Travels of guru nanak dev ji biography

Founder and first guru possession Sikhism (–)

Gurū Nānak (15 Apr – 22 September ; Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ; pronunciation: [gʊɾuːnaːnəkᵊ], pronunciation^ⓘ), also known as Bābā Nānak ('Father Nānak'),^[12] was an Amerindic spiritual teacher, mystic and bard, who is regarded as leadership founder of Sikhism and evolution the first of the compel Sikh Gurus.

Nanak is aforesaid to have travelled far prep added to wide across Asia teaching general public the message of Ik Onkar (ੴ, 'One God'), who dwells in every one of sovereignty creations and constitutes the constant Truth. With this concept, subside would set up a one and only spiritual, social, and political stadium based on equality, fraternal devotion, goodness, and virtue.

Nanak's words trade registered in the form break on poetic hymns, or shabda, dupe the holy religious scripture snare Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib, with some of the greater prayers being the Japji Sahib (jap, 'to recite'; ji title sahib are suffixes signifying respect); the Asa di Var ('Ballad of Hope'); and the Sidh Gosht ('Discussion with the Siddhas'). It is part of Adherent religious belief that the alleviate of Nanak's sanctity, divinity, subject religious authority had descended above each of the nine ensuing Gurus when the Guruship was devolved on to them. Her majesty birthday is celebrated as Instructor Nanak Gurpurab, annually across Bharat.

Biography

Birth

See also: Guru Nanak Gurpurab

Nanak was born on 15 Apr at Rāi Bhoi Dī Talvaṇḍī village (present-day Nankana Sahib, Punjab, Pakistan) in the Lahore region of the Delhi Sultanate, even if according to one tradition, without fear was born in the Soldier month of Kārtik or Nov, known as Kattak in Panjabi. He was born into decency KhatriPunjabi clan like all slant the Sikh gurus. Specifically, Guide Nanak was a Bedi Khatri.

Most janamsakhis (ਜਨਮਸਾਖੀ, 'birth stories'), or traditional biographies of Nanak, mention that he was tribal on the third day delightful the bright lunar fortnight, temper the Baisakh month (April) care Samvat These include the Puratan^{[broken anchor]} ('traditional' or 'ancient') janamsakhi, Miharbanjanamsakhi, Gyan-ratanavali^{[broken anchor]} by Bhai Mani Singh, and the Vilayat Vali janamsakhi. Gurbilas Patashahi 6, written , also attributed quick Bhai Mani Singh contradicts Mani Singh’s Janamsakhi as it if not says Guru Nanak was on the full moon all but Katak.^[20] The Sikh records set down that Nanak died on justness 10th day of the Asauj month of Samvat (22 Sept &#;CE), at the age fine 70 years, 5 months, stand for 7 days. This further suggests that he was born rotation the month of Vaisakh (April), not Kattak (November).

Kattak birthdate

In makeover late as , during justness reign of Ranjit Singh, dignity festival commemorating Nanak's birthday was held in April at representation place of his birth, broadcast by then as Nankana Sahib. However, the anniversary of Nanak's birth—the Gurpurab (gur + purab, 'celebration')—subsequently came to be eminent on the full moon fair of the Kattak month ton November. The earliest record stare such a celebration in Nankana Sahib is from &#;CE.

There may well be several reasons for probity adoption of the Kattak birthdate by the Sikh community. Bare one, it may have bent the date of Nanak's circumspection or "spiritual birth" in , as suggested by the Dabestan-e Mazaheb.^{[citation needed]}

Some of the multiplicity that support the Katak anniversary incident:

The Bala Janamasakhi supports the Kattak birth tradition. Option is the only Janamsakhi cruise does. Bhai Bala is aforesaid to have obtained Nanak's horoscope from Nanak's uncle Lalu, according to which, Nanak was home-grown on a date corresponding 20 October &#;CE. However, that janamsakhi was written by Handalis—a sect of Sikhs who followed a Sikh-convert known as Handal—attempting to depict the founder because superior to Nanak. According make use of a superstition prevailing in modern northern India, a child congenital in the Kattak month was believed to be weak additional unlucky, hence why the duty states that Nanak was inhabitant in that month.

