Guru Amar Das 5 May 1479 – 1 September 1574) was the third of the Ten Sikh Gurus and assumed the role of Guru on 26 March 1552 at the age of 73.
 | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Amar Das 5 May 1479 |
| Died | 1 September 1574 (aged 95) Goindwal Sahib, Mughal Empire (present-day Punjab, India) |
| Spouse | Mansa Devi |
| Children | Bhai Mohan (1507 - 1567) Bhai Mohri (1514 - 1569) Bibi Dani (1526 - 1569) Bibi Bhani (1532 - 1598) |
| Parent | Tej Bhan & Mata Lachmi Devi |
| Known for |
|
| Other names | Third Master Third Nanak |
| Religious Life | |
| Religion | Sikhism |
| Religious career | |
| Period in office | 1552–1574 |
| Predecessor | Guru Angad |
| Successor | Guru Ramdas |
Before embracing Sikhism, Amar Das, prompted by a spiritual quest, was deeply moved after hearing his nephew’s wife, Bibi Amro, recite a hymn by Guru Nanak. Amro was the daughter of Guru Angad, the second Sikh Guru. Inspired by the hymn, Amar Das persuaded Amro to introduce him to her father. In 1539, at the age of 60, Amar Das met Guru Angad and became a devoted Sikh.
Guru Amar Das is credited with significant innovations, including the introduction of the Manji system, a religious organization that appointed trained clergy to oversee Sikh communities, a practice that continues today. He also compiled and wrote hymns, creating a Pothi (book), which played a key role in the development of the Adi Granth, the central scripture of Sikhism.
Amar Das led the Sikh community until his death at the age of 95. Before passing, he named his son-in-law, Bhai Jetha, later known as Guru Ram Das, as his successor.
Early Life
Family Background
Guru Amar Das was born on 5 May 1479 in Basarke village, now part of the Amritsar district in Punjab (India). He was the son of Tej Bhan Bhalla and Bakht Kaur, also known by various other names such as Sullakhani, Lakhmi Devi, and Rup Kaur. His grandfather was Hari Das. Amar Das belonged to the Bhalla gotra (clan) of the Khatri community and was the eldest of four sons. In his early life, he worked as both an agriculturalist and a trader.
Marriage
Amar Das married Mansa Devi in his early 20s, and together they had four children: Dani (daughter, born in 1530), Bhani (daughter, born 3 August 1533), Mohan (son, born 11 March 1536), and Mohri (son, born 2 June 1539). Of his children, Bhani was his favorite.
Religious Pilgrimages
Before embracing Sikhism, Amar Das followed the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism and undertook numerous religious pilgrimages, including about twenty annual journeys to the Himalayas and Haridwar, located along the Ganges River. Around 1539, during one such pilgrimage, he encountered a Hindu monk who questioned why he had no guru. This prompted Amar Das to seek a spiritual teacher. Upon returning from his twentieth pilgrimage, he heard Bibi Amro, the daughter of Guru Angad, singing a hymn by Guru Nanak. Amro was related to Amar Das through marriage, and she introduced him to Guru Angad. Deeply moved, Amar Das adopted Guru Angad as his spiritual guide, despite the Guru being younger than him.
Service of Guru Angad
Amar Das is renowned in Sikh tradition for his devoted service to Guru Angad. It is said that he would wake up early to fetch water for his Guru’s bath, clean and cook for the volunteers, and dedicate considerable time to prayer and meditation. His dedication and selfless service earned him the favor of Guru Angad, who, in recognition of his commitment, nominated Amar Das as his spiritual successor on 29 March 1552.
Guruship
After eleven years of devoted service to Guru Angad and the Sikh community, Guru Amar Das was nominated as the third Guru of Sikhism. To avoid conflict with Guru Angad’s sons, who had not accepted his appointment as successor, Amar Das moved to Goindwal, located near the Beas River, about 8 kilometers from Kapurthala and 45 kilometers from Amritsar. However, even in Goindwal, he faced harassment from Angad's son, Datu. Datu, challenging Amar Das’s elevation to Guru, kicked him off his seat and questioned his new position. In response, Amar Das humbly replied, "O great king, pardon me. Thou must have hurt thy foot." Despite this challenge, Amar Das retired to his home village of Basarke, but was later persuaded by Baba Buddha to return to Goindwal, where Datu, finding no following, abandoned his claims to the Guruship.
Teachings
Guru Amar Das’s teachings emphasized the importance of Guru Seva (service to the Guru) and a virtuous daily life. He urged his followers to rise early, perform ablutions, and engage in meditation. He promoted values of truthfulness, controlling the mind, seeking the company of pious people, and making an honest living. Guru Amar Das also rejected harmful customs such as Sati (widow immolation) and Purdah (the veiling of women), advocating for the dignity and equality of women. He encouraged the Kshatriya community to fight for justice and protect the weak, and promoted inter-caste marriages and widow remarriage, challenging traditional social norms.
Guru Amar Das also introduced key organizational reforms. He established the Manji system, a network of religious administration with appointed leaders called Sangatias, both men and women, to oversee local communities. He also formalized the Dasvandh system, a voluntary donation of a tenth of one's income to support the Guru’s mission, and institutionalized the Langar (community kitchen), where all, regardless of caste or creed, could partake in a free meal. Additionally, he constructed the Baoli, a 84-step well at Goindwal, which became an important pilgrimage site.
Influence on Women and Social Reform
Guru Amar Das’s reforms extended to women’s rights and societal norms. He was an advocate for gender equality, appointing women as Piri (missionaries) to spread Sikhism, particularly among women from Muslim backgrounds. He appointed his daughters, including Bibi Dani, Bibi Pal, and his younger daughter Bhani, as leaders in the Piri system to guide and educate women in religious and social matters.
