Who Was Baba Buddha Ji?
Baba Buddha Ji was born in 1506 at the village of Kathu Nangal, near Amritsar, to Bhai Suga Randhawa and Bibi Gauran. Originally named Bura, he was renamed Buddha — meaning "elder of wisdom" — by Guru Nanak Dev Ji himself, after meeting Him in 1518 at the age of twelve and displaying a spiritual maturity far beyond his years.
A Lifetime of Service to Six Sikh Gurus
Baba Buddha Ji had the rare and unparalleled honour of personally serving six Sikh Gurus, from Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji to Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, in a bond of devotion and seva that spanned 113 years. He had the unique distinction of performing the Gurgaddi anointing ceremony for each of them, and under the instruction of Guru Amar Das Ji commanded the 22 Manjis through which Sikh teachings were carried far and wide.
Builder and First Granthi of Sri Harmandir Sahib
Baba Buddha Ji accompanied Guru Ram Das Ji to identify the site of Sri Harmandir Sahib and began the seva of its sarovar in 1577, later helping physically with its construction in 1588. In 1604, Guru Arjan Dev Ji installed him as the first Head Granthi of Sri Harmandir Sahib, where he performed the first Parkash of the Adi Guru Granth Sahib Ji. In 1609, he laid the foundation stone of the Akal Takht alongside Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji and Bhai Gurdas Ji, and also taught Gurmukhi to the young Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
Final Days and Legacy
In 1631, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji personally travelled to meet Baba Buddha Ji one final time, and later took part in washing and dressing his body for the funeral rites. Baba Buddha Ji left this world at the village of Ramsar at the remarkable age of 125, and was cremated by his son Bhai Panna Ji, with Bhai Gurdas Ji conducting the final path. Revered as Guru Nanak Dev Ji's principal Sikh, his 113 years of unwavering seva and devotion continue to inspire Sikhs to this day.
