Guru Ramadas was born at the locality Bazaar Chuna Mandi of Lahore, now in Pakistan. Name of father was HarDas and of his mother was DayaKaur. Since he was the eldest son of his parents everyone used to call him as Jetha.

CHILDHOOD

Guru Ramadas had lost his parents in an early age. He passed most of his childhood at the home of his maternal grandparents in Basarke. In Basarke, Jetha began to sell Ghughuniyan (boiled wheats) for a living. When Guru Amar Das founded Govindval, Bhai Jetha too came there to live. There he got married to Bibi Bhani, the daughter of Guru AmarDas at an age of 19. Three sons - Prithvi Chand, Mahadev and Arjan Dev were born to them in due course.

Though Ramadas was the son-in-law of Guru Amar Das, yet he served him as a true Sikh, and never tried to take a privilege of their relation. When a water reservoir was being dug in Govindval, Ramadas carried the earth from the pit like an ordinary Sikh. Thus, Ramadas proved successful in every test given by Guru Amar Das. It was because of his selfless services that Ramadas inherited the Guru Gaddi from Guru Guru Amar Das. Thus Bhai Jetha became Guru Ramadas the fourth Guru of the Sikhs.

CONTRIBUTION OF GURU RAMADAS

Seeing the tremendous propagation of Sikhism, Guru Ramadas decided to change the centre of preaching from Govindval. Selecting a suitable place in Manjhe he began the construction of Guru ka Chakl. Later on with Baba Burha he started the digging of Satokhsar Lake. The place is now renowned in the world as Amritsar. It is also known as Guru Ka Chakk.

Right from the moment of acquiring the Guru seat, Guru Ramadas put main emphasis on the propagation of Sikhism. He preached his followers that as a true Sikh, they should contribute tenth part of their earning for the propagation of Sikhism. He has also started the digging of Amritsar lake near Dukh Bhanjani, which was completed later by the fifth Guru.

DEPARTURE OF GURU RAMADAS

When Guru Ramadas saw his demise near, he began to reflect as to whom he should transfer the Guru Gaddi. Since Mata Bhami had already sought a promise from him that Guru Gaddi would be transferred to any of their sons only, hence it was certain that any of sons was going to get the seat. But which one? it was the only problem that required some careful reflections. First, Guru RamaDas thought about his eldest son Prithvichand. He was very brillant in business and keeping account of the expenses, but he was virtually zero in spiritual aspect. Second son Mahadev was whimsical and calendar-like in nature, with no serious interest in any work. Only his third son Arjan Dev did indeed have virtues like true Sikh Guru. He was able by every means also. Hence, before his demise, Guru Ramadas transferred the Guru Gaddi to his youngest son Arjan Dev who thus became the fifth Guru of the Sikhs.