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On Kartik Purnima, the birth anniversary of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Ji, is being celebrated. Guru Nanak Ji’s birth anniversary is also known as Prakash Parv and Guru Parv. Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, was born in a Hindu family. Along with Guru Nanak Jayanti, which is an inspiration for crores of people, Dev Deepawali is also celebrated on Kartik Purnima and many lamps are lit at night. On this occasion, let us know why Guru Nanak Dev Ji, born in a Hindu family, thought of establishing Sikhism?
Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth anniversary is called Prakash Parv because he lit the lamp of knowledge to remove the ignorance of the society. He was born in the year 1469 AD in Rai Bhoi Di Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib), 64 km from Lahore (now in Pakistan). It is believed in Sikh traditions that the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the initial years thereafter were special in many ways. It is said that God inspired Guru Nanak to do something different.
Rebellious nature from childhood
Though he was born in a Hindu family, he soon started studying Islam and then Hinduism extensively. Due to this, he developed a wonderful power of poetry and philosophy in his childhood itself. There is a famous story that Guru Nanak Dev Ji became rebellious at the age of only 11 years, whereas by this age Hindu boys have the Yagyopavit Sanskar and they start wearing the sacred sacred thread. At the same time, Guru Nanak Ji refused to wear it. He said that instead of wearing the sacred thread, we should enhance our personal qualities.
Argued with saints and clerics
With the expansion of his knowledge, Guru Nanak Ji continued to draw a rebellious spiritual line. He started questioning the local saints and clerics. He was questioning Hindus and Muslims alike. His entire emphasis was on internal change and he did not like show-off at all. He worked as a munshi for some time but started studying spiritual subjects at an early age. He was deeply influenced by his spiritual experience and started searching for God in nature. He believed that one can move forward on the path of spirituality through contemplation.
Showed a new path for a better life
Guru Nanak Dev got married in the year 1496 and he also had a family of his own. Meanwhile, he made a spiritual journey from India and Tibet to Arabia which continued for 30 years. During this time, he kept studying and debating with educated people. In this sequence, he gave shape to Sikhism and established spirituality for a better life. Gradually, the number of his followers started increasing, to whom Guru Nanak Dev Ji told three duties. These include prayer or Sumiran, Kriya or work and charity.
Sikhs are called disciples of Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Guru Nanak Dev Ji always taught his disciples to remember God, do Kirat i.e. earn a livelihood honestly and share their earnings with others i.e. give charity and take care of others. The literal meaning of Sikh is disciple. His disciples who followed the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji were later called Sikhs and in this way a new religion was established, which includes remembering God, living an honest life i.e. staying away from crime, learning to avoid gambling, begging, alcohol and working in the tobacco industry and helping others. Based on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev, Sikhs also try to avoid the five self-centered vices of lust, anger, attachment, greed and ego.
Caste system was abolished
Guru Nanak Dev Ji lived in Kartarpur, Punjab during the last days of his life. There he attracted a large number of people with his teachings who became his followers. His most important message was that God is one. Every human being can reach God directly. For this, no ritual, priest or cleric is needed. He made the most revolutionary reform like abolishing the caste system and said that every human being is one, irrespective of his caste or gender.
Due to the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, there are no rituals like fasting, pilgrimage, superstition, worship of the dead and idol worship in Sikhism. Instead, the teachings of the Guru that people of different races, religions and genders are equal in the eyes of God are followed. This religion teaches equality of men and women. Sikh women have the same right as men to participate in any religious ceremony. They can perform any ritual and can also lead the congregation in prayer.
God is in every direction
Baba Nanak Shah Fakir is a book written by Tajuddin Naqshbandi. Similarly, many stories are described in Dr. Kuldeep Chand’s book Shri Guru Nanak Devji. One such story is that during his religious travels, Guru Nanak Dev Ji was going to Mecca. Before reaching there, he got tired and stopped at a rest house and lay down with his feet towards Mecca. Seeing this, a person serving the pilgrims got angry. He asked Nanak Dev Ji that why are you lying down with your feet towards Mecca and Medina? Guru Nanak Dev Ji said that if you are not feeling good, then turn my feet towards the side where God is not present. Guru Nanak Ji explained that God is present in every direction. His true devotee is the one who always remembers him while doing good deeds.
Guru Nanak Dev’s beloved disciple, not his sons… he had made him his successor; the story is interesting
Today, on 15 November, the 555th Guru Nanak Jayanti is being celebrated with great pomp across the country. Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated every year on the full moon day of Kartik month. This day is also known as Guru Nanak Prakash Parv. This festival is a major festival for the Sikh community, which is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Guru Nanak ji is considered to be the first Guru of Sikhism. But do you know, Guru Nanak Dev chose someone else as his successor, not his sons. The story behind this is also very interesting…
The first religious guru of the Sikhs, i.e. Guru Nanak Dev ji had two sons. Along with this, he also had four special disciples. Nanak Dev often used to live with these four disciples and sons. Not only this, from time to time he used to test all of them.
Talwandi is a place in the Punjab province of Pakistan. A Brahmin family lived here. Guru Nanak Dev was born in this family on the day of Kartik Purnima in the year 1469. It is believed in Sikhism that Nanak Dev ji was endowed with special powers since childhood. He got to learn a lot from his sister Nanaki. At the age of 16, he got married to Sulakhni.
Sulakhni was a resident of Lakhoki in Gurdaspur district of Punjab (India). They had two sons Shri Chand and Lakhmi. Shortly after the birth of his sons, Nanak ji went on pilgrimage. He made very long journeys. Mardana, Lahna, Bala and Ramdas also accompanied him on this journey. He traveled till 1521. During this journey, he used to preach to everyone and create awareness against social evils. He visited many places in India, Afghanistan and Arabia. These journeys are called “Udasiyan” in Punjabi.
The test of bringing the bowl from the drain
Once upon a time, Guru Nanak Dev thought why not take a small test of his disciples. According to this story popular among the Sikhs, Guru Nanak Dev Ji intentionally threw his bowl in a dirty pond. Everyone thought that perhaps the bowl had fallen in the dirty pond by mistake. At that time, along with his four disciples, both the sons of Nanak Ji were also present there.
Nanak Dev then asked everyone one by one to bring that bowl out of the drain. One by one, the whole group disappeared from there. But Nanak Ji’s disciple stayed there with him. He got down into the pond without any delay. Then he came out only after taking the bowl out. Seeing this, Nanak Ji was very happy with him. There was more space in his heart for Lahna.
When fruits and sweets fell from the tree
Another story is also popular like this. Once upon a time, langar used to be served at Guru Nanak Ji’s place. That day the langar had finished. Then some more devotees reached Nanak ji’s place. Everyone was very hungry. Then Nanak ji told his sons and disciples to climb the tree in front and shake the branch. Fruits and sweets will fall from there and distribute them among the devotees.
Hearing this, everyone thought that Nanak Dev was probably joking. Because it is not possible at all. But this time also Lahna climbed the tree. He shook the branch vigorously and the same thing happened as Nanak Dev had said. Fruits and sweets started falling from the tree. They were distributed among all the devotees.
Handed over the reins to this disciple
Many similar stories about Lahna are quite popular. This was Lahna’s true love for the Guru, due to which Nanak Dev also trusted him the most. Then when the time came to choose the successor, everyone felt that only one of the two sons would become the successor. But this did not happen. Guru Nanak Dev handed over the reins of taking the Sikh sect forward to his supreme disciple Lahna. Later, Lahna became famous as the second Guru of the Sikh sect, Angad Dev.
