Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji was born in 1469 in a village named Talwandi in the Sheikhupura district, 65 kms west of Lahore(now in Pakistan). His father's name was Mehta Kalu and his mother's name was Tripta. His father Mehta Kalu who was a 'Patwari' (manager). He was married to Sulakhani and eventually had two sons Sri Chand and Lakshmi Chand.
At his birth, the mid-wife Daultan experienced an extraordinary happening. She felt that suddenly the room was filled with a bright light just before his birth. As a boy, Sri Guru Nanak learnt, besides the regional languages, Persian and Arabic.
By all accounts, 1496 was the year of his enlightenment when he started on his mission. Accompanied by Mardana, he began his missionary tours. Apart from conveying his message and rendering help to the weak, he preached to partaway against caste distinctions, idol worship and the pseudo-religious beliefs that had no spiritual content.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji Life as a childhood/Boyhood
Nanak's father wanted his son to do something useful and earn money. Mehta Kalu came to know about Nanak's visits to fakirs and sadhus in the nearby forest. He could not think of any occupation for Nanak, so he asked him to take the family buffaloes for grazing to the nearby grazing fields. Nanak started taking the buffaloes early in the morning to the fields, and himself sat under a tree to keep a watch over them.Once on a hot afternoon, sitting under the shade of a tree, he feel asleep. The buffaloes entered the nearby fields of a farmer and ruined it, he took guru ji to Rai Bular, and told him that Nanak's cow-herd had completely ruined his crop. The farmer asked Rai Bular to make Mehta Kalu pay him the price of his crops. He sent his men along with the farmer to find out the extent of damage done, and also to bring Mehta Kalu on their way back.
When they reached there they could not believe what had happened, there was no damage to the crops. Rai Bular told Mehta Kalu to take his son home, as he was the blessed one. A Gurudwara was later built on the field and named 'Kiara Sahib' on the sacred field.
Rai Bular began to believe that Nanak was not an ordinary boy. His belief was confirmed by two incidents which took place later. One day Rai Bular was returning to the village after the day's work, when he saw Nanak asleep under a tree. While the shadow of other trees had move eastward according to the movement of the sun, the shade of the tree under which Nanak slept had not moved. Rai Bular got down from his horse and went to Nanak and awakened him. In the meantime the shade of the tree moved away eastward. Rai Bular embraced Nanak and told his attendants that he had witnessed a miracle of the Lord.
Once again Rai Bular saw Nanak asleep and the hood of a cobra was the shade for Nanak's face from the sun's rays. Rai Bular moved towards Nanak and the cobra went away. Rai Bular told Mehta Kalu about both the incidents, and asked him never to say any harsh words to Nanak, as he was the chosen one of God.
Despite the hazards of travel in those times, he performed five long tours all over the country and even outside it. He explained through his preachings the incongruities and fruitlessness of ritualistic and ascetic practices. He spent twenty-five years of his life preaching from place to place. Many of his hymns were composed during this period. They represent answers to the major religious and social problems of the day and cogent responses to the situations and incidents that he came across. During these tours he studied other religious systems like Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Islam. At the same time, he preached the doctrines of his new religion and mission at the places and centres he visited. Since his mystic system almost completely reversed the trends, principles and practices of the then prevailing religions, he criticized and rejected virtually all the old beliefs, rituals and harmful practices existing in the country. This explains the necessity of his long and arduous tours and the variety and profusion of his hymns on all the religious, social, political and theological issues, practices and institutions of his period.
Sachcha Sauda
When Guru Nanak Dev ji were 12 years old his father gave him twenty rupees and asked him to do a business, apparently to teach him business. From that money Guru Nanak dev ji bought food for the saints and distributed it among saints, and poor. When his father asked him what business he did with that money ? He replied that he had done a "True business". The place where Guru Nanak dev ji had given the food to the saints and poor stands a gurudwara named Sacha Sauda.