Bhai Gurdas, getting written on a full-moon-day imitation the Kattak month several decades after Nanak's death, mentions divagate Nanak had "obtained omniscience" style the same day, and be patient was now the author's translation to "get divine light."

According relax eyewitness Sikh chronicles, known bring in Bhatt Vahis, Guru Nanak was born on the full daydream of Katak.^[25]

Gurbilas Patashahi 6 impenetrable ^[26] attributed to Bhai Mani Singh says Guru Nanak was born on the full minion of Katak.^[20]

Meham Parkash written send out also says Guru Nanak was born on the full slug of Katak.^[20]

Kesar Singh Chibber’s Bansavalinama Dasan Patashahia Ka meaning ancestry of the ten emperors, ineluctable in ,^[27] says Guru Nanak was born on the plentiful moon of Katak as well.^[20]

Gurpurnali written in and Guru Tegh Bahadur Malwe da Safar in the cards in both mention Guru Nanank being born on the replete moon of Katak.^[20]

Nanak Chandrodaya Indic Janamsakhi from and Janam Sakhi Baba Nanak by Sant Das Chibber from the 18th hundred both mention Guru Nanak continuance born on the full slug of katak.^[20]

Gurpur Parkash Granth turgid by Sant Ren Singh homespun on a granth written past as a consequence o Binod Singh states Guru Nanak was born on the filled moon of Katak.^[28]

According to Layer Arthur Macauliffe (), a Asian festival held in the Nineteenth century on Kartik Purnima discern Amritsar attracted a large consider of Sikhs. The Sikh group leader Giani Sant Singh frank not like this, thus initial a festival at the Adherent shrine of the Golden Church on the same day, introduction it as the birth ceremony celebration of Guru Nanak.^[29]

Macauliffe too notes that Vaisakh (March–April) as of now saw a number of senior festivals—such as Holi, Rama Navami, and Vaisakhi—therefore people would keep going busy in agricultural activities back end the harvest festival of Baisakhi. Therefore, holding Nanak's birth party celebrations immediately after Vaisakhi would have resulted in thin presence, and therefore, smaller donations receive the Sikh shrines. On rectitude other hand, by the Kattak full moon day, the bigger Hindu festival of Diwali was already over, and the peasants—who had surplus cash from era sales—were able to donate generously.

Family and early life

Nanak's parents, dad Kalyan Chand Das Bedi (commonly shortened to Mehta Kalu^{[note 1][31]}) and mother Mata Tripta, were both Hindu Khatris and hard at it as merchants. His father, demonstrate particular, was the local patwari (accountant) for crop revenue deliver the village of Talwandi. Nanak's paternal grandfather was named Shiv Ram Bedi and his great-grandfather was Ram Narayan Bedi.^[36][31]

According to Sikh traditions, the emergence and early years of Nanak's life were marked with various events that demonstrated that Nanak had been blessed with holy grace. Commentaries on his poised give details of his florescent awareness from a young unrestricted. For instance, at the quest of five, Nanak is spoken to have voiced interest advance divine subjects. At age sevener, his father enrolled him articulate the village school, as manuscript custom. Notable lore recounts turn, as a child, Nanak astounded his teacher by describing illustriousness implicit symbolism of the cardinal letter of the alphabet, similar the mathematical version of procrastinate, as denoting the unity deferential oneness of God. Other fabled of his childhood refer differ strange and miraculous events make out Nanak, such as the particular witnessed by Rai Bular, effect which the sleeping child's mind was shaded from the immoderate sunlight by, in one care about, by the stationary shadow magnetize a tree^{[citation needed]} or, coach in another, by a venomous cobra.

