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| | [[Image:Nanak.jpg|thumb|Guru Nanak]] | | [[Image:Nanak.jpg|thumb|Guru Nanak]] |
| − | '''Guru Nanak Dev''' ({{lang-pa|ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ}}) (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539), was the founder of [[Sikhism]] and the first of the [[The Sikh Gurus|ten Gurus]] of the Sikhs.
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| − | == Background ==
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| − | Guru Nanak hailed from a village named after him as Nanakana Sahib, located near the modern Pakistani City of Lahore.
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| − | His father, Mehta Kalu, also known as Kalayan Das Mehta was from a tribe called Bedi Khatri, was a village record keeper.His mother was Mata [[Trivedi|Tripat]]. His parents were [[Brahmin]] [[Hindu]]s. The Guru had an older 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 [[Guru Nanak and the Sacred Thread|“sacred” thread]] called a [[Janeu]] and instead said that he would wear the true name of God in his heart for his protection, as the thread which could be broken, be soiled, burnt or lost could not offer any security at all.
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| − | As a householder, Guru Nanak continued to carry out the mission of his life – To lead people to the [[true]] [[path]] of [[God]]; to dispel [[superstition]]; to bring people out of ritualistic practises; to lead them directly to follow [[Gurbani]] – without the need for [[priests]] and [[clergy]]; restrain and guard against the five thieves within – Pride, Anger, Greed, Attachment and Lust.
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| − | Guru Nanak Dev continued his religious pursuits as always. Nanak married Sulkhni, of Batala, and they had two sons, [[Sri Chand]] and [[Lakhmi Das]]. His brother-in-law, 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 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: is it a mythical divinity or is it an intimate understanding?). His first words after his re-emergence were: "there is no [[Hindu]], there is no [[Muslim]]". It is this secularist, humanitarian principle that governed his thought. It was then that he began his missionary work.
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| − | == Early Sikh Guru's Perception of the Mughal Empire ==
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| − | Babur's reign was witnessed by the first sikh guru Nanak Dev. His Raag Asa Guru records Nanak's observations and thoughts in his poems. It says:
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| − | "Having attacked Khuraasaan, [[Babur|Babar]] terrified [[Hindustan]]. The Creator Himself does not take the blame, but has sent the [[Mugal]] as the messenger of death. There was so much slaughter that the people screamed. Didn't You feel compassion, Lord?" pg (360)
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| − | On the condition of [[Hindu]] women in Babur's rule:
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| − | "Those heads adorned with braided hair, with their parts painted with vermilion - those heads were shaved with scissors, and their throats were choked with dust.They lived in palatial mansions, but now, they cannot even sit near the palaces.... ropes were put around their necks, and their strings of pearls were broken. Their wealth and youthful beauty, which gave them so much pleasure, have now become their enemies. The order was given to the soldiers, who dishonored them, and carried them away. If it is pleasing to God's Will, He bestows greatness; if is pleases His Will, He bestows punishment" pg(417-18)
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| − | On the nature of Mughal rule under Babur:
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| − | "First, the tree puts down its roots, and then it spreads out its shade above. The kings are tigers, and their officials are dogs; they go out and awaken the sleeping people to harass them. The public servants inflict wounds with their nails. The dogs lick up the blood that is spilled." Source: Rag Malar, (pg.1288)
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| | [[Image:Guru nanak.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Guru Nanak Dev]] | | [[Image:Guru nanak.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Guru Nanak Dev]] |
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| − | == Travels ==
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| − | Tradition states that Guru Nanak Dev made four great journeys, traveling to all parts of [[India]], and into [[Tibet]] and [[Arabia]] and visiting [[Mecca]] and [[Baghdad]]. He spoke before [[Buddhism|Buddhists]], [[Hinduism|Hindus]], [[Jainism|Jains]], [[Muslim]]s, and [[Zoroastrians]]. He spoke in the temples and at various pilgrimage sites. It was during this period that Guru Nanak Dev met [[Kabir]] ([[1441]]-[[1518]]), a saint revered by followers of many faiths. Wherever he went, Guru Nanak Dev spoke out against empty [[Ritual|religious rituals]]; [[pilgrimage]]s; the [[caste system]]; the practise of [[Sati (practice)|Sati]], wherein a widow immolates herself on their husband's funeral pyre; of depending on [[Sacred text|books]] to learn the true religion; and of all the other tenets that were to define his teachings. Guru Nanak never asked anyone to follow him. He asked that people remain true to their beliefs.
