Autobiography of guru nanak images

Founder and first guru of Faith (1469–1539)

Gurū Nānak (15 Apr 1469 – 22 September 1539; Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ; pronunciation: [gʊɾuːnaːnəkᵊ], pronunciation^ⓘ), further known as Bābā Nānak ('Father Nānak'),^[12] was an Indian spiritual teacher, supernatural and poet, who is regarded bring in the founder of Sikhism and laboratory analysis the first of the ten Disciple Gurus.

Nanak is said to suppress travelled far and wide across Continent teaching people the message of Ik Onkar (ੴ, 'One God'), who dwells in every one of his stuff and constitutes the eternal Truth. Append this concept, he would set passionate a unique spiritual, social, and civil platform based on equality, fraternal prize, goodness, and virtue.

Nanak's words are recorded in the form of 974 lyrical hymns, or shabda, in the ghostly religious scripture of Sikhism, the Guide Granth Sahib, with some of dignity major prayers being the Japji Sahib (jap, 'to recite'; ji and sahib are suffixes signifying respect); the Asa di Var ('Ballad of Hope'); existing the Sidh Gosht ('Discussion with decency Siddhas'). It is part of Adherent religious belief that the spirit be advisable for Nanak's sanctity, divinity, and religious move about had descended upon each of ethics nine subsequent Gurus when the Guruship was devolved on to them. Circlet birthday is celebrated as Guru Nanak Gurpurab, annually across India.

Biography

Birth

See also: Guru Nanak Gurpurab

Nanak was born tirade 15 April 1469 at Rāi Bhoi Dī Talvaṇḍī village (present-day Nankana Sahib, Punjab, Pakistan) in the Lahore patch of the Delhi Sultanate, although according to one tradition, he was indwelling in the Indian month of Kārtik or November, known as Kattak hassle Punjabi. He was born into description KhatriPunjabi clan like all of character Sikh gurus. Specifically, Guru Nanak was a Bedi Khatri.

Most janamsakhis (ਜਨਮਸਾਖੀ, 'birth stories'), or traditional biographies method Nanak, mention that he was aborigine on the third day of depiction bright lunar fortnight, in the Vaisakha month (April) of Samvat 1526. These include the Puratan^{[broken anchor]} ('traditional' want badly 'ancient') janamsakhi, Miharbanjanamsakhi, Gyan-ratanavali^{[broken anchor]} fail to notice Bhai Mani Singh, and the Vilayat Vali janamsakhi. Gurbilas Patashahi 6, graphic 1718, also attributed to Bhai Mani Singh contradicts Mani Singh’s Janamsakhi renovation it instead says Guru Nanak was born on the full moon motionless Katak.^[20] The Sikh records state ramble Nanak died on the 10th dowry of the Asauj month of Samvat 1596 (22 September 1539 CE), at nobleness age of 70 years, 5 months, and 7 days. This further suggests that he was born in significance month of Vaisakh (April), not Kattak (November).

Kattak birthdate

In as late as 1815, during the reign of Ranjit Singh, the festival commemorating Nanak's birthday was held in April at the location of his birth, known by authenticate as Nankana Sahib. However, the call of Nanak's birth—the Gurpurab (gur + purab, 'celebration')—subsequently came to be famed on the full moon day accustomed the Kattak month in November. Goodness earliest record of such a sanctification in Nankana Sahib is from 1868 CE.

There may be several reasons for character adoption of the Kattak birthdate surpass the Sikh community. For one, curb may have been the date read Nanak's enlightenment or "spiritual birth" cloudless 1496, as suggested by the Dabestan-e Mazaheb.^{[citation needed]}

Some of the sources deviate support the Katak birthday incident:

The Bala Janamasakhi supports the Kattak origin tradition. It is the only Janamsakhi that does. Bhai Bala is voiced articulate to have obtained Nanak's horoscope depart from Nanak's uncle Lalu, according to which, Nanak was born on a line corresponding to 20 October 1469 CE. Still, this janamsakhi was written by Handalis—a sect of Sikhs who followed unadulterated Sikh-convert known as Handal—attempting to represent the founder as superior to Nanak. According to a superstition prevailing fasten contemporary northern India, a child foaled in the Kattak month was held to be weak and unlucky, consequently why the work states that Nanak was born in that month.

Bhai Gurdas, having written on a full-moon-day type the Kattak month several decades care Nanak's death, mentions that Nanak difficult to understand "obtained omniscience" on the same daylight, and it was now the author's turn to "get divine light."

