I am making a humble attempt to bring to all readers a simplified form of history of Sikh Gurus, Saints and personalities who have led & influenced Sikhism profoundly. May Waheguru bestow his blessings on me and the readers in understanding and bringing forth a true, accurate and simplified picture of Sikh history.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji - the most eminent and remarkable saint in Sikh history.
Birth and young days of Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak was born in 1469 AD in a small village called Talwandi. Talwandi has now been named Nanakana Sahib and forms part of Sheikhpura district of Pakistan. Guru Nanak was the son of Mehta Kalyan Das (Father) and Tripta Devi(Mother). Guru Nanak had a sister whose name was Nanaki. Guru Nanak's grandfather was a village revenue officer (called Patwari) and was a land holder employed with village chief - Rai Bular.
Guru Nanak was an extraordinary child. He was taken to a Purohit (Hindu priest) for schooling at the age of seven. After a while, he was taken to a Mullah (Muslim priest) for further education. Guru Nanak impressed both his teachers. Guru Nanak also met many Sadhus (religious teachers) and ascetics and entered into discussions on spiritual subjects. He became well versed with Persian language and used it later in many of his writings liberally.
Once during Guru Nanak's childhood, he was found by villagers to be sleeping under the shade of a tree. A deadly cobra snake stood near Guru Nanak's head offering shade against sunshine by spreading its hood. Villagers were both scared and awed to see this sight. Today Gurudwara Mal Ji Sahib stands at this sacred spot to commemorate the event.
One day, Guru Nanak was asked to tend cattle in a grassland near his village. During the day, Guru Nanak fell asleep while the cattle damaged crops in a farm close by. The farm owner complained to village chief - Rai Bullar and claimed his losses. Guru Nanak and his father Mehta Kalyan Das were summoned by Rai Bular and they visited the farm together to assess the damage done by cattle. To their surprise, they found the farm untouched. This was one of the first miracles associated with Guru Nanak's life. Today Gurudwara Kiara Sahib has been build at the spot where this incident took place.
The most remarkable story of Guru Nanak's childhood is related to Gurudwara Sacha Sauda (literally translated as "Fair Bargain"). Guru Nanak's father - Mehta Kalyan Das once gave Guru Nanak some money and sent him to purchase goods for the purpose of trading. The market (Chauharkhana) was about 30 kms from Talwandi where Guru Nanak resided. Guru Nanak and a servant set out towards the market but on their way they came across a few Sadhus who were hungry from several days. Guru Nanak was filled with compassion for the hungry Sadhus and used the money given to him by his father to purchase food to feed the Sadhus. This event is termed as "Sacha Sauda" since Guru Nanak bargained to serve the needy by risking thrashing from his father on account of splurging of money given to him for business. Instead of going home, Guru Nanak sat down under a tree outside his village fearing punishment from his father. He was found by his father who was very angry when he heard what Guru Nanak did with the money. At the spot where Guru Nanak was found, Gurudwara Tambu Sahib has been built.
Realising that Guru Nanak's did not have any interest in business or worldly affairs, his parents were worried that he might turn into an ascetic and leave home one day. So they decided to get Guru Nanak married at an early age. Guru Nanak was married to Sulakhani, the daughter of Mool Chand who was a village Patwari. Guru Nanak's sister also got married to Jai Ram who was living in Sultanpur, capital of Jalandhar Doab at that time. Jai Ram invited Guru Nanak to come to Sultanpur and work there. Jai Ram introduced Guru Nanak to Daulat Khan who was Jagirdar of Sultanpur. Daulat Khan used to collect land revenue in the form of grain from farmers. Since there was not much trading business in Sultanpur, payment of salaries to staff was also in the form of grain. Guru Nanak was appointed a store keeper with a duty to weigh the grain and distribute as per sanction. Guru Nanak distributed his salary to the needy and poor. Whenever a sadhu or fakir came along, he liberally granted them grain from the stores. He would keep pouring the grain until the receiver asked Guru Nanak to stop. Several comlaints were made to senior officers and to Daulat Khan about Guru Nanak, however, on inspection, the grain was found to be in order and nothing was missing from the stores.
Guru Nanak's wife - Sulakhani joined him in Sultanpur after a while. Two sons were born to Guru Nanak and Sulakhani during their stay in Sultanpur. They were named Sri Chand and Lakmi Das.
