Guru Ram Das Jee's Sons

The forth Guru, Guru Ramdaas Jee had three Sahibzaddai (sons). The eldest was Pirthi Chand, the middle one was Mahadev, and the youngest was Shri Arjan Dev Jee.

Pirthi Chand was very cunning, he considered himself to be very smart and wise in running things. When Guru Raam Daas Jee took over the guruship Pirthyia began to play a leading role in administration of langar and finances. He took care of providing lodging, buying supplies for langar and other needs. Because of this he gained significant notoriety and influence. Soon he started taking out money from the funds for sangat’s use and kept it for himself. With this money he established ties with the powerful people and politicians.

Pirthi Chand’s goal was to take over the guruship from Guru Ram Daas Jee. Pirthi Chand actually did a lot of sewa. He understood the benefits of doing sewa. He know Guru Angad Dev Jee got the gurguddi by serving Guru Nanak Dev Jee; Guru Amardaas Jee and Raam Daas Jee too got the guruship through doing sewa. He thought through tireless service he too could become to next guru.

He thought through money and having ties to strong men would help him getting more powerful and eventually become the guru. Being the eldest son of the guru he considered it was his natural right to guruship.

Little did he know, all these attempts would be futile. Yes, the gurus before Guru Raam Daas Jee like Pirthyia did do a lot of sewa, but they did not do sewa to get rewarded with guruship in turn. They saw it as a chance to serve akalpurkh from deep down, wanting nothing in return. Pirthyia did not understand what it took to be a guru, and how great of a responsibility it was. Pirthi Chand did not have the qualities required to fill the guru’s shoes. He didn’t even have what even a sikh should have.

Guru Sahib’s second son was Mahadev. He liked to keep to himself and was of a saintly nature. He wasn’t too eager to do worldly things. He kept engrossed in meditation. But because he didn’t care about anyone he too did not meet up to the requirements of a future guru.

The youngest of Guru Ram Das Jee was Shri Arjan Dev Jee. He had all the qualities of a good gursikh. He used to be immersed in naam all day long. He had complete understanding of gurbani and recite bani of the first four gurus. At the same time he would be seen doing sewa with his hands most of the time. He was very humble- without ego and did not have any kind of greed or temptation. He respected everyone and was very polite to all. Above all he respected his father Guru Ram Das Jee as a Guru and always listened to what he said. The thought of being the next guru never crossed his mind.

But Arjan Dev was destined to become the next guru no matter what happened. Once when Guru Amar Das Jee was the guru little Arjan Dev who was still a toddler climbed over to where Guru sahib was sitting and the Guru said: “Son, your time hasn’t come yet to become the guru.” Bibi Bhani was sitting there and she understood one day the guruship would be bestowed to Arjan Dev. When Arjan Dev was a little older Guru Amar Das Jee said that this Dohta will become a Bohitha of bani(Dohta:grandson Bohitha: plane, meaning he will be the master of Gurbani)

Because of this Guru Ram Das Jee knew Arjan Dev was the chosen one, and he would succeed him as the next guru. The sangat knew too Arjan Dev was the only person out of all the Sikhs and from the three sons of the Guru most qualified for guruship. Everyone also know about Pirthia wanting guruship and making preparations to become the next guru.
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Translated from: Dharam Pothi #4 Saakhi #1 By: Kartar Singh MA, Published in 1984 by the SGPC
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Questions

1) How many sons did Guru Ram Das Jee have? Name them.
2) Describe each son.
3) Which son thought of himself as the next guru? Why? Was he fit to become the next guru? Why?
4)Which son did the guru feel deserved the guruship? Why?