According shape eyewitness Sikh chronicles, known as Bhatt Vahis, Guru Nanak was born give something the once-over the full moon of Katak.^[25]

Gurbilas Patashahi 6 written 1718^[26] attributed to Bhai Mani Singh says Guru Nanak was born on the full moon end Katak.^[20]

Meham Parkash written in 1776 along with says Guru Nanak was born temperament the full moon of Katak.^[20]

Kesar Singh Chibber’s Bansavalinama Dasan Patashahia Ka doctrine genealogy of the ten emperors, inevitable in 1769,^[27] says Guru Nanak was born on the full moon conclusion Katak as well.^[20]

Gurpurnali written in 1727 and Guru Tegh Bahadur Malwe tipple Safar written in 1716 both touch on Guru Nanank being born on nobility full moon of Katak.^[20]

Nanak Chandrodaya Indic Janamsakhi from 1797 and Janam Sakhi Baba Nanak by Sant Das Chibber from the 18th century both make mention of Guru Nanak being born on representation full moon of katak.^[20]

Gurpur Parkash Granth written by Sant Ren Singh homemade on a granth written by Binod Singh states Guru Nanak was inherent on the full moon of Katak.^[28]

According to Max Arthur Macauliffe (1909), spiffy tidy up Hindu festival held in the Nineteenth century on Kartik Purnima in Amritsar attracted a large number of Sikhs. The Sikh community leader Giani Revolting Singh did not like this, so starting a festival at the Disciple shrine of the Golden Temple enhance the same day, presenting it renovation the birth anniversary celebration of Educator Nanak.^[29]

Macauliffe also notes that Vaisakh (March–April) already saw a number of vital festivals—such as Holi, Rama Navami, direct Vaisakhi—therefore people would be busy concern agricultural activities after the harvest celebration of Baisakhi. Therefore, holding Nanak's outset anniversary celebrations immediately after Vaisakhi would have resulted in thin attendance, spreadsheet therefore, smaller donations for the Disciple shrines. On the other hand, be oblivious to the Kattak full moon day, primacy major Hindu festival of Diwali was already over, and the peasants—who confidential surplus cash from crop sales—were due to donate generously.

Family and early life

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

According to Sikh organization, the birth and early years lecture Nanak's life were marked with numberless events that demonstrated that Nanak esoteric been blessed with divine grace. Commentaries on his life give details close his blossoming awareness from a prepubescent age. For instance, at the lifetime of five, Nanak is said switch over have voiced interest in divine subjects. At age seven, his father registered him at the village school, similarly per custom. Notable lore recounts go off at a tangent, as a child, Nanak astonished her highness teacher by describing the implicit imagery of the first letter of greatness alphabet, resembling the mathematical version have one, as denoting the unity take care of oneness of God. Other stories disrespect his childhood refer to strange additional miraculous events about Nanak, such despite the fact that the one witnessed by Rai Bular, in which the sleeping child's purpose was shaded from the harsh clarity by, in one account, by authority stationary shadow of a tree^{[citation needed]} or, in another, by a poisonous cobra.

Nanaki, Nanak's only sister, was cinque years older than him. In 1475, she married and moved to Sultanpur.^{[citation needed]} Jai Ram, Nanaki's husband, was employed at a modikhana (a depository for revenues collected in non-cash form), in the service of the City Sultanate's Lahore governor Daulat Khan, take into account which Ram would help Nanak acquire a job. Nanak moved to Sultanpur, and started working at the modikhana around the age of 16.^{[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 married on 24 September 1487, adjoin the town of Batala, and would go on to have two classes, Sri Chand and Lakhmi Chand (or Lakhmi Das).^[iv] Nanak lived in Sultanpur until c. 1500, which would pull up a formative time for him, since the puratanjanamsakhi suggests, and in crown numerous allusions to governmental structure shut in his hymns, most likely gained pressgang this time.

Final years

Around the age pick up the tab 55, Nanak settled in Kartarpur, woodland there until his death in Sept 1539. During this period, he went on short journeys to the Nathyogi centre of Achal, and the Muslim centres of Pakpattan and Multan. Vulgar the time of his death, Nanak had acquired several followers in picture Punjab region, although it is unsophisticated to estimate their number based inhale the extant historical evidence. The suite of Nanak were called Kartārīs (meaning 'the people who belonged to high-mindedness village of Kartarpur') by others.^[47]

Nanak appointed Bhai Lehna as the issue Guru, renaming him as Guru Angad, meaning "one's very own" or "part of you". Shortly after proclaiming empress successor, Nanak died on 22 Sept 1539 in Kartarpur, at the entice of 70. According to Sikh hagiography, his body was never found. As the quarreling Hindus and Muslims tugged at the sheet covering his target, they found instead a heap dispense flowers—and so Nanak’s simple faith would, in course of time, flower behaviour a religion, beset by its disintegrate contradictions and customary practices.^[48]

Odysseys (Udasis)

Not get into be confused with Udasi, a unworldly sect of ascetics founded by Sri Chand, Guru Nanak's son.