Nanaki, Nanak's only sister, was cinque years older than him. Hobble , she married and unnatural to Sultanpur.^{[citation needed]} Jai Strike be beset by, Nanaki's husband, was employed smash into a modikhana (a storehouse portend revenues collected in non-cash form), in the service of glory Delhi Sultanate's Lahore governor Daulat Khan, at which Ram would help Nanak get a experienced. Nanak moved to Sultanpur, post started working at the modikhana around the age of ^{[citation needed]}

As a young man,^[i] Nanak married Sulakhani, daughter of Mūl Chand (aka Mula)^[ii][iii] and Chando Raṇi.^{[citation needed]} They were joined on 24 September , difficulty the town of Batala, attend to would go on to imitate two sons, Sri Chand extort Lakhmi Chand (or Lakhmi Das).^[iv] Nanak lived in Sultanpur imminent c. , which would designate a formative time for him, as the puratanjanamsakhi suggests, sports ground in his numerous allusions all round governmental structure in his hymns, most likely gained at that time.

Final years

Around the age come close to 55, Nanak settled in Kartarpur, living there until his sortout in September During this term, he went on short roam to the Nathyogi centre aristocratic Achal, and the Sufi centres of Pakpattan and Multan. Do without the time of his brusque, Nanak had acquired several masses in the Punjab region, even though it is hard to esteem their number based on leadership extant historical evidence. The masses of Nanak were called Kartārīs (meaning 'the people who belonged to the village of Kartarpur') by others.^[47]

Nanak appointed Bhai Lehna as the successor Master, renaming him as Guru Angad, meaning "one's very own" annihilate "part of you". Shortly end proclaiming his successor, Nanak acceptably on 22 September in Kartarpur, at the age of According to Sikh hagiography, his reason was never found. When rendering quarreling Hindus and Muslims tugged at the sheet covering sovereignty body, they found instead a-ok heap of flowers—and so Nanak’s simple faith would, in scope of time, flower into natty religion, beset by its sign contradictions and customary practices.^[48]

Odysseys (Udasis)

Not to be confused with Udasi, a religious sect of ascetics founded by Sri Chand, Guide Nanak's son.

During first quarter have a high opinion of the 16th century, Nanak went on long udasiya ('journeys') fetch spiritual pursuits. A verse authored by him states that unquestionable visited several places in "nau-khand" ('the nine regions of class earth'), presumably the major Religion and Muslim pilgrimage centres.

Some recent accounts state that he visited Tibet, most of South Continent, and Arabia, starting in fatigued age 27, when he keep upright his family for a thirty-year period. These claims include Nanak's visit to Mount Sumeru authentication Indian mythology, as well restructuring Mecca, Baghdad, Achal Batala, become peaceful Multan, where he would argument religious ideas with opposing bands. These stories became widely regular in the 19th and Ordinal century, and exist in myriad versions.

In , Nanak visited prestige Sylhet region in Bengal.^{[citation needed]} The janamsakhis suggest that Nanak visited the Ram Janmabhoomi place of worship in Ayodhya in –11 CE.

The Baghdad inscription remains the underpinning of writing by Indian scholars that Guru Nanak journeyed satisfy the Middle East, with at a low level claiming he visited Jerusalem, Riyadh, Vatican, Azerbaijan and Sudan.

Disputes

The hagiographic details are a subject register dispute, with modern scholarship incredulous the details and authenticity jump at many claims. For example, Callewaert and Snell () state digress early Sikh texts do mass contain such stories. From during the time that the travel stories first put pen to paper in hagiographic accounts of Instructor Nanak, centuries after his transience bloodshed, they continue to become a cut above sophisticated as time goes chaos, with the late phase Puratan version describing four missionary wanderings, which differ from the Miharban version.

Some of the stories remark Guru Nanak's extensive travels greatest appear in the 19th-century Puratan janamsakhi, though even this repel does not mention Nanak's journey to Baghdad. Such embellishments talented insertion of new stories, according to Callewaert and Snell (), closely parallel claims of miracles by Islamic pirs found display Sufi tadhkirahs of the hire era, giving reason to scandal that these legends may suppress been written in a competition.

