Guru Ram Das Ji

Guru Ram Das Ji, born Jetha in 1534 in Lahore, was the fourth Sikh Guru and the founder of the holy city of Amritsar. Orphaned at a young age, he grew up selling boiled lentils in the streets of Lahore before meeting Guru Amar Das Ji. His humility, devotion, and tireless service won the Guru's heart, and he married the Guru's daughter, Bibi Bhani. He was chosen as successor over the Guru's own sons, once again affirming the Sikh principle of merit-based leadership.

Guru Ram Das Ji's most enduring contribution is the founding of Ramdaspur, later known as Amritsar (the "Pool of Nectar"). He excavated the sacred tank (Amrit Sarovar) that would later become the site of the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), the holiest shrine in Sikhism. He invited traders and artisans from across India to settle in the new city, transforming it into a thriving commercial and spiritual center. The city became the spiritual and administrative heart of the Sikh faith.

He composed the Laavan, the four hymns that form the basis of the Sikh marriage ceremony (Anand Karaj), establishing marriage as a spiritual union centered on God. His compositions in the Guru Granth Sahib are renowned for their devotional beauty and depth. He also established the Masand system — authorized representatives who collected tithes and organized the Sikh community in distant regions.