Guru Amar Das was born on May 5, 1479.

He was the eldest son of Tej Bhan, a farmer and trader.

He was married to Mansa Devi and had two sons, Mohri and Mohan, and two daughters, Dani and Bhani.

It was not until his old age that Amar Das met Guru Angad and became a Sikh. He eventually became the guru at the age of 73.

Guru Amar Das institutionalised the free communal kitchen, called the langar. He preached against the caste system prevalent in Hindu society and also opposed women wearing veils or committing sati.

When it was time for the guru to marry off his younger daughter Bhani, he selected one of his followers called Jetha, who hailed from Lahore. On September 1, 1574, sensing that his end was near, Guru Amar Das selected his son-in-law as his successor and renamed him Ram Das, meaning Servant of God.

Shortly thereafter he breathed his last at the ripe old age of 95.