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About Guru Nanak |
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Guru Nanak was born on April 15, 1469.
Born in Talwandi, 40 miles from Lahore, now in Pakistan was in Indai. As a tribute to Guru Nanak, this place is now called 'Nankana Sahib'. His father Kaluchand was a Patwari and his mother's name was Tripta Devi. An astrologer had predicted that Nanak was a born devotee of God and would achieve spiritual heights and be acknowledged by both Hindus and Muslims alike.
Contray to popular beliefs, Guru Nanak did not form the Sikh religion. He came to unite the Hindus and the Muslims, so why create a third division. The Sikhs, as a religion, were formed by the 10th Guru,
Guru Gobind Singh Ji, on November 11th 1675.
This may be read in the continuation of Professor Ray's article "One Message, One Mission : A Study in Social Analysis from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singhji"- SR Feb 1999.
All knowledgeable Sikhs and students of Sikhism recognize that the ultimate goal which the religious and spiritual discipline laid down by Guru Nanak was supposed to lead to, was the experience of Sahaj. Sahaj , according to him, was indeed the last reach of human experience, beyond which lay the realm of formlessness, of inarticulation. |
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| Poems by Guru Nanak |
God is the One mystic Sound,
His name is Truth,
He is the Creator,
Without Fear,
Without Enmity,
Timeless Form,
Unborn and Self-existent,
Known by the Guru's Grace.
He was the Truth in the beginning,
Truth when time began,
even now He is the Truth and will always be the Truth. |
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Wonder inspiring are the books of revelation!
Wonder inspiring the forms!
Wonder inspiring the colours!
Wonder inspiring, the air!
Wonder inspiring, the water!
Wonder inspiring the play of fire!
I have been struck with wonder
to see the wondorous play;
Nanak only the blessed ones understand.
Guru Nanak (1544-1603), Rajasthan |
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Aadays, tisai aadays. Aad aneel anaad anaahat, jug jug ayko vays.
Obeisance, obeisance to Him, the Primal, the Immaculate, without beginning, without end, constant through all ages.
Aykaa maa-ee, jugat viaaee, tin chalay parvaan.
The One Mother existed Alone in some mysterious way and She created the Three deities.
Ik sansaaree, ik bhandaaree, ik laa-ay deeban.
One was the Creator, one the Sustainer and one the Destroyer.
Jiv tis bhaavai, tivai chalaavai, jiv havai phurmaan.
The world moves as He ordains and as He pleases.
Oh vaykahi, onaa nadar na aavai, buhutaa ayho vidaan.
He see all, but no one sees Him; this is a great wonder.
Sri Guru Granth Sahib (Jap Jee Sahib) |
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