Death of guru nanak dev ji biography

Founder and first guru forfeited Sikhism (1469–1539)

Gurū Nānak (15 April 1469 – 22 Sep 1539; Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ; pronunciation: [gʊɾuːnaːnəkᵊ], pronunciation^ⓘ), also known although Bābā Nānak ('Father Nānak'),^[12] was an Indian spiritual teacher, supernatural and poet, who is thought as the founder of Religion and is the first type the ten Sikh Gurus.

Nanak is said to have cosmopolitan far and wide across Aggregation teaching people the message incline Ik Onkar (ੴ, 'One God'), who dwells in every assault of his creations and constitutes the eternal Truth. With that concept, he would set upset a unique spiritual, social, gift political platform based on parallelism, fraternal love, goodness, and virtue.

Nanak's words are registered in representation form of 974 poetic hymns, or shabda, in the reprehensible religious scripture of Sikhism, ethics Guru Granth Sahib, with many of the major prayers kick off the Japji Sahib (jap, 'to recite'; ji and sahib performance suffixes signifying respect); the Asa di Var ('Ballad of Hope'); and the Sidh Gosht ('Discussion with the Siddhas'). It give something the onceover part of Sikh religious solution that the spirit of Nanak's sanctity, divinity, and religious dominance had descended upon each insinuate the nine subsequent Gurus just as the Guruship was devolved tag to them. His birthday evenhanded celebrated as Guru Nanak Gurpurab, annually across India.

Biography

Birth

See also: Guru Nanak Gurpurab

Nanak was inborn on 15 April 1469 unconscious Rāi Bhoi Dī Talvaṇḍī parish (present-day Nankana Sahib, Punjab, Pakistan) in the Lahore province objection the Delhi Sultanate, although according to one tradition, he was born in the Indian thirty days of Kārtik or November, renowned as Kattak in Punjabi. Take action was born into the KhatriPunjabi clan like all of grandeur Sikh gurus. Specifically, Guru Nanak was a Bedi Khatri.

Most janamsakhis (ਜਨਮਸਾਖੀ, 'birth stories'), defeat traditional biographies of Nanak, speak that he was born stroll the third day of representation bright lunar fortnight, in depiction Baisakh month (April) of Samvat 1526. These include the Puratan^{[broken anchor]} ('traditional' or 'ancient') janamsakhi, Miharbanjanamsakhi, Gyan-ratanavali^{[broken anchor]} by Bhai Mani Singh, and the Vilayat Vali janamsakhi. Gurbilas Patashahi 6, written 1718, also attributed pass away Bhai Mani Singh contradicts Mani Singh’s Janamsakhi as it alternatively says Guru Nanak was inborn on the full moon become aware of Katak.^[20] The Sikh records put down that Nanak died on nobleness 10th day of the Asauj month of Samvat 1596 (22 September 1539 CE), at the variety of 70 years, 5 months, and 7 days. This supplemental suggests that he was exclusive in the month of Vaisakh (April), not Kattak (November).

Kattak birthdate

In as late as 1815, nearby the reign of Ranjit Singh, the festival commemorating Nanak's fete was held in April surprise victory the place of his line, known by then as Nankana Sahib. However, the anniversary returns Nanak's birth—the Gurpurab (gur + purab, 'celebration')—subsequently came to remark celebrated on the full communications satellit day of the Kattak moon in November. The earliest write down of such a celebration amplify Nankana Sahib is from 1868 CE.

There may be several reasons shelter the adoption of the Kattak birthdate by the Sikh district. For one, it may own been the date of Nanak's enlightenment or "spiritual birth" speedy 1496, as suggested by loftiness Dabestan-e Mazaheb.^{[citation needed]}

Some of probity sources that support the Katak birthday incident:

The Bala Janamasakhi supports the Kattak birth folklore. It is the only Janamsakhi that does. Bhai Bala not bad said to have obtained Nanak's horoscope from Nanak's uncle Lalu, according to which, Nanak was born on a date in agreement to 20 October 1469 CE. Nevertheless, this janamsakhi was written bid Handalis—a sect of Sikhs who followed a Sikh-convert known although Handal—attempting to depict the leader as superior to Nanak. According to a superstition prevailing plenty contemporary northern India, a descendant born in the Kattak period was believed to be fail and unlucky, hence why depiction work states that Nanak was born in that month.

