Guru Amar Das ji stressed partaking of 'Langar' i.e. eating together; Decentralization of Sikh centers into 22 men missionary centers (Manjis) and few women missionary center (Pirihis); No veil for women; Denounced the practice of Sati.

Guru Amar Das was born on April 5, 1479 at Basarke village in Amritsar district. He was the eldest son of his parents, Bhai Tej Bhan and Mata Lakhmi. At the age of 24, he was married to Bibi Mansa Devi. They had two sons, Baba Mohan and Baba Mohri, and two daughters, Bibi Dani and Bibi Bhani. The early life of Guru Amar Das has been given in the chapter on Guru Angad.

DATU'S ANIMOSITY:

Guru Angad's sons were upset on ascendance of Amar Das to Guruship because they claimed that after their father, they were the legitimate heirs to Guruship. Guru Angad's son Datu, therefore, proclaimed himself as Guru in Khadur; but the Sikhs did not accept him as such. Secondly, under Guru Amar Das' strict dictum, it was mandatory that all persons, high or low, rich or poor, king or the commoner, Brahmans or Sudras, or Hindus or Muslims, must sit in the same row as equals to dine in the Guru's langar (kitchen). This had upset the Brahmans very much and they were on the look out for an opportunity to rectify this situation. These Brahmans and other high caste leaders saw some chance in Datu's revolt to capture the Guruship. Upon their support, Datu proceeded to Goindwal where the Guru was residing. Guru Amar Das at that time was delivering instructions to the congregation. Datu came along with a large number of his companions and kicked the Guru on the side. The Guru fell to the side. Datu sat down on the seat of the Guru and proclaimed himself as the Guru. Guru Amar Das got up and said in extreme humility,"Sir, pardon me, my hard bones might have hurt your tender feet." After this the Guru left Goindwal and retired to his village Basarke. The Sikhs did not know about his whereabouts. Datu sat on Guru's seat at Goindwal and was very proud of his position. The Sikhs, however, did not accept him as Guru, and all the pilgrims to Goindwal went away on hearing of the insult to their Guru. On seeing the Sikhs' contempt towards him, one day Datu loaded his newly acquired wealth on a camel and returned to Khadur. On his way he encountered some robbers who seized the camel with the load leaving nothing with Datu. The Sikhs were very much distressed at not knowing where their Guru was. They searched all over but could not find him anywhere. Then Baba Buddha went to Basarke and spoke to the Guru about the distress of the Sikhs pleading with him to return to Goindwal and provide guidance to the community. The Guru could not disregard the love and devotion of his Sikhs and returned to Goindwal. The Guru's return was celebrated with illuminations, rejoicing and feasting.

SOME NOTABLE SIKHS:

Bhai Paro belonged to the village Dalla in Doaba, an area between the rivers Beas and Satluj. He received religious instructions and emancipation from the Guru. A rich Muslim horse-dealer of Delhi, Allah Yar, brought five hundred horses from Arabia and arrived at Beas. He could not continue his journey because the river Beas was flooded and the boatmen refused to take the risk of crossing the swollen river. Next morning, Alayar saw Bhai Paro plunge his horse into the foaming river and reach the opposite shore in safety. Allah Yar met Paro on his return and complimented his daring feat of crossing the river. Bhai Paro told him that it was through the blessings of the Guru that he could cross the swollen river. He further informed Allah Yar about Guru's glory. Allah Yar became anxious to meet the Guru. Next morning they both went to see him. Allah Yar (Allah means God and Yar means friend) was delighted to see the Guru. Hearing his name the Guru said to him,"It is difficult to become friend (yar) of God (Allah), but I will make God your Master and you His servant." Allah Yar was blessed by the Guru and he became his disciple. Allah Yar was made in charge of the first Manji ("diocese") of the 22 that were set up by Guru Amar Das to spread the fragrance of Naam. There are numerous such stories of the Sikhs who were blessed by the Guru.

