Guru Amar Das

Guru Amar Das Ji
Religion Sikhism
Other name(s) Punjabi: ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਅਮਰ ਦਾਸ ਜੀ
Personal
Born 31 March 1479
Basarka, Punjab, (now India)
Died 1 September 1574(1574-09-01) (aged 95)
Amritsar, Punjab, (now India)
Senior posting
Based in India
Title Third Guru of the Sikhs
Period in office 1552–1574
Predecessor Guru Angad Dev 2nd of the Eleven Gurus of Sikhism
Successor Guru Ram Das 4th of the Eleven Gurus of Sikhism
Religious career
Ordination 1 September 1552
Post Guru

Guru Amar Das (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਅਮਰ ਦਾਸ, IPA: [gʊru əməɾ dɑs]) (5 May 1479 – 1 September 1574) was the third of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and was given the title of Sikh Guru on 26 March 1552.

His life

Guru Amar Das Ji was the eldest son of Sri Tej Bhan Bhalla Ji, a farmer and trader, and Mata Lachmi Ji. GuruJi's father was a shopkeeper in the village of Basarke near Amritsar.

GuruJi married Mata Mansa Devi and had 4 children – 2 sons (Mohan Ji & Mohri Ji) and 2 daughters (Bibi Bhani Ji & Bibi Dani Ji). Bibi Bhani later married Bhai Jetha who became the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das. (See article Platforms of Jetha.)

Guru Amar Das Ji became Sikh Guru at the age of 72 following in the footsteps of his teacher Sri Guru Angad Dev Sahib Ji, who left the world on 29 March 1552 at age 48. Guru amar Das ji established his headquarters in the town of Goindwal Sahib, which was established by Sri Guru Angad Dev Sahib Ji.

Guru Amardas took up cudgels of spirituality to fight against caste restrictions, caste prejudices and the curse of untouchability.

He strengthened the tradition of the free kitchen, Guru Ka Langar (started by Guru Nanak), and made his disciples, whether rich or poor, whether high born or low born (according to the Hindu caste system), have their meals together sitting in one place.

He thus established social equality amongst the people. Guru Amardas introduced the Anand Karaj marriage ceremony for the Sikhs, replacing the Hindu form.

He also completely abolished amongst the Sikhs, the custom of Sati, in which a married woman was forced to burn herself to death in the funeral pyre of her husband. The custom of Paradah (Purda), in which a woman was required to cover her face with a veil, was also done away with.

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Preceded by:
Guru Angad Dev
(31 March 1504 – 29 March 1552)
Guru Amar Das Followed by:
Guru Ram Das
(24 September 1534 – 1 September 1581)