Guru Amar Das Ji

Born in 1479, Amar Das Ji was a devout Hindu who undertook 20 annual pilgrimages to the Ganges before meeting Guru Angad Dev Ji late in life (at age 61). His subsequent 12 years of relentless service and humility earned him the Guruship. He established his headquarters at Goindwal Sahib. This mandate was a powerful social reform that broke the rigid caste system. Even the Mughal Emperor Akbar was required to sit and eat in the Langar before he could meet the Guru, physically demonstrating the Sikh principle of equality before the Guru. The Manji system was a revolutionary administrative and missionary structure designed to spread the message of Sikhism across North India and beyond. He also appointed 52 women preachers (Peerahs), highlighting his commitment to gender equality and active participation of women in religious leadership. The Anand Sahib encapsulates the spiritual joy and peace found through union with God by following the Gurus teachings. He also collected the hymns of the preceding Gurus and Bhagats into volumes, laying the crucial groundwork for the future compilation of the Guru Granth Sahib. These bold reforms challenged the oppressive social customs of the time, advocating for the elevation of womens status in society. He also established distinct Sikh festivals (like Vaisakhi and Diwali) and introduced the custom of the Baoli Sahib (step-well) at Goindwal, making it a new pilgrimage center for the Sikhs.