Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Guru Nanak was one of those religious teachers who wanted to chase away darkness of ignorance and usher in spiritual enlightenment. Guru Nanak was born on 15th April, 1469 at Talwandi, not far from Lahore, which is now in Pakistan.
Talwandi is now popularly called Vankana Sahib’. His father’s name was Kalu Ram who was a patwari and his mother’s name was Tripta. They were Bedi Khatries by caste.
It is said that an astrologer predicted that after growing up the child would gain prominence in religious field and that both Hindus and Muslims would acknowledge his predominance and that he would be a true devotee of God.
He was sent to the local Pandit and later on to the local Moulvi for learning Hindi and Persian respectively but he did not evince any special interest in secular studies. Right from childhood his mind was drawn towards spiritual pursuits.
When his father saw that his son was doing nothing by way of profession, he was worried as to how he would earn his livelihood: He wanted to put him in business. He gave him Rs. 20 and told him to go to Lahore along with Bala and to do some business.
He took leave of his father and went towards Lahore. On the way he saw some sadhus sitting cross-legged and meditating on God. He conversed with them and found that they were hungry. He consulted Bhai Bala. He told him “What better business can be done with Rs. twenty than feed these hungry hermits?” Bhai Bala nodded his head in agreement. Guru Nanak bought eatables worth that amount, and fed the hungry Sadhus. This is called a `Sacha Sauda’ -a true bargain.
After the foregoing event he was sent to his sister Nanki, who lived at Sultanpur. At the age of 16 he took employment at a Government owned grain shop. Bhai Bala was his constant companion. He was doing a good business. His father came to Sultanpur to meet him and to know how much he had earned so that his marriage could be performed. But, he was rather angry to learn from his daughter Nanki that whatever Guru Nanak earned, he distributed the same among the poor and the needy. He was married at the age of 18 to Sulakshni Devi, who was the daughter of Mool Chand.
Guru Nanak continued with his habit of spending lavishly on charitable work. No beggar returned empty-handed from his door. The people thought that he was misappropriating funds from the grain shop. Therefore they made a complaint to the Nawab, who ordered an inspection of the grain shop. To the surprise of all, it was found that the stock was in excess and nothing was misappropriated.
Being persuaded by his sister Nanki, he stayed at home for some time and looked after his domestic life. Two sons were born to him – Shri Chand and Lakshmi Dass, the elder became a Sadhu. After some time Mardana, a professional singer came to him and was so impressed by him that he ever remained with, him like Bhai Bala. Bala and Mardana both accompanied him in his sojourns to various places. Once he stayed with Lalu – a blacksmith and declined to dine with a rich man. On being asked to clarify the preference, he squeezed the bread from both the houses. From the poorman’s bread oozed out the drops of milk while the rich man’s bread gave out drops of blood. What he wanted to emphasize was that one should make an honest living.
Once he went to Mecca and Madina. At night he was sleeping with his feet in the direction of `Kaba’ – the sacred place of muslims. A moulvi was very angry to see his feet in that direction. On being asked,
Guru Nanak politely told him that he was a traveller and was very tired. He told the moulvi to move his feet in which ever direction he deemed fit. He moved his feet in one direction and then in another but he found that the abode of God had shifted to the same direction. Guru Nanak’s point went home and the moulvi bowed his head in reverence to Guru Nanak. He told the people gathered there that God was omnipresent – and pervaded the entire universe.
Once Guru Nanak went to Haridwar. There he saw people offering water in the direction of the sun. He started throwing water with both hands in the opposite direction. When somebody asked him what he was doing he counter questioned, “What are you doing?” On being told that they were offering water to their forefathers, he said that he was offering water to his fields. He was again questioned, “How will it reach your fields?” At this Guru Nanak replied” If your water can reach your forefathers why my water cannot reach my fields? Hearing this all the persons present there bowed their head in reverence to Guru Nanak. In fact this was a practical method of Guru Nanak, like that of Christ, Buddha and Kabir to teach people the basic truths of spiritual life.
He condemned superstitions and ritualism. He believed that there was only one God, who was the creator of all things. Though invisible, he pervaded the entire universe. Even a leaf of tree could not move without His order. Guru Nanak did not believe in Devi Devtas. He believed in the concept of Karma and rebirth. In his view, the purity of our Karmas and the chanting of His name could end the eternal cycle of painful rebirths. One should lead a life of purity, service and charity.
He became the founder of Sikh religion. He went from place to place preaching the tenets of his religion in India and abroad. He visited Tibet, Sri Lanka, Burma and Iraq. He spread a message of love and universal brotherhood. He gave light and new life to the suffering humanity. Those whofollow his teachings are known as Sikhs meaning disciples.
Japji – the morning prayer – is a composition of Guru Nanak and is the first chapter of Gliru Granth Sahib, the Sikh Scripture. The verses are in the nature of meditations dealing with the fundamentals of the Sikh faith, namely the conception of God, the place of the religious preceptor the importance of prayer, a belief in the triumph of right over wrong etc. The opening lines are:
There is one God
He is the supreme truth
He, the creator,
Is without fear and without hate.
Guru Nanak died at the age of 70 in the year 1539 A.D. He appointed Lehna, in preference of his own sons, as his successor. He gave Lehna a new name Angad meaning ‘my own limb’.