BAOLI AT GOINDWAL:

Guru Amar Das laid the foundation of a Baoli (a well with descending steps) at Goindwal in 1559. All Sikhs joined in the work of digging the Baoli. There was great activity throughout the construction of the Baoli. Hari Das, a Sikh of the Guru, lived with his wife, Daya Kaur, in Chuna Mandi, a suburb of Lahore. Both husband and wife were very pious. After twelve years of their marriage, a son was born to them on September 24, 1534. They called him Ram Das, who was generally known as Jetha meaning first-born. He grew to be very handsome having a very pleasing personality. As he grew up he came to like the company of men-of-god more and more. One day, Jetha saw a company of Sikhs singing the hymns and proceeding on their way with great rejoicing. He asked where they were going. One of them said,"We are going to Goindwal where Guru Amar Das holds his court. Every blessing in this world and the next is obtained by his favour. Come with us." On hearing this, Jetha was delighted and he joined them on their pilgrimage. On seeing the Guru, Jetha's heart was filled with love and devotion. When he made his obeisance to the Guru, he was attracted by his pleasing personality. The Guru remarked,"If you have come abandoning all worldly desires, you shall obtain a true sovereignty. Perform work and service." Jetha happily applied himself to the Guru's service. He worked in the kitchen, cleaned dishes, and brought firewood from the forest. He worked in the excavation of the Baoli during his leisure time. Guru's eldest daughter, Bibi Dani (also known as Sulakhni) was married to Bhai Rama. The other daughter, Bibi Bhani, was very religious right from her childhood. When she was of marriageable age, her mother reminded the Guru that it was time to search for a match for her. When the Guru asked what sort of a person she would like to marry Bibi Bhani to, she pointed to Bhai Jetha working nearby and said, "Search for a boy like him." The Guru exclaimed,"He is his own parallel; for God has made none other like him." Thus, Bibi Bhani's marriage was fixed to Bhai Jetha. At the time of marriage, the bridegroom was asked by the Guru to choose a gift for himself, as it was customary to do so. Jetha replied, "Sir, bless me with the gift of God's Naam." Bibi Bhani did not see Guru Amar Das as only her father, but also saw him as the Guru like any other Sikh. In the same way, when Bhai Jetha became Guru Ram Das, she served him not only as her husband but as the Guru also. Baba Pirthi Chand was their first son and three years later Baba Mahadev, the second son, was born. On April 15, 1563 Jetha and Bibi Bhani were blessed with their third son, (Guru) Arjan. Meanwhile, the Sikhs continued excavation of the Baoli. After digging very deep they struck a large stone which hindered any further progress. The Guru asked the Sikhs if there was any one who would be courageous to drive a peg into the base to remove the obstruction. He did, however, warn that the operation involved great danger because if the person could not avert the gush of the water, he might be drowned. At this, Manak Chand of Vairowal, who was married to a niece of the Guru, offered his services. This was the same Manak Chand whose parents had been blessed by Guru Nanak. Manak Chand, invoking God's name and through the grace of the Guru, was able to wedge through the stone and the stream of water immediately filled the Baoli. He was overtaken by the gush of the water. He almost drowned but by the grace of the Guru, he came to the top from where he was taken out and revived. Therefore, he was called 'Marjiwra' (revived after death). The Baoli yielded sweet drinking water. The Sikhs rejoiced at the successful completion of their labor. There are eighty-four steps reaching down the Baoli. It is believed that this number eighty-four stands for the eighty-four million types of species which, according to the traditional Buddhist / Hindu view, inhabit this earth and through which one must progress in order to take birth as a human.

GURU KA LANGAR (FREE KITCHEN):

Guru's free kitchen (Guru Ka Langar) which was started by Guru Nanak and strengthened by Guru Angad, was institutionalized by Guru Amar Das. It was the injunction of Guru Amar Das that none could have an audience with him without having partaken of Langar. The Guru intended to annihilate the caste restrictions and prejudice of untouchables. It was, therefore, declared unequivocally that all persons of all castes to high or low, Brahmans or Sudras, rich or poor? Hindus or Muslims must sit in the same line and eat the same food from the common kitchen. When Raja of Haripur and Akbar, the Mughal Emperor, came to see the Guru, they had to sit with common people and dine with them before they could have an audience with the Guru. In this way, people were lifted above the hypocrisy of caste system and were able to look at one another as children of same God hence equal. Mai Das was a renowned Pandit and a devout worshipper of mythic Hindu God Krishna. He was a strict vegetarian according to his vaishnav beliefs, and would eat only what he cooked with his own hands within a ritually sanctified square. The Guru rejected these sanctified squares:

"All marked sanctified squares are false; O Nanak, Only God is beyond impurities."(Maru ki Var, Slok Mohalla 3, p. 1090)

When Mai Das came to see the Guru, he was informed that unless he ate from the Guru's kitchen, he could not see him. Being a strict Vaishnav, he could not do that, so he left for Dwarka. Feeling uneasy about having not had an audience with the Guru, Mai Das returned to Goindwal. He partook of food from the Guru's kitchen, and then was brought to the presence of the Guru. The Guru welcomed him, "Come, Mai Das, thou art a man of God." The Guru initiated him as his Sikh, blessed him with Naam. Mai Das held one of the 22 Manjis (dioceses) set up by Guru Amar Das.

