Who Was Guru Ram Das?
Guru Ram Das, associated with the Throne of Raaj Yog, was the fourth Sikh Guru, born as Bhai Jetha. Orphaned at a young age, he grew up with little means but an extraordinary spirit of service. He moved to Goindwal during the time of Guru Amar Das, where he earned his livelihood by selling wheat and devoted the rest of his time to serving in the community kitchen and construction projects.
Impressed by his devotion and humility, Guru Amar Das gave his daughter, Bibi Bani, in marriage to Bhai Jetha. In time, Guru Amar Das passed the Guruship to his son-in-law, who then became known as Guru Ram Das.
“Raaj Yog is that state in which you are a king of earth and heaven, both, and that is what Sikh Dharma is. That is the yoga of chardee kalaa, and that is what Kundalini Yoga is. And that is what Tantra Yoga is…Raaj Yog is the basic philosophy, mentality and the dimension in which the mind and the dimension of the mind unite to achieve sovereignity of Godhood.”
-Yogi Bhajan, July 20, 1980
Guru Ram Das and the Throne of Raaj Yog
Yogi Bhajan explained Raaj Yog as:
Living as a yogi on the inside and a king on the outside
Seeing the unseen, knowing the unknown, hearing the unheard
Balancing spiritual wisdom with worldly responsibility
Guru Ram Das achieved this state not by retreating from life, but through meditation on the Shabad while serving as a father, husband, and leader. His humility was so great that he would personally wash the feet of visiting travelers, who only later discovered that the man who had served them was the Guru himself.
The Meeting of Guru Ram Das and Baba Siri Chand
One of the most well-known stories about Guru Ram Das is his meeting with Baba Siri Chand, the son of Guru Nanak. Baba Siri Chand was revered as the greatest yogi of his time, famous for his ascetic practices and yogic powers.
When the two met, Baba Siri Chand asked Guru Ram Das why he kept such a long beard. Guru Ram Das humbly replied by bending down and using his beard to wipe the dust from Baba Siri Chand’s feet:
“This beard is to clean the feet of great saints like you.”
In that moment, Baba Siri Chand recognized Guru Ram Das’s unparalleled devotion and humility. Though he possessed immense yogic powers, Baba Siri Chand realized why his father, Guru Nanak, had not passed the Guruship to him. He bowed to Guru Ram Das, and with him, all the schools of yoga symbolically bowed as well.
The Legacy of Guru Ram Das
Guru Ram Das’s life marked the union of two traditions:
The yogic path represented by Baba Siri Chand and the Udasi sect.
The path of the Shabad, service, and the householder’s life established through the Sikh Gurus.
By embodying Raaj Yog, Guru Ram Das showed that spiritual liberation is possible for ordinary people—not just yogis and ascetics. His life continues to inspire millions to live with humility, service, and devotion.
As Yogi Bhajan said:
“Nanak’s reality is Raaj Yoga. Kundalini Yoga was developed so that married people, family people, real people, can also experience God.”
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