Today, 16 Sep (Nanakshahi 1 Assu 556), we reverently celebrate the 450th coronation anniversary (Gurgaddi Divas) of Guru Ramdas Sahib.

Guru Ramdas Sahib, born as Jetha (meaning “firstborn”) in Chuna Mandi, Lahore, in present-day Pakistan, came into this world in a humble and impoverished family. By the tender age of seven, he had lost both parents and was raised by his grandmother, earning his livelihood by selling brown chickpeas.

At twelve, he first traveled to Khadur and later settled in Goindwal, where Guru Amardas Sahib resided. Captivated by the Guru’s presence and the warmth of the Sikh sangat, Jetha chose to make Goindwal his home, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to the Guru's service.

Guru Amardas Sahib was deeply impressed by Bhai Jetha’s selfless service and married his daughter, Bibi Bhani, to him. Such was Bhai Jetha's devotion that he and his wife defied societal norms, remaining by Guru Amardas Sahib’s side to serve him and the community with humility and love.

Later, as an emissary of Guru Amardas Sahib, he went to Emperor Akbar’s court in Lahore to address objections made by the Brahmins against the institution of langar, which challenged traditional religious and social customs related to caste and purity. He argued that everyone was equal before the Divine, a response that impressed Emperor Akbar, leading to the dismissal of the objections.

As a devoted disciple, he became Ramdas, the servant of the Divine, and in boundless love, became one with Guru Amardas Sahib. Before Guru Amardas Sahib left the earthly realm, he bestowed the mantle of Guruship upon Ramdas, entrusting him to carry forward the eternal light of Guru Nanak Sahib’s house.

During his Guruship, Guru Ramdas Sahib further strengthened the manjis (an administrative system) initiated by Guru Amardas Sahib, ensuring the Guru's message reached Sikhs far and wide through appointed emissaries. As a sovereign, the Guru remained connected with the Sikhs through this well-organized network of representatives. This same network was also used for fundraising to acquire the land on which the city of Amritsar stands today.

With divine foresight, Guru Ramdas Sahib founded the city of Amritsar. He purchased a 500-bigha area about 40 km northwest of Goindwal and developed it as Guru Ka Chak or Chak Ramdas, later known as Ramdaspur and eventually Amritsar. The Guru also initiated digging the Amritsar sarovar, the pool in which Sri Harimandar Sahib now stands. He encouraged Sikhs to settle in the city and invited merchants and artisans to establish their homes and businesses there. Under his guidance, the town flourished, blossoming into one of the major trade centers in Panjab.

Although invading armies have destroyed and filled the tank multiple times in the past, each time, the Sikhs reconstructed it after the invaders' retreat. For this reason, Sikhs ask for bathing rights in this sarovar in their ardas (collective supplication) every day. This symbolizes Sikhs’ deep yearning for open access to their religious and political institutions, a right that has been challenged throughout history due to their strong political assertions.

Guru Ramdas Sahib revealed 644 Sabads (Infinite Wisdom) under thirty different rags (musical modes) during his Guruship. Among his notable compositions is the Lav, a set of four 4-line stanzas that serve as the wedding Sabad for the Anand Karaj, the Sikh marriage ceremony.

An episode from his life highlights the Guru's profound connection with his son, Arjan, who later became the fifth Guru. Sahari Mal, Guru Ramdas Sahib's cousin, once traveled from Lahore to invite the Guru to his son's wedding. With the construction of the Amritsar sarovar occupying his time, Guru Ramdas Sahib asked his three sons to attend the wedding on his behalf. Only Arjan agreed out of love and devotion, and the Guru asked him to stay in Lahore until recalled. After some time, Arjan, missing his father, wrote a heartfelt poem expressing his longing to return. Prithi Chand, his brother, intercepted the first two letters. However, the third letter reached Guru Ramdas Sahib, who immediately called Arjan back to Amritsar. Upon his return, Arjan composed a fourth stanza in praise of the Guru.

Guru Ramdas Sahib passed the light of Guru Nanak Sahib to Guru Arjan Sahib, appointing him as the fifth Guru. Shortly after, Guru Ramdas Sahib retired to Goindwal, where he merged with the Divine light on 1 September 1581.

In their composition ‘Ramkali Ki Var,’ Bhai Balvand and Bhai Sata sing praises of Guru Ramdas Sahib thus, a testament to his divine legacy:

ਧੰਨੁ ਧੰਨੁ ਰਾਮਦਾਸ ਗੁਰੁ   ਜਿਨਿ ਸਿਰਿਆ ਤਿਨੈ ਸਵਾਰਿਆ ॥
ਪੂਰੀ ਹੋਈ ਕਰਾਮਾਤਿ   ਆਪਿ ਸਿਰਜਣਹਾਰੈ ਧਾਰਿਆ ॥
ਸਿਖੀ ਅਤੈ ਸੰਗਤੀ   ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਕਰਿ ਨਮਸਕਾਰਿਆ ॥
ਅਟਲੁ ਅਥਾਹੁ ਅਤੋਲੁ ਤੂ   ਤੇਰਾ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਪਾਰਾਵਾਰਿਆ ॥
ਜਿਨੀ੍ ਤੂੰ ਸੇਵਿਆ ਭਾਉ ਕਰਿ   ਸੇ ਤੁਧੁ ਪਾਰਿ ਉਤਾਰਿਆ ॥
ਲਬੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਕਾਮੁ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਮੋਹੁ   ਮਾਰਿ ਕਢੇ ਤੁਧੁ ਸਪਰਵਾਰਿਆ ॥
ਧੰਨੁ ਸੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਥਾਨੁ ਹੈ   ਸਚੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਪੈਸਕਾਰਿਆ ॥
ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤੂ  ਲਹਣਾ ਤੂਹੈ   ਗੁਰੁ ਅਮਰੁ ਤੂ ਵੀਚਾਰਿਆ ॥
ਗੁਰੁ ਡਿਠਾ ਤਾਂ ਮਨੁ ਸਾਧਾਰਿਆ ॥੭॥

     ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ੯੬੮
‍‍

Blessed, blessed is Guru Ramdas; (the One) who has created; That (One) alone has adorned.
Complete miracle has happened; by Own-Self, the Creator has established.
Sikhs and sangat, having considered (him) Transcendent Being, have saluted.
You are steady, unfathomable, un-weighable; there is no end limit of you.
(Those) who have served you, having placed love, those you have taken across.
Greed, avarice, lust, anger, attachment; you have killed (and) driven out with (their) family.
Blessed is your place; true is your group of disciples.
You are Nanak; you are Lahina; you (alone) have been known as Guru Amardas.
(When one) saw the Guru, then the mind became supported.7.‍

     Guru Granth Sahib 968

Indeed, the miracle was complete when the once-destitute rose to lead the Sikh nation, embodying the very image of the Divine. It was the Creator who graced and established the Guru. Indeed, in Guru Ramdas Sahib, the transformation and the miracle were complete.

In celebration,
The SikhRI Team