Baba Guru Nanak | The First Sikh Guru | Biography, Facts, and Teachings
Fast Facts
Date of Birth: April 15, 1469
Place of Birth: Rai Bhoi Ki Talvandi (present day Punjab, Pakistan)
Date of Death: September 22, 1539
Place of Death: Kartarpur (present day Pakistan)
Father: Mehta Kalu
Mother: Mata Tripta
Wife: Mata Sulakhni
Children: Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das
Successor: Guru Angad
Famous As: Founder of Sikkhism
Resting Place: Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartar Pur, Kartarpur, Pakistan
Guru Nanak founded Sikhism, one of the world’s
youngest religions. Guru Nanak was the first Sikh Guru, and his spiritual
teachings laid the groundwork for Sikhism. Guru Nanak, regarded as a religious
innovator, travelled throughout South Asia and the Middle East to spread his
teachings. He preached the existence of one God and taught his followers that
through meditation and other religious practises, any human being can reach out
to God. Interestingly, Guru Nanak opposed monasticism and encouraged his
followers to live the life of an honest householder. His teachings were
immortalised in the form of 974 hymns that became known as the ‘Guru Granth
Sahib,’ Sikhism’s holy text. With over 20 million followers,, Sikhism is one of
the important religions in India.
Early Life of Baba Guru Nanak
Nanak was raised by his parents, Mehta Kalu
and Mata Tripta, in a middle-class Hindu family. He spent the majority of his
childhood with his older sister, Bebe Nanaki, whom he adored. Nanak as a child
astounded many with his intelligence and interest in divine subjects. Nanak was
asked to wear the sacred thread for his ‘upanayana’ ritual, but he simply
refused. When the priest insisted, a young Nanak surprised everyone by asking
for a sacred thread in every sense of the word. He desired that the thread be
made of mercy and contentment, with continence and truth holding the three
sacred threads together..
Nanak’s sister married Jai Ram and moved to
Sultanpur in 1475. Nanak wanted to spend some time with his sister, so he
travelled to Sultanpur and began working for his brother-in-employer. law’s
Nanak would bathe and meditate at a nearby river every morning during his stay
in Sultanpur. He went to the river as usual one fine day, but did not return
for three days. Nanak is said to have gone deep into the forest and stayed
there for three days. When he returned, he appeared possessed and didn’t say
anything. “There is no Hindu and no Musalman,” he said when he
finally spoke. These were the first
words of his teachings, which would culminate in the establishment of a new
religion.
Sikhism
Nanak earned the title Guru Nanak (teacher)
after travelling far and wide to spread his teachings. Through his teachings,
he helped to establish Sikhism, one of the world’s youngest religions. Without
embracing monasticism, the religion emphasises the importance of living a
spiritual life. It teaches its followers how to break free from the clutches of
ordinary human traits like lust, rage, greed, attachment, and conceit
(collectively known as the “Five Thieves”). Sikhism is a monotheistic
religion that believes God is formless, eternal, and invisible. It also teaches
about worldly illusion (Maya), Karma, and liberation. Meditation and recitation
of Gurbani, the hymns composed by the Gurus, are two important Sikhism
practises. The religion also
promotes justice and equality and encourages its adherents to serve humanity.
Teachings of Baba Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak taught that every human being has the ability to
achieve spiritual perfection, which will eventually lead them to God. He also
stated that rituals and priests are not necessary for direct access to God.
Guru Nanak emphasised in his teachings that God created many worlds as well as
life. Guru Nanak instructed his followers to repeat the name of God in order to
feel God’s presence (Nam Japna). He also urged them to live a spiritual life by
serving others and living an honest life free of exploitation or fraud.
Guru Nanak’s Journeys
Guru Nanak was determined to spread the God’s
message. He was saddened by humanity’s plight, as the world was succumbing to
Kaliyug’s wickedness. As a result, Guru Nanak decided to travel throughout the
subcontinent in order to educate the people. He is said to have made five
journeys (udasis) during his lifetime. Guru Nanak is said to have visited his
parents before embarking on his first journey to explain the significance of
his journeys. Guru Nanak travelled through most of modern-day India and
Pakistan on his first journey. This seven-year journey is thought to have taken
place between 1500 and 1507 AD. Guru Nanak visited the majority of modern-day
Sri Lanka on his second journey. This journey, too, lasted approximately seven years..
Guru Nanak’s third journey took him through
the difficult terrains of the Himalayas, visiting Kashmir, Nepal, Tashkand,
Tibet, and Sikkim. This journey lasted approximately five years, from 1514 to
1519 AD. In his fourth journey, he visited Mecca and the majority of the Middle
East. This lasted approximately three years. Guru Nanak focused his fifth and
final journey, which lasted two years, on spreading the message throughout the
Punjab region. Most of his journeys were accompanied by Bhai Mardana. Scholars
question the authenticity of these journeys, but it is believed that Guru Nanak
spent 24 years of his life on these journeys, covering a staggering distance
28,000 kilometers by foot.
Contributions to Humanity by
Guru Nanak’s preaching came at a time when
various religions were at odds. People were so drunk on pride and ego that they
began fighting each other in the name of God and religion. As a result, Guru
Nanak began his teachings by declaring that there are no Hindus or Muslims.
This implies that God is one and that different religions only see Him in
different ways. Although not intended, Guru Nanak’s teachings helped to bring
Hindus and Muslims together to some extent. He also emphasised the significance
of human equality. He opposed slavery and racial discrimination and declared
that all people are equal.
Guru Nanak is a religious figure who has made
significant contributions to women’s empowerment in India. Guru Nanak urged his
followers to respect women and treat them as equals. He claimed that a man is
always bound to women and that there would be no creation on Earth if women did
not exist. He also restored faith in God by stating that the Creator is
intimately involved in what man is attempting to accomplish on Earth. While
most major religions, including Hindu and Buddhist sects, advocated monasticism
as a means of salvation,
Guru Nanak created a religion that supports
the average householder’s lifestyle. Most importantly, he taught his followers
how to achieve salvation while living a normal life in society. In fact, he
emphasised the importance of living life with one’s family members. He not only
taught his ideals, but he also acted as a living example of them. When Guru
Nanak went to the heavenly abode, nine other Gurus carried on his teachings and
spread his message.
Death of
Guru Nanak’s teachings had made him extremely
popular among both Hindus and Muslims. His ideals were such that it was ideal
for both communities. They both claimed Guru Nanak as one of their own, and it
goes without saying that Guru Nanak’s ardent followers, known as Sikhs
(disciples), were also in the race, along with Hindus and Muslims. When Guru
Nanak’s final days approached, a debate erupted between Hindus, Muslims, and
Sikhs over who should be given the honour of performing the last rites. While
Hindus and Sikhs wanted to cremate their Guru’s mortal remains as is customary,
The Muslims desired to carry out the last
rites in accordance with their beliefs. When the debate failed to reach an
amicable conclusion, they decided to consult Guru Nanak himself about what
needed to be done. When they all approached him, Guru Nanak requested that they
bring flowers to place next to his mortal remains. He asked Hindus and Sikhs to
place their flowers on his right side, while Muslims placed theirs on his left.
He stated that the party whose flowers remained fresh for a night would be given
the honour of performing the last rites. When Guru Nanak died, the religious
communities carried out his instructions.
When
they returned the next morning to see which flowers had remained fresh, they
were surprised to see that none of the flowers had wilted, but the biggest
surprise was that Guru Nanak’s mortal remains had vanished, leaving only fresh
flowers in their place. It is said that the Hindus and Sikhs picked up their flowers and buried them, while the Muslims did the same.
