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Guru Ram
Das (1534-1581)
Guru
Ram Das was born on September 24, 1534 to simple God-fearing
parents, Hari Das and Anup Devi of Lahore. Known as Jetha
meaning the first born, he was a handsome young man. When
he grew up he could always be found in the company of religious
men. One day Jetha came across a party of Sikhs who were
on their way to Goindwal to pay homage to Guru Amar Das.
Jetha decided to join them and also travel to Goindwal.
Upon their arrival and meeting, Guru Amar Das at once noticed
the young Jetha with his pleasant manner and sense of devotion.
While his fellow travelers returned to Lahore, Jetha decided
to stay and become a disciple of Guru Amar Das. His hard
work, and devotion eventually won him the hand of Guru Amar
Das's younger daughter, Bibi Bhani. They went on to have
three sons, Prithi Chand, Mahadev and Arjan Dev.
Jetha became a trusted disciple of Guru Amar Das. As described
previously he successfully represented Guru Ram Das before
the Mughal royal court to defend the charges by jealous
Hindus that Sikhism maligned both the Hindu and Muslim religions.
"Birth and caste are of no avail before God. It is deeds
which make or unmake a man. To exploit ignorant people with
superstitions and to call it religion is a sacrilege against
God and man. To worship the infinite, formless and absolute
God in the form of a totem, an image or an insignificant
or time-bound object of nature, or to wash one's sins not
through compassion and self-surrender, but through ablutions;
to insist upon special diets, languages and dresses, and
fads about what to eat and what not, and to condemn the
mass of human beings, including women, to the status of
sub-humans and to deny them the reading of the scriptures
and even work of every kind is to tear apart man from man.
This is not religion, not is it religion to deny the world
through which alone man can find his spiritual possibilities."
The Emperor Akbar was greatly impressed by the tenants of
Sikhism as explained by Jetha and dismissed all of the charges.
When the aged ascetic son of Guru Nanak Baba Sri Chand came
to visit Guru Ram Das he asked him why he kept such a long
beard? Guru Ram Das replied; "To wipe the dust off the feet
of holy men like yourself" and then proceeded to perform
this supreme act of humility. Sri Chand held his hand and
embraced Guru Ram Das saying; "It's enough. This is the
kind of character by which you have deprived me of my ancestral
heritage. Now, what more is left with me that I could offer
you for your piety and goodness of heart?"
The standard Sikh marriage ceremony known as the Anand Karaj
is centered around the Lawan, a four stanza hymn composed
by Guru Ram Das. The marriage couple circumscribe the Guru
Granth Sahib as each stanza is read. The first round is
the Divine consent for commencing the householders life
through marriage. The second round states that the union
of the couple has been brought about by God. In the third
round the couple is described as the most fortunate as they
have sung the praises of the Lord in the company of saints.
In the fourth round the feeling of the couple that they
have obtained their hearts desire and are being congratulated
is described.
Guru Ram Das's first cousin Sahari Mal came to invite the
Guru to visit Lahore in connection with the marriage of
his son. The Guru being much too busy with his work promised
to send one of his sons instead. Guru Ram Das asked his
eldest son Prithi Chand to attend on his behalf, but he
refused. Prithi Chand feared that his father was perhaps
trying to eliminate him in order to install his youngest
brother Arjan as the next Guru. Arjan was a great favorite
of his father. Mahadev the Guru's middle son was a recluse
and excused himself on the ground that he was not interested
in the affairs of the world. The Guru therefore asked his
youngest son Arjan Dev to attend, which he agreed to do
with such grace and humility, that Guru Ram Das was very
pleased.
Upon finally receiving this poem, Guru Ram Das sensed what
must have happened to the earlier two messages so he confronted
his eldest son Prithi Chand. At first, Prithi Chand denied
everything, but seeing the insistence of the Guru and the
consequences of refusal to obey him, he finally confessed
his treachery and produced the other two letters. When Guru
Ram Das read them, he was moved to tears by the humility
and sincerity of his son Arjan's compositions.
Guru Ram Das immediately sent for Baba Buddha to journey
to Lahore and to bring back his son Arjan Dev with full
honour. The Guru then had Bhai Budhha apply the saffron
mark to the forehead of Arjan Dev and declared him his successor.
Prithi Chand would not accept his fathers wishes and continued
to misbehave and abuse Guru Arjan Dev. Guru Ram Das had
to publicly condemn his son Prithi Chand for his actions.
Shortly thereafter Guru Ram Das breathed his last on September
1 1581.
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