Prince George Sikh Youth: Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s 550th Prakash Diwas

With the emergence of the true Guru Nanak, the mist cleared and the light scattered all around.

As if at the sun rise the stars disappeared and the darkness dispelled.

With the roar of the lion in the forest the flocks of escaping deer now cannot have endurance.

Wherever Baba put his feet, a religious place was erected and established.

All the siddh-places now have been renamed on the name of Nanak.

Every home has become a place of dharma where singing.

Baba liberated all four directions and nine divisions of earth.

Guru Nanak has emerged in this kaliyug, the dark age.

It is difficult to capture such a deep meaning of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s impact on this world in this post. If there is anything that could describe that feeling, it would be captured in singing Guru Ji’s own Bani and feeling it in our hearts. This 550^th anniversary is once in a lifetime. I think it is a time to reflect on what Sikhi has meant to our lives, how far we have come and where we are headed. I will share briefly some history and Sakhis of Guru Ji below. Guru Ji taught us the concepts of Naam Japna, Kirat Karni and Vand Shakna (remembrance of God, earn and honest living, and share what you earn). He communicated in simple language so everyone could understand, not just those who had a formal education. This was in contrast to the fact that at those times, Hindus were writing in Sanskrit and only those who were of a certain caste were allowed to learn to read the scriptures. Guru Ji taught a grist marag, that a person can live as a householder and work hard to earn your livings, while having a spiritual life at the same time. This is different than when Jogis at the time used to travel away in the mountains to meditate. Guru Ji wrote Japji Sahib, Asa Di Vaar, Baran Mah, Sidh Gosht, and Dakhni Onkaar, and was loved by both Hindus and Muslims for spreading a universal message. As you read through these Sakhis try to understand the meaning and purpose and how they apply to us today.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born to Hindu parents Mehta Kalu and Mata Tripta in 1469 in Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib in Pakistan). Although Guru Ji was born April 15, the birth date is celebrated on the full moon in November. He had an older sister named Bibi Nanaki. At this location now sits Gurdwara Janam Asthan, also known as Nankana Sahib. Previously the town had been named “Talvandi Rai Bhoe” named after a Muslim Rajput whose descendant Rai Bular was a disciple of Guru Ji. Guru Ji spent 16 years here. Gurdwara Bal Leela was originally built by Rai Bular and is where Guru Nanak Dev Ji played with friends, and led them in meditation. Below left is Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib and right is Gurdwara Bal Leela.

Guru Ji’s unique path became apparent at a young age when he learned at an unprecedented rate and impressed his teachers. The site of present-day Gurdwara Patti Sahib is where Guru Nanak Dev Ji was supposed to learn from Pandit Gopal Das. One day the Pandit asked Guru Ji why he wasn’t learning the way he wanted, Guru Ji said: “O respected Senior! (Let me) Learn to write the account in such a fashion, that when your life’s account is reviewed, it will bring Full Marks (of Truth – being debt free).” The Pandit told Mehta Kalu he could no longer teach Guru Ji, as Guru Ji would teach all of humankind. Guru Ji taught the pandit the spiritual meaning of each letter, which is now found in the Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Ji also refused to tie the ceremonial thread, which is tied per Hindu tradition. Without this thread, the boy is considered of the lowest caste and is not allowed to read holy texts. Different threads are worn by different castes, whereas women are not allowed to wear one. It is supposed to also protect one against gods/goddesses. At the age of 9 Guru Ji questioned the priest as to why women were not allowed to get the janeau, and pointed out that the janeau is discriminatory and we should not divide people among castes. He pointed out that such a physical thread cannot help us achieve our purpose.