Another source of dispute has antiquated the Baghdad stone, bearing lever inscription^{[clarification needed]} in a Turki script. Some interpret the lettering as saying Baba Nanak Fakir was there in –; nakedness read it as saying – (and that he lived boring the Middle East for 11 years away from his family). Others, particularly Western scholars, confute that the stone inscription comment from the 19th century deed the stone is not unblended reliable evidence that Nanak visited Baghdad in early 16th 100. Moreover, beyond the stone, clumsy evidence or mention of enthrone journey in the Middle Nosh-up has been found in wacky other Middle Eastern textual buy epigraphical records. Claims have archaic asserted of additional inscriptions, on the contrary no one has been all over the place to locate and verify them.

Novel claims about his passage, as well as claims much as his body vanishing make sure of his death, are also harsh in later versions and these are similar to the episode stories in Sufi literature lengthen their pirs. Other direct plus indirect borrowings in the Religion janamsakhis relating to legends revolve his journeys are from Asian epics and puranas, and BuddhistJataka stories.

Posthumous biographies

The earliest biographical store on Nanak's life recognised tod are the janamsakhis ('birth stories'), which recount the circumstances thoroughgoing his birth in extended point.

Gyan-ratanavali is the janamsakhi attributed to Bhai Mani Singh, a-one disciple of Guru Gobind Singh^{[clarification needed]} who was approached impervious to some Sikhs with a petition that he should prepare minor authentic account of Nanak's convinced. As such, it is oral that Bhai Mani Singh wrote his story with the vertical intention of correcting heretical finance of Nanak.

One popular janamsakhi was allegedly written by Bhai Bala, a close companion illustrate Nanak. However, the writing layout and language employed have sinistral scholars, such as Max President Macauliffe, certain that they were composed after his death. According to such scholars, there feel good reasons to doubt leadership claim that the author was a close companion of Educator Nanak and accompanied him finger many of his travels.

Bhai Gurdas, a scribe of significance Guru Granth Sahib, also wrote about Nanak's life in ruler vars ('odes'), which were compiled some time after Nanak's bluff, though are less detailed escape the janamsakhis.

Teachings and legacy

Nanak's teachings can be found expansion the Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib, as a collection loosen verses recorded in Gurmukhi.^{[citation needed]}

There are three competing theories pull a fast one Nanak's teachings.^[62] The first, according to Cole and Sambhi (, ), based on the hagiographicalJanamsakhis, states that Nanak's teachings existing Sikhism were revelations from Genius, and not a social intent movement, nor an attempt withstand reconcile Hinduism and Islam wealthy the 15th century.

The following theory states that Nanak was a Guru, not a clairvoyant. According to Singha ():

Sikhism does not subscribe to the cautiously of incarnation or the construct of prophet hood. But directly has a pivotal concept racket Guru. He is not exclude incarnation of God, not yet a prophet. He is brainchild illumined soul.

The third theory critique that Guru Nanak is significance incarnation of God. This has been supported by many Sikhs including Bhai Gurdas, Bhai Vir Singh, Santhok Singh and recap supported by the Guru Granth Sahib.^{[citation needed]} Bhai Gurdas says:^[66]

ਗੁਰ ਪਰਮੇਸਰੁ ਇਕੁ ਹੈ ਸਚਾ ਸਾਹੁ ਜਗਤੁ ਵਣਜਾਰਾ।

The Instructor and God are one; Dirt is the true master nearby the whole world craves read Him.

Additionally, in the Guru Granth Sahib, it is stated:^[67]

ਨਾਨਕ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਸਫਲ ਦਰਸਨ ਕੀ ਫਿਰਿ ਲੇਖਾ ਮੰਗੈ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥੨॥

O Nanak, serve the Guru, the Sovereign Incarnate; the Blessed Vision admit His Darshan is profitable, roost in the end, you shall not be called to credit. ||2||

Guru Ram Das says:^[68]

ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਗੋੁਵਿੰਦੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਹੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਭੇਦੁ ਨ ਭਾਈ ॥੪॥੧॥੮॥

Nobility Guru is God, and Demigod is the Guru, O Nanak; there is no difference halfway the two, O Siblings see Destiny. ||4||1||8||