EMPEROR AKBAR VISITS THE GURU:

Akbar, the Emperor of India, was on his way to Lahore, when he paid a visit to the Guru at Goindwal. He was informed that he could not see the Guru unless he sat with others and partook of food from the Guru's kitchen. Akbar partook of the food in the Langar, the more he had it, the more he relished it. After that the Emperor had an audience with the Master. The monarch felt a thrill of joy and peace at the sight of the Master. Having seen the large number of people being fed from the Guru's kitchen, Akbar requested the Guru to accept his services and his offerings. But the Guru replied," I have obtained lands and rent-free tenures from my Creator. Whatever comes daily is spent daily, and for the morrow my trust is in Him alone." Akbar then replied," I see you desire nothing. From your treasury and your kitchen countless people receive bounties, and I also entertain similar wishes. I will grant these 84 villages to your daughter." This was the land which along with the land already bought by the Guru, became the hub where Guru Ram Das built the city of Ramdaspur which later became famous as Amritsar.

A COMPLAINT AGAINST GURU TO AKBAR:

When the Brahmans and the Khatris failed in their mission to derail the Guru from Guruship by inciting Datu to declare himself as Guru, they made a special complaint to Emperor Akbar. In their complaint they alleged, "Every man's religion is dear to him. Guru Amar Das of Goindwal has abandoned the religious and social customs of the Hindus, and abolished the distinction of the four castes. He makes his followers of all castes sit in a line and eat together from his kitchen irrespective of caste or religion. There is no offering of water to ancestors, no pilgrimages, and no worship of idols of gods or goddesses. The Guru reveres not Jogis, Jatis or Brahmans. We, therefore, pray to you to restrain him now, else it will be difficult later on." Akbar sent a high official to Goindwal to request for a reply to the complaint. The Guru deputed Bhai Jetha to go to the Mughal court and clarify the Sikh worldview. The Guru said, "The True Guru is with you and none shall prevail against you. Fear no body and give suitable reply." Jetha's honest exposition of the Sikh precepts satisfied the Emperor who then announced, "I see no hostility to Hinduism in what this man believes in, nor do I find any fault with their writings." The Brahmans left the court totally defeated.

ABOLITION OF SATI:

The status of women in Hindu society at that time was very low. When the husband died, the wife either voluntarily burnt herself on the pyre of her husband or was thrown into the fire without her consent. In popular terminology the woman who died on the funeral pyre of her husband was called Sati (truthful). Guru Amar Das carried out a vigorous campaign against the practice of Sati. He gave special attention to the improvement of the status of women and strongly prohibited this inhuman practice. G.B.Scott acclaims the Guru as the first reformer who condemned the prevailing Hindu practice of Sati. The Guru advocates: "Satis are not those who are burnt with husbands, O Nanak, true Satis are those who die of pangs of separation. Those are considered Satis who live contented, and embellish themselves with good conduct; and cherish the Lord ever and call on Him."(Var Suhi ki- Slok Mohalla 3, p-787)

The Guru lifted the status of women as equal to men. He prohibited the practice of Sati and preached in favor of widow re-marriage.

ESTABLISHMENT OF MANJI SYSTEM:

