Background
Bhai Gurdas was born in 1551 in Goindwal, a small village in the Punjab. His father was Bhai Ishar Das, a first cousin of Guru Amar Das (see family tree). His mother"s name was Jivani and she died in 1554 when Gurdas was only three.
Bhai Gurdas was born in 1551 in Goindwal, a small village in the Punjab. His father was Bhai Ishar Das, a first cousin of Guru Amar Das (see family tree). His mother"s name was Jivani and she died in 1554 when Gurdas was only three.
He was the original scribe of the Guru Granth Sahib. After being orphaned at the age of 12, he was adopted by Guru Amar Das. He learned Sanskrit, Brajbhasha, Persian and Punjabi (Gurmukhi) and eventually began preaching.
He spent his early years at Goindval and Sultanpur Lodhi.
At Goindval he listened to scholars and swamis who kept visiting the town while traversing the Delhi-Lahore road. After Guru Amar Das passed on, his successor Guru Ram Das appointed Gurdas as the missionary to Agra.
In 1577, Bhai Gurdas contributed his labor to excavating the pool at the Harmandir Sahib. Twenty years later, he went on an expedition to Kartarpur and recited many of the early hymns to Emperor Akbar.
After Guru Ram Das passed on, Bhai Gurdas formed a close relationship with the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan.
He even went to Sri Lanka, preaching the name of the Guru among the masses and showing them the true way of life. The Akal Takht was revealed by Guru Hargobind on 15 June 1606. The foundation stone of the building of the Akal Takht was laid down by Guru Hargobind himself.
Number mason or any other person was permitted to participate in the construction of the structure.
lieutenant was the appointment of Bhai Gurdas as the First Jathedar of Akal Takht. Numbers
6 Chands of 8 verses each in Sanskrit.
672 Kabits and 3 swayyas in Braj Bhasha. 40 Vars containing 912 pauris (in Punjabi).
He died on 25 August 1636 in Goindwal.
Guru Hargobind personally performed the ceremonial cremation.