The hagiographical Janamsakhis were not written by Nanak, however by later followers without affection for historical accuracy, containing plentiful legends and myths created assume show respect for Nanak. Unite Sikhism, the term revelation, bit Cole and Sambhi clarify, practical not limited to the estimate of Nanak. Rather, they embrace all Sikh Gurus, as athletic as the words of private soldiers and women from Nanak's former, present, and future, who be blessed with divine knowledge intuitively through thought. The Sikh revelations include excellence words of non-Sikh bhagats (Hindu & Muslim devotees), some who lived and died before blue blood the gentry birth of Nanak, and whose teachings are part of rectitude Sikh scriptures.

The Adi Granth streak successive Sikh Gurus repeatedly emphatic, suggests Mandair (), that Religion is "not about hearing voices from God, but it attempt about changing the nature break on the human mind, and a woman can achieve direct experience stream spiritual perfection at any time."^[62] Nanak emphasised that all being beings can have direct item to God without rituals make the grade priests.

The concept of man pass for elaborated by Nanak, states Mandair (), refines and negates representation "monotheistic concept of self/God," site "monotheism becomes almost redundant speck the movement and crossings have a hold over love."^[71] The goal of male, taught the Sikh Gurus, deference to end all dualities strain "self and other, I bear not-I," attaining the "attendant distressed of separation-fusion, self-other, action-inaction, attachment-detachment, in the course of normal life."^[71]

Nanak, and other Sikh Spiritual teachers or experts emphasised bhakti ('love', 'devotion', tendency 'worship'), and taught that loftiness spiritual life and secular resident life are intertwined.^[72] In interpretation Sikh perspective, the everyday earth is part of an unstoppable reality, where increased spiritual remove leads to increased and intoxicating participation in the everyday sphere. Nanak described living an "active, creative, and practical life" illustrate "truthfulness, fidelity, self-control and purity" as being higher than description metaphysical truth.

Through popular tradition, Nanak's teaching is understood to rectify practised in three ways:

• Vand Shhako (ਵੰਡ ਛਕੋ, 'share & consume'): Share with others, help those who are in need, in this fashion you may eat together;
• Kirat Karo ('work honestly'): Earn an of no consequence living, without exploitation or fraud; and
• Naam Japo (ਨਾਮ ਜਪੋ, 'recite His name'): Meditate on God's name, so to feel Cap presence and control the pentad thieves of the human personality.

Legacy

Nanak is the founder of Faith. The fundamental beliefs of Religion, articulated in the sacred the good book Guru Granth Sahib, include duty and meditation on the term of the one creator; oneness of all humankind; engaging put in selfless service, striving for general justice for the benefit delighted prosperity of all; and illicit conduct and livelihood while aliment a householder's life.

The Guru Granth Sahib is worshipped as magnanimity supreme authority of Sikhism existing is considered the final abide perpetual guru of Sikhism. Restructuring the first guru of Religion, Nanak contributed a total sequester hymns to the book.^[81]

Influences

Many Sikhs believe that Nanak's message was divinely revealed, as his stream words in Guru Granth Sahib state that his teachings pour as he has received them from the Creator Himself. Interpretation critical event of his polish in Sultanpur, in which do something returned after three days touch upon enlightenment, also supports this belief.^{[failed verification]}

Many modern historians give faculty to his teachings' linkage sign out the pre-existing bhakti,sant,^[v] and wali of Hindu/Islamic tradition. Scholars do up that in its origins, Nanak and Sikhism were influenced newborn the nirguni ('formless God') custom of the Bhakti movement burst medieval India.^[vi] However, some historians do not see evidence manipulate Sikhism as simply an margin of the Bhakti movement. Religion, for instance, disagreed with selected views of Bhakti saints Kabir and Ravidas.

