Guru Amar Das (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਅਮਰ ਦਾਸ) (5 May 1479 - 1 September 1574) was the third of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and was given the title of Sikh Guru on 26 March 1552.

His life

Das was the eldest son of Sri Tej Bhan Bhalla Ji a farmer and trader and Mata Lachmi Ji. Das' father was a shopkeeper in the village of Basarke near Amritsar.
Das married Mata Mansa Devi and had four children - two sons named Bhai Mohan and Bhai Mohri and two daughters named Bibi Dani Ji and Bibi Bhani Ji. Bibi Bhani later married Bhai Jetha who became the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das. (See article Platforms of Jetha.)
Das became Sikh Guru at the age of 73 following in the footsteps of his teacher Sri Guru Angad Dev Sahib Ji, who died on 29 March 1552 at age 48. Das established his headquarters in the town of Goindwal Sahib, which was established by Sri Guru Angad Dev Sahib Ji.
Das chose his son-in law Ram Das, rather than one of his sons, to succeed him. Das died at age 95 on 1 September 1574 at Goindwal Sahib near District Amritsar.

[edit] Contributions to Sikh culture

  • Required visitors to Gurdwaras take Langar (Free Blessed Food) before seeing the Guru. "First Pangat then Sangat"

  • Raised the status of women by prohibiting the practice of Sati (a wife's suicide on her husband's funeral pyre and "Parrda" (veil covering the face)
  • Established an administration system for the Sikh congregations
  • Created the prayer ritual called Anand Sahib, which is one of the Five Banis recited daily
  • Established the city of Goindval on the banks of river Bias in 1552.
  • Visited and assigned Sikh missionaries to different parts of India.
  • Divided the Sikh Sangat area into 22 branches called Manjis and appointed a local Sikh preacher for each location as follows:
In the area of Majha (Amritsar, Lahore, Sialkote)
  • 1. Manak Chand Jhinwar (Water Carrier) at Variowal in Amritsar.
  • 2. Sada ram, a Blacksmith near Amritsar.
  • 3. Hindal at Jandiala near Amritsar.
  • 4. Gangu Shah banker at Lahore.
  • 5. Mutho-Murari, a devoted couple, at Chunian in Lahore Dist.
In Jalandhar Doab
  • 6. Paro Julka at Jalandar.
  • 7. Mahesh Dhir at Sultanpur Lodi.
In Kangra Hills
  • 8. Sawan mal, Nephew of Guru Amar Das, at Haripur Guler.
  • 9. Name not given, at Dharamsala.
Kashmir Hills
  • 10. Phirya at Mirpur.
Malwa (Area of Patiala, Ludhiana, Bhatinda)
  • 11. Kheira at Firozpur.
  • 12. Mai Das Bairagi in charge of Ludhiana dist.
  • 13. Mai Bhago at village Wayun, tehsil Kharar, dist. Rupar.
  • 14. Mai Sewan at Village Gardnoh in Patiala District.
  • 15. Sachna Shah in charge of Ambala distt.
  • 16. Baba Nand Lal ji at Village Gharuan, Tehsil Kharar, Dist. Ropar
Sind
  • 17. Lalu in chage of some area in Sind.
  • 18 to 22: Unknown
  •