Brief history of life. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birthday is on 15 April, 1469 and birthplace is Talwandi. These days it is called Nankana Sahib. His father’s name was Mehta Kalu Ram Ji and mother’s name was Tripta Devi Ji. The name of his sister was Bibi Nanaki. Guruji was married to the daughter of Batala resident Sri Mulchand. Her name was Sulakhani Devi Ji. At that time his age was 14 years. Two sons were bom to him named Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das.
After marriage Guruji went to Sultanpur to his sister Bibi Nanaki. Here he got a job at Daulat Khan’s godown. Guruji went to Bein river to take a bath daily. Once he went to Bein river and did not come out for three days. The period gave him true enlightenment and Guru uttered these words-‘Na Ko Hindu Na Ko Muslman’.
Udasis:
1. Sri Guru Nanak Devji started his Udasis after his enlightenment. He wanted to show the right path of living to the lost mankind. In his first Udasi he went to Sayyedpur, Talumba, Kurukshetra, Panipat, Haridwar, Banaras, Gaya, Kamrup, Decca and Jagannathpuri.
2. In his second Udasi he went to South India and Sri Lanka.
3. His third Udasi was upto Kailash Parbat, Ladakh, Hasan Abdal, etc.
4. In his fourth Udasi, Guruji went to Mecca, Madina, Baghdad, etc.
5. After this Guruji came to Kartarpur and continued to preach good conduct to people in Punjab. Some historians called it the fifth Udasi of Guruji.
Teachings:
- God is one.
- God is creator of Universe.
- All men are equal.
- God is omnipotent and omnipresent.
- Dispose your ‘Ego’ off.
- Guru is great.
- Always pray to God (Naam Simran).
- Don’t believe in shallow and false customs and traditions.
- Discrimination on the basis of caste is meaningless.
- Man must lead a pure life.
Guru Nanak Devji in Kartarpur: Guruji spent the last 18 years of his life in Kartarpur. Before he left for his heavenly abode in 1539, he appointed Bhai Lahna as his successor.
Guruji’s Literature: Includes Japuji Sahib, Asa Di War, Var Majh, Var Malhar, Barah Maha.