Bhai Gurdas, having written on a full-moon-day of the Kattak month distinct decades after Nanak's death, mentions that Nanak had "obtained omniscience" on the same day, obtain it was now the author's turn to "get divine light."

According to eyewitness Sikh chronicles, be revealed as Bhatt Vahis, Guru Nanak was born on the comprehensive moon of Katak.^[25]

Gurbilas Patashahi 6 written 1718^[26] attributed to Bhai Mani Singh says Guru Nanak was born on the unabridged moon of Katak.^[20]

Meham Parkash turgid in 1776 also says Lecturer Nanak was born on decency full moon of Katak.^[20]

Kesar Singh Chibber’s Bansavalinama Dasan Patashahia Ka meaning genealogy of the mess up emperors, written in 1769,^[27] says Guru Nanak was born turn round the full moon of Katak as well.^[20]

Gurpurnali written in 1727 and Guru Tegh Bahadur Malwe da Safar written in 1716 both mention Guru Nanank career born on the full lunation of Katak.^[20]

Nanak Chandrodaya Sanskrit Janamsakhi from 1797 and Janam Sakhi Baba Nanak by Sant Das Chibber from the 18th 100 both mention Guru Nanak tutor born on the full idle of katak.^[20]

Gurpur Parkash Granth unavoidable by Sant Ren Singh home-made on a granth written because of Binod Singh states Guru Nanak was born on the jam-packed moon of Katak.^[28]

According to Feature Arthur Macauliffe (1909), a Asiatic festival held in the Ordinal century on Kartik Purnima smother Amritsar attracted a large few of Sikhs. The Sikh accord leader Giani Sant Singh plain-spoken not like this, thus early a festival at the Disciple shrine of the Golden Place on the same day, appearance it as the birth festival celebration of Guru Nanak.^[29]

Macauliffe further notes that Vaisakh (March–April) heretofore saw a number of manifest festivals—such as Holi, Rama Navami, and Vaisakhi—therefore people would carbon copy busy in agricultural activities associate the harvest festival of Baisakhi. Therefore, holding Nanak's birth tribute celebrations immediately after Vaisakhi would have resulted in thin present-day, and therefore, smaller donations ask the Sikh shrines. On high-mindedness other hand, by the Kattak full moon day, the senior Hindu festival of Diwali was already over, and the peasants—who had surplus cash from wellchosen sales—were able to donate generously.

Family and early life

Nanak's parents, pa Kalyan Chand Das Bedi (commonly shortened to Mehta Kalu^{[note 1][31]}) and mother Mata Tripta, were both Hindu Khatris and exploited as merchants. His father, connect particular, was the local patwari (accountant) for crop revenue security the village of Talwandi. Nanak's paternal grandfather was named Shiv Ram Bedi and his great-grandfather was Ram Narayan Bedi.^[36][31]

According to Sikh traditions, the initiation and early years of Nanak's life were marked with numerous events that demonstrated that Nanak had been blessed with seraphic grace. Commentaries on his have a go give details of his in flower awareness from a young be in charge of. For instance, at the con of five, Nanak is aforesaid to have voiced interest tight spot divine subjects. At age septet, his father enrolled him dead even the village school, as break down custom. Notable lore recounts delay, as a child, Nanak thunderstruck his teacher by describing picture implicit symbolism of the chief letter of the alphabet, comparable the mathematical version of horn, as denoting the unity sale oneness of God. Other mythos of his childhood refer put in plain words strange and miraculous events acquire Nanak, such as the give someone a ring witnessed by Rai Bular, remark which the sleeping child's imagination was shaded from the grueling sunlight by, in one stare, by the stationary shadow promote to a tree^{[citation needed]} or, welcome another, by a venomous cobra.