Tera Tera
Mehta Kalu was very unhappy the way Nanak was shaping. Nanak's parents thought marriage might bring about a sense or responsibility in their son. So Nanak was married to Sulakhani, daughter of Mula from Batala (a town in Gurdaspur district). His father sent him to Sultanpur along with Bhai Bala, where Nanaki's husband was in the service of Nawab Daulat Khan, Governor of Sultanpur. Daulat Khan appointed Nanak as the storekeeper of his 'modikhana'. He worked hard and performed his duties to the satisfaction of Daulat Khan. He kept a part of his earnings for himself and his family, and distributed the rest amongst the poor and the needy.
It was at Sultanpur that Mardana came into contact with Guru Nanak and became Nanaks constant companion. At dawn Nanak would go to the river 'Beni' for his bath, and then sit down for his prayers. After that he would go for his work at the 'modikhana'. When weighing the provisions, he would count upto thirteen 'tera', and then keep on repeating the number quite a few times.
Some of the people complained to the Sultan. But after the stock checking nothing was found missing from the 'modikhana'.
Guru Nanak at the Holy Ganga
Nanak's first journey was towards the East. On the way he visited many holy places and stayed amongst the people and saw the way they lived and worshipped. Whenever he disagreed with them, he showed them that they were wrong.
One day, while Nanak was at Hardwar, he saw a large crowed bathing in the river Ganga. Some people were throwing water towards the sun. "What are you doing?" Nanak asked them. "We are offering water to our ancestors," they replied. "Where are your ancestors?" Nanak asked again. "Many millions and billions of miles away," the people replied. "But will the water get, there? "he asked them. "Our holy books tell us it will," they answered. On hearing this, Nanak turned in the opposite direction and started throwing up handfuls of water. The people were bewildered by this and asked, "What are you doing?"
Nanak replied, "I have a farm in the Punjab which is always dry; I am watering it."
Everyone began to laugh. "How do you think the water will reach your land in the Punjab which is hundreds of miles from here?" they asked.
Then Nanak retorted, "Your ancestors are even farther away and yet you say that the water you are throwing will reach them. Why should not this water reach my farm which is so much nearer?" He continued, "You can only honour the memory of your dead by doing good deeds. In this way you truly magnify their name."
The people looked at Nanak with respect. "He is quite right," they murmured amongst themselves. "He must be a great man."
No Hindu No Muslim (Musalman)
It has been recorded in 'Janamsakhi' that one morning when Nanak went to bathe in the river 'Beni', he disappeared for three days. It is said that he went into 'Jalsamadhi' and met the 'Akal Purakh' and received orders for the mission of his life. Everyone thought that he had drowned in the river. Daulat Khan ordered the best of his swimmers to find the body of Nanak in the river. But no one could find any trace of him or his body. He reappeared after three days. People saw him coming out of the river with a strange glow, and gathered around him to find out where he had disappeared.
He said, "There is no Hindu no Musalmaan". When these strange words and the incident were reported to Nawab Daulat Khan, he sent a messenger to call Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Guru Sahib reached the court and found that Nawab's Qazi was also there to question him. The Qazi asked him as to how he could utter such words, that there was no Hindu no Musalmaan, when he was staying in a Muslim state?
Guru Sahib explained that though there were thousands of Muslims or Hindus, yet they had forgotten what their religion has taught them. A true Hindu or a true Muslim should do nothing which would displease God. They were the children of one God, and should be truthful, honest, and avoid anger, agreed and pride. They should share their earnings with the poor and the needy. He asked the Qazi to look around and find out whether such a Hindu or a Muslim existed. The Qazi bowed his head and so did the others in the court.
After satisfying the Nawab and the Qazi, Guru Sahib wanted to leave but as it was the Muslim prayer time, the Nawab invited Guru Sahib for prayers and he readily agreed. Guru Nanak Dev Ji stood aside and watched them pray. When the prayer was over the Qazi complained to the Nawab, that Nanak never joined the 'Namaz' and kept smiling while they prayed.