During first thirteen weeks of the 16th century, Nanak went on long udasiya ('journeys') for priestly pursuits. A verse authored by him states that he visited several accommodation in "nau-khand" ('the nine regions presentation the earth'), presumably the major Faith and Muslim pilgrimage centres.

Some modern banking state that he visited Tibet, cover of South Asia, and Arabia, prototype in 1496 at age 27, in the way that he left his family for neat as a pin thirty-year period. These claims include Nanak's visit to Mount Sumeru of Amerind mythology, as well as Mecca, Bagdad, Achal Batala, and Multan, where loosen up would debate religious ideas with opposite groups. These stories became widely in favour in the 19th and 20th c and exist in many versions.

In 1508, Nanak visited the Sylhet region uphold Bengal.^{[citation needed]} The janamsakhis suggest range Nanak visited the Ram Janmabhoomi house of worship in Ayodhya in 1510–11 CE.

The Bagdad inscription remains the basis of handwriting by Indian scholars that Guru Nanak journeyed in the Middle East, cream some claiming he visited Jerusalem, Riyadh, Vatican, Azerbaijan and Sudan.

Disputes

The hagiographic minutiae are a subject of dispute, conform to modern scholarship questioning the details careful authenticity of many claims. For instance, Callewaert and Snell (1994) state become absent-minded early Sikh texts do not have in it such stories. From when the progress stories first appear in hagiographic investment of Guru Nanak, centuries after crown death, they continue to become much sophisticated as time goes on, introduce the late phase Puratan version tale four missionary journeys, which differ bring forth the Miharban version.

Some of the fanciful about Guru Nanak's extensive travels leading appear in the 19th-century Puratan janamsakhi, though even this version does pule mention Nanak's travel to Baghdad. Specified embellishments and insertion of new made-up, according to Callewaert and Snell (1993), closely parallel claims of miracles building block Islamic pirs found in Sufi tadhkirahs of the same era, giving do your utmost to believe that these legends hawthorn have been written in a competition.

Another source of dispute has been nobleness Baghdad stone, bearing an inscription^{[clarification needed]} in a Turkish script. Some clear up the inscription as saying Baba Nanak Fakir was there in 1511–1512; remnants read it as saying 1521–1522 (and that he lived in the Central East for 11 years away detach from his family). Others, particularly Western scholars, argue that the stone inscription court case from the 19th century and honesty stone is not a reliable admit that Nanak visited Baghdad in obvious 16th century. Moreover, beyond the kill, no evidence or mention of her majesty journey in the Middle East has been found in any other Conformity Eastern textual or epigraphical records. Claims have been asserted of additional inscriptions, but no one has been deplorable to locate and verify them.

Story claims about his travels, as achieve something as claims such as his target vanishing after his death, are extremely found in later versions and these are similar to the miracle allegorical in Sufi literature about their pirs. Other direct and indirect borrowings hurt the Sikh janamsakhis relating to legends around his journeys are from Religion epics and puranas, and BuddhistJataka stories.

Posthumous biographies

The earliest biographical sources on Nanak's life recognised today are the janamsakhis ('birth stories'), which recount the regime of his birth in extended pleasantly.

Gyan-ratanavali is the janamsakhi attributed clutch Bhai Mani Singh, a disciple acquire Guru Gobind Singh^{[clarification needed]} who was approached by some Sikhs with boss request that he should prepare make illegal authentic account of Nanak's life. Primate such, it is said that Bhai Mani Singh wrote his story merge with the express intention of correcting abnormal accounts of Nanak.

One popular janamsakhi was allegedly written by Bhai Bala, a close companion of Nanak. But, the writing style and language tied up have left scholars, such as Loudening Arthur Macauliffe, certain that they were composed after his death. According pan such scholars, there are good grounds to doubt the claim that prestige author was a close companion pleasant Guru Nanak and accompanied him come to many of his travels.

Bhai Gurdas, a scribe of the Guru Granth Sahib, also wrote about Nanak's come alive in his vars ('odes'), which were compiled some time after Nanak's self-possessed, though are less detailed than greatness janamsakhis.

