Sikh Concepts and Teachings - Sikh culture and Heritage

Question / Answers

(71) Question:-	Mention the incident which impressed Guru Angad Dev JI of the dedicated service of Amar Dass Ji? What was its effect?
Answer:-	There are several anecdotes relating to Amar Dass Ji's life which show his total dedication. However, the most important incident which occurred on one stormy night, when Amar Dass Ji was bringing water from river Beas for the Guru's bath, impressed the Guru most. It was that night that Amar Dass Ji while passing through a Weaver's Colony, stumbled against a weaver's peg and fell down. One of the weaver woman, who was disturbed in her sleep, disparagingly remarked that it must be Amru Nithaavaan i.e. who does not have a house. When Guru Angad Dev Ji came to know of such remarks, he gave a vent to the emotional outburst and praised Amar Dass Ji by stating that he was home of the homeless, honour of the unhonoured, strength of the weak, spirit of the spiritless, shelter of the unsheltered, protector of the unprotected, the restorer of what is lost and emancipator of the captive. These ruled Guru Angad Dev Ji's mind on the issue of selection of a successor, and ultimately the spiritual throne was bestowed upon Amar Dass Ji, who became the third Master in succession.
(72) Question:-	When and how did Guru Amar Dass Ji go to Goindwal after leaving Khadoor?
Answer:-	Once a Khatri Marwaha named Gonda came to Khadur for having a glimpse of the Guru. He informed the Guru that his village on the bank of river Beas had been possessed by evil spirits as a result of which nobody settled there. In case anyone of two sons of the Guru starts living there, the superstition of the people regarding the evil spirits will vamnish and the village will be inhabited. The Guru accepted the request, but, when none of the two sons of the Guru agreed to this proposal, the Guru called for Amar Dass from Baasarke, where Amar Dass had gone for sometime to avoid jealousy of the two sons of the Guru, and ordered him to go to the said village for the needful. Amar Dass Ji obeyed the command and left Khadur for staying at Gonda's village, which later on came to be called after his name as Goindwal.
(73) Question:-	Mention the geographical location of Goindwal during those days?
Answer:-	Goindwal is about 35 km. from Amritsar at present. It used to be located during those days on the main road connecting Delhi and Lahore. It was at the head of one of the most important ferries on the river Beas. Since the third Guru was one of the builders of the town and had constructed there a house for his family, he made this place as his Headquarters for the purpose of delivering his message.
(74) Question:-	There is one famous place between Goindwal and Khadur. What is the historical importance of the said place?
Answer:-	When Amar Dass shifted from Khadur to Goindwal, he did not give up his service of bringing water for Guru Angad Dev Ji's bath. He used to bring water from the river Beas and while coming from Goindwal to Khadur, he took rest at a place about one and half mile from Goindwal in village Hansawala. Since he used to take rest at this place, it came to be known as Damdama Sahib. There is a Gurdwara situated at this place now in commemoration thereof.
(75) Question:-	Guru Amar Dass Ji is known for his humility. Narrate some incident to highlight his this quality.
Answer:-	When spiritual throne had been bestowed upon Amar Dass Ji, devotees started coming to Goindwal for a spiritual glimpse of the third Guru. This increasing popularity of the Guru became a cause of jealousy For Datu Ji, younger son of Guru Angad Dev Ji. One day, Datu Ji came to Goindwal and finding the Guru surrounded by disciples kicked him in rage. The Guru immediately touched his foot and feeling sorry said his foot might have been hurt by his aged bones. This is one example of Guru's utmost humility.
(76) Question:-	What is the importance of Gurdwara Sann Sahib at Baasarke in the life of Guru Amar Dass Ji?
Answer:-	When Guru Amar Dass Ji realized that the son of Guru Angad Dev Ji, Dattu Ji did not like his stay at Goindwal, he shifted to his native village Basarke and closeted himself in a secluded place. The Guru got it written on the outside door that whosoever opens the door will not be his Sikh and he will not be his Guru. However, when the devotees became impatient to have a Blimps of the Guru, Baba Budha Ji, instead of opening the front door, broke into the back wall and enabled the devotees to reach the Guru. The devotees led by Baba Budha Ji requested the Guru to come back to Goindwal and took him there. The Gurdwara Sann Sahib commemorates the said incident.
(77) Question:-	What was the contribution of Guru Amar Dass Ji in the development of the Sikh religion?
