Guru Ram Das was the fourth Guru among the ten Guru of the Sikh religion. Guru Ram Das was born on 24 September 1534. His father name was ‘Hari Das’ and his mother was ‘Anup Devi’ or Daya Kaur. He was born near Lahore at a place called as ‘Chuna Mandi, Punjab’. He was married to the Bibi Bahni, and she was the daughter of the third Guru of the Sikh religion, ‘Guru Amar Das’.
From the very childhood days he was very supportive and helpful for the people. He worked for hours to help people in his community. On the other hand, he also used to take Knowledge from his Gurus. In the year 1974, he was given with a very big responsibility i.e. the responsibility to be the fourth Guru of the Sikh religion. He remained Guru for 7 years, till 1581, after which he died.
During his days of seven years, he carried various works to the Sikh Society that are now integral part of their religion. He was the main person who made the four hymns that are the integral part of the ceremony done during the marriage in the Sikh religion. Another biggest contribution was forming of the ‘Ramdaspur’, which is now Amritsar and this city become the holy city for the Sikh religion. He bought a land of Rs 700 and built a Gurudwaras there, which is now famously called as the ‘Golden Temple’. On the other hand, he also started building of Santokhsar Sarovar in the year 1564.
In the ‘Guru Granth Sahib’, which is the holy book of the Sikh religion, is having around 688 Hymns that were written by the Guru Ram das. He had a very crucial importance in structuring the Sikh religion.
But one sad day, on 1st September 1581, he died in the Amritsar City.
How People Celebrate Guru Ram Das Jayanti
The celebration for this day starts 11 days earlier and a person tends to chant the Shabad (Written by Guru Ram Das). People invite guest in their homes and then carried out the required proceeded for the celebrations. On this day, mass feat in Gurudwaras called as the ‘Langar’ is organized in Gurudwaras and all people are welcomed there to help out. On this very day, people take bath in the pond near the Golden temple and they consider it as nectar water. Since Guru Ram das founded the Amritsar city and golden temple, visiting there is considered auspicious.
People after taking early bath in the morning, go to the Gurudwaras for offering prayers. Usually people go in front of the Guru Granth Sahib and touch their forehead on ground in front of this holy book. Sikh usually takes bath early in the morning and goes to the Gurudwaras for offering their prayers. After the whole ceremony of prayers is over, Prasad is distributed among the people.