The First Master Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji - Part III

The First Master Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji (1469 - 1539)contd Part III

Hardwar a pilgrimage center

When Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji stopped at Hardwar a pilgrimage center on the Ganges river he found a large gathering of devotees. They were taking ritual baths in the holy river and offering water to the sun. When the Guru asked "Why do you throw water like that?" The pilgrims replied that they were offering it to their ancestors. Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji upon hearing this started throwing water in the opposite direction towards the west.

When the pilgrims asked him what he was doing?.

Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji replied "I am sending water to my farm which is dry". 

They asked, "How will water reach you crops so far away?".Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji replied, "If your water can reach your ancestors in the region of the sun, why can't mine reach my fields a short distance away?" The pilgrims realized their folly and fell at the Gurus feet.

Visit to Gorakhmata 

On an eastern journey Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji visited Gorakhmata where he discussed the true meaning of asceticism with some yogis:

"Asceticism doesn't lie in ascetic robes, or in walking staff, nor in the ashes. Asceticism doesn't lie in the earring, nor in the shaven head, nor blowing a conch. Asceticism lies in remaining pure amidst impurities. Asceticism doesn't lie in mere words; He is an ascetic who treats everyone alike. Asceticism doesn't lie in visiting burial places, It lies not in wandering about, nor in bathing at places of pilgrimage. Asceticism is to remain pure amidst impurities." (Suhi)

After his first long journey, Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji returned home after twelve years of propagating his message.

He then set out on a second journey traveling as far south as Sri Lanka. On his return north he founded a settlement known as Kartharpur (the Abode of God) on the western banks of the Ravi river. Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji would one day settle down here in his old age. It was also here that he met a young devotee who would later go on to serve five of the following Gurus, Baba Buddha (the revered old one).

On his third great journey Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji traveled as far north as Tibet. Wherever Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji traveled he always wore a combination of styles worn by Hindu and Muslim holy men and was always asked whether he was a Hindu or Muslim. 

Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji visited Sheikh Ibrahim the muslim successor of Baba Farid the great Sufi dervish of the twelfth century at Ajodhan. 

When asked by Ibrahim which of the two religions was the true way to attain God, Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji replied; "If there is one God, then there is only His way to attain Him, not another. One must follow that way and reject the other. Worship not him who is born only to die, but Him who is eternal and is contained in the whole universe."

On his fourth great journey in life Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji dressed in the blue garb of a Muslim pilgrim traveled to the west and visited Mecca, Medina and Baghdad. Arriving at Mecca, Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji fell asleep with his feet pointing towards the holy Kabba. When the watchman on his night rounds noticed this he kicked the Guru, saying, "How dare you turn your feet towards the house of God". At this Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji woke up and said, "Good man, I am weary after a long journey. Kindly turn my feet in the direction where God is not." When pilgrims and the holy men of the shrine gathered to hear Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji and question him, he sang in Persian;

"I beseech you, O Lord! pray grant me a hearing. You are the truthful, the great, the merciful, and the faultless Creator. I know for certain, this world must perish, And death must come, I know this and nothing else. Neither wife, nor son, nor father, nor brothers shall be able to help. I must go in the end, none can undo what is my fate. I have spend days and nights in vanity, contemplating evil. Never have I thought of good; this is what I am. I am ill-starred, miserly, careless, short-sighted, and rude. But says Nanak, I am yours, the dust of the feet of your servants." (Tilang)

While in Baghdad contradicting the Muslim priests views that their were only seven upper and as many lower regions Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji shouted out his own prayer saying,

"There are worlds and more worlds below them and there are a hundred thousand skies over them. No one has been able to find the limits and boundaries of God. If there be any account of God, than alone the mortal can write the same; but Gods account does not finish and the mortal himself dies while still writing. Nanak says that one should call Him great, and God Himself knows His ownself." (Japji)

In 1916 a tablet with the following inscription was uncovered in Baghdad, "In memory of the Guru, the holy Baba Nanak, King of holy men, this monument has been raised anew with the help of the seven saints." The date on the tablet 927 Hijri corresponds to A.D. 1520-1521.