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| − | After the last of his great journeys, Guru Nanak Dev settled in the town of Kartarpur, in [[Punjab region|Punjab]] on the banks of the [[Ravi River|Ravi]] where he taught for another fifteen years. Followers from all over came to settle in Kartarpur to listen, and sing, and be with him. During this time, although his followers still remained Hindu, or of the religion to which they were born, they became known as the Guru's disciples, or [[Sikh|sikhs]]. It was here that his followers began to refer to him as teacher, or [[Guru|guru]]. It was here that the Guru told his followers that they were to be [[Household|householders]] and could not live apart from the world—there were to be no [[Priest|priests]] or [[Hermit|hermits]]. Here is where the Guru instituted the [[Langar|common meal]], requiring the rich and poor, high caste and low caste, and various faiths to sit together while eating. Here is where Lehna, renamed as [[Guru Angad Dev|Guru Angad]], came to be with Guru Nanak Dev. Guru Nanak's days before his passing away, installed Guru Angad as the second Guru of Sikhs.
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| − | == Death ==
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| − | The last part of his worldly life, Guru Nanak spent in Kartarpur. The Great 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.
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| − | On 22 September of the year 1539 , at the age of 70 years, Guru Nanak gave up his body after he had requested his disciples to sing the [[Sohila]] (the praise of God).
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| − | 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.
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| − | When Guru Nanak merged into the eternal light, the Hindus wanted to cremate him while the Muslims wanted to bury the body. However on raising the sheet under which the Great Guru's body lay, both found nothing but fresh flowers which were divided between themselves. The Hindus cremated the flowers whereas the Muslims buried theirs.
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| − | {{Sikh Gurus|Sikh Bhagats|([[1100]] - [[1469]])|Guru Nanak|Guru Angad Dev|([[31 March]] [[1504]] - [[29 March]] [[1552]])}}
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| − | ==See also==
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| − | *[[List of founders of major religions]]
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| − | *[[List of Punjabi poets]]
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| − | *[[Sikhism]]
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| − | *[[Sikhs]]
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| − | *[[Sikh Sites]]
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | *[http://www.scys-online.org/site/G1.html Learn more about the founder of Sikhism, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji]
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| − | *[http://www.gurmat.info/sms/smspublications/gurunanakforchildren/ Guru Nanak (for Children)] - eBook
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| − | *[http://altreligion.about.com/library/weekly/aa120602a.htm Biography of Guru Nanak, with Pictures]
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| − | *[http://www.sacred-texts.com/skh/tsr1/index.htm Max Arthur MacAuliff, ''The Sikh Religion, Vol 1, (The Life of Guru Nanak)'', Oxford University Press, 1909.]
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| − | *[http://www.srigurunanaksahib.org Eternal Glory of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji]
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| − | *[http://www.sikhvideos.org/guru-nanak-nirankar.htm Video on Guru Nanak Dev Ji]
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| − | *[http://allaboutsikhs.com/gurus/gurunanak.htm Allaboutsikhs.com]
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| − | *[http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/ SikhPhilosophy.Net - Redefining Sikh, Sikhi & Sikhism. Learn about Sikh Religion & History.]
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| − | *[http://www.info-sikh.com A wealth of information about Guru Nanak Dev Ji]
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| − | *[http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/gurus/nanak1.html Sikh-History.com]
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| − | *[http://www.jargsahib.com/GuruNanak.html JargSahib.com]
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| − | Audio:
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| − | *[http://www.sikhism.com/playlists/play4.htm Sikhism.com]
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| − | {{Sikhism}}
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| − | [[Category:Indian religious figures]]
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| − | [[Category:Sant Mat]]
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| − | [[Category:Revolutionaries]]
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| | [[Category:Philosophy and religion]][[category:History and biography]][[category:Religion]] | | [[Category:Philosophy and religion]][[category:History and biography]][[category:Religion]] |
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