Issue 8.5 - Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia

Guru
Nanak Jayanti
Guru Nanak Dev was the first Sikh Guru and the
founder of the Sikh religion. He was born on the full
moon day in the month of Kartik as per the Hindu
calendar. His birthday is celebrated as Guru Nanak
Jayanti. Guru Nanak was born in 1469 AD at Rai-
Bhoi-di Talwandi, some 30 miles from Lahore, in the
present Pakistan. The Sikhs visit Gurdwaras where
special programs are arranged and kirtans
(religious songs) are sung. Houses and Gurdwaras
are decorated and lit up to add to the festivities.
Guru Nanak Dev’s life served as a beacon light for
his age. He was a great seer, saint and mystic. He
was a prolific poet and a unique singer of God’s
laudation. A prophet of peace, love, truth and
renaissance, he was centuries ahead of his times.
His universal message is as fresh and true even
today as it was in the past and Sikhs all over the
world. Guru Nanak Jayanti in 2010 falls on the 21st
of November.
Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born into a Kshatriya
(warrior) family to Mehta Kalu Chand and Tripti
Devi. Mehta Kalyan Das Bedi, better known as
Mehta Kalu, was the accountant of the village and
an agriculturist as well. Since childhood, Nanak had
a mystic disposition and used to talk to Sadhus
about God. He had a pious nature and a
contemplative mind. He spent most of his time in
meditation and spiritual practices.
Early Life
Nanak got married to Sulakhani, daughter of Mula,
resident of Batala in the district of Gurdaspur. He
20 | Bhavan Australia | Nov 2010
had two sons, Srichand and Lakshmichand. But he
left his family and went to the forests and lonely
places for meditation. Jai Ram, Nanak’s brother-inlaw,
took him to Rai Bular, the Zamindar of
Talwandi, who put Nanak in charge of his
storehouse. Nanak received provisions as his
salary for discharging his duties very satisfactorily.
However, Nanak gave up his duty and distributed
the goods among the poor. Disguised as a Fakir, he
lived in the jungles singing inspiring songs.
Mardana, a minstrel from Talwandi became Nanak’s
servant and faithful devotee.
The Preacher
Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj
By the age of 34, Nanak became a public preacher.
He preached “There is no Hindu, there is no
Mussulman”. His preachings highly impressed the
public. He toured Northern India along with
Mardana. He wandered from place to place. He
travelled throughout India from Sayyidpur to
Kurukshetra, Haridwar, Brindavan, Varanasi, Agra,
Kanpur, Prayag, Patna, Rajgir, Gaya and Puri. He
even made extensive tours to Sri Lanka, Myanmar,
Mecca, Medina, Turkey, Baghdad, Kabul, Kandahar
and Siam.
Two great miracles are associated with Guru
Nanak’s life. One is connected with Nanak’s visit to
Mecca. One time, the Mohammedans found Nanak
sleeping with his feet towards the Kaaba, the
direction towards which the Muslims prostrate
while performing their prayers. Kazi Rukan-ud-din
observed this and got angry. On remarking why he
turned his feet towards God, Nanak asked him to
turn his feet where God is not present. Kazi angrily
turned his feet to the opposite direction. To his