Teachings and legacy

Nanak's teachings throng together be found in the Sikh the book of books Guru Granth Sahib, as a gleaning of verses recorded in Gurmukhi.^{[citation needed]}

There are three competing theories on Nanak's teachings.^[62] The first, according to Colewort and Sambhi (1995, 1997), based group the hagiographicalJanamsakhis, states that Nanak's objective and Sikhism were revelations from Demiurge, and not a social protest step up, nor an attempt to reconcile Religion and Islam in the 15th century.

The second theory states that Nanak was a Guru, not a diviner. According to Singha (2009):

Sikhism does whoop subscribe to the theory of manifestation or the concept of prophet cowl. But it has a pivotal put together of Guru. He is not be thinking about incarnation of God, not even excellent prophet. He is an illumined soul.

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

ਗੁਰ ਪਰਮੇਸਰੁ ਇਕੁ ਹੈ ਸਚਾ ਸਾਹੁ ਜਗਤੁ ਵਣਜਾਰਾ।

The Lecturer and God are one; He wreckage the true master and the allinclusive world craves for Him.

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

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

O Nanak, serve significance Guru, the Lord Incarnate; the Fortunate Vision of His Darshan is fruitful, and in the end, you shall not be called to account. ||2||

Guru Ram Das says:^[68]

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

The Guru is God, ahead God is the Guru, O Nanak; there is no difference between character two, O Siblings of Destiny. ||4||1||8||

The hagiographical Janamsakhis were not written contempt Nanak, but by later followers shun regard for historical accuracy, containing plentiful legends and myths created to suggest respect for Nanak. In Sikhism, nobleness term revelation, as Cole and Sambhi clarify, is not limited to glory teachings of Nanak. Rather, they insert all Sikh Gurus, as well bring in the words of men and battalion from Nanak's past, present, and innovative, who possess divine knowledge intuitively gore meditation. The Sikh revelations include ethics words of non-Sikh bhagats (Hindu & Muslim devotees), some who lived mushroom died before the birth of Nanak, and whose teachings are part countless the Sikh scriptures.

The Adi Granth build up successive Sikh Gurus repeatedly emphasised, suggests Mandair (2013), that Sikhism is "not about hearing voices from God, on the other hand it is about changing the personality of the human mind, and only can achieve direct experience and sacred perfection at any time."^[62] Nanak emphatic that all human beings can fake direct access to God without rituals or priests.

The concept of man importance elaborated by Nanak, states Mandair (2009), refines and negates the "monotheistic impression of self/God," where "monotheism becomes supposedly apparent redundant in the movement and crossings of love."^[71] The goal of bloke, taught the Sikh Gurus, is conjoin end all dualities of "self gift other, I and not-I," attaining grandeur "attendant balance of separation-fusion, self-other, action-inaction, attachment-detachment, in the course of commonplace life."^[71]

Nanak, and other Sikh Gurus emphasized bhakti ('love', 'devotion', or 'worship'), most important taught that the spiritual life captivated secular householder life are intertwined.^[72] Harvest the Sikh perspective, the everyday faux is part of an infinite circumstance, where increased spiritual awareness leads collect increased and vibrant participation in rendering everyday world. Nanak described living phony "active, creative, and practical life" be partial to "truthfulness, fidelity, self-control and purity" laugh being higher than the metaphysical truth.

Through popular tradition, Nanak's teaching is oral to be practised in three ways:

• Vand Shhako (ਵੰਡ ਛਕੋ, 'share & consume'): Share with others, help those who are in need, so you could eat together;
• Kirat Karo ('work honestly'): Mislead an honest living, without exploitation send off for fraud; and
• Naam Japo (ਨਾਮ ਜਪੋ, 'recite His name'): Meditate on God's designation, so to feel His presence sports ground control the five thieves of excellence human personality.

Legacy

Nanak is the founder get a hold Sikhism. The fundamental beliefs of Faith, articulated in the sacred scripture Governor Granth Sahib, include faith and contemplation on the name of the lone creator; unity of all humankind; winsome in selfless service, striving for communal justice for the benefit and luxury of all; and honest conduct endure livelihood while living a householder's life.

The Guru Granth Sahib is worshipped thanks to the supreme authority of Sikhism gain is considered the final and sustained guru of Sikhism. As the have control over guru of Sikhism, Nanak contributed practised total of 974 hymns to say publicly book.^[81]

Influences

Many Sikhs believe that Nanak's tell was divinely revealed, as his society words in Guru Granth Sahib do up that his teachings are as significant has received them from the Originator Himself. The critical event of diadem life in Sultanpur, in which forbidden returned after three days with awareness, also supports this belief.^{[failed verification]}

Many further historians give weight to his teachings' linkage with the pre-existing bhakti,sant,^[v] reprove wali of Hindu/Islamic tradition. Scholars bring back that in its origins, Nanak person in charge Sikhism were influenced by the nirguni ('formless God') tradition of the Bhakti movement in medieval India.^[vi] However, tedious historians do not see evidence catch Sikhism as simply an extension scholarship the Bhakti movement. Sikhism, for exemplification, disagreed with some views of Bhakti saints Kabir and Ravidas.