Answer:-	Guru Amar Dass Ji developed a new system of propagating the new faith in far off places known as the Manji System. He divided his spiritual domain into 22 parts each one of which was called a Manji i.e a cot (The word is used for a specific area). There was a Chief Propagator at each Manji and in his area of operation it was he who taught the people all the teachings of the Masters. Certain Manji areas were further sub-divided into smaller units called Peerees. This system went a long way in spreading the message of the Masters and in providing facilities of self-governments in the Sikh Circles. Dharmsaals were established at many places for the purpose of congregation, which added further to the development of the religion. The construction of a Baoly at Goindwal with 84 steps having resting places in between, provided a place to the Sikhs for get together and spiritual discussion. Although, there is no authentic source or evidence of the belief, it has been the belief among the Sikhs since olden times that the 84 steps leading to the Baoly represent 84 Lakhs lives of circle of births and deaths which one has to undergo. However, in case a person recites Japuji on each step and after each recitation takes bath in the Baoly while praying to God, he will be blessed by the Guru and will get rid of the circle of births and deaths. The third Guru also made a tour for the purpose of preaching and covered such places as Pehowa, Kurukshetra and Haridwar. He further strengthened the Langar tradition and propounded the idea of Pehle Pangat Phir Sangat meaning thereby that whosoever visited the Guru should first partake of Langar. According to Dr. Ganda Singh, Emperor Akbar and king of Haripur could meet the Guru only when they had taken food in the Langar. When Akbar was highly impressed by the tradition of Langar, he granted land in the name of Bibi Bhani, daughter of the Guru. Guru, thus, directed his son-in-law, who was to succeed him to lay the foundation of a new city on that granted land. Thus, he was instrumental in getting the foundation of Amritsar laid down during his life time. He further collected the compositions of his two predecessors and some prominent saints of that time and kept it with his son. It was this collection which was, later on, collected by Guru Arjan Dev Ji from Baba Mohan, the son of Guru Amar Dass ji and was utilised for compiling Adi Granth. Guru Amar Dass Ji himself composed considerable hymns, as are included in the Adi Granth.
(78) Question:-	Describe the visit of the Mughal Emperor to the court of the Guru at Goindwal Sahib? What was the outcome of this meeting?
Answer:-	During Samat 1624, Emperor Akbar, while going from Delhi to Lahore, had a halt at Goindwal, Sahib, wherein he met the Guru. When he was asked to first join the Pangat (people sitting for sharing meals in the free kitchen) the emperor agreed and as recorded by the tradition, he was so much impressed with the Langar tradition that he granted a considerable piece of land in the name of Bibi Bhani.
(79) Question:-	Guru Amar Dass Ji is generally considered a social reformer. How far is it true?
Answer:-	All the Sikh Gurus were critics of the social evils, and so was Guru Amar Dass Ji. He severely criticized such evils as that of Satti and Parda System. He also spoke against the use of intoxicants in his composition. While condemning the Satti System, the Guru stated that this was not a proper way of becoming Satti. Who were the actual Satti, the Guru clarified this aspect in the following verses:- ਸਤੀਆ ਏਹਿ ਨ ਆਖੀਅਨਿ ਜੋ ਮੜਿਆ ਲਗਿ ਜਲੰਨਿ੍ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਤੀਆ ਜਾਣੀਅਨਿ੍ ਜਿ ਬਿਰਹੇ ਚੋਟ ਮਰੰਨਿ੍ ॥1॥ ਭੀ ਸੋ ਸਤੀਆ ਜਾਣੀਅਨਿ ਸੀਲ ਸੰਤੋਖਿ ਰਹੰਨਿ੍ ॥ ਸੇਵਨਿ ਸਾਈ ਆਪਣਾ ਨਿਤ ਉਠਿ ਸੰਮਾਲੰਨਿ੍ ॥2॥ (ਅੰਗ 787) Satiaa eh na aakhian jo mariaa lag jalann. Nanak sateeaa janeeahan je birhe chot marann. Bhee so sateeaa janeeahan seel santokh rahann. Sewan saaee aapana nit uth samalann. A Sati is not she who burns herself on the pyre of her spouse O, Nanak, a Sati is she who dies with the sheer shock of Your separation The Sati is one who lives contented and embellished herself With good conduct And cherishes her Lord ever and calls on him each morn. He advocated widow remarriage and severely condemned the caste system among the Hindus. Thus, the Guru was indeed a reformer of the social evils.
(80) Question:-	Briefly introduce Guru's compositions as are enshrined in Guru Granth Sahib.
Answer:-	There are 907 hymns of the third Master as composed in 18 Raagas which find a place in Guru Granth Sahib. The most well known composition of the Guru is named 'Anand,' which literally means ever lasting happiness, blissful state, or a state of hope and optimism. The following verses of the Guru reveal the high spirit which emanates from his compositions :- ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬੁਢੇ ਕਦੇ ਨਾਹੀ ਜਿਨਾ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ।। ਓਇ ਸਦਾ ਅਨੰਦਿ ਬਿਬੇਕ ਰਹਹਿ ਦੁਖਿ ਸੁਖਿ ਏਕ ਸਮਾਨਿ।। (ਅੰਗ 1418) Gurmukh budhe kade naahee jinhaan antar surat giaan. Oe sada anand bibek rahe dukh sukh ek samaan, The spiritual beings having Divine knowledge, do not age. They abide forever in blissful wisdom and deem weal & woe alike.