Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji

"Great men live for others." Guru Nanak was the first Guru of Sikhs. He founded Sikhism. He awoke all the sleeping people of India through one message, "There is one God'. The people of India were surrounded by black clouds of blind faith, superstitions, and ignorance. Guru Nanak appeared like the sun and removed the darkness from the minds of the people. Not only Sikhs but also people from other religions worship him. So we can say that he is a world-famous Guru.

Guru Nanak Dev was born in 1469 at Talwandi near Lahore. It is now in Pakistan and is popularly known as Nankana Sahib. His father Mehta Kalu was a respectable person but he was a poor Khatri.

Right from childhood, he was in search of God. He was very thoughtful and quite different from other boys of his age. He did not like to study the tricks of business. He was always lost in deep meditation. Once his father gave him 20 rupees to make a good bargain, but he spent the money in feeding some hungry Sadhus and made a true bargain. On returning home, he narrated the whole incident to his father and said, "I have done Sachha Sauda". He did not ever look after the cattle properly.

He was married to Bibi Sulakhani. Guruji had two sons-Shri Chand and Lakshmi Das. In his youth, Guruji was persuaded by his sister to take up the job of the storekeeper. But he left the job. He left the house with his disciple Mardana. He traveled at many places and preached against blind faith and superstitions. She was the first person who stood for the rights of women.

His teachings were simple; Guru had no faith in castes and creed. Many people followed him. Guruji traveled far and wide to propagate his message of love. He had a dialogue with Muslim priests at Mecca. He went to the islands in the sea. He went up to China. There are many stories attached to his name. Guruji had discourses of Kurukshetra, Haridwar, Multan, and various places. He met Wali Kandhari, Sidhas, Bhoomro, Kauda Rakshasha, Malik Bhago, Karoo King.

Guruji composed great verses of Guru Granth. He composed 'Japuji', 'Asa di war' etc. Guruji spent his last days at Kartarpur. He selected Bhai Lehana the second Guru to lead the Sikhs after him. Guruji left for his heavenly abode in 1539 A.D. The path is shown by the great guru still leads us. It gives us solace and peace.