Biography of Guru Nanak Dev Ji PDF

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Biography of Guru Nanak Dev Ji #upsc #GK...

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Guru Nanak (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539)

Guru Nanak (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539) is the founder of the religion of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus, the eleventh guru being the living Guru, Guru Granth Sahib. Family and Early Life Nanak was born on 15 April 1469, now celebrated as Guru Nanak Gurpurab , at Rai Bhoi Ki Talvan ṇd iṇ , now called Nankana Sahib, near Lahore, in present day Pakistan. Today, his birthplace is marked by Gurdwara Janam Asthan. His parents were Kalyan Chand Das Bedi, popularly shortened to Mehta Kalu,and Mata Tripta. His father was a patwari (accountant) for crop revenue in the village of Talwandi, employed by a Muslim landlord of that area, Rai Bular Bhatti. He had one sister, Bibi Nanaki, who was five years older than him and became a spiritual figure in her own right. In 1475 she married Jai Ram and went to his town of Sultanpur, where he was the steward (modi) to Daulat Khan Lodi, the eventual governor of Lahore during the Afghan Lodhi dynasty. Nanak was attached to his older sister, and, in traditional Indian fashion, he followed her to Sultanpur to live with her and her husband. Nanak also found work with Daulat Khan, when he was around 16 years old. This was a formative time for Nanak, as the Puratan (traditional) Janam Sakhisuggests, and in his numerous allusions to governmental structure in his hymns, most likely gained at this time. On 24 September 1487 Nanak married Mata Sulakkhani, daughter of Mūl Chand and Chando Rān ṇī, in the town of Batala. The couple had two sons, Sri Chand (8 September 1494 – 13 January 1629) and Lakhmi Chand (12 February 1497 – 9 April 1555).

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Biographies The

earliest

biographical

sources

on

Nanak's

life

recognised

today

are

the Janamsākhīs (life accounts) and the vārs (expounding verses) of the scribe Bhai Gurdas. The most popular Janamsākhī were allegedly written by a close companion of the Guru, Bhai Bala.However, the writing style and language employed have left scholars, such as Max Arthur Macauliffe, certain that they were composed after his death. Gurdas, a purported scribe of the Guru Granth Sahib, also wrote about Nanak's life in his vārs. Although these too were compiled sometime after Nanak's time, they are less detailed than the Janamsākhīs. The Janamsākhīs recount in minute detail the circumstances of the birth of the guru.

Sikhism Rai Bular, the local landlord and Nanak's sister Bibi Nanaki were the first people who recognised divine qualities in the boy. They encouraged and supported him to study and travel. Sikh tradition states that at around 1499, at the age of 30, he had a vision. After he failed to return from his ablutions, his clothes were found on the bank of a local stream called the Kali Bein. The townspeople assumed he had drowned in the river; Daulat Khan had the river dragged, but no body was found. Three days after disappearing, Nanak reappeared, staying silent. The next day, he spoke to pronounce: "There is neither Hindu nor Mussulman (Muslim) so whose path shall I follow? I shall follow God's path. God is neither Hindu nor Mussulman and the path which I follow is God's." Nanak said that he had been taken to God's court. There, he was offered a cup filled with amrita (nectar) and given the command, "This is the cup of the adoration of God's name. Drink it. I am with you. I bless you and raise you up. Whoever remembers you will enjoy my favour. Go, rejoice of my name and teach others to do so. I have bestowed the gift of my name upon you. Let this be your calling." From this point onwards, Nanak is described in accounts as a Guru, and Sikhism was born.

Teachings 2

Guru Nanak’s teachings can be found in the Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib, as a vast collection of revelatory verses recorded in Gurmukhi.From these some common principles seem discernible. Firstly a supreme Godhead who although incomprehensible, manifests in all major religions, the Singular "Doer" and formless. It is described as the indestructible (undying) form. Nanak describes the dangers of egotism (haumai- "I am") and calls upon devotees to engage in worship through the word of God. Naam, implies God, the Reality, mystical word or formula to recite or meditate upon (shabad in Gurbani), divine order (hukam) and at places divine teacher (guru) and guru’s instructions) and singing of God’s qualities, discarding doubt in the process. However, such worship must be selfless (sewa). The word of God, cleanses the individual to make such worship possible. This is related to the revelation that God is the Doer and without God there is no other. Nanak warned against hypocrisy and falsehood saying that these are pervasive in humanity and that religious actions can also be in vain. It may also be said that ascetic practices are disfavored by Nanak, who suggests remaining inwardly detached whilst living as a householder. The main teachings of Nanak included faith in one true God, worship and recital of his name, and the necessity of Guru in pursuing the path to God. God, according to him, is immanent and transcendent. Nobody knows the limits of God. God alone knows how great he is. Nanak compares God to the beloved and says God is in the heart of every individual. Nanak had the belief in a personal and merciful god. Nanak denounced the worship of idols. He put emphasis on the worship of true name.Nanak endeavored to remove the cloud of ignorance and superstitions from the minds of people. The core teachings of Nanak were as follows: 