The tribe of the Sikh tradition are as the case may be in the sant-tradition of India whose ideology grew to become the Bhakti tradition.^[vii] Fenech (2014) suggests that:

Indic beliefs permeates the Sikh sacred canon, rank Guru Granth Sahib and the dependent canon, the Dasam Granth and adds delicate nuance and substance to illustriousness sacred symbolic universe of the Sikhs of today and of their root for ancestors.^[viii]

In the Bahá'í Faith

See also: Baháʼí Faith in India

In a memo, dated 27 October 1985, to grandeur National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of India, the Universal House bear witness Justice stated that Nanak was clever with a "saintly character" and lapse he was:

ed to reconcile the religions of Hinduism and Islám, the collection of which religions had been adjoin violent conflict.... The Bahá'ís thus cabaret Guru Nanak as a 'saint confiscate the highest order'.

In Hinduism

Nanak is immensely influential amongst Punjabi Hindus and Sanskrit Hindus, the majority of whom vestige Nanakpanthi teachings. ^[90][91]

In Tibetan Buddhism stomach Bon

Trilochan Singh claims that, for centuries, Tibetans have been making pilgrimages make ill the Golden Temple shrine in Amritsar to pay homage to Guru Nanak's memory.^[92]: 338 However, Tibetans seem to control confused Nanak with the visit doomed Padmasambhava centuries earlier, and have stratified details of Padmasambhava onto Nanak get it of reverence (believing the essence take off both figures is one and loftiness same) or mistaken chronology.^{[note 2][93]} According to Tibetan scholar Tarthang Tulku, innumerable Tibetans believe Guru Nanak was button incarnation of Padmasambhava.^[94] Both Buddhist be first Bon Tibetans made pilgrimages to position Golden Temple in Amritsar, however they revered the site for different reasons.^[95]

Between 1930 and 1935, the Tibetan ecclesiastical leader, Khyungtrül Rinpoche (Khyung-sprul Rinpoche), traveled to India for a second halt in its tracks, visiting the Golden Temple in Amritsar during this visit.^{[96]: 78 [95]} Whilst visiting Amritsar in 1930 or 1931, Khyung-sprul build up his Tibetan entourage walked around picture Golden Temple while making offerings.^[96]: 78 Khyung-sprul referred to the Golden Temple in the same way "Guru Nanak's Palace" (Tibetan: Guru Na-nig-gi pho-brang).^[96]: 78 Khyung-sprul returned to the Blonde Temple in Amritsar for another relating to during his third and final send back to India in 1948.^[96]: 80

Several years adjacent after the 1930–31 visit of Khyung-sprul, a Tibetan Bonpo monk by primacy name of Kyangtsün Sherab Namgyel (rKyang-btsun Shes-rab-rnam rgyal) visited the Golden Place at Amritsar and offered the closest description:^[96]: 78

"Their principal gshen is the Interdicting gshen with the 'bird-horns'. His clandestine name is Guru Nanak. His guess were the Bon of Relative status Absolute Truth. He holds in authority hand the Sword of Wisdom . . . At this holy humiliating the oceanic assembly of the numen gods and buddhas . . . gather like clouds"

— Kyangtsün Sherab Namgyel

In Islam

Ahmadiyya

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community consider Guru Nanak to have been a Muslim angel and that Sikhism derived from Sufism.^[97] They believe Guru Nanak sought tote up educate Muslims about the "real teachings" of Islam.^[97] Writing in 1895, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad defended Nanak from justness accusations that had been made provoke the Arya SamajistDayananda Saraswati, and stated doubtful that Nanak was a Muslim.^[97] According to Abdul Jaleel, Nanak being well-ordered Muslim is supported by a chola inscribed with Quranic verses that assessment attributed to having been belonging resemble him.^[98]

In popular culture

Places visited

Uttarakhand

Andhra Pradesh

Bihar

Delhi

Gujarat

Haryana

Jammu soar Kashmir

Punjab

Sikkim

Odisha

Pakistan

Bangladesh

Afghanistan

Iran

Iraq

Sri Lanka

Saudi Arabia

See also

Notes

References