Guru Amardas was the third Guru of the Sikhs. He was born in the village Basarke, which is now in Amritsar district of Punjab. His father's name was Tejbhan and mother's name was Sulakshani (Lakshmi). He was married to Rama Kaur, the daughter of one Shri Dev Chand. He had two sons Baba Mohan and Baba Mohari, and two daughters Bibi Dami and Bibi Bhami. Bibi Amaro, the daughter of Guru Angad Dev, the second Guru, was married to the nephew of Guru Amardas. Once, Bibi Amaro was churning milk and simultaneously singing Guruvani. Guru Amardas happened to overhear it. He at once came to Khandur Sahib in the shelter of Guru Angad Dev. Though, at that time, his age was 62, he candidly touched the feet of Guru Angad Dev who was then only 36 years old. Since that day, he stayed with Guru Angad Dev forever.

SERVICES OF GURU AMAR DAS

Amardas became the disciple of Guru Angad Dev and served him. He had to wake up early morning and fetch water for his Guru's bath from a source situated three kilometres away. He faced criticism from people but Amar Das did not pay heed to them. He was devoted to his work.

TRANSFER OF GURU GADDI

Before his death, Guru Angad Dev, transferred the 'Guru Gaddi' to Amardas. Thus Amardas was ordained as 'Guru Amardas', the third Guru of the Sikhs. Guru Amardas chose Govindval Sahib as the main centre for the propagation of Sikhism. At the behest of Guru Angad Dev, Guru Amardas founded the town of Govindval at the bank of the river Beas and began to preach Sikhism.

THE NATURE OF GURU AMARDAS

Guru Amardas was mild in nature. He never lost his temper. When the Guru Angad Dev's sons, Datu and Dasu, heard that the Guru Gaddi had been transferred to Guru Amardas, they could not tolerate it. They began to abuse Guru Amardas and even kicked him in indignation. Even then Guru Amardas did not lose his temper. Instead, he got up and began to caress Datu's leg, saying: "My aged body is quite hard while your feet are quite soft, it might have hurt." Only then Datu realize his blunder and felt ashamed. He then begged for Guru Amardas's pardon.

Guru Amardas had ordered his followers to do away with the caste and creed systems completely. He also opposed the custom of Sati and compulsory veiling for women.

PREVENTION OF PLAGUE AND DEATH

In Govindval Sahib, once, an old woman's son died of plague. Hearing her cries, Guru Amardas sent a Sikh to enquire about her wailing. The Sikh, narrated the old woman's misfortune to Guru Amardas on his return. Guruji at once visited her and brought her son back to life. He also assured the villagers present there that henceforth, nobody's son will die of plague in the village.

Guru Amardas with his powers, superficially created a body in the form of a 'boy' and removed the plague by transmitting it into the 'boy' and imprisoned him in a cage. Once, Bhai Lalo came to see Guru Amardas. There, he saw the boy, imprisoned in the cage. He liked the 'boy' and asked Guru Amardas's permission to take the boy with him. Guru Amaradas cautioned him that the boy was infected with plague and he should not take the boy along with him. But Lalo was adamant and took the 'boy' with him.

On the way, the 'boy' (who was infected with plague) said that he was hungry and wanted food at once. Lalo assured him that he would give him food after reaching home. But, the boy said that his food was available right there. Saying these words, the boy entered a washer's body. The washer began to shiver with fever at once and soon lost his consciousness and fell to the ground. The 'boy' (infected with the disease) had sucked the washer's blood and returned to Bhai Lalo. Witnessing the scene, Lalo concluded that the 'boy' surely was a danger to him and he should be returned to Guru Amardas. The 'boy' began to plead to Lalo that he would follow Lalo's orders, but he should not return him back to Guru Amardas again. Then, the 'boy' (infected with plague) promised that in future, if he sucked anyone's blood, the victim would be set free only if one would remind him (the 'boy') of the same event that was witnessed by Bhai Lalo. Thus, Bhai Lalo set the 'boy' free.

This incident came to be known as 'Sakhi' (eyewitness account) of Bhai Lalo. It had to be related to the victim early in the morning without eating anything.

DEPARTURE OF GURU Amardas

Guru Amardas lived for 105 years. He devoted his life (particularly the later part of his life) in the preaching of Sikhism and the teachings of Guru Nanak Devji. Before his demise, Guru Amardas transferred the Guru Gaddi (seat of the Guru) to his son-in-law, Bhai Jetha who came to be known as Guru Ramadas later on.