maañasu bɦariȧ ȧañiȧ maañasu bɦariȧ ȧaï ||.

 I.e. One men brings a vessel full of alcohol/intoxicants and another comes and fills a cup there.
Jiṭu peeṭai maṭi ḍoori hoï baralu pavai vicɦi ȧaï ||
I.e. Drinking the wine, his intelligence departs, and madness enters his mind;
Ȧapañaa paraaïȧ na pacɦɦaañaëe kɦasamahu ḍɦake kɦaaï ||.    I.e. He cannot distinguish between his own and others, and he is struck down by his Lord and Master.
Jiṭu peeṭai kɦasamu visarai ḍaragah milai sajaaï ||.     I.e. By drinking which the Lord is forgotten and the mortal receives punishment at His court.
Jɦootɦaa maḍu mooli na peecɦaëe je kaa paari vasaaï ||
i.e. Do not drink the false alcohol at all, as for as it lies in your power.
Naanak naḍaree sacɦu maḍu paaëeȧi saṭiguru milai jisu ȧaï ||.     i.e. O Nanak, the True Guru comes and meets the mortal; by His Grace, one obtains the True Alcohol.
Saḍaa saahib kai raṇgi rahai mahalee paavai ṭɦaaū ||1||--SGGS--554
I.e. he shall dwell forever in the Love of the Lord Master, and obtain a seat in the Mansion of His Presence. ||1||

Guru Amar Das emphasised both spiritual and ethical pursuits in daily life and advised all to wake up before dawn, do their ablutions and then meditate in silent seclusion on God. He taught us to be truthful, keep mind in control, eat only as per requirement, seek company of The holy I.e. SAADH SANGAT, make an honest living, not covet another's wealth and never slander others.  Guru says that:-
AAVHU SIKH SATGURU KE PIAARIHO GAAVHU SACCHI BAANI II
i.e. come, beloved Sikhs  of the true Guru, sing the true baani of the Guru.
BAANI T GAAVHU GURU KERI BAANIA SIEIR BAANI II----SGGS---921
i.e. sing the baani of the Guru, the supreme baani of all baanis.  
Kari ïsanaanu simari prabɦu ȧpanaa man ṭan bɦaæ ȧrogaa ||
I.e. After taking your cleansing bath, remember your God in meditation, and your mind and body shall be free of disease.
Koti bigɦan laaṭɦe prabɦ sarañaa pragate bɦale saṇjogaa ||1||--SGGS--611
I.e. Millions of obstacles are removed, in the Sanctuary of God, and good fortune dawns. ||1||

He stressed on contemplating on The word of the SHABAD of The Guru as it has come from The God. Although all living beings behold The True Guru, but it is not sufficient for attaining liberation. Guru says that:-
Vaahu vaahu baañee niraṇkaar hai ṭisu jevadu ȧvaru na koï ||--SGGS---515
I.e. Waaho! Waaho! is the Bani, the Word, of the Formless Lord. There is no other as great as He is.
Saṭigur no sabɦu ko vekɦaḍaa jeṭaa jagaṭu saṇsaaru ||
I.e. 'All the living beings of the world behold the True guru.
Dhithe mukaṭi na hovaëe jicɦaru sabaḍi na kare veecɦaaru ||--SGGS---594
I.e. One is not liberated by merely seeing Him, unless one contemplates the Word of His Shabad.