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Guru Nanak Dev Ji the founder of Sikhism
S.Gurdeep Singh Sasan11/25/2015 12:38:38 AM
Gur Nanak Dev Ji was born in Rai Bhoe Ke Talwandi (renamed as Nankana Sahib which is now in Pakistan) in 1469 AD. Gur in Sikh tradition means Enlightener and Sikh means a disciple-Guru Nanak was born in a Hindu Family, reacted against the arid (dull) way in which Hinduism and Islam were often practised and sought to re-vitalise them by showing people the real meaning of religion, getting rid of hatred and ego. He spread a message of love and universal brotherhood. Sikhism is the one of the Five higher religions in the world community of worlds faith. Sikhism is a higher religion because it believes in a moral, just and benevolent world order and it aims at the creation of a new egalitarian and moral society. It seeks good and welfare of entire community in its daily prayer. Sikhism lays stress on the power of prayer and the performance of noble deeds.
Guru Nanak is one of the great men of history whose memory is enshrined in the hearts of people and his fame transcends the bound of time and space. The universality of his message, combined with a dynamic approach to religion and deep humanism and concern for the outcastes and down trodden, immensely raised his stature in the eyes of his contemporaries. Guru Nanak was widely known and respected as a prophet, seer, savior of mankind, redeemer of the downtrodden and spiritual teacher. He enjoyed so much fame and popularity even in his life time that he became legend both at home and abroad. Men in different walks of life flocked to him in large numbers in search of that spiritual solace which is deepest longing of all human hearts. He travelled for about 39000 kilometers to propagate his mission of love for humanity and its creator lord God. It created harmony in the society and is based on the principle of universal brotherhood "Ek Pittaa Ekas ke hum barik" i.e. there is but one God, a God of love and grace and we are all his children. After knowing fully well that God is love, the integrated happy mystic remains possessed of love.
The object of human life, according to Guru Nanak, is to rediscover God and be united with Him. Just as all waters flow down to the sea, whence they came, so all life must ultimately go back go God in whom it was. Guru Nanak spoke the words of eternal truth, which were destined to give peace, freedom and salvation to all and create a noble humanity. The three main principles, he expounded are based on the principle of work, worship and charity.
8 Kirat Karna, that is, doing honest labour and feeling that work is worship.
8 Wand Chhakna, that is, sharing one's food and earnings with others.
8 Naam Japna, that is remembrance of God and the recitation of and meditation on the holy naam.
Guru Nanak Ji was a great poet, philosopher, social reformer, a great saint, scholar, musicologist and untiring traveller, a lover of mankind and above all one in whose heart burnt the divine flame, the light of which he went sharing with every hungry soul. He contributed 974 hymns, in 19 ragas e.g. Ara, Basantu, Dhansari, Gauri Majih, Ramkali, Sarathi, Sri Rag and Suhi etc.
Bapu Murari Ji at Ludhiana during 16-24 May, 1994, deliver sermons on Ramayana where hundreds of thousands of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Budhists, Christians and Muslims listened to his sermons very patiently. Bapu ji explicitly expressed his feelings of respect and regard for Guru Nanak Ji saying "I don't know why, but right from my childhood, I have been always inspired from the great life of Guru Nanak. Whenever his pious bani touch my heart, tears come to my eyes in immense respect for him. He was a great prophet of this Kaliyug or dark age. Guru Sahib in a very very clear and express words, taught us the excellent technique of selfless submission in reverence to Wahe Guru i.e. God. He released us from petty intellect and shallow discretion of wisdom and made our path to salvation and easy by giving us the royal command of :-
"Jo tudh (bhavai Sai Bahlikar, tu (n) Sada Salamat (i) Nirankar" i.e. whatever pleaseth is welcome unto us. Eternal and immutable thou art of formless one". Guru Nanak braked the boundary of countries, cultures and societies embraced whole humanity in his arms. In the royal court of Guru Nanak people of all nations, cultures and communities became equal and brother and children of one timeless entity.
Sir, Mohammad Iqbal the famous mystic poet had profuse revere and great respect for Guru Nanak. After reviewing his all embracing humanistic, spiritual and socialistic philosophy, Iqbal could incredibly say in respect of Guru Nanak Sahib.
"For thousands of years at a stretch
the narcissus (Nargis) bemoans its blindness
and it is with very great difficulty that a seer is born"
He further writes that "India was once again blessed by God with Guru Nanak, possessed of all attributes of a prophet, a perfect and perfect human being. Guru Nanak's appearance in the world was no less than that of prophet Abraham 5000 years ago (Iqbal paying homagbe to Guru Nanak captives the respect for Guru as under :
"Once again the voice of touhid (monotheism) was proclaimed from the soil of Punjab, A real perfect man wake up India from her slumber 'dream'.
Rabindra Nath Tagore feels pleased in stating that Guru Nanak" noble religious ideology gave birth to a great nation of the Sikhs. When was asked to reveal his choice of an International Anthem which could represent the universality of all Nations of the world. Tagore readily pointed to the hymns of Guru Nanak.
"gagan mai thaal rav (i) chand Deepak bane tarika mandal janak moti"
He further said that if one Aarti of Guru Nanak has the capability of representing whole humanity, then the enlightening shabad jot of complete Guru Granth Sahib can easily provide that the human soul has been longing for.
Guru Nanak’s message that everyone is equal in God's eyes and that God's grace is open to all is an appropriate today. By bringing people of all background together and advocating service to humankind. Guru Ji encouraged his followers to build lives of compassion and commitment to justice Guru Nanak abolished the caste barriers and engulfed the wide split between Hindus and Muslims of India. Guru Nanak, due to his unique life style, is the brightest star among most brilliant ones in the sky. He was a man of infinite faith and compassion.
Nothing human was alien to his nature. His message was meant for all humankind. Guru Nanak's vision of life embraced all Nations, all races and all times. Guru Nanak's message all are welcomed into the gold of Sikhism without regard to caste, class, colour, race, sex or creed nobody is favoured simply because of superior birth.
Today the whole world is burning and only Guru Nanak's Gurbani and his preaching can save the world
"tagat talanda rakh le apni kirpa dhar
Jit duare ubre tithe lehruubaar"
Save this burning world 'O' Lord, whichever way it be reserved, please liberate it.
Guru Nanak felt for the suffering of womankind and gave them their full share in the goodness of God. She was declared to be directly responsible for her morals to God. Religious congregation were thrown open to them. They were to partake freely in the religious and secular observance, and no social custom was to hinder them in doing so. "So Kayon manda akheye jit (u) Janmeh Rajaan", why call her bad who gives birth to great kings.
When Kazis, mullahs and Hajis requested to Guru Nanak to say whether Islam is superior to Hinduism.
Guru Nanak said none is better good deeds and with goods all are equally good. Without good deeds both Muslims and Hindus will repent and will not be honoured in the Court of Lord. In the whole history of world, only Guru Nanak has been person whose last rites were performed respectfully by two religious traditions (Hindus and Muslims)
So on this auspicious day his let's pledge and redouble our efforts of lighting up the light of love, kindness, impartial affection, tolerance, and strengthen the pillars of work, worship, charity service and meditation and not least let us pledge to eradicate this menace of female feticide and other social evils prevailing in the society.
The author is socio-political reformist
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