Gurgaddi Purab of Sri Guru Ram Das Ji: the platforms at Goindwal

The Gurgaddi Purab of Sri Guru Ram Das Ji remembers the day in 1574 when Sri Guru Amar Das Ji, at Goindwal Sahib, entrusted the Guruship to Bhai Jetha Ji, who became the fourth Sikh Guru. Like each Guru before him, he was chosen for his devotion rather than his family.

The test of the platforms

Bhai Jetha Ji had served at Goindwal for years, carrying baskets of earth for the baoli and serving in the langar, and had married the Guru's daughter, Bibi Bhani Ji. Sikh tradition tells that Guru Amar Das Ji asked his two sons-in-law, Bhai Rama Ji and Bhai Jetha Ji, to build platforms by the river. Each time they finished, the Guru found fault and asked that they be pulled down and built again. Bhai Rama Ji eventually gave up, saying he had done exactly what was asked. Bhai Jetha Ji kept rebuilding, asking forgiveness for his own lack of understanding, until the Guru embraced him.

The fourth Guru

Guru Amar Das Ji gave him the name Ram Das, servant of God, and asked Baba Budha Ji to apply the tilak of Guruship. Sri Guru Ram Das Ji went on to found the town of Ramdaspur, now Amritsar, dig the sarovar around which Sri Harmandir Sahib would rise, and compose the Laavan of the Anand Karaj. Before his own passing he chose his youngest son, Arjan Dev Ji, beginning a line of Gurus from the Sodhi family.

How the day is observed

Sangats gather for kirtan and Ardas at Goindwal Sahib, at Amritsar and in gurdwaras everywhere. Katha often returns to the platforms: the Guru's work is done with humility, not by insisting one is right.