Guru Amar Das

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The Third Sikh Guru

Guru Amar Das was appointed by Guru Angad Dev as his successor and the third guru of the Sikhs. He became guru in 1552 AD at the age of 73.

Guru Amar Das served his Guru (Angad Dev), with pure dedication and love for 12 years and is a great role model for all Sikhs to follow. He was renounced for his 'sewa' (service) to his guru and the Sikh cause and was respected and loved dearly by all his followers.

Guru Amar Das contributed a lot to the Sikh religion during his 22 years of guruship by spreading the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev to a wider region and audience and establishing administrative and social systems for the fast growing religion.

"He who calls himself a Sikh of the True Guru, He must get up in the morning and say his prayers. He must rise in the early hours and bathe in the holy tank. He must meditate on God as advised by the Guru. And rid himself of the afflictions of sins and evil. As the day dawns, he should recite scriptures, and repeat God's name in every activity. Nanak! I seek the dust of the feet of the Guru's Sikh who himself remembers God and makes others remember Him."

His Early Life 

Guru Amar Das was born in the village of Basarke, in Amritsar, on May 5, 1479.

He was married to Mata Mansa Devi in 1502 AD from whom he had four children - two sons, Mohan and Mohri; and two daughters, Dani and Bhani.

Guru Amardas was a devout Hindu before he converted to Sikhism after his first meeting with Guru Angad Dev. He was appointed as the Third Sikh Guru at the age of 73.

Guru Amar Das preaching about equality of all humans.

Guru Amar Das Contributions to Sikhism and Humanity 

Equality of Women

Guru Amardas preached against the practice of Sati (the dying of the wife on her husband's funeral pyre). He also advocated the re-marrying of widows. He asked the women to discard 'Purdah' (veil). He introduced new birth, marriage and death ceremonies. Thus he raised the status of women and protected the rights of female infant who were killed without question as they were deemed to have no status.

Guru ka Langar

The guru further strengthened the tradition of 'Guru ka Langar' and made it compulsory for the visitor to the Guru saying that 'Pehle Pangat Phir Sangat' (first visit the Langar then go to the Guru). Langar (Free Blessed Food)is served at all Sikh temples all over the world.

Further abolished the Caste System

The guru preached that all man and woman are equal and that the caste system is wrong. Guru taught and loved all men from all religions and castes equally and treated them as equals as his Sikhs.

Teachings of the Sikh Gurus 

Teaching of the Sikh Gurus: Selections from the Sikh Scriptures

Teaching of the Sikh Gurus: Selections from the Sikh Scriptures

by: C. Shackle

Amazon Price: $120.00 (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now

Teaching of the Sikh Gurus presents a brand new selection of key highlights from the Guru Granth Sahib and Dasam Granth, translated into modern English by two leading experts. Thematically organized by topics such as Time and Impermanence, Self and Mind, Authority, Ethics, Existence, and Knowledge, the book's accessible and carefully chosen extracts distill the essence of Sikhism's remarkable textual and intellectual legacy, showing how its message of universal tolerance suits the contemporary world. Complete with a detailed introduction, which explains the history of the scriptural texts and offers guidance on their interpretation, these lively and accurate translations are an essential resource for Sikhs and students of Sikhism.

More Contributions 

Established an Administration system for management of the increasing size of the Sikh congregations

At Goindwal, Guru Amar Das propagated the Sikh faith in a logical and planned manner. He himself visited and sent Sikh missionaries to different parts of India to spread Sikhism. He divided the Sikh Sangat area into 22 branches called Manjis and appointed a local devout Sikh preacher at each place. The preacher sat on a Manji (a cot) while the congregation all sat around the Manji or cot.

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Guru Amar Das on the blogosphere 

articles and information by other bloggers

Monday According to Guru Amardas
Monday According to Guru Amardas. Monday June 22, 2009. In Punjab, the Sikh homeland, the word for Monday is Somvaar. Monday is the beginning of the work week for many around the world. Does Monday have any particular significance for a ...
Celebrate Guru Amar Das Ji's Gurpurb May 23, 2009 (9 of Jeth, 541 ...
Guru Amar Das Ji became Guru on Saturday, 16 April 1552 at the age of 73 following in the footsteps of Sri Guru Angad Dev Sahib ji, who left for his heavenly abode on 29 March 1552 aged 48. Guru Amar Das ji was 73 years old when he ...
SATNAM WAHEGURU: History Of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Sahib
As they reached Goindwal, Guru Hargobind, his family and Sikhs made ablutions in the baoli built by Guru Amar Das. Tegh Bahadur, then barely two, was bathed with the holy water. Ablutions were repeated the following morning before Guru ...
531st birth anniversary of Guru Amar Das celebrated in Amritsar
Amritsar May 23, 2009 (ANI) Thousands of devotees on Saturday took part in a religious procession in the holy city to mark the 531st birth anniversary of Guru Amar Das, the third master of the Sikhs.
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