A strange incident occurred thereafter. Guru Nanak went for his daily bath to the bank of Bayeen stream (tributary of river Beas) and disappeared for three days. It is said that during these three days, Guru Nanak received salvation and had a darshan of divine Waheguru, who instructed Guru Nanak to spread the Lord's name and teach righteous living in the world. After three days, Guru Nanak appeared before the world and cited the Moolmantra for the first time. Ek Omkar, Sat Nam, Karta Purakh, Nir Bhau, Nir Vair, Akal Murat, Ajuni Se Bhan, Gur Parshad, Jap - Aad Sach, Jugad Sach, Havei Sach, Nanak Hosi Bhi Sach....
One of the most famous of stories from Guru Nanak's life concerns a visit by Guru Nanak, accompanied by his faithful friend Mardana, to Eminabad in present-day Pakistan. Whilst there, Guru Nanak decided to stay with a low caste individual called Bhai Lallo who was an impoverished but hard working carpenter. Bhai Lallo shared his humble food with the Guru and Mardana for the duration of their stay with him. After a few days at Bhai Lallo’s home, Guru Nanak was invited by a wealthy government official of the same caste as himself called Malak Bhago to a feast that was being held in honour of all eminent individuals in the area. It should be noted here that Guru Nanak was born into a Hindu family.
Guru Nanak refused the invitation and Malak Bhago, who was angered at that refusal, ordered the Guru to attend his property and explain the refusal. The Guru asked Bhai Lallo to come with him to Malak Bhago’s home and to bring a chapatti with him. When he was questioned by Malak Bhago as to why he continued to stay at the home of someone who was of a lower caste and bring shame upon his own caste by his actions by refusing to dine with his own caste, Guru Nanak replied that he wanted a chapatti from Malak Bhago.
The chapatti was placed in a plate before him, and Guru Nanak then asked Bhai Lallo to give him the chapatti that he had made at home. The Guru then proceeded to squeeze both of the chapattis. The chapatti from Malak Bhago produced droplets of blood whilst the chapatti from Bhai Lallo gave droplets of milk. The astonished crowd asked what this meant. Guru Nanak’s reply was that Bhai Lallo was a hard working and dedicated worker who lived a pure life, and this was reflected in his food. Malak Bhago, however, earned his living through the blood, sweat and tears of others by corrupt and dishonest means, and again this was reflected in his feast.[3]
Another story related to Guru Nanak states that he stayed at the home of a leper during his travels as no-one else was willing to accommodate the Guru in that area, and as a result of the Guru’s stay, the leper was cured of his leprosy.
The Janamsakhis also give an account of Guru Nanak visiting the home of an excessively wealthy man who had several flags outside of his home, each of which represented 100,000 rupees that he had accumulated. Guru Nanak asked the man to carry a needle into the next world for him, and when the reply came that it was impossible for the needle to carried after one has died, the Guru then asked how he expected his wealth to follow him after his death. The man, understanding what the Guru had meant, then redistributed a portion of his wealth to the poor in his area.[4]
Regardless of what one’s view is of the miracles attributed to Guru Nanak, the general theme to be taken from these stories is that all people should be treated as equal, that one should work hard in one’s life in order to reap honest rewards, that one should contribute to society in whatever way possible, and that one should never shirk from one’s responsibility to others.
Guru Nanak’s philosophy and teachings continue to have resonance today. It is only by treating individuals as equals that a truly inclusive society can exist. In that context, shunning or judging people because of their sexuality, for example, is morally wrong and contradicts Guru Nanak’s teachings. Guru Nanak challenged the prejudices that existed in society in 16th century Southern and Central Asia. Five hundred years may have passed since Guru Nanak commenced his travels, but many of those prejudices are still strong and new prejudices have emerged over time, such as homophobia.
The only way that such prejudices can be challenged is through egalitarianism and education. These prejudices will fade over time, just as caste is no longer a major barrier to employment or success in one’s life.[5] The question is how a society can be truly egalitarian in the way that Guru Nanak envisioned it to be whilst inequalities continue to be perpetuated by individuals.
Sikhism is a reformist religion, closer in many respects to Socialism than to some other belief systems. By allowing Sikhism to become a conservative rather than a progressive movement, it is a rejection of Guru Nanak’s stance on equality for all. In one of his earliest compilations, Guru Nanak stated that:
Virtue and Vice do not come by mere words,
Actions repeated over and over again are engraved on the soul [6]
Until we heed these words, live by these teachings and act to make society truly egalitarian, Guru Nanak’s message of equality will continue to fall on deaf ears. It is up to each of us, collectively and as individuals, to take action and ensure that this message of equality becomes more than just a mere message and is transformed into a reality.
