Guru Amar Das

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Guru_Amar_Das,_painting_from_ca.1800–1810

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Guru Amar Das
Personal
Born	5 May 1479 Basarke Gillan, Amritsar, Punjab, India
Died	1 September 1574 Goindval, Punjab, India
Religion	Sikhism
Spouse	Mansa Devi
Children	Bhai Mohan, Bhai Mohri, Bibi Dani, Bibi Bhani
Religious career
Predecessor	Guru Angad
Successor	Guru Ram Das

Guru Amar Das (5 May 1479 – 1 September 1574) was the third of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism. He was born in Basarke Gillan, a village in the Amritsar district of Punjab, India. Guru Amar Das became the Sikh Guru on 26 March 1552 at the age of 73, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Guru Angad.

Early Life

Guru Amar Das was born to Tej Bhan Bhalla and Bakht Kaur. He spent most of his early life as a devout Hindu, performing pilgrimages and religious rituals. It was not until he was 62 years old that he met Guru Angad, the second Sikh Guru, and converted to Sikhism.

Contributions

Guru Amar Das is known for his significant contributions to the Sikh faith. He established the practice of Langar, a community kitchen that serves free meals to all visitors, regardless of their background. This practice emphasized the Sikh principles of equality and community service.

He also founded the town of Goindval, which became an important center for Sikhism. Guru Amar Das introduced the Manji system, a new administrative structure for the Sikh community, which helped in the spread of Sikhism.

Teachings

Guru Amar Das's teachings emphasized the importance of equality, humility, and service. He spoke against the caste system and advocated for the rights of women. He also composed several hymns that were later included in the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism.

Legacy

Guru Amar Das appointed his son-in-law, Guru Ram Das, as his successor. His legacy continues to influence Sikhs around the world. The principles he established, such as the Langar and the Manji system, remain integral to Sikh practice.

Related Pages

• Guru Nanak
• Guru Angad
• Guru Ram Das
• Guru Granth Sahib
• Langar
• Manji system
• Sikhism