Banning of Sati
Guru Amar Das took a firm stand against the practice of Sati, stating that women who remained devoted to their husbands and served the Lord were the true "Satis." He refuted the idea that self-immolation was a noble act for widows and taught that women should not endure further suffering after the death of their husbands.
Opposition to Purdah
Guru Amar Das opposed the Purdah system, which required women to cover their faces and remain secluded from men. He once reprimanded the Raja of Haripur and his queens when they insisted on maintaining the custom in his presence, telling the queen that if she refused to unveil before him, she need not come.
Meeting with Akbar
Guru Amar Das also met the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1567. The Guru insisted that Akbar, like anyone else, sit on the floor and eat in the Langar before their meeting, reflecting the egalitarian spirit of Sikhism. After sharing a meal with the sangat, Akbar asked the Guru for a blessing. According to Sikh tradition, Guru Amar Das blessed Akbar and persuaded him to repeal the tax on Hindu pilgrims traveling to Haridwar. Furthermore, Akbar gifted 84 villages to Guru Ram Das, the fourth Guru, after the latter refused to accept them for himself.
Rituals in Sikhism: Wedding, Festivals, and Funeral
Guru Amar Das played a pivotal role in shaping Sikh rituals, particularly in the areas of marriage, festivals, and funeral ceremonies.
Wedding Ritual: Anand Karaj
Guru Amar Das composed the hymn "Anand," which became integral to the Sikh wedding ceremony known as Anand Karaj (Blissful Event). The hymn emphasizes the spiritual unity of the couple, describing a successful marriage as one where the souls of the husband and wife become one:
"They are not husband and wife who sit together. Rather are they wife and husband who have one spirit in two bodies."
The Anand hymn is not only recited during weddings but also during major celebrations and is an important part of daily prayers in Sikh temples. It appears in the Anand Sahib composition in the Adi Granth and is set to the Ramkali raga. The hymn celebrates spiritual liberation, devotion to the Creator, and the union of the soul with the divine, with an emphasis on inner devotion and the guidance of the Guru.
Festivals
Guru Amar Das was instrumental in solidifying the significance of Sikh festivals, especially Vaisakhi and Diwali, by making them regular gatherings for prayers and communal celebrations. Vaisakhi, in the spring, and Diwali, in the autumn, are both harvest festivals that have deep spiritual significance in Sikhism. They became occasions for Sikhs to gather and celebrate with their Guru.
Guru Amar Das also established temples and centers for communal worship and festive gatherings. These sites, including the Baoli Sahib at Goindwal, became centers of religious life for Sikhs.
Funeral Ritual
The Anand hymn is also recited during Sikh funerals, highlighting the continuity of the soul after death and celebrating the joy of returning to the divine. Like other Sikh Gurus, Guru Amar Das was cremated upon his death in 1574, with his remains immersed in the Harisar (flowing waters) as part of the traditional Sikh funeral rites.
Founding of Goindwal and Baoli Sahib
Guru Amar Das established a major center of Sikh religious activity at Goindwal, which was strategically located at the confluence of three major cultural regions in Punjab. Here, he constructed the Baoli Sahib, an 84-step well that became an important pilgrimage site. This site helped to solidify Sikhism as a regional faith and attracted many new converts.
Site of the Golden Temple
Guru Amar Das is credited with selecting the site for the future Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar. The Golden Temple became the most sacred pilgrimage site in Sikhism, with construction initiated by Guru Ram Das and completed by Guru Arjan.
Scripture and Collection of Hymns
Guru Amar Das is also remembered for his contributions to Sikh scripture. He began compiling hymns, which later formed part of the Adi Granth. His hymns are a significant portion of the Sikh scripture, focusing on devotion, the importance of the Guru, and the pursuit of spiritual liberation.
Choosing a Successor
Guru Amar Das had four potential successors in mind: Ramu, Jetha (who would later become Guru Ram Das), Mohan, and Mohri (his sons). After devising a series of tests, he chose Jetha as his successor. It is believed that Guru Amar Das may have also considered his daughter Bhani as a possible candidate at some point.
Death
Guru Amar Das passed away in 1574 at Goindwal Sahib, where he was cremated according to Sikh tradition. His ashes were immersed in the Harisar river, as was customary for Sikh Gurus. Guru Amar Das's leadership helped shape the development of Sikhism into a well-organized, vibrant spiritual community.
Birth Year
The commonly accepted date for Guru Amar Das's birth is 1479, though some sources, including historical texts and studies, suggest a later birth year of 1509. Other sources, like Suraj Prakash by Kavi Santokh Singh, give even earlier birth years.
In Popular Culture
The life and teachings of Guru Amar Das were documented in the 1979 film Guru Amardas, directed by Prem Prakash and produced by the Government of India's Films Division. This documentary captures his impact on Sikhism and his reforms in the religious community.
References
- Celebrate guru Amar Das Ji’s Gurpurb May 23, 2009 (9 of jeth, 541 ) (2009) SikhNet. Available at: https://www.sikhnet.com/news/celebrate-guru-amar-das-jis-gurpurb-may-23-2009-9-jeth-541 (Accessed: 15 January 2025).
- Guru Amar Das (2025) Encyclopædia Britannica. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Guru-Amar-Das (Accessed: 15 January 2025).
- Purdah (no date) Purdah - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia. Available at: https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Purdah (Accessed: 15 January 2025).
- Singh, P. (2014) Sri guru Amar Das Jee’s first sermon, Sikh Unity ਸਿੱਖ ਏਕਤਾ. Available at: https://sikhunity.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/sri-guru-amar-das-jees-first-sermon/ (Accessed: 15 January 2025).