Guru Sahib when questioned, told them that the Qazi was thinking of his new born foal and was afraid that it might fall in the well in the courtyard. He pointed out to the Nawab, that he too, was buying horses in Kabul and not praying.
Both of them bowed their heads, touched Guru Sahibs feet and admitted that their minds and hearts were somewhere else while they prayed. After leaving the mosque, he told Nawab Daulat Khan that he would be leaving his service as he had to serve the Lord by spreading His message.
Gold vs good deeds
After his journey to the east, Nanak returned to the Punjab. He stayed at home for a short while and then went to Lahore, the capital city. One day a very rich man named Dunni Chand asked Nanak to come and dine with him. After the meal Dunni Chand asked, "Is there anything I can do for you? I am very wealthy and should be glad to grant you a favour."Nanak thought for a minute and then pulled out a needle from his pocket. "I should be grateful if you would give me this needle when we meet in the next world after we are dead," he said. Dunni Chand looked at Nanak with surprise. "But how can I take a needle to the next world?" he asked.
Then Nanak replied, "If such a small thing as a needle cannot be taken to the next world, how do you think you will take all your riches? Only good deeds go with you when you die. Money is worthless unless it can be used for the good other people."
Dunni Chand realised the wisdom of Nanak's words. He gave away all he possessed and spent the rest of his life helping the poor.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Babar's prison
While Nanak was in the Punjab talking with the people about God and how they could best show their love and devotion for Him, a Mughal chief, Babar, invaded India. He brought a large army of Turks who burnt the crops, destroyed homes, and killed men, women and children by the thousands. There was misery and unhappiness everywhere.The people saw all their plans for the future destroyed before their eyes, lost hope and said, "It is fate. God must have willed this on us for our many wins. We cannot do anything about it." Nanak, on hearing them, replied, "You cannot blame God for your misfortunes, you must never give up hope. You must try and start afresh and build your future again." And whenever Nanak saw the people in despair he would repeat encouragingly "With your own hands make your own future."
It was about this time that an officer of Babar captured the town where Nanak was staying and imprisoned everyone. Nanak and Mardana were among those taken prisoners. Everyone was put in chains and made to grind corn. In the evening Nanak began to say his prayers as was his custom. The people warned him, "If you stop grinding corn even for a minute, the guards will have you whipped." Nanak paid no attention to them and continued to pray. It is said that while Nanak was lost in prayer the wheel of the mill continued turning on its own.
Babar's heart was touched and he visited the prison to pay his respect to the holy man and ordered that all the prisoners should be set free and their property given back to them. He said, "If I had known that this city contained such holy men I would never have harmed it."
Sangat & Pangat
Nanak returned to the Punjab after many months. He wished to end his days in the country-side he knew and loved best. So he settled down with his family at a small town named Kartarpur.One question kept troubling him, "Are not all men equal? Why then is the Brahmin regarded as holier than the sweeper? Surely this division of man from man is inhuman?" Nanak often said. So he decided to try and change the system which by building walls between men caused such bitterness.
'In the 'Langar' I will make sure that any men or women who come to me, be they rich or poor, of high caste or low, shall eat together. They shall take it in turn to cook and wash the dishes. For why should only the Brahmin be considered clean enough to cook?" Nanak said. In sangat, all shall recite prayers together. We shall have no priests who can look down on other men."
Large numbers of people began to gather to see Nanak and hear him speak of God. Nanak told them how they should live. He asked them to wake up three hours before sunrise, bathe and then go to the temple to recite the morning prayers and sing hymns. Thereafter they were to be free to earn their living. In the evening after having done a full day's work, be it farming, shop-keeping or weaving, the people were asked to gather to pray and sing hymns. After this they all dined together in the temple. Before going to bed to sleep, everyone was expected to say another short prayer.
