Ramadasa

Ramadasa (also known as Ram Das or Sri Guru Ram Das Sahib Ji; born Jetha Sodhi on September 24, 1534, died September 1, 1581) was the fourth of the ten Sikh Gurus. He became Guru on August 30, 1574, succeeding his father-in-law, Guru Amar Das.

Guru Ramadasa is credited with founding the city of Amritsar in Punjab, India. He oversaw the excavation of the sacred pool which later became known as the Amritsar Sarovar (Pool of Nectar), the holiest site in Sikhism. He also planned and commenced construction of the Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, in the center of the Sarovar. However, the Harmandir Sahib was completed by his successor, Guru Arjan Dev.

Guru Ramadasa composed 638 hymns, which are incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib, the central religious scripture of Sikhism. These hymns cover a variety of topics including the importance of meditation, the value of selfless service (seva), and the necessity of living an honest and truthful life. He also standardized the Lavan, the four stanzas of the Sikh wedding ceremony.

He appointed his youngest son, Arjan Dev, as his successor, continuing the tradition of succession based on merit rather than primogeniture, thereby bypassing his elder sons. Guru Ramadasa’s contributions were significant in solidifying the early Sikh community and laying the groundwork for future growth and development.