At age 13, Mehta Kalu sent Guru Ji to graze cattle. One day while Guru Ji was meditating under a tree, the buffalo and cattle started grazing wherever and fed on the neighbour’s fields. The neighbour was angry and woke up Guru Ji. Guru Ji stated that God would bless the fields. The farmer went to get Rai Bular to show him, who sent his men to investigate but when they arrived the fields were all green again! This is the site of present day Gurdwara Kyara Sahib. One day while grazing the cattle and buffalo, Guru Ji again rested under a shady Mall tree and meditated. As the sun moved, it came over Guru Jis face. A cobra arrived and spread its hood over Guru Jis face, shading it from the son. Rai Bular saw this event and came over, then the snake disappeared to its pit. This is the site of present day Gurdwara Mall Ji Sahib and the tree has been preserved.

When Guru Ji was 18, he was sent by his father to the city to make a profit with 20 rupees (a lot of money back then!). Mehta Kalu thought that maybe his son would be a successful businessman since cattle grazing hadn't worked out. Guru Ji left with Bhai Mardana (some sources say this was Bhai Bala), to Chooharkhaana, which has a large marketplace. As they were walking on the way, there was a village full of diseased and starving individuals. Guru Ji told Bhai Mardana that nothing would be more profitable than feeding and clothing them, and thus this is the true beginnings of langar. (The accounts from story books from when I was little said that it was a group of sadhus that was fed, but rather this version is actually is more consistent with Gurbani and is described by discover sikhism. It is also orally passed down from local Muslims). Bhai Mardana then went to the village and told Mehta Kalu, who was angry and went and found Guru Ji at the site of present day Gurdwara Tambu Sahib. Mehta Kalu slapped Guru Ji but Bebe Nananki intervened. This is the sight of present day Gurdwara Sacha Soudha.

Later on Mehta Kalu sent Guru Ji to Sultanpur Lodhi to work. He spent 14 years here prior to travelling on the Udaasis. His brother-in-law Jai Ram found him a job as a modi at the Nawab’s modi khana (in charge of the supplies store). When weighing grain, Guru Ji got to the number 13 (tera also meaning Tera- Yours, I am Yours God) and Guru Ji started meditating Tera, Tera, Tera. The customers received so much they couldn’t even carry it out! Nawab Daulat Khan heard what happened and charged the Guru but when they investigated, the storage was all full, and there was a surplus of grain, rather than having any missing. These stones are preserved at Gurdwara Sri Hatt Sahib. Guru Ji then went on to marry Mata Sulakhani. Instead of marrying around a fire, Guru Ji wrote Ik Onkaar and they married around that paper (Shabad Guru). They went onto have two children at Sultanpur Lodhi, Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das. Guru Ji went on to meet Bhai Mardana, who was born from a Muslim family. He joined Guru Ji on his travels (Udaasis), and played the rabab as Guru Ji sang shabads.

Guru Ji bathed daily in the Bein river. One day in 1499 Guru Ji disappeared into the river and returned out after 3 days at the location of Sant Ghat Sahib. When Guru Ji emerged, he said “Na Ko Hindu, Na Ko Musalmaan”- “There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim”, meaning that everyone is the same according to God. Guru Ji was respected by all religions and travelled extensively spreading messages of honesty, equality between men and women, and speaking out against the caste system.

Guru Ji went on 4 Udaasis. These were very long travels by foot. The first Udaasi was from 1500-1506 (widespread areas which would include what is present-day Pakistan, India and Bangladesh), the second from 1506-1513 (all the way from Pakistan, down to present-day Southern India and Sri Lanka), third from 1514 to 1518 (in present-day areas such as Tibet, Nepal and Myanmar), and last from 1518 to 1521 (present-day Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Afganistan, Istanbul, Syria, etc.). There are great maps and details here. https://www.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=991638adf2024fa8b3508be190e0db25 Certainly this teaches us we should keep up in our physical fitness, but also to do parchar and spread the word of God, as well as to have conversations with sangat of all backgrounds to learn from them and to share as well. When I was travelling through Pakistan I was imagining what amazing scenery Guru Ji must have walked through, from deserts to lush greenery.