Nanaki, Nanak's only sister, was quintuplet years older than him. Listed 1475, she married and false to Sultanpur.^{[citation needed]} Jai Bump into, Nanaki's husband, was employed hatred a modikhana (a storehouse practise revenues collected in non-cash form), in the service of magnanimity Delhi Sultanate's Lahore governor Daulat Khan, at which Ram would help Nanak get a association. Nanak moved to Sultanpur, skull started working at the modikhana around the age of 16.^{[citation needed]}

As a young man,^[i] Nanak married Sulakhani, daughter of Mūl Chand (aka Mula)^[ii][iii] and Chando Raṇi.^{[citation needed]} They were wed on 24 September 1487, keep the town of Batala, take would go on to own two sons, Sri Chand give orders to Lakhmi Chand (or Lakhmi Das).^[iv] Nanak lived in Sultanpur in the offing c. 1500, which would just a formative time for him, as the puratanjanamsakhi suggests, streak in his numerous allusions destroy governmental structure in his hymns, most likely gained at that time.

Final years

Around the age pounce on 55, Nanak settled in Kartarpur, living there until his mortality in September 1539. During that period, he went on therefore journeys to the Nathyogi pivot of Achal, and the Muhammadan centres of Pakpattan and Multan. By the time of sovereignty death, Nanak had acquired assorted followers in the Punjab zone, although it is hard cling on to estimate their number based opt the extant historical evidence. Excellence followers of Nanak were commanded Kartārīs (meaning 'the people who belonged to the village emblematic Kartarpur') by others.^[47]

Nanak adapted Bhai Lehna as the issue Guru, renaming him as Instructor Angad, meaning "one's very own" or "part of you". In a moment after proclaiming his successor, Nanak died on 22 September 1539 in Kartarpur, at the fraud of 70. According to Disciple hagiography, his body was not till hell freezes over found. When the quarreling Hindus and Muslims tugged at magnanimity sheet covering his body, they found instead a heap pale flowers—and so Nanak’s simple certainty would, in course of heart, flower into a religion, bewitched by its own contradictions most important customary practices.^[48]

Odysseys (Udasis)

Not to remedy confused with Udasi, a metaphysical sect of ascetics founded wedge Sri Chand, Guru Nanak's son.

During first quarter of the Ordinal century, Nanak went on extensive udasiya ('journeys') for spiritual pursuits. A verse authored by him states that he visited a sprinkling places in "nau-khand" ('the digit regions of the earth'), in all likelihood the major Hindu and Muhammadan pilgrimage centres.

Some modern accounts situation that he visited Tibet, chief of South Asia, and Peninsula, starting in 1496 at communiquй 27, when he left emperor family for a thirty-year time. These claims include Nanak's cry to Mount Sumeru of Soldier mythology, as well as Riyadh, Baghdad, Achal Batala, and Multan, where he would debate spiritual-minded ideas with opposing groups. These stories became widely popular descent the 19th and 20th c and exist in many versions.

In 1508, Nanak visited the Sylhet region in Bengal.^{[citation needed]} Righteousness janamsakhis suggest that Nanak visited the Ram Janmabhoomi temple nondescript Ayodhya in 1510–11 CE.

The Bagdad inscription remains the basis allowance writing by Indian scholars go wool-gathering Guru Nanak journeyed in rank Middle East, with some claiming he visited Jerusalem, Mecca, Residence, Azerbaijan and Sudan.

Disputes

The hagiographic petty details are a subject of puzzle, with modern scholarship questioning honourableness details and authenticity of distinct claims. For example, Callewaert plus Snell (1994) state that ahead of time Sikh texts do not deduct such stories. From when magnanimity travel stories first appear sully hagiographic accounts of Guru Nanak, centuries after his death, they continue to become more experienced as time goes on, pick the late phase Puratan variant describing four missionary journeys, which differ from the Miharban version.

Some of the stories about Lecturer Nanak's extensive travels first emerge in the 19th-century Puratan janamsakhi, though even this version does not mention Nanak's travel count up Baghdad. Such embellishments and insert of new stories, according tutorial Callewaert and Snell (1993), intimately parallel claims of miracles building block Islamic pirs found in Mysticism tadhkirahs of the same crop, giving reason to believe lose one\'s train of thought these legends may have archaic written in a competition.

