Today in Sikh History :24th September

==> Baba SRI CHAND, the eldest son of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, was born on Bhadoo Sidhi 9th sanmat 1551 to matta Sulakhni in Sultanpur. He lived in Barath village, near Dehra Nanak, Baba Sri Chand never married and later started the Udasi sect (one among the NanakPanthi sects). Though there several visible sects associated with NanakPanth today, the three main sects include, Udasi, Saehajdhari, and Sikhs (including Nihang, Nirmalae, and Kukae) [ref. Mahan Kosh]. Baba Sri Chand passed away on 15th Assu samnat 1668 at the age of 118.

Baba Gurditta Ji became the first disciple of Baba Sri Chand, who sent many GurSikhs in Udasi attires to preach and propagate Satguru’s message in this world. Later there were four saewaks; namely, Ballu Hasna, Almast, Phulshah, and Gonda. Four popular branches emerged from these saewaks that are represented by four Matths (centres of worship). Along with these four branches, there are the following six blessed branches for a total of ten Udasi sects:-

Sutharae Shahi – blessed by Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji
* Sangat Sahibiae – blessed by Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji
* Jitamliae – blessed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji
* Bakhat Maliae – blessed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji
* Bagat Bhagwaniae – blessed by Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji
* Miha Shahiae – blessed by Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Ji

Udasi attire includes "manjithi Cholla" (long dress), "gal kali Saeli" (black neck scarf), "hath Tumbha", and "Uchi Toppi" (high cap). Initially, the udasi did not cut their hair or beard, though such practices are prevalent today. However, Guru Granth Sahib is the holy scripture of all Udasi sects.

-Ref. Mahan Kosh (pp. 9-10)

-Ref. Mahan Kosh (VaedhiVans pp. 1109)

Baba Sarbjot Singh Ji Baedi from Una Sahib is a living member of Guru Nanak’s family who organized the GURMAT SANGEET SAMAELAN together with Baba Sucha Singh of Gurudwara Gur Gayan Prakash.

After being put to very hard and difficult tests, Bhai Jetha was declared the fourth Guru of the Sikhs. Bhai Jetha served the Guru for about twenty eight years before being anointed as the fourth Guru of the Sikhs. On this day a few hours before Guru Amar Das left for his heavenly abode, he called Baba Budha to anoint Bhai Jetha as the Guru of the Sikhs. He put five paisas and a coconut in front of Bhai Jetha, bowed and declared him to be the fourth Guru of the Sikhs, hence to be known as Guru Ram Das. Today is the actual of when Fourth Patshahi’s prakash though it is observed on a different date by Guru Khalsa Panth.

-Ref. "The Sikh Religion and The Sikh People," by Dr. S.S. Kapor, Hemkunt Press, New Delhi, 1992.

Fourth Patshah, Guru Ram Das Ji, came to the planet earth. He was born at Choona Mandi, Lahore in the house of Bhai Haridas and Mata Daya Kaur. His popular name before the Guruship was Bhai Jetha. He was son-in-law of Guru Amar Das, married to Bibi Bhani. Today is the actual date of birth, though it is observed on a different date by Guru Khalsa Panth.

==> GURU RAM DAS (1534-1581). the Fourth Master, ascended the holy gaddi (throne) of Guru Nanak in 1574 and continued to adorn the exalted office till 1581. Though he was the son-in-law of Guru Amar Das, being married to his daughter Bibi Bhani, yet he revered the Third Master as a Guru with an unwavering fervor. Inebriated with the nectar of the divine Nam, he spurned delights, and @pent all his time in an ecstatic communion with the Lord through moments of deep meditation.

Originally called Jetha Ji, Guru Ram Das was born in a Sodhi family at Lahore in 1534. His parents died when he was just a child. He was, therefore, brought up by his maternal grandparents. He had an opportunity to visit Goindwal, the seat of the Third Master, at a time when the bavali was being dug through voluntary labor. He immersed himself in this labor of love with such a rare verve and dedication that he won the Guru’s appreciation and recognition. The Third Master was so highly pleased with the disciple that he gave his daughter Bibi Bhani to him in marriage. Nevertheless, he served Guru Amar Das with as much love and devotion as ever before. It was in 1574 that he was invested with Guruship and named Guru Ram Das.

Guru Ram Das’s contribution to Bani is considerable. His compositions throb on born of love for fellowman and yearning for God. They inculcate in the people the adoration of God and the Guru. Rightly does the Master image an ideal man as one who had drunk deep at the fount of Nam and whose eyes are aglow with the love of the Lord. He sought a consummation of the human personality through God-realization.

The Vars (ballads) of the Fourth Master, enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib, outnumber those of other contributors. After Guru Nanak and Guru Amar Das, it was he who expanded the range of the Ragas in the Adi Granth adding as many as eleven to the existing system. Notable among the Fourth Master’s contribution to Sikhism is the establishment of a new Chak called Guru Ka Chak on the land gifted by Emperor Akbar to Bibi Bhani, the Guru’s wife. Later, it grew into the city of Amritsar. Here the Guru started the digging of two sarovars (pools) which when completed during Guru Arjan’s time, came to be known as Santokhsar and Amritsar So great was the Guru’s magnetism that during his pontificate Amritsar emerged as a famous place of pilgrimage for the Sikhs.

With a view to transmitting the gospel of Sikhism as also to meeting the expenditure incurred on the ever expanding altruistic plans and programs, the Guru founded the institution of masands. The offerings of the Sikhs were collected by the masands who rendered these to the Guru.

Guru Ram Das also deputed learned missionaries to establish contact with the Sikhs outside the Punjab. Guru Amar Das had already set up 22 Manjis (dioceses). Accordingly, the Fourth Master bade Bhai Hindal and Bhai Gurdas begin their missionary work and preach Sikhism at Jandiala and Agra, respectively. The Guru also shifted his head-quarters from Goindwal to Amritsar. Besides, he got prepared handwritten Gutkas (booklets of holy hymns). The Adi Granth contains 679 hymns by Guru Ram Das.

Guru Ram Das had three sons – Prithi Chand, Mahan Dev and Arjan Dev. He considered the youngest son, Arjan Dev, the ablest and saintliest and, therefore, installed him as Guru in 1581.

-Ref. "Guru Granth Ratnavali," (pp. 58) by Dr. D.S. Mani, Sardar Bakhshish Singh, and Dr. Gurdit Singh.

-Ref. THE SIKHS’ STRUGGLE FOR SOVEREIGNTY, An Historical Perspective By Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer and Dr. Awatar Singh Sekhon. Edited By: A.T. Kerr Page 110-119.