All About the Life of Guru Nanak

Sikhism originated with Guru Nanak five centuries ago. Nanak came from a Hindu family. He grew up surrounded by Muslim neighbors. From an early age he showed a deeply spiritual character. He broke away from his family’s traditions and belief systems, refusing to participate in empty rituals. Nanak married and entered business, but remained focused on God and meditation. Eventually Nanak became a wandering minstrel. He composed poetry in praise of one God, and set it to music. He rejected idolatry, and the worship of demigods. He spoke out against the caste system, teaching instead the equality of all humanity.

                         

The Birth of Guru Nanak  (1469 - 1539)

Early one morning before the light of dawn, Tripta, the wife of Kalu Bedi, gave birth to a baby boy. The baby charmed the midwife who attended his delivery. The parents called an astrologer to predict his fortune. They named their son Nanak, after his older sister Nanaki. The family lived in the town of Nankana, which is now a part of Pakistan.

Nanak, the Herdboy

When Nanak became old enough, his father gave him the job of watching cattle. Nanak would slip into deep meditative trances while the cattle grazed. He got into a lot of trouble couple of times when the cattle wandered into the neighbors fields and ate up their crops. Nanak's father often became very upset with him, and scolded him severely for his laziness. Some villagers noticed very unusual things happening when Nanak meditated. They became convinced that Nanak must be a mystic or saint.

Nanak, the Scholar

One of the villagers, named Rai Bullar, noticed that Nanak tended to meditate at every opportunity. He became convinced that Nanak had devout disposition. He persuaded Nanak’s father to put him in a class where he could receive an education in religious studies. Nanak learned very quickly astounding his teacher with the spiritual nature of his school work. The teacher believed that Nanak wrote divinely inspired compositions.

Nanak, the Reformer

When Nanak came of age, his father arranged for him to participate in the Hindu thread tying ceremony symbolizing man's connection with God. Nanak refused, objecting that the thread had no value because it would eventually wear out. He also rejected the Hindu caste system of Brahman hierarchy. Nanak denounced idolatry, and the worship of demi-gods.

Nanak, the Merchant

As Nanak matured, his family arranged a marriage for him with a girl named Sulakhani. She bore him two sons. Nanak's father attempted to set him up in business as a merchant, so that he could support his family. He gave Nanak money and sent him to make purchases. Nanak spent all the money feeding homeless, and hungry, holy men that he met on the way. When he returned empty handed, his father became very angry and scolded him severely. Nanak insisted that doing good deeds for others had earned an excellent profit.

Nanak, the Householder

Nanak's father became increasingly frustrated with him. His sister, Nanaki, lived with her husband in a town called Sultanpur. They found Nanak a job working in a granary. Nanak left his wife and sons with his parents promising to send for them as soon as he could support them. Nanak did well in his new position. He treated everyone generously, and dealt with them fairly. Before long his family joined him, and they moved into a house of their own. Nanak became acquainted with a Muslim minstrel, named Mardana. They met every morning at a local river, where they meditated before going to work. The entire community expressed astonishment that men of different faiths could worship together.

Nanak, the Enlightened One

One morning, Nanak went to meditate and bathe beside the Kali Bein, or Black River, with Mardana. Nanak walked into the river and disappeared beneath the water. When he did not show up for work, his employer discovered that he had never come back out from under the water. Everyone assumed that he had drowned except for his sister Nanaki. Three days passed and then, astounding everyone, Nanak emerged from the river alive saying, "Na koe Hindu, na koe Musalman - There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim." The amazed town's people agreed that Nanak must be a completely enlightened being and began to call him "Guru."

Guru Nanak, the Traveler

Nanak immersed himself fully in meditation. He seldom spoke to anyone and quit his job. He gave away all of his personal belongings to the poor. He made living arrangements for his wife and sons, and then left town with his spiritual companion Mardana. They became wandering minstrels. Mardana played a stringed instrument called a rabab and accompanied Nanak, when he sang his poetic compositions. They embarked on a series of Udasi mission tours and traveled together preaching, and teaching, that there is only one God. There is no Hindu. There is no Muslim. There is only one brotherhood of humanity.

The Five Defining Essentials of Sikhism

Guru Nanak, the first Guru, taught that one God is manifest in all of creation. Nanak and the nine other gurus who succeeded him made vital contributions to Sikhism. Their collective teachings are the basis of the Sikh the gurmat code of conduct. Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, established the method of Sikh Baptism. He bequeathed the title of Guru to the Sikh scripture.

A Sikh is defined by the code of conduct as a person who has faith in:

• One God
• The ten gurus
• The scripture of the Guru Granth
• Gurmat guidelines of the ten gurus teachings
• Sikh baptism and initiation

These are the five criteria essential to Sikhism.

Ik Onkar, the Belief in One God

Ik Onkar is the Sikh symbol representing the concept of One God, a fundamental belief essential to Sikhism. Sikh scriptures are written in the gurmukhi script. Ik represents the numeral one. The symbol Onkar symbolizes the creative principle manifest in all of creation.

The Ten Gurus of Sikhism

The founders of Sikhism are the ten gurus:

1. Nanak Dev - Born 1469 
   Enthroned as Guru from 1507 - 1539
2. Angad Dev - Born 1504
   Enthroned as Guru from 1539 - 1552
3. Amar Das - Born 1479
   Enthroned as Guru from 1552 - 1574
4. Ram Das - Born 1534
   Enthroned as Guru from 1574 - 1581
5. Arjun Dev - Born 1563
   Enthroned as Guru from 1581 - 1606
6. Har Gobind - Born 1595
   Enthroned as Guru from 1606 - 1644
7. Har Rai - Born 1630
   Enthroned as Guru from 1644 - 1661
8. Har Krishan - Born 1656
   Enthroned as Guru from 1661 - 1664
9. Tegh Bahudur - Born 1621
   Enthroned as Guru from 1665 - 1675
10. Gobind Singh - Born 1666
    Enthroned as Guru from 1675 - 1708

Each made unique contributions essential to Sikhism.

Guru Granth, the Sacred Scripture

Guru Granth, a single volume of 1430 pages, is the sacred scripture of Sikhs. The inspirational verses of Guru Granth are written in the Gurmukhi script. Arjun Dev, began compiling the volume with he poetry of Nanak Dev. Gobind Singh completed the Guru Granth. At the time of his death, he bequeathed the title of Guru to the Granth. The scripture of the Granth is now, and forever, Guru of the Sikhs. Sikhs believe the scripture shows the path to enlightenment.

Gurmat Guidelines of the Ten Gurus' Teachings

Sikh principles are based on the teachings of the ten gurus and scripture of Guru Granth. The gurus taught that enlightenment is possible for ordinary people who choose to meditate on God, and live according to a code of moral ethics. These guidelines for conduct are known to Sikhs as gurmat. They include both the personal, and communal, aspects of living required for every Sikh.

All About Sikh Baptism and Initiation Rites

Amrit is the name of the Sikh baptism ceremony. The word Amrit means immortalizing nectar. During the ceremony, a sweet drink is prepared while reciting sacred prayers. It is given to initiates to drink. Initiates agree to live according to a code of conduct. In a symbolic gesture of giving their head to their guru, they signify a willingness to adopt humility as a way of life, in order to overcome ego, and achieve salvation. Guru Gobind Singh arranged the first Amrit ceremony in 1699.