Guru Nanak Dev

Guru Nanak Dev () (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539), was the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Gurus of the Sikhs.

Background

Guru Nanak Dev was born at Rai Bhoi Di Talwandi, now called Nankana Sahib, a town located near the city of Lahore in present-day Pakistan.

His father was Kalu Mehta and mother was Tripta. His parents were Khatri Hindus. The Guru had an elder sister called Bibi Nanki, who was the first to recognise Nanak as an enlightened Soul. Guru Nanak from an early age seemed to have acquired a questioning and enquiring mind and refused as a child to wear the ritualistic “sacred” thread called a Janeu and instead said that he would wear the true name of God in his heart as protection, as the thread which could be broken, be soiled, burnt or lost could not offer any security at all.

As a householder, Guru Nanak continued to carry out his life's mission to lead people to the true path of God, to dispel superstition, to bring people out of ritualistic practices, to lead them directly to follow Gurbani without the need for priests and clergy, and to teach people to dissociate themselves from the "Five Thieves".

Guru Nanak Dev continued his religious pursuits as always. Nanak married Sulakhni, daughter of Moolchand Chona, a trader from Batala, and they had two sons, Sri Chand and Lakshmi Das. His brother-in-law, Jai Ram, the husband of his sister Nanki, obtained a job for him in Sultanpur as the manager of the government granary. One morning, when he was twenty-eight, Guru Nanak Dev went as usual down to the river Veeyin to bathe and meditate. It was said that he was gone for three days. When he reappeared, it is said he was "filled with the spirit of God". The precise nature of this is open to personal interpretation; it could be interpretted as 'mythical divinity' or 'intimate understanding'. His first words after his re-emergence were: "there is no Hindu, there is no Muslim". With this humanitarian principle he began his missionary work.

The Three Pillars of Sikhism

It was here in Sultanpur that Guru Nanak formalised the three important pillars of Sikhism:

1. Guru ji led the Sikhs directly to practise Simran and Naam Japna – meditation on God and reciting and chanting of God’s Name - Waheguru

2. He asked the Sikhs to live as householders and practise Kirat Karni – To honestly earn by ones physical and mental effort while accepting Gods gifts and blessing.

3. The Sikhs were asked to share their wealth within the community by practising Wand kay Shako – “Share and Consume together” Yes '' 'There is a story to suppourt the belief'''

Dunring one of his travels, Guru Nanak arrived at village where he was to spend the night. In the village resided two men. One a rich man and the other a poore farmer. The Guru choose to reside at the poor man's house despite being given the worldly comforts of the rich man's house. Enraged the rich man demanded an explanation.

The Guru asked the two men to bring a Roti/chapati(a form of bread)) from their houses. The guru squeezed the rotis. From the poor man's cam milk but from the rich man's came blood!

The moral of this story lies in the rich man using unethical means to aqiure wealth (i.e exploitation ). However the poor man earned whatever little money by honest means and worked hard.

Other Beliefs and Contributions

Guru Nanak was revered by both Hindus and Muslims.

Guru Nanak had many beliefs which were not popular at the time but are now widespread.

Equality of Humans: When in the West Slavery and race discrimination was rife and respect between the different classes and caste was at a peak, Guru Nanak preached against discrimination and prejudices due to race, caste, status, etc. He said: "See the brotherhood of all mankind as the highest order of Yogis; conquer your own mind, and conquer the world." (SGGS page 6); also "There is one awareness among all created beings." (page 24) and finally "One who recognizes the One Lord among all beings does not talk of ego. ||4||" (page 432). He urges all the peoples of the world to "conquer" their minds to these evil practises. All human beings had the light of the Lord and were the same – only by subduing ones pride and ego could one see this light in all.

Equality of Women: In about 1499 when the world offered no status or respect to the woman, Guru Nanak elevated the position of women by spreading this message: "From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married. Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come. When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound. So why call her bad? From her, kings are born. From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all. O Nanak, only the True Lord is without a woman." (page 473). In so going, He promote the equality of women from the 15 century.

Universal message for all People It had been a custom at the time for religious leaders to address only their own congregation and for segregation of the different religions – but Guru Nanak broke with tradition and spoke to all of humanity. To the Muslim he said: "And when, O Nanak, he is merciful to all beings, only then shall he be called a Muslim. ||1||" (page 141"; to the Hindu, he said "O Nanak, without the True Name, of what use is the frontal mark of the Hindus, or their sacred thread? ||1||" (page 467); and to all he preached: "To take what rightfully belongs to another is like a Muslim eating pork, or a Hindu eating beef." (page 141).

Four Journeys

History states that he made four great journeys, travelling to all parts of India, and into Arabia and Persia; visiting Mecca and Baghdad. He spoke before Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Parsees, and Muslims. He spoke in the temples and mosques, and at various pilgrimage sites. Wherever he went, Guru Nanak spoke out against empty religious rituals, pilgrimages, the caste system, the sacrifice of widows, of depending on books to learn the true religion, and of all the other tenets that were to define his teachings. Never did he ask his listeners to follow him. He asked the Muslims to be true Muslims and the Hindus to be true Hindus.

After the last of his great journeys, Guru Nanak settled in the town of Kartapur (in Punjab) on the banks of the Ravi where he taught for another fifteen years. Followers from all over came to settle in Kartapur to listen, and sing, and be with him. During this time, although his followers still remained Hindu, Muslim, or of the religion to which they were born, they became known as the Guru's disciples, or sikhs. It was here his followers began to refer to him as teacher, or guru. The Guru told his followers that they were to be householders and could not live apart from the world—there were to be no priests or hermits. Here is where the Guru instituted the common meal or Langar; requiring the rich and poor, Hindu and Muslim, high caste and low caste, to sit together while eating. Here is where Lehna, later to be Guru Angad, came to be with Guru Nanak.

Death

Guru Nanak spent the final part of his life in Kartarpur. The Guru would wake at dawn and recite his daily prayers. At daybreak, he would address his followers. He worked in his free kitchen, which even today is popularly known as 'langar'. This food would be partaken by Hindus, Muslims, rich, poor, high or/and so called low castes. Guru Nanak worked in the field and earned his livelihood.

On 22 September of the year 1539, aged 70, Guru Nanak met with his demise, after he had requested his disciples to sing the Sohila (the praise of God).

Once when Guru Nanak was asked which religion, Hinduism or Islam was the true path to God, Guru Nanak replied that the true way to attain God was to worship Him who is eternal and contained in the whole Universe.

Folklore

The legend says that upon the death of Guru Nanak, his Hindu followers wanted to cremate the remains while the Muslim followers wanted to bury the body as per Islamic traditions. However on raising the cloth under which the Great Guru's body lay, some fresh flowers were found which were shared between his followers. The Hindus cremated the flowers whereas the Muslims buried theirs.

External links

Audio:

Sikhism.com

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