I had just finished by 10th board and was hungry for a vacation... we all know our struggles about board exams. it starts as you finish writing your final 8th standard exams. All your holidays are handed over to the tutor and you become slaves to the bag and books. 1/n

As the family planned my vacation, my grandfather wanted me to visit the land of 5 rivers, especially Amritsar as I had never visited Punjab. He wanted me to bow down at Harmandir Sahib also known as the Golden Temple and pray to the Guru Granth Sahib, the final Sikh Guru. 2/n

While we boarded the 4 hour-long flight from Mumbai (which flew via Delhi), my grandfather narrated me the story of the 4th Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das Ji. Today, I am sharing with you the same story to honour Guruji on his birth anniversary. 3/n

"Do you know who founded Harmandir Sahib? he questioned while sipping his coffee on an Indian Airlines flight - Mumbai to Delhi (Alliance was the next connecting flight). "No" I said in embarrassment. He replied "Guru Arjan Dev Ji" 4/n

"Now tell me, who founded the city of Amritsar?" Before I demonstrated my zero knowledge, he replied "The 4th Guru, #GuruRamDas ji who was the father of Guru Arjan Dev Ji". He then narrated the story of Guru ji starting from the next tweet 5/n

Born as Bhai Jetha in Lahore, he lost his parents at the age of 7 and was brought up by his grandmother, who later took him to Goindval in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district. Here he met the 3rd Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das ji and decided to become his disciple. 6/n

His un-dying service to Guru Amar Das ji made him a favourite, so much, that Guru ji got him married to his daughter, Bibi Bhani. Later, Guru Amar Das ji coronated Guru Ramdas Ji to become the 4th Sik Guru, and from being called Bhai Jetha he was known as Guru Ram Das Ji. 7/n

Post his coronation as the 4th Sikh Guru, Guru Ramdas Ji faced rivalry from Guru Amar Das ji's sons. As advised by his father-in-law, Guru Ram Das ji and Bibi Bhani then moved to a new place and called it Ramdaspur, which later was called Amritsar. 8/n

Guru ji bought the land of Ramdaspur and started the excavation of Sarovar Sahib. Sarovar Sahib is the same holy water body around the main structure of Harmandir Sahib/ the Golden Temple. Btw, Harmandir Sahib was founded by Guru Arjan Dev ji, son of Guru Ramdas Ji 9/n

After founding the township, Guru ji invited and helped settle traders and craftsmen from fifty two different professions, leading to its rapid growth, and in due course, the town had become the largest commercial centre in the northern Indian sub-continent. 10/n

In addition to founding Amritsar, Guru ji contributed over 688 Hymns in Guru Granth Sahib which have various teachings for Sikhs. Guru Sahib's Bani is also part of Rehras Sahib and Kirtan Sohila which are daily prayers of Sikhs. 11/n

Among Guru Ram Das ji's most famous compositions, the most well-known is his wedding hymn that formed the basis of the Sikh wedding ceremony called Anand Karaj. This ceremony is centred on the laavaan — four stanzas that the fourth Guru had composed. 12/n

Btw, unlike Hindu weddings which have 7 pheras, a Sikh couple take 4 pheras around the Guru Granth Sahib to complete the marriage and take blessing from the Gurus. And so, the 4 stanzas. 1st round: For the Divine consent for commencing the householders life through marriage. 13/n

The 2nd round states that the union of the couple has been brought about by God. In the 3rd round the couple is described as the most fortunate as they have sung the praises of the Lord in the company of saints. 14/n

The 4th round the feeling of the couple that they have obtained their hearts' desire and are being congratulated is described. "They are not said to be husband and wife who merely sit together. Rather they alone are called husband and wife, who have one soul in two bodies." 15/n

By the end of this story of Guru Ramdas Ji, we landed in Delhi, continuining our journey by waiting for our Alliance Airline flight. The next leg of the Jounery was about Harmandir Sahib, which I will narrate when we celebrate Guru Arjan Dev Ji's birth anniversary. 16/16 #Sikh