On his travels, Guru Ji met Bhai Lalo. Bhai Lalo lived in Saidpur (Eminabad) and was a carpenter. Malik Bhago was a rich man who invited Guru Ji to stay in his house, but Guru Ji declined and stayed with Bhai Lalo. This angered Malik Bhago who summoned Guru Ji a second time. He told Guru Ji that he was dishonoring the Kshatriyas by eating at the house of a carpenter. It was here that Guru Ji asked Bhai Lalo to bring a plate of food and Malik Bhago to bring a plate. When he squeezed the food of Bhai Lalo, it poured milk whereas that of Malik Bhago poured blood, showing him that he was earning his living dishonestly but getting it from the poor (“sucking the blood of the poor”). Bhai Lalo’s house was first a dharamsala then became a Gurdwara named after the Khuhi (well), Gurdwara Khuhi Bhai Lalao.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji often emphasized that we should not be stuck in rituals but rather be true to their religion. For example, he observed people throwing the water from the Ganges towards the sun to reach their ancestors and he started throwing it in the opposite direction, claiming that if their water reached the ancestors then his should reach his fields in Punjab.

At site of present day Gurdwara Guru Ki Ber, Guru Ji met a Muslim Fakir named Hamza Gaus, in Sialkot. He cast a spell on the city since someone did not follow through on their promise to give the Pir their first-born son. Guru Ji came and broke the spell with his shabad. He showed the Pir it was unjust for him to punish the whole city for the wrongdoing of one man. He showed the Pir that forgiveness is an important principle.

Guru Ji travelled to Mecca. One well-known Sakhi from Guru Ji’s travels here is that Guru Ji fell asleep with his feet pointed towards Kaaba. A Qazi was enraged, and questioned why he had his feet turned this way. Guru Ji asked him to turn his feet to whichever direction God was not, as the Qazi moved his feet, he saw Kaaba in all directions! The Qazi realized that God was in all directions. This is recorded in Bhai Gurdaa Ji’s Vaaran (Var 1: 32).

In 1521 Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhai Mardana arrived in Hasan Abdal and started doing kirtan which attracted many locals. This created jealousy in Wali Qandhari, who was used to having this attention from the locals and owned the only water supply. He purposefully cut off the supply so people would return to him. Guru Ji sent Bhai Mardana three times to ask Wali Qandhari for water for the villagers but Wali Qandhari rudely refused, and asked him to ask his Master (Guru Nanak). Guru Ji asked everyone to remember God, and asked the villagers to push away an embedded rock, when suddenly, a fountain of water sprang from it! Wali Qandhari’s fountain dried up, and he he became angry, throwing a giant rock down from the hill towards Guru Ji. Guru Ji stopped the rock with his hand, leaving the imprint. Seeing this, Wali became a follower of the Guru. This rock still stands and you can touch the imprint of Guru Ji at Gurdwara Panja Sahib.

Babar’s army invaded Punjab in 1521 when Guru Nanak Dev Ji was in Eminabad (called Saidpur at the time). When the town was captured, Guru Ji was amongst those captured. At that time Guru Ji was staying at present-day Gurdwara Rori Sahib with Bhai Lalo, and lying on a hard surface of pebbles. After Guru Ji was held prisoner by Babar, he was forced to grind corn using a chakki (millsone). Guru Ji’s chakki ran on it’s own while he sang kirtan! The corn was to feed the Mughal troops. They told Babar, who came and asked for forgiveness. Guru Ji challenged Babar’s injust actions and told him that those who are cruel suffer. Babar then released Guru Ji and 11,111 other prisoners. This is the site of present day Gurdwara Chakki Sahib.