On his return journey home he stopped at Saidpur in western Punjab during the invasion of the first Mughal Emperor Babar. On seeing the extent of the massacre by the invaders, Mardana asked Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji why so many innocent people were put to death along with those few who were guilty. Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji told Mardana to wait under a banyan tree and after a while he would return to answer his question. While sitting under the tree Mardana was suddenly bitten by an ant. In anger Mardana killed as many ants as he could with his feet. Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji said to him, "You know now Mardana, why do the innocents suffer along with the guilty?"

Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji and Mardana were both taken prisoner by the Mughal's. While in jail Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji sang a divine hymn about the senseless slaughter of the innocents by the Mughal invaders. Upon hearing it the jailer reported it to his king. Babar sent for the Guru and upon hearing him realized that Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji was a great religious figure. He asked for the Gurus forgiveness and set him free offering him a pouch of hashish. Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji refused saying the he was already intoxicated with the love and name of God.

After having spent a lifetime of traveling abroad and setting up missions, an aged Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji returned home to Punjab. He settled down at Kartharpur with his wife and sons. Pilgrims came from far and near to hear the hymns and preaching of the Master. Here his followers would gather in the mornings and afternoons for religious services. He believed in a castless society without any distinctions based on birthright, religion or sex. He institutionalized the common kitchen called langar in Sikhism. Here all can sit together and share a common meal, whether they were kings or beggars.

While working the fields one day in 1532 Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji was approached by a new devotee who said, "I am Lehna," Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji looked at him and replied, "So you have arrived Lehna- the creditor. I have been waiting for you all these days. I must pay your debt." ("Lehna" in Punjabi means debt or creditor.)

Lehna was a great devotee of the Hindu God Durga. One day having hearing about Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji and his teachings, he decided to visit and see the Guru for himself. Once Lehna met Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji he left his previous beliefs and became an ardent disciple of the Guru. Lehna's devotion to Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji was absolute, when he was not working on the farm, he would devote his spare time to the contemplation of God. Over time he became Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji's most ardent disciple. Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji put his followers to many tests to see who was the most faithful. 

Once while accompanied by Lehna and his two sons Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji came across what looked like a corpse covered with a sheet. "Who would eat it?" asked Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji unexpectedly. His sons refused, thinking that their father was not in his senses. Lehna though agreed and as he removed the cover he found that it was a tray of sacred food. Lehna first offered it to Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji and his sons and then partook of the leftovers himself. Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji on seeing this replied;

"Lehna, you were blessed with the sacred food because you could share it with others. If the people use the wealth bestowed on them by God for themselves alone or for treasuring it, it is like a corpse. But if they decide to share it with others, it becomes sacred food. You have known the secret. You are my image." (Janamsakhi)

Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji then blessed Lehna with his ang (hand) and gave him a new name, Angad, saying "you are a part of my body". Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji placed five coins and a coconut in front of Guru Angad and then bowed before him. He then had Bhai Budhha anoint Angad with a saffron mark on his forehead. When Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji gathered his followers together for prayers he invited Angad to occupy the seat of the Guru. Thus Guru Angad Dev Sahib Ji was ordained as the successor to Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji.

End Of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib

Feeling his end was near, the Hindus said we will cremate you, the Muslims said we will bury you. Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji said; "You place flowers on either side, Hindus on my right, Muslims on my left. Those whose flowers remain fresh tomorrow will have their way." He then asked them to prey and lay down covering himself with a sheet. Thus on September 22, 1539 in the early hours of the morning Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji merged with the eternal light of the Creator.

 When the followers lifted the sheet they found nothing except the flowers which were all fresh. The Hindus took theirs and cremated them, while the Muslims took their flowers and buried them.

Thus having spread the words of reform throughout his lifetime, Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Ji successfully challenged and questioned the existing religious tenants and laid the foundations of Sikhism.

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