Guru Nanak jayanti

 Four facts about the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, for Guru Nanak Jayanti

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It is said that Nanak traveled to Baghdad, Sri Lanka, and central Asia in order to disseminate his teachings. During his final tour, he taught the Oneness of God and visited Mecca and Madina, the holiest places in Islam. 

On Guru Nanak Jayanti, the first of Sikhism's nine gurus, Guru Nanak, also known as Baba Nanak, celebrates his birthday. On this day, Sikhs gather for a procession known as Nagar Kirtan, during which they visit gurudwaras and sing hymns.

The teachings of Nanak prepared the way for the formation of a new religion. Both Muslim peasants and Hindus from lower castes were among his supporters. The following five facts concerning  his existence.

1. Being raised in a Hindu household, he had an early interest in philosophical issues.

On April 15, 1469, Nanak was born into a Hindu household in the city of Nankana Sahib, which is now in Pakistan. He is reported to have been curious about philosophy, religion, and the meaning of life from a young age. After getting married young and having his kids, he found himself going back to these inquiries.

According to Khushwant Singh's book A History of the Sikhs, he joined a Muslim minstrel named Mardana after serving as an accountant in Sultanpur for a while. Singh cited janamsakhis, narratives of the gurus' lives derived from historical records and oral traditions. They Say of the two men, "Every night they fed everyone who came and sang hymns. He would take a bath in the river an hour and a half before morning, and by daybreak, he would be working in the durbar.

2. He had a spiritual encounter when he was thirty years old.

According to Singh, it was during one of these early-morning ablutions by the river that Nanak experienced his first mystique. According to the Janamsakhi, it was a communion with God, who gave him a cup of amrit (nectar) to drink and gave him the following instructions to carry out:

"Nanak, you have my support. My name will be exalted through thee. I will save whosoever follows thee. Enter the world to instruct humanity in the art of prayer. Don't let the ways of this world defile you. Praise the Word (ntim), serve the Lord (sevii), give to the needy (dan), ablution (isniin), and pray (simran). Nanak, I promise you this. Make this your life's work.

At the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar in Pune Cantonment, devotees take part in the langar on Guru Nanak Jayanti. (Photo by Pavan Khengre for Express)

For three days and nights, he did not return, and it was thought that he had drowned. The fourth day, he was back. "Nanak went and joined the fakirs," declared the janamsakhi. Mardana, the musician, left with him. A day went by. The following day he stood up and talked. "There isn't a Hindu; there not a Muslim. Nanak repeated these lines over and over.

3. He disseminated his message by foot.

It is said that Nanak traveled to Baghdad, Sri Lanka, and central Asia in order to disseminate his teachings. In addition to visiting locations treasured by other religions, his final tour took him to Mecca and Madina, the holiest places in Islam. These expeditions were known as "udaasis."

He dressed in a manner reminiscent of both Muslim fakirs and Hindu sadhus. The incidents that occurred during these travels are described in the janamsakhis. Nanak conversed with various religious leaders, Sufi saints, and pandits in the area.

4. Nanak preached the Oneness of God to people in various communities.

Singh described one such incident in which Nanak's and dozed off, his feet pointed in the direction of the Kaaba, a holy cube-shaped building in Mecca. It was believed that the behavior seriously disrespected God's house.

As the mullah arrived to offer his prayers, he gave Nanak a hard shake and remarked, "O servant of God, why havest thou done such a thing? You have your feet towards Kaba, the house of God." "Then turn my feet towards some direction where there is no God nor the Kaba," Nanak retorted.

Singh explains that the term 'Sikhs', which refers to the adherents of Nanak, originates from the Sanskrit terms'sisya' or'siksha', which denote teaching or learning. The Pali word sikkhii is likewise related to these terms.

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