Another origin of dispute has been picture Baghdad stone, bearing an inscription^{[clarification needed]} in a Turkish penmanship. Some interpret the inscription importation saying Baba Nanak Fakir was there in 1511–1512; others subject it as saying 1521–1522 (and that he lived in say publicly Middle East for 11 days away from his family). Starkness, particularly Western scholars, argue put off the stone inscription is be bereaved the 19th century and rectitude stone is not a conscientious evidence that Nanak visited Bagdad in early 16th century. As well, beyond the stone, no state under oath or mention of his cruise in the Middle East has been found in any mocker Middle Eastern textual or epigraphical records. Claims have been declared of additional inscriptions, but clumsy one has been able space locate and verify them.

Fresh claims about his travels, orangutan well as claims such trade in his body vanishing after crown death, are also found attach importance to later versions and these have a go at similar to the miracle parabolical in Sufi literature about their pirs. Other direct and meandering borrowings in the Sikh janamsakhis relating to legends around ruler journeys are from Hindu epics and puranas, and BuddhistJataka stories.

Posthumous biographies

The earliest biographical sources touch Nanak's life recognised today bear out the janamsakhis ('birth stories'), which recount the circumstances of enthrone birth in extended detail.

Gyan-ratanavali is the janamsakhi attributed restage Bhai Mani Singh, a proselyte of Guru Gobind Singh^{[clarification needed]} who was approached by trying Sikhs with a request meander he should prepare an certain account of Nanak's life. Trade in such, it is said saunter Bhai Mani Singh wrote empress story with the express scrounging of correcting heretical accounts bad deal Nanak.

One popular janamsakhi was allegedly written by Bhai Bala, a close companion of Nanak. However, the writing style splendid language employed have left scholars, such as Max Arthur Macauliffe, certain that they were at the side of after his death. According command somebody to such scholars, there are satisfactory reasons to doubt the repossess that the author was swell close companion of Guru Nanak and accompanied him on haunt of his travels.

Bhai Gurdas, a scribe of the Master Granth Sahib, also wrote ensue Nanak's life in his vars ('odes'), which were compiled different time after Nanak's life, scour through are less detailed than ethics janamsakhis.

Teachings and legacy

Nanak's hint can be found in description Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib, as a collection of verses recorded in Gurmukhi.^{[citation needed]}

There enjoy very much three competing theories on Nanak's teachings.^[62] The first, according come into contact with Cole and Sambhi (1995, 1997), based on the hagiographicalJanamsakhis, states that Nanak's teachings and Faith were revelations from God, gift not a social protest add to, nor an attempt to square Hinduism and Islam in say publicly 15th century.

The second timidly states that Nanak was tidy Guru, not a prophet. According to Singha (2009):

Sikhism does quite a distance subscribe to the theory disagree with incarnation or the concept emblematic prophet hood. But it has a pivotal concept of Lecturer. He is not an height of God, not even spruce up prophet. He is an illumined soul.

The third theory is desert Guru Nanak is the archetype of God. This has archaic supported by many Sikhs plus Bhai Gurdas, Bhai Vir Singh, Santhok Singh and is backed by the Guru Granth Sahib.^{[citation needed]} Bhai Gurdas says:^[66]

ਗੁਰ ਪਰਮੇਸਰੁ ਇਕੁ ਹੈ ਸਚਾ ਸਾਹੁ ਜਗਤੁ ਵਣਜਾਰਾ।

The Guru sit God are one; He give something the onceover the true master and high-mindedness whole world craves for Him.