This became the life of work and prayer of Nanak's followers all over the country.
God is Everywhere
Nanak's last journey was towards the west. He wanted to go and see the places which Muslims considered holy. So he joined a band of pilgrims on their way to Mecca.
One day, during the journey, he fell asleep in the mosque. Suddenly he was shaken awake. Standing above him, glaring down at him furiously, was a Mullah, the Muslim priest of the mosque.
"What do you think you are doing?" the Mullah demanded angrily. "Have you no respect for religion? Why are you sleeping with you feet towards Mecca which is the house of God?"
Nanak replied gently, "If I have made a mistake, please correct me. Turn my feet to where there is no God."
The Mullah was taken aback. "You know that you should always face Mecca," he said. "Even our dead are buried with their faces towards Mecca.'
Nanak replied, "But God is everywhere. Your own holy book, the Koran, says 'whichever way you turn, there is the face of Allah.'"
On hearing such wisdom the Mullah fell down at Nanak's feet in admiration and asked Nanak to forgive him.
After this, Nanak went to Mecca and from there to Medina and westwards on to Baghdad. Everywhere he met people who believed firmly that they were very religious and devoted to God.
Honest Living
Once on his journeys, Nanak happened to come to a large city. He was a little tired and decide to spend a few days there. A poor carpenter, Lalo who was known to be good and kind, asked Nanak to stay with him. A few days later a very wealthy man, Malik Bhago, who belonged to the highest Hindu caste, gave an enormous feast and invited Nanak to be his guest. It was considered a great honour to be asked to dine with a man as rich and powerful to Malik Bhago. Over a hundred people went to the feast. But Nanak did not go. Malik Bhago noticed Nanak's absence and went to see him the next day. "You eat the coarse bread of a poor, low-caste carpenter," he said, "and yet you insult me by refusing to come to my feast. However I have brought some specially prepared cake for you."
Nanak did not reply. He took the cake from the man. He asked the poor carpenter to bring him some bread from the kitchen. Then he held the rich man's specially prepared cake in one hand, and the poor, low-caste carpenter's bread in the other, and squeezed them. From Lalo's bread flowed milk and from Malik Bhago's cake there poured a stream of blood. Malik Bhago looked horrified. "Why is there blood coming from my cake and milk from Lalo's coarse bread?" he asked.
"Lalo's bread was earned by honest hard work. But your cake and the riches you have collected have all been gained by robbing and cheating the poor," Nanak replied.
Malik Bhago admitted that Nanak had spoken justly. He felt ashamed of his evil deeds. Thus Nanak changed yet another man from his sinful ways to a life devoted to helping the poor and needy.
Nanak's Prayer
There is One God.He is the supreme truth.
He, the Creator,
Is without fear and without hate.
He, the Omnipresent
Pervades the universe.
He is not born,
Nor does He die to be born again.
By His grace shalt thou worship Him.
Before time itself
There was truth.
When time began to run its course
He was the truth.
Even now, He is the truth
And evermore shall truth prevail.
Finally, on the completion of his tours, he settled as a peasant farmer at Kartarpur, a village in the Punjab. Guru Nanak had a distinct sense of his prophet hood and that his mission was God-ordained. During his preachings, he himself announced. "O Lallo, as the words of the Lord come to me, so do I express them." So often Guru Nanak refers to God as his Enlightener and Teacher. His statements clearly show his belief that God had commanded him to preach an entirely new religion, the central idea of which was the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God, shorn of all ritualism and priest craft. He was accepted as a new religious prophet. Twenty-five years of his extensive preparatory tours and preachings across the length and breadth of the country clearly show his deep conviction that the people needed a new prophetic message which God had commanded him to deliver. By the formal ceremony of appointing his successor and by giving him a new name, Angad (his part or limb), he laid down the clear principle of impersonality, unity and indivisibility of Guruship. At that time he addressed Angad by saying, Between thou and me there is now no difference.