Founders: Guru Nanak of Sikhism

Guru has been used informally to mean an expert in a particular field – financial guru, fitness guru, business guru, etc. For the Sikhs, however, the word meant something sacred. A guru meant a spiritual and wise mentor that share his word of Enlightenment. And such the case of 10 of Sikhism’s Guru which began with its founder Guru Nanak.

Early Life

Because of his stature as the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak’s life had been shrouded with legends and miracles. Much of known about him came from the hymns he wrote found in the Adi Granth as well as retelling of his life through various janam-sakhis. Like the life of Jesus Christ, several versions existed written decades after the passing of the Guru.

Guru Nanak (1469 – 1539) was born on April 15, 1469 in Rai Bhoi di Talvandi in modern day Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. He belonged to the Hindu caste of Khatri, a caste that dominated Punjab as well as Haryana, Jammu, and Kashmir. The caste specialized in commerce and Punjab seemed to be a perfect place to be a merchant as it laid along the route from Central Asia to the major city of Delhi.

The Guru worked in the granaries in his life before becoming a Guru. He lived according to the caste he came from. Coming from a family of merchants and in a region along trade routes, Nanak came in contact with various Hindu traditions as well as Muslim. He developed a cosmopolitan mindset that eventually led to Sikhism’s emphasis in tolerance.

Nanak also took the vow of marriage. He married Sulakhani who gave him 2 sons: Lakhmi Das and Siri Chand. Both never succeeded him as guru, but remained influential and contributors to the growth of Sikhism.

Life of the Guru

Enlightenment shone upon Nanak in 1499. While in Sultanpur, he bathed in the Bein River where he suddenly received a visit from a messenger of God after which he disappeared for 3 days. He then returned home and uttered “There is no Hindu and no Muslim” questioning true devotion of people to their religion.

Sant tradition of Hinduism influenced Guru Nanak’s teaching. Sant practiced humility and poverty as well as the use of meditation and hymns to reach the level of Enlightenment. This traditions transcended in Sikhism.

Sikhism believed in a single god – monotheism rather than polytheism in Hinduism. Guru Nanak taught his disciples which in Punjab translated to Sikh that the suffering of life and death otherwise known as reincarnation would only stop through living in righteousness, generosity, and tolerance. The fostering of spiritual peace through meditation. Only through these ways of living that a Sikh reached unity with God.

Guru Nanak went into pilgrimage into various Hindu as well as Muslim holy sites as recorded in several Janam-Sakhis. Along with a Muslim minstrel named Mardana, He and the Guru travelled south reaching as far as Ceylon (modern day Sri Lanka). His travel east also gained a reputation for stories of miracle which brought him to Mecca and Baghdad.

Miracles filed Guru Nanak’s visit of Mecca. Upon reaching Mecca a “kaddam” or a priest furiously scolded the Guru and ordered him to move his feet away from the Kabbah. The Guru complied, but the Kaddam noticed that the door of the Kabbah moved towards the direction of the Guru’s feet. Upon seeing the miracle, the Kaddam begged for the Guru’s forgiveness.

The Guru, after his visit to Mecca, passed by the city of Baghdad. He called for prayers just as a muezzin does, but without mentioning Mohammad. The city went into silence for few minutes after his call. Then the Guru went to converse with Islamic scholars and clerics regarding religious doctrines. To honor his visit, the people of Baghdad established a shrine dedicated to him.

He returned to Punjab to share and to refine his philosophy for his Sikhs. He settled in Kartarpur where Punjabis visit him and recognized him as Guru or an enlightened teacher. Besides Punjabis, he received visits from different places of India. He, his disciples, and visitors recited religious hymns together ending it with a meal – a practice that became the traditional activity in Sikh services. He kept composing hymns that by the end of his life numbered 974. His hymns later formed the core of the Sikh Holy Scripture the Guru Granth Sahib or Adi Granth.

Passing and Legacy

Guru Nanak passed away in 1539 in Kartarpur. He entrusted his Sikhs to his disciple Angad, a protégé he trusted more than his 2 sons. Angad served as the 2nd Guru and continued Guru Nanak’s teaching growing Sikhism little by little, peacefully, and without turbulence.

Today, Sikhism is the 5th major religion. It had over 25 million followers with most residing in Punjab. Sikhs grew as a sect and then as a religion on its own right. They grew, but also faced hardships which drove them into militarization gaining reputation as fearsome warriors. Besides ferocity in battle, Sikh continued to foster their spiritual lives keeping the legacy and teachings of Guru Nanak. Sikhism’s tolerance, generosity, and hard work allowed the religion to be thrive in the modern world.

Bibliography:

“Khatri.” People Groups of India. Accessed on April 17, 2020. URL: https://peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/khatri/

“Nanak, Guru.” Encyclopedia.com. Accessed on April 17, 2020. URL: https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/historians-miscellaneous-biographies/guru-nanak

McLeod, William Hewat. “Nanak.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Accessed on April 17, 2020. URL: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nanak

Melton. J. Gordon. “Nanak, Guru.” Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices. Edited by J. Gordon Melton et. al. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, LLC, 2010.