Guru Ramdas Ji Gurpurab, Gurgaddi & Joti Jot Diwas Date 2026

Guru Ram Das Ji was the fourth Guru of the Sikhs. His mind was filled with great humility and a spirit of selfless service. He was the eldest son of his parents; therefore, his first, original, and childhood name was Bhai Jetha Ji.

When is Guru Ramdas Ji Gurpurab, Gurgaddi & Joti Jot Diwas in 2026?

When and where was Guru Ram Das Ji born?

Sri Guru Ram Das Sahib Ji was born in 1534 AD in the Sodhi family at the home of Bhai Hardas Ji and Mata Daya Ji in the Chuna Mandi area of Lahore. His wife was Bibi Bhani Ji. He had three sons named Prithi Chand, Mahadev, and Guru Arjan Dev Ji.

Ramdas Ji Early Life

When Bhai Jetha Ji was about seven years old, his mother passed away, and about two years later, his father also left for the rest of his life. No one else supported Bhai Jetha Ji, so his grandmother brought him to Basarke village with her. The early years of his life were full of struggle and financial hardship.

What kind of life did Guru Ramdas Ji live before becoming Guru?

After this, when Sri Guru Amardas Ji established the town of Goindwal, many families came and settled there from Basarke and other villages as well. Among them was Bhai Jetha Ji, who came to Goindwal Sahib with his grandmother.

There, he started selling ghunghnian (boiled grains such as chickpeas and wheat) so that the household could survive. Alongside this, he also came to Goindwal Sahib to serve the congregation and devoted himself to the service of the Guru with both body and mind.

Seeing Bhai Jetha Ji's service and humility, Guru Amar Das Ji was greatly impressed. In 1553 AD, he married Guru Amar Das Ji's daughter, Bibi Bhani Ji, to Bhai Jetha Ji. After the marriage, Bhai Jetha Ji continued to live with Guru Ji.

How did Guru Ram Das Ji become the Sikh Guru?

Before becoming the fourth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Ramdas Ji was tested by Guru Amardas Ji. He received the Gurgaddi (Guruship) from Guru Amar Das Ji in 1574 AD. Sri Guru Ramdas Sahib Ji, the fourth successor of Sri Guru Nanak Dev. He remained on the Guru's throne for seven years.

Before appointing the fourth Guru, Guru Amar Das Ji asked Ramo and Jetha to build a platform (tadha) on which the Sikh Guru would sit. Ramo built four platforms and became upset whenever Guru Ji rejected them. However, Jetha built seven platforms. Even though he was unable to satisfy Guru Ji, instead of becoming angry, he humbly told Guru Ji that he did not possess the wisdom needed to build the platform exactly according to your wishes.

He surrendered himself humbly before Guru Amardas and kept trying to build the platform. In this way, Jetha was chosen as the next Sikh Guru and came to be known as Guru Ram Das Ji.

What kind of service did Guru Ram Das Ji do for Sikhism?

Guru Ram Das Ji carried out many important works for the Sikh faith. He founded the city of Ramdaspur (Amritsar). This city was originally established under the name Guru Ka Chak. Guru Amar Das Ji had entrusted Guru Ramdas Ji with the responsibility of developing this city.

Guru Ji also supervised the construction of the sarovar (holy tank) along with the development of Harmandir Sahib.

What are the main teachings and Gurbani of Guru Ram Das Ji?

Guru Ram Das Ji's teaches us humility, selfless service, and devotion to God. A total of 688 hymns (Shabads) of Guru Ram Das Ji are recorded in Guru Granth Sahib. He introduced the Partal style in Gurbani and Gurmat music, in which different rhythms are used within a single hymn.

His most famous composition is the Lavan in Raag Suhi, which is recited during Sikh Anand Karaj (marriage ceremonies). Besides this, the major compositions of Guru Ram Das Ji include Vars, Ghodian, Karhale, Maru Solhe, Vanjara, and Chhake Chhand, which hold a special place in Sikh literature.

When did Guru Ram Das Ji pass away?

After bestowing the Gurgaddi upon Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Guru Ramdas Ji merged with the Divine Light (Jyoti Jot) in 1581 AD.