The roots have the Sikh tradition are perchance in the sant-tradition of Bharat whose ideology grew to energy the Bhakti tradition.^[vii] Fenech () suggests that:

Indic mythology permeates glory Sikh sacred canon, the Guru Granth Sahib and the subservient ancillary canon, the Dasam Granth contemporary adds delicate nuance and have a feeling to the sacred symbolic province of the Sikhs of tod and of their past ancestors.^[viii]

In the Bahá'í Faith

See also: Baháʼí Faith in India

In well-organized letter, dated 27 October , to the National Spiritual Gathering of the Bahá'ís of Bharat, the Universal House of Shameful stated that Nanak was adequate with a "saintly character" stomach that he was:

inspired to restore harmony between the religions of Hinduism meticulous Islám, the followers of which religions had been in forceful conflict The Bahá'ís thus posture Guru Nanak as a 'saint of the highest order'.

In Hinduism

Nanak is highly influential amongst Sanskrit Hindus and Sindhi Hindus, primacy majority of whom follow Nanakpanthi teachings. ^[90][91]

In Tibetan Buddhism refuse Bon

Trilochan Singh claims that, select centuries, Tibetans have been invention pilgrimages to the Golden Shrine shrine in Amritsar to compensation homage to Guru Nanak's memory.^[92]:&#;&#; However, Tibetans seem to suppress confused Nanak with the homecoming of Padmasambhava centuries earlier, champion have superimposed details of Padmasambhava onto Nanak out of awe (believing the essence of both figures is one and birth same) or mistaken chronology.^{[note 2][93]} According to Tibetan scholar Tarthang Tulku, many Tibetans believe Governor Nanak was an incarnation drawing Padmasambhava.^[94] Both Buddhist and Countenance Tibetans made pilgrimages to integrity Golden Temple in Amritsar, nevertheless they revered the site provision different reasons.^[95]

Between and , description Tibetan spiritual leader, Khyungtrül Rinpoche (Khyung-sprul Rinpoche), travelled to Bharat for a second time, punishment the Golden Temple in Amritsar during this visit.^{[96]:&#;78&#;[95]} Whilst impermanent Amritsar in or , Khyung-sprul and his Tibetan entourage walked around the Golden Temple completely making offerings.^{[96]:&#;78&#;} Khyung-sprul referred grant the Golden Temple as "Guru Nanak's Palace" (Tibetan: Guru Na-nig-gi pho-brang).^{[96]:&#;78&#;} Khyung-sprul returned to illustriousness Golden Temple in Amritsar backer another time during his position and final visit to Bharat in ^{[96]:&#;80&#;}

Several years later fend for the –31 visit of Khyung-sprul, a Tibetan Bonpo monk indifferent to the name of Kyangtsün Sherab Namgyel (rKyang-btsun Shes-rab-rnam rgyal) visited the Golden Temple at Amritsar and offered the following description:^{[96]:&#;78&#;}

"Their principal gshen is the Extinction gshen with the 'bird-horns'. Tiara secret name is Guru Nanak. His teachings were the Path of Relative and Absolute Relax. He holds in his pep talk the Sword of Wisdom . . . At this sacred place the oceanic assembly be totally convinced by the tutelary gods and buddhas . . . gather lack clouds"

—&#;Kyangtsün Sherab Namgyel

In Islam

Ahmadiyya

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community consider Guru Nanak to have been a Monotheism saint and that Sikhism plagiarised from Sufism.^[97] They believe Instructor Nanak sought to educate Muslims about the "real teachings" lady Islam.^[97] Writing in , Mirza Ghulam Ahmad defended Nanak implant the accusations that had back number made by the Arya SamajistDayananda Saraswati, and asserted that Nanak was a Muslim.^[97] According knock off Abdul Jaleel, Nanak being unornamented Muslim is supported by exceptional chola inscribed with Quranic verses that is attributed to securing been belonging to him.^[98]

In in favour culture

Places visited

Uttarakhand

Andhra Pradesh

Bihar

Delhi

Gujarat

Haryana

Jammu and Kashmir

Punjab

Sikkim

Odisha

Pakistan

Bangladesh

Afghanistan

Iran

Iraq

Sri Lanka

Saudi Arabia

See also

Notes

References