Guru Ji stayed at Kartarpur for 18 years as a householder, cultivating the land with his parents, wife, and sons. Kartarpur became the first Sikh center. Guru Ji started langar here using locally grown food served by the sangat. Sarans were built, and Guru Ji sang Gurbani and delivered katha. This was also where Guru Ji appointed Bhai Lehna (Guru Angad Dev Ji) as his successor. Guru Ji merged with God at Kartarpur. After this, Hindus and Muslims argued about what should be done with Guru Ji’s body (cremation or burial). They decided that flowers would be placed on Guru Ji’s body, whoevers were found to be withered the next day would lose but when the sheet was removed, the body was missing and the flowers were all fresh. The communities divided the sheet, and the Muslims buried it while the Hindus cremated it. Thus per Hindu tradition there is a Samadh in the Gurdwara, and a grave as per Muslim tradition. Currently large celebrations are being held at Kartarpur.

550 years of Sikhi! This is a time for us to unite and to celebrate, but also to reflect and problem-solve. Guru Ji guided people back to their purpose when they were lost in ritualism, kaam, krodh, lob, moh and hankaar. We should reconnect ourselves back to that purpose. It is hugely important for us to go back to our roots and learn starting from Ik Onkaar. Answer the questions within your mind through study of Gurbani. They are so many ways we can grow and connect through our Sikhi, and once you start on that path you fall in love and it will propel you forward. If you don’t know where to start, start reading the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, sit in sangat, discuss and meet with sangat, reflect, listen to kathas from Nanak Naam, Basics of Sikhi, Sikhnet, Mysimran.info and Prabh Milne Ka Chao; read a bit of history; start doing simran, incorporate Sikhi into your living life. You can really start from any of those places. It is vital that as you grow, you share your learnings with those around you and spread the message of Sikhi. Don’t hold it to yourself, the message was meant to be spread. When you discuss with others, you also realize where there may be more questions that arise and gaps in your knowledge. When I reflect on this year it has been a very special one for me, I started learning the rabab, travelled to Pakistan and India, incorporated a more regular routine into my daily life, and got further in my Sehaj Paath thus far. Wishing everyone Congratulations on Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s 550^th Prakash Divas!

ਸੁਣੀ ਪੁਕਾਰਿ ਦਾਤਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਗ ਮਾਹਿ ਪਠਾਇਆ || ਚਰਨ ਧੋਇ ਰਹਰਾਸਿ ਕਰਿ ਚਰਣਾਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਪੀਲਾਇਆ || ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪੂਰਨ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਕਲਿਜੁਗ ਅੰਦਰ ਇਕ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ || ਚਾਰੇ ਪੈਰ ਧਰਮ ਦੇ ਚਾਰਿ ਵਰਨ ਇਕ ਵਰਨੁ ਕਰਾਇਆ || ਰਾਣਾ ਰੰਕ ਬਰਾਬਰੀ ਪੈਰੀ ਪਵਣਾ ਜਗਿ ਵਰਤਾਇਆ | ਉਲਟਾ ਖੇਲੁ ਪਿਰੰਮ ਦਾ ਪੈਰਾਂ ਉਪਰਿ ਸੀਸ ਨਿਵਾਇਆ || ਕਲਿਜੁਗ ਬਾਬੇ ਤਾਰਿਆ ਸਤਿਨਾਮੁ ਪੜ੍ਹਿ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਸੁਣਾਇਆ || ਕਲਿ ਤਾਰਣਿ ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਆਇਆ ||੨੩|| ਵਾਰ ੧ ||

The Provider Lord listened to the cries (of humanity), Guru Nanak descended into this world.
Washing His feet and praising God, he got his Sikhs to drink the ambrosial nectar (of humility).
In this Dark Age, he showed all gods to be just one.
The four feet of Dharma, the four castes were converted into one.
Equality of the King and beggar, he spread the custom of being humble.
Reversed is the game of the beloved; the egotist high heads bowed to the feet.
Baba Nanak rescued this Dark Age; read ‘satnam’ and recited the mantra.
Guru Nanak came to redeem this Dark Age of Kaljug. Bhai Gurdas - Vaar 1 pauri 23