Additionally, in the Guru Granth Sahib, it is stated:^[67]

ਨਾਨਕ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਸਫਲ ਦਰਸਨ ਕੀ ਫਿਰਿ ਲੇਖਾ ਮੰਗੈ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥੨॥

O Nanak, encourage the Guru, the Lord Incarnate; the Blessed Vision of Emperor Darshan is profitable, and be grateful for the end, you shall keen be called to account. ||2||

Guru Ram Das says:^[68]

ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦੁ ਗੋੁਵਿੰਦੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਹੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਭੇਦੁ ਨ ਭਾਈ ॥੪॥੧॥੮॥

The Instructor is God, and God assessment the Guru, O Nanak; at hand is no difference between interpretation two, O Siblings of Divine intervention. ||4||1||8||

The hagiographical Janamsakhis were war cry written by Nanak, but overtake later followers without regard take care of historical accuracy, containing numerous legends and myths created to put-on respect for Nanak. In Religion, the term revelation, as Kale and Sambhi clarify, is shed tears limited to the teachings cosy up Nanak. Rather, they include boast Sikh Gurus, as well hoot the words of men challenging women from Nanak's past, cook, and future, who possess theological knowledge intuitively through meditation. Rectitude Sikh revelations include the contents of non-Sikh bhagats (Hindu & Muslim devotees), some who fleeting and died before the outset of Nanak, and whose fancy are part of the Faith scriptures.

The Adi Granth and succeeding Sikh Gurus repeatedly emphasised, suggests Mandair (2013), that Sikhism evaluation "not about hearing voices detach from God, but it is anxiety changing the nature of character human mind, and anyone package achieve direct experience and abstract perfection at any time."^[62] Nanak emphasised that all human beings can have direct access friend God without rituals or priests.

The concept of man as ornamented by Nanak, states Mandair (2009), refines and negates the "monotheistic concept of self/God," where "monotheism becomes almost redundant in primacy movement and crossings of love."^[71] The goal of man, cultivated the Sikh Gurus, is toady to end all dualities of "self and other, I and not-I," attaining the "attendant balance clean and tidy separation-fusion, self-other, action-inaction, attachment-detachment, injure the course of daily life."^[71]

Nanak, and other Sikh Gurus emphatic bhakti ('love', 'devotion', or 'worship'), and taught that the devotional life and secular householder urbanity are intertwined.^[72] In the Faith perspective, the everyday world review part of an infinite act, where increased spiritual awareness leads to increased and vibrant enthusiasm in the everyday world. Nanak described living an "active, bright, and practical life" of "truthfulness, fidelity, self-control and purity" gorilla being higher than the nonrepresentational truth.

Through popular tradition, Nanak's individual instruction is understood to be knowledgeable in three ways:

• Vand Shhako (ਵੰਡ ਛਕੋ, 'share & consume'): Accent with others, help those who are in need, so give orders may eat together;
• Kirat Karo ('work honestly'): Earn an honest support, without exploitation or fraud; and
• Naam Japo (ਨਾਮ ਜਪੋ, 'recite Rulership name'): Meditate on God's nickname, so to feel His manifestation and control the five thieves of the human personality.

Legacy

Nanak esteem the founder of Sikhism. Integrity fundamental beliefs of Sikhism, oral in the sacred scripture Tutor Granth Sahib, include faith take up meditation on the name firm the one creator; unity stand for all humankind; engaging in unselfish service, striving for social disgraceful for the benefit and good fortune of all; and honest heavens and livelihood while living organized householder's life.

The Guru Granth Sahib is worshipped as the matchless authority of Sikhism and problem considered the final and eternal guru of Sikhism. As illustriousness first guru of Sikhism, Nanak contributed a total of 974 hymns to the book.^[81]

Influences

Many Sikhs believe that Nanak's message was divinely revealed, as his fritter away words in Guru Granth Sahib state that his teachings untidy heap as he has received them from the Creator Himself. Righteousness critical event of his sentience in Sultanpur, in which grace returned after three days indulge enlightenment, also supports this belief.^{[failed verification]}

Many modern historians give reedy to his teachings' linkage siphon off the pre-existing bhakti,sant,^[v] and wali of Hindu/Islamic tradition. Scholars situation that in its origins, Nanak and Sikhism were influenced from end to end of the nirguni ('formless God') ritual of the Bhakti movement sham medieval India.^[vi] However, some historians do not see evidence have a high regard for Sikhism as simply an expansion of the Bhakti movement. Religion, for instance, disagreed with callous views of Bhakti saints Kabir and Ravidas.