Equality of humans: During the time of Nanak, caste based discrimination was deep rooted in Indian society. Nanak preached against discrimination and prejudices due to race, caste, status, etc. He said: "See the brotherhood of all mankind as the highest order of Yogis; conquer your own mind, and conquer the world." He stated, "There is one awareness among all created beings." He also added, "One who recognizes the One Lord among all beings does not talk of ego. He urges his followers to "conquer" their minds to these evil practices. All human beings had the light of the Lord and were the same—only by subduing one's pride and ego could one see this light in all. 3

 Equality of women: In the 15th century, Indian society offered little status or respect to women. Nanak Dev sought to elevate the position of women by spreading the following message:



From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married. Woman becomes his friend; through woman the future generations come. When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound. So why call her bad? From her, kings are born. From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all. O Nanak, only the True Lord is without a woman.In so doing, he promoted the equality of women in the fifteenth century. Nanak Dev also condemned the ritual of Sati.

 Universal message for all people: The followers of Nanak were from all faiths and he

addressed all without discrimination. To the Muslim he said: "And when, O Nanak, he is merciful to all beings, only then shall he be called a Muslim." To the Hindu, he said "O Nanak, without the True Name, of what use is the frontal mark of the Hindus or their sacred thread?"Additionally, to all he preached: "To take what rightfully belongs to another is like Muslim eating pork or a Hindu eating beef."Upon being asked whichreligion, Hinduism or Islam, was the true path to God, he replied that the true way to attain God was to worship Him who is eternal and contained in the whole Universe. Through popular tradition, Nanak’s teaching is understood to be practised in three ways: 

: Sharing with others, helping those with less who are in need Vaṇ ḍṇ Chakkō ṇ



Kirat Karō: Earning/making a living honestly, without exploitation or fraud



Naam Japṇa: Meditating on God's name to control your 5 evils to eliminate suffering and live a happy life. Nanak put the greatest emphasis on the worship of the Word of God (Naam Japna). One

should follow the direction of awakened individuals (Gurmukh or God willed) rather than the mind (state of Manmukh- being led by self-will) - the latter being perilous and leading only to frustration. Reforms that occurred in the institution and both Godhead and Devotion, are seen as transcending any religious consideration or divide, as God is not separate from any individual. 4

Bhakti Movement and Guru Nanak The Bhakti movement started during the period of Delhi Sultanate.The earliest known exponent of Bhakti movement was Ramanuja who flourished in the early years of 12th century.He was persecuted by the Chola King.People had become jealous of his learning and even an attempt was made on his life.There were numerous saints in the Bhakti movement such as Nimbarka, Chaitanya and Kabir.It is stated that the Bhakti movement had two objects in view.One object was the reformation of Hinduism and the other was to bring about reconciliation between Hinduism and Islam.The acvocates of the Bhakti movement succeeded to a considerable extent

in

uplifting

the

moral

tone

of

the

community

and

bridging

the

gap

between Hindus and Muslims. However, the conservatism and orthodoxyof the people created barriers which could not be demolished with complete success.Old ways of thought and old superstitions and practices never died and reared up again and again with greater vitality. It has been rightly pointed out that the movement represented the mood of the Hindumind which can be described as "escapism".Most of the Hindus during the period did not find any opening for rise in worldly life and they tried to forget themselves by putting all their faith in devotion itself.

Nanak is considered to be a part of the Bhakti movement.At the time when he was born,the concept of Sufism and Bhakti Movement was in full swing,especially in Northern India.Through Guru Nanak,the Bhakti movement in Punjab became a vehicle of social change and it was the intensity and depth of his message,fortified and consolidated by successor Gurus that served as an edifice on which the super-structure of Sikhism was built.Guru Nanak's genius lay specifically in integrating the contemporary Bhakti-Sufi tradition of spiritual quest with the socio milieu in the totality of the medieval Indian life. The essence of Nanak's religion consists in its being a force and emancipating his followers from all religious and social shackles.Guru Nanak consciously projected new goals, envisaging a socio-religious order based on the concept of universal brotherhood, social justice, and humanitarian cultural vision that would engender peaceful co-existence and mutual understanding through explicit acceptance of cultural 5

pluralism. And herein lies the relevance of Nanak's message in the context and significance of his approach which aims at linking all aspects of human activity, including that in social and political arenas, with the concept of 'Dharma'.

Guru Nanak differed from other saints of the Bhakti movement on the concept of God and World.The policy of renunciation of the world or detachment with worldly responsibilities did not find place in his teachings.He denounced the leading of life as an ascetic and put great emphasis on hard work and earning livelihood.For him taking care of one's family and providing food and shelter for them was one of the prime duties of man before God.According to him,to find God one does not have to renounce the world, and God could be found while leading an ordinary life as a householder.Nanak saw the world as creation of one supreme power, and since the creator was in the world he created, it could not be treated as unreal. Successor Nanak appointed Bhai Lehna as the successor Guru, renaming him as Guru Angad, meaning "one’s very own" or "part of you". Shortly after proclaiming Bhai Lehna as his successor, Guru Nanak died on 22 September 1539 in Kartarpur, at the age of 70.

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