Guru Ram Das

Guru Ram Das (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਰਾਮ ਦਾਸ) (Born in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan on 24 September, 1534 – 1 September, 1581, Amritsar, Punjab, India) as the fourth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism, and he became Guru on 30 August, 1574 following in the footsteps of Guru Amar Das.

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He was born in Lahore to a Sodhi family of Khatri clan. His wife's name was Bibi Bhani who was daughter of Guru Amar Das, the third guru of the Sikhs.

As a Guru

One of his main contributions to Sikhism was organizing the structure of Sikh society. Additionally, he was the author of Laava, the hymns of the Marriage Rites, the designer of the Harimandir Sahib, and the planner and creator of the township of Ramdaspur (later Amritsar).

A hymn by Guru Ram Das from page 305 of the Guru Granth Sahib:

One who calls himself a Sikh of the True Guru shall get up early morning and meditate on the Lord's Name. Make effort regularly to cleanse, bathe & dip in the ambrosial pool. Upon Guru's instructions, chant Har, Har singing which, all misdeeds, sins and pains shall go away.

Before he left for his heavenly abode, Guru Ram Das nominated Guru Arjan Dev, his youngest son, as the next Guru of the Sikhs.

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