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On October 9 every year, the worldwide Sikh community celebrates the birth of their fourth master, Guru Ram Das.

Guru ji was born at Chuna Mandi Bazaar, Lahore at the site of the present holy shrine on 9 October, 1534 where he spent his first seven years of life. Soon after birth, he was given the name "Jetha", meaning the "first born".

His simple and God-fearing parents, Hari Das and Anup Devi of Lahore were delighted at this precious gift from Waheguru. As he was growing up and in his teens, he would be found in the company of religious men. Jetha became a handsome young man.

One day he came across a party of Sikhs who were on their way to Goindwal to pay homage to Guru Amar Das ji, the third Sikh Guru. He decided to join them and also travel to Goindwal. Upon their arrival and meeting, Guru Amar Das, the third Sikh Guru at once noticed the young Jetha with his pleasant manner and sense of devotion.

While his fellow travellers returned to Lahore, Jetha decided to stay and become a disciple of Guru Amar Das ji. .....More

Guruship endowed to Guru Granth Sahib

The tercentenary celebration of the Guruship of Sri Guru Granth Sahib is to be undertaken in a massive event next year in October 2008 at Takhat Sachkhand Shri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra, India. The main Sikh Gurdwara situated in Nanded and the surrounding areas are undergoing a huge rebuilding exercise to facilitate the large inflow of pilgrims for this rare, hugely important and once-in-a-lifetime occasion for the Sikhs and also for the whole of the world.

This event is of great relevance to the worldwide Sikh Community and will involve the remembrance of the 300th years of consecration of Guru Granth Sahib as the final and perpetual Guru of Sikhs as ordained by Guru Gobind Singh in 1708. The event will also commemorate the 300th anniversary of the accession of Guru Gobind Singh to his heavenly abode. The Guru Granth Sahib is regarded as the guiding light for the Sikh and many non-Sikhs also have tremendous respect for the teachings contained within the pages of this holy scripture. On this momentous occasion, both non-Sikhs and Sikhs alike will join hands in millions to honor the high principles of peace, equality, unity, forgiveness and the many other high and noble messages promoted by the Guru.

The main celebrations at Nanded will be over 8 days and will be conducted in the month of October 2008. It is estimated that this event will attract 2,500,000 to 3,000,000 visitors from all over the world during the last three months of 2008. Many new facilities are being built and the State Government has great plans for this event.

• See this site for the latest information: Official State Government Website for the Event
• Also read more at Hazoor Sahib and Guru Granth Sahib

Sikh Taxi driver's story on 9 News

Watch this video (1.60 mins) on YouTube of the a Sikh cabbie in Australia who has set an example of honesty after he returned 110,000 Australian dollars to passengers who had left the bundle of cash in his taxi. The incident happened in Melbourne recently (October 2013) when the cab driver Lakhwinder Singh Dhillon was doing his routine job of picking and dropping passenger .....Watch, listen, read & ponder...

• Can Hindu law cover Sikhs, Jains & Buddhists asks the Supreme Court If Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism are separate and distinct religions, can followers of these faiths be bracketed as Hindus under the Constitution and be governed by Hindu personal law, the Supreme Court asked before issuing notice to the Centre and attorney general G E Vahanvati.
• Film reveals Canadian Sikh community’s World War I stories - On Remembrance Day another little known part of Canadian history was brought to light by the hour-long documentary “Canadian Soldier Sikhs: A Little Story in a Big War.”

Did you know...

Sri Damdama Sahib

• .....that Takhat Damdama Sahib is one of five takhats or Seat of Authority of the Sikhs. This takhat is situated at Batinda in Punjab, India and is the place where Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs prepared the full version of the Sikh Scriptures called Sri Guru Granth Sahib in 1705. What are the names of the other four Takhats?

• .....that the Sikhs believe that all life, including human life, comes from God. God is the Creator of the universe and the force that keeps it in existence.

• .....that for the Sikhs, the final goal of life is to reunite or merge with God (Mukti). The Sikh Gurus taught that to achieve this goal it was important to work hard at developing positive human qualities which lead the soul closer to God.

• .... that the Guru Granth Sahib provides guidance for Muslims!; Yes, no other historical Islamic verse holds such strong contempt for Muslims who fail to carry out the daily Nimaz as can be attributed to Hazrat Baba Sheikh Farid as recorded in the Shri Guru Granth Sahib.

Khalsa College Amritsar.
See www.khalsacollegeamritsar.org

Guru Amar Das

Bhai Amar Das fetching water for Guru Angad Dev

Every year on 23 May, the Sikh celebrate the birthday of their third Guru, Sri Guru Amar Das. It is recorded that before becoming a Sikh, Bhai Amardas as he was known at the time, was a very religious Vaishanavite Hindu who spent most of his life performing all of the ritual pilgrimages and fasts of a devout Hindu. One day, Bhai Amardas heard some hymns of Guru Nanak being sung by Bibi Amro Ji, the daughter of Guru Angad, the second Sikh Guru. Bibi Amro was married to Bhai Sahib's brother, Bhai Manak Chand's son who was called Bhai Jasso.

Bibi Amro lived together with Bhai Sahib's brother. It so happened that Bhai Sahib was at his brother house when he heard the wonderful recitation of Gurbani by his niece-in-law. Bhai Sahib was so impressed and moved by these Shabads that he immediately decided to go to see Guru Angad at Khadur Sahib. It is recorded that this event took place when Bhai Sahib was 61 years old.

Bhai Sahib also had a younger brother called Bhai Ishar Das who had a son called Bhai Gurdas, who was a superb poet and scholar of comparative religion who would later go on become the scribe of the first edition of the Guru Granth Sahib.

In 1635, upon meeting Guru Angad, Bhai Sahib was so touched by the Guru's message that he became a devout Sikh. Read more .....

The Guru's Message...

Guru Nanak Dev

Speak and Live Truthfully:- The Sri Guru Granth Sahib tells us that, those ".. devotees are happy and peaceful forever" who "... see the Truth; speak the Truth; and their bodies and minds are True. True are their teachings, and True are their instructions; True are the reputations of these true ones. Those who have forgotten the True One are miserable - they depart weeping and wailing." (page 69)

Do Not See Bad in Others:- Maharaj's hukam is: The "..one who eliminates his self-centeredness, eradicates his ego and night & day sings the songs of the Lord's Love....his body is golden, and his light merges into the Light of the Fearless Lord. ... With a single, impartial eye, look upon all alike, and see God pervading in everyone - The Light of the Lord's ... permeates all; the Gurmukh knows this unknowable." (page 833)

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