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Guru Amardas was born in the Bhalla family to father Tejbhan and mother Sulakhani in village Basarke, near Amritsar on May 5, 1479. He was married to Mansa Devi (also known as Ram Kaur), daughter of Devi Chand Behal. The couple had four children – two sons, Mohri and Mohan; and two daughters, Dani and […]

Guru Amardas was born in the Bhalla family to father Tejbhan and mother Sulakhani in village Basarke, near Amritsar on May 5, 1479. He was married to Mansa Devi (also known as Ram Kaur), daughter of Devi Chand Behal. The couple had four children – two sons, Mohri and Mohan; and two daughters, Dani and Bhani.

Every year Baba Amardas used to go for pilgrimage to Haridwar, which is a holy place for the Hindus, located on the banks of the river Ganges in North India. Once, while returning from the pilgrimage, Baba Amardas rested at an inn, which was owned by a Brahmin, who was also a renowned palmist and astrologer. At night, Baba Amardas was sleeping in such a posture that his head and feet were visible. The Brahmin could tell the future of a person by reading lines on the feet and hands. He chanced to see the feet of Baba Amardas, which were embedded with Padam Rekha – luckiest line on the feet – which denotes that such persons are supreme. Padam Rekha is embedded either on the feet of the Prophets, divine persons or the very renowned kings.

Next morning, before departure, when Baba Amardas offered money for the night stay in the inn, the owner being a knowledgeable palmist pronounced that the Baba would become either a highly divine person or a renowned king. Then, he would get all the bounties from him. Hearing this, tears rolled down the eyes of Baba Amardas. He wondered that for realising the divine within, he had been visiting Haridwar regularly for twenty years but still could not perceive the divine Truth. The Brahmin palmist was so sure of his palmistry knowledge that he emphatically predicted that he was bound to become a divine person and then he would come to him for seeking the divine bounties.

Wretched is he, who has no Guru (the divine guide): Baba Amardas was a Vaishnavite and used to go on a pilgrimage to Haridwar every year, but even after many visits to the holy place, he had not yet found the bliss of self-realisation. Once, an ascetic (Brahmachari, who observes celibacy) was attracted by the divine virtues of Baba Amardas. He accompanied him to his village Basarke. As the food was being served, the Brahmachari casually enquired from Amardas who was his Guru? Baba Amardas humbly submitted that he was still in search of one. The Brahmachari became upset and angry. He would not partake of the food from a person, who had no Guru for getting instructions to tread the divine Path and left the house in a huff after cursing the Baba. This incident shook the conscience of

Baba Amardas, who vigorously started searching for the Guru from that very day.

Meeting the Guru: One early morning, Baba Amardas heard Bibi Amro recite the divine Hymns. Bibi Amro, Guru Angad Dev‟s daughter was recently married to Baba Amardas‟s nephew. These Hymns touched his conscious and he developed an immense urge to become a disciple of the Guru, who had composed these verses. He asked Bibi Amro, “Whose Hymns are you reciting?” She humbly replied, “My Divine father, who is now second Guru Nanak Dev, has imbibed all these hymns from His Mentor.” He expressed a wish to meet the Guru. Bibi Amro took Baba Amardas to Guru Angad Dev. A glimpse of the Guru made Baba Amardas his devout disciple. Setting aside the worldly conventions of the society, he presented himself in the service of Guru Angad Dev‟s door-step; in other words, at the door-step of the father-in-law of his brother‟s son and rendered utmost divine service to the Divine Master. Baba Amardas was at that time about sixty-two years old while Guru Angad Dev was only about thirty-six. Just after midnight every day, he would walk about ten kilometres to the river Beas for his bath and then fetch a pitcher of water for His Mentor‟s bath in the ambrosial hour. Throughout the day, he worked tirelessly in various services of Langar.

Guruship: On 25 March, 1552, Baba Amardas was bestowed the Guruship at Khadur Sahib by his Divine Master Guru Angad Dev, who followed all the rituals, as Guru Nanak Dev did for Him. (Guru Angad Dev‟s life story has already been given in the previous chapter.)

~ Extract from Sikh Faith Book
~ Written by Iqbal Singh Ji(Baba)