Guru Amar Das was the third Guru of the Sikhs. He was over seventy years old when he became the Guru. He lived to the age of 95. The village, where Guru Amar Das was born is called Basarke. It is in the Amritsar District m the Punjab. His father Tej Bhan, was a small trader. Guru Angad, the Second Guru, lived at the village of Khadur. Khadur is three miles away from the river Beas It was there in Khadur that Amar Das learnt the lessons of love and service He would walk three miles to the river and bring water for the Guru's bath. This he did every day early in the morning for twelve years on end, he served his Master and the Sikhs. Some people did not like his job and called him a water-carrier. But Amar Das was happy in the Guru's service. Pleased with his loving service, Guru Angad made him the third Guru of the Sikhs after him.

Guru Angad had two sons named Datu and Dasu. Datu was proud and jealous. He was angry when he knew that his father had made Amar Das, the Guru of the Sikhs. After Guru Angad's death, Guru Amar Das left Khadur and moved away to Goindwal which is on the bank of the river Beas. At Khadur, Datu sat on the Guru's seat and told the Sikhs, "I am the prince of the Guru's line, The Guru's seat is mine. Amaru (Guru Amar Das) is old. He is my servant."

"Datu," said one of the Sikhs. "We know that you are the son of our second Guru, but the Guru thinks that birth alone does not make anyone great or small. It is good actions which make a man really great. So it is not the birthright of the Gurus son to become the Guru, is it? Did Guru Angad make you our Guru? Tell us the truth or we shall go away."

“I am the Guru’s elder son,” said Datu, “It is my right to be the Guru. I don’t care if some of the foolish Sikhs do not recognise me as the Guru”.

The Sikhs went away quietly. They learned that their real Guru was in Goindwal. Hundreds of Sikhs went to see the true Guru Amar Das. Datu did not like this at all He would not take the defeat lying down.
One day he reached Goindwal. He saw Guru Amar Das sitting on the Guru's seat. Hundreds of Sikhs were listening to the Guru s teachings. Some of them were busy serving in the Langar. Others were looking after the Guru's farm" It was a great sight to see the Guru's court. This was more than Datu could bear. He approached the Guru and said, "Only yesterday you were a water-carrier in our house and to-day you sit on the Guru's seat as a Guru."

"Dear Datu." said Guru Amar Das, "I am as humble as ever. I am the servant of all. It is God's will that I should act as the Guru. I love you as ever, since you are the son of my Master. Even now. I am at your service. What can I do for you?"
Datu was still very angry. He did not say anything. He was almost blind with rage. He kicked Guru Amar Das off his seat. The Sikhs ran up, caught Datu and began to beat him. But the Guru at once stopped them. The Guru was as mild and loving to Datu as before.

"Dear Datu." he said. " I thank you for your visit to my court. I love you as much as before. I know you kicked me in anger, but I am afraid my hard bones may have hurt your soft foot." Saying this, he held Datu's foot and began to massage it gently. But grumbling, Datu pulled away his foot and went away to his village.

The next day, Datu came back to the Guru's house at Goindwal and took away all the Guru's belongings by force. But on his way back to Khadur, he met some robbers. They took away all the money and goods which he had taken away from the Guru's house. They also gave him a good beating and broke one of his legs. They left him for dead. But he did not die. Instead he lived and suffered from pain in his leg tor a long time after that.

Once again the Guru’s Court was full of the Sikhs, because everybody knew by now that a man who hits and kicks in anger can never be the Guru. It is only the humble, calm and patient men like Amar Das Who can be the real Guru. So all Datu’s followers left him and joined the true Guru Amar Das.

The whole world is saying, 'Mine, Mine; yet worldly wealth goes with no one. Man suffers because of worldly love; Death is on the watch for everyone; 0 Nanak, only those who remember God's name will be saved
(Guru Amar Das)

Materialism, like the viper,
Has entangled the whole world in its grip,
Whosoever cuddles it, gets swallowed by it."
(Guru Amar Das)