Lehal Library

52 The Punjab and the Binh of Sikhism Amar Das lived to the age of ninety-five. He did not consider any of his sons fit to succeed him and chose instead his sonin-law, Ram Das, a Khatri of the Sodhi sulx:aste who had been living with him for some years.•~ Ram Das (1534-81) Ram Das had spent the better part of his forty years in the service of the community when he was called upon to become its leader. He had looked after the administration of the parishes and bad represented Amar Oas at the Mugbal court. He had a tank dug at the site granted to his wife by Emperor Akbar. 16 When he became Guru, h.e moved from Goindwal to the neighbourhood of the tank and started building a town around iL The town, which was destined to become the religious capital of the Sikhs, came to be known after him as Guru kii Cak, Cak Riim Das, or Riirn Das Pura. He invited tradesmen to set up business in the town, and with the revenues so obtained he was able to expand his activities to distant parts of India. The most distinguished of his missionaries was Bhai Gurdas, 17 who spent some years preaching in Agra. Like his predecessors. Ram Das composed hymns which were later incorporated in the collection of sacred writings. 18 Ram Das had three sons, of whom he considered the youngest, Arjuu Mal, the most suited to succeed him. This, as was to be expected, aroused the ire of the eldest, Prithi Chand. Nevertheless, when Ram Das felt his end near, he had the ageing Bhai Buddha invest Arjun Mal as the fifth guru. Ram Das I 5 Ram Das was a man of great humility. The aged Sri Chand, son of Guru Nanak, asked him why he had such a long beard. Ram Das went down on his knees and replied: 'To wipe the dust off your feet, 0 holy one.' 16 In 1577 he (Ram Das) ohtained a gram of the site, together wil.h 500 bighas of land. from the Emperor Akbar, on payment of Rs 700/ - to the Zemindars of Tung, who owned the land.' (Amritsar C,o.uUeer, 1883-4.) l 7 See Appendix 3. 18 His compositions in Viir Gau!i refer to many incidents in Lhe life of the third guru.