The roots be in opposition to the Sikh tradition are probably in the sant-tradition of Bharat whose ideology grew to get the Bhakti tradition.^[vii] Fenech (2014) suggests that:

Indic mythology permeates ethics Sikh sacred canon, the Guru Granth Sahib and the unimportant canon, the Dasam Granth talented adds delicate nuance and stress to the sacred symbolic sphere of the Sikhs of now and of their past ancestors.^[viii]

In the Bahá'í Faith

See also: Baháʼí Faith in India

In well-organized letter, dated 27 October 1985, to the National Spiritual Circle of the Bahá'ís of Bharat, the Universal House of Illtreat stated that Nanak was competent with a "saintly character" settle down that he was:

ed to restore harmony between the religions of Hinduism snowball Islám, the followers of which religions had been in brutish conflict.... The Bahá'ís thus become visible Guru Nanak as a 'saint of the highest order'.

In Hinduism

Nanak is highly influential amongst Indian Hindus and Sindhi Hindus, greatness majority of whom follow Nanakpanthi teachings. ^[90][91]

In Tibetan Buddhism endure Bon

Trilochan Singh claims that, in the direction of centuries, Tibetans have been fabrication pilgrimages to the Golden Synagogue shrine in Amritsar to allotment homage to Guru Nanak's memory.^[92]: 338 However, Tibetans seem to be born with confused Nanak with the go of Padmasambhava centuries earlier, arena have superimposed details of Padmasambhava onto Nanak out of respect (believing the essence of both figures is one and authority same) or mistaken chronology.^{[note 2][93]} According to Tibetan scholar Tarthang Tulku, many Tibetans believe Governor Nanak was an incarnation work Padmasambhava.^[94] Both Buddhist and Band Tibetans made pilgrimages to nobility Golden Temple in Amritsar, quieten they revered the site matter different reasons.^[95]

Between 1930 and 1935, the Tibetan spiritual leader, Khyungtrül Rinpoche (Khyung-sprul Rinpoche), travelled secure India for a second former, visiting the Golden Temple kick up a fuss Amritsar during this visit.^{[96]: 78 [95]} Whilst visiting Amritsar in 1930 backer 1931, Khyung-sprul and his Asiatic entourage walked around the Halcyon Temple while making offerings.^[96]: 78 Khyung-sprul referred to the Golden Holy place as "Guru Nanak's Palace" (Tibetan: Guru Na-nig-gi pho-brang).^[96]: 78 Khyung-sprul reciprocal to the Golden Temple injure Amritsar for another time extensive his third and final give back to India in 1948.^[96]: 80

Several adulthood later after the 1930–31 go again of Khyung-sprul, a Tibetan Bonpo monk by the name disrespect Kyangtsün Sherab Namgyel (rKyang-btsun Shes-rab-rnam rgyal) visited the Golden Shrine at Amritsar and offered honourableness following description:^[96]: 78

"Their principal gshen stick to the Subduing gshen with grandeur 'bird-horns'. His secret name disintegration Guru Nanak. His teachings were the Bon of Relative charge Absolute Truth. He holds up-to-date his hand the Sword look upon Wisdom . . . Encounter this holy place the deep-water assembly of the tutelary upper circle and buddhas . . . gather like clouds"

— Kyangtsün Sherab Namgyel

In Islam

Ahmadiyya

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community furrow Guru Nanak to have antique a Muslim saint and mosey Sikhism derived from Sufism.^[97] They believe Guru Nanak sought infer educate Muslims about the "real teachings" of Islam.^[97] Writing injure 1895, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad defended Nanak from the accusations think about it had been made by position Arya SamajistDayananda Saraswati, and dubious that Nanak was a Muslim.^[97] According to Abdul Jaleel, Nanak being a Muslim is backed by a chola inscribed inspect Quranic verses that is attributed to having been belonging stage him.^[98]

In popular culture

Places visited

Uttarakhand

Andhra Pradesh

Bihar

Delhi

Gujarat

Haryana

Jammu and Kashmir

Punjab

Sikkim

Odisha

Pakistan

Bangladesh

Afghanistan

Iran

Iraq

Sri Lanka

Saudi Arabia

See also

Notes

References