The number of Sikhs was increasing rapidly. Steps were taken to organize the scattered congregation into a unified whole which was called Manji system. His whole spiritual domain took the shape of 22 Manjis (diocese). It was so named because the in charge of a Manji sat on a cot (called Manji in Punjabi) to deliver the message of the Guru. The incharge of each Manji was a devoted Sikh who was blessed by the Guru before he was appointed to that position. His duty was to preach the mission of the Guru, to keep the Sangat (congregation) in touch with the Guru and he was also responsible for the offerings of the Sikhs which they made in token of their reverence to the Guru. The following were the twenty-two men in charge of Manjis:
1. Allah Yar: Allah Yar, also called Allah Shah, was a Pathan trader.
2. Sachan Sach: He was from Mandar village in Lahore district. He always used the word 'Sachan Sach' and so he was called Sachan Sach.
3. Sadharan: He was an inhabitant of Goindwal.
4. Sawan Mal: He was a nephew of Guru Amar Das. The Guru sent him to Haripur in Kangra district to procure timber for the construction of houses in Goindwal. Sawan Mal propagated Sikh gospel in that area.
5. Sukhan: He was an inhabitant of Dhamian village in Rawalpindi district. He preached Sikhism in that area.
6. Handal: He was from Jandiala village in Amritsar district.
7. Kedari: Bhai Kedari was an inhabitant of Batala in Gurdaspur district.
8. Kheda: He was from Khemkaran village in Lahore district.
9. Gangushah: He was an inhabitant of Garh Shankar. The Guru sent him to preach Sikhism in Sirmaur state.
10. Darbari: Bhai Darbari was from Majitha village in Amritsar district.
11. Paro: Bhai Paro was a Sikh of Guru Angad. He was an inhabitant of Dalla.
12. Phera: Bhai Phera was an inhabitant of Mirpur in Jammu area. He preached Sikhism in that hilly area.
13. Bua: Bhai Bua became Guru's Sikh and was blessed with Nam, the fragrance of which he spread around his area.
14. Beni: He was from Chuniana in Lahore district.
15. Mahesa: He was an inhabitant of Sultanpur and preached Sikh precepts in that area.
16. Mai Das: Mai Das preached Sikhism in Majha area.
17. Manak Chand: His reference has been made in the previous pages. When he was drowned in the Bawli and then revived by the Guru, the Sikhs called him Marjiwra - the revived after death. His generation is called Marjiwre in Vairowal village in Amritsar district. Manak Chand was made a spiritual guide to Mai Das by the Guru.
18. Murari: He was an inhabitant of Khai village in Lahore district. His original name Prema and he was a leper. He heard about Guru Amar Das and came crawling all the way to Goindwal. By the grace of the Guru, he was fully healed. He was renamed as Murari. The Guru married him to Matho, daughter of Bhai Sihan. He was then sent out as one of the itinerant preachers of the Guru's gospel.
19. Raja Ram: His generation now lives in Sandhma village of Jalandhar district.
20. Rang Shah: He was an inhabitant of Malupote village in Jalandhar district. He propagated Guru's faith in Doaba area.
21. Rang Das: He was from Gharooan village (near Kharar) now in Ropar district.
22. Lalo: He was an inhabitant of Dalla and was a famous Vaid (doctor). He became Guru's Sikh and preached Guru's gospel.

Guru Amar Das established another system of organizing Sikh sangats, the Pirhi system. The in charge of the Pirhis were ladies whose objective was to lit the flame of Guru's word and spread the fragrance of Naam among women. Bibi Bhani, Bibi Dani and Bibi Pal were some of those in charge of different Pirhis. Guru Amar Das gave authority and power to 146 of his apostles to go to various parts of the country and unfold the glory of Naam. Out of these 146 persons, 94 were men and 52 were women. They were all glowing with light of Naam and filled with Divine Spirit.

SELECTION FOR GURUSHIP:

It should be remembered that Guru's eldest daughter, Bibi Dani was married to Bhai Rama who was a zealous Sikh. He used to work in Guru's kitchen and administer to the needs of the pilgrims. Bhai Jetha was the Guru's younger son-in-law. One day the Guru asked Rama and Jetha, "Each one of you make a platform by the side of Baoli. I will sit on one in the morning and on the other in the evening." When the platforms were completed, the Guru went to inspect them. Rama showed his work and thought that he had done well. The Guru told Rama, "Your platform is not straight, bring it down and rebuild it." Rama dissented but rebuilt another one. It still failed to please the Guru. Rama after long argument pulled the platform down but refused to build it third time. The Guru inspected Jetha's platform and said, "Jetha, I do not like it. Demolish it and build another one." Jetha built the second one which was also not of Guru's liking. He demolished it and rebuilt it. The Guru continued to find fault with it until it was destroyed and rebuilt seven times. Jetha then fell at Guru's feet and begged, "I am a fool and lack understanding, while you possess all knowledge. Kindly bless me with the wisdom so that I may be able to erect the platform to your liking." This story clearly illustrates the concept of obedience of the Guru's Word by the Sikh. Furthermore, it teaches that we have to act keeping in mind to the simple truth that the Guru knows best. Bhai Rama dissented, because he thought that the Guru was wrong in criticizing the platform, as he (Bhai Rama) could not see anything wrong with the platform. Thus, Bhai Rama put his own "wisdom" against the Guru's and came up with the "judgment" that the Guru was wrong, and "I know better". Compared to this is the reaction of Bhai Jetha. He knows that the Guru's Word must be obeyed because "the Guru knows best". This is why his reaction is that of remorse at not being able to perform a function to the satisfaction of the Guru. This is what brings the Guruship to Bhai Jetha to the understanding that the True Guru knows best, and the individual wisdom must be used to understand and obey the Guru's command, and not to "sit in judgment" over the True Guru's command. There is another story which has come down to us through the oral tradition current amongst the Sikhs, viz., the Sakhi tradition. It goes something like this: Bibi Bhani, Guru's younger daughter, used to attend her father. She used to fan him, draw water and work in the kitchen. One day when the Guru was sitting on his chauki in deep meditation, Bibi Bhani noticed that one leg of his seat was about to give way. Fearing that his meditation would be disturbed, she put her arm in place of the broken leg to support the chauki. When the Guru opened his eyes, he found blood coming out of Bibi Bhani's arm. On inquiry, Bibi Bhani explained that broken leg might have caused disturbance in his meditation and so she thought herself fortunate to serve the Guru by substituting her arm for the broken leg of the chauki. The Guru commented, "Whosoever does good work shall reap the reward thereof." He invited her to ask for any favor. She humbly requested that the Guruship should remain in her family. It is believed that the Guru told Bibi Bhani that the Guruship was not a bed of roses and he warned her of the trouble and torture that the later Gurus would have to go through. Bibi Bhani agreed to embrace all those troubles, and again requested to grant her the wish that the Guruship would remain in her family. The problem with this story is that it does not take into account two basic precepts which guided the selection of the successor Gurus. One, it was not the preceding Guru who "selected" the successor Guru, but the successor Guru "selected himself". To understand this concept, we have to take the analogy of how the Panj Piares were "chosen". It was not Guru Gobind Singh who selected the five Sikhs from amongst the sangat but the Sikhs themselves responded to the Guru's call. This system had come down to the tenth Master from his predecessors. Whoever first responded to the Guru's call of total obedience of His Hukam, succeeded to Guruship. The second thing that we need to keep in mind is that one's relationship to the Guru(s) did not give any advantage to anyone on the question of successor Guru. But at the same time, this relationship also did not act as a disadvantage either. To take an example of this principle in action, we may refer to the two sons of the fourth Master. While Baba Pirthi Chand sought to succeed the Guru solely on the "strength" of his being son of the fourth Master, (Guru) Arjan succeeded the fourth Master through his living in accordance with His Hukam. This was the same principle in action which had brought the Guruship to Guru Angad instead of Baba Sri Chand, to Guru Amar Das instead of Baba Datu, to Guru Ram Das instead of Baba Mohan. And it was the same principle which brought the Guruship to Guru Harkrishen and not Baba Ram Rai, and ultimately led to the eternal Guruship of the Sabad Guru and the Khalsa. Guru Nanak appointed his successor at Kartarpur but asked him to go and live at Khadur. Guru Angad asked his successor, Guru Amar Das to live in Goindwal. Guru Amar Das asked Jetha to search for a place other than Goindwal as a residence for the Sikhs. Jetha found an open land about 25 miles from Goindwal, and he established himself there. He built a house for himself and got a tank excavated which was called Santokhsar. It is also said that the Guru asked Jetha to excavate another tank towards the east which would be called Amritsar- tank of nectar. 

SUCCESSION OF GURU RAM DAS:

Guru Amar Das asked for a special congregation and then asked Bhai Ballu to bring coconut and five paise. He asked Bhai Jetha to bathe and clothe in new raiment. Then the Guru descended from his throne and made Bhai Jetha sit on it and called him Guru Ram Das. Baba Buddha, according to the custom, put the symbol of Sovereignty on Guru Ram Das' forehead. Guru Amar Das handed over the pothis of Gurbani to Guru Ram Das and bowed to him, signifying his ascendance to Guruship. Among great rejoicing, all Sikhs made offerings according to their means and bowed to Guru Ram Das. This ceremony was performed on August 30, 1574 at Goindwal.

GURU AMAR DAS' DEPARTURE:

Guru Amar Das proclaimed, "God's summons has come. Let there be no mourning when I have gone, sing God's praises, read God's Word (Gurbani), hear God's Word and obey God's Will." On the first of September 1574, Guru Amar Das' spirit blended with the Master Spirit.