PAYING OBEISANCE TO SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI: A PROPHET AND A SOCIAL REFORMER ON HIS 554th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY ON NOVEMBER 27, 2023 

(APRIL 15, 1469-SEPT. 7, 1539) 

Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Sri Nankana Sahib, Pakistan  

Nankana Sahib is about 65 km south-west of Lahore and falls in Pakistan. His father Kalian Chand Ji popularly known as Mahita Kalu Ji belonged to Bedi clan of Kashatriyas and was a Patwari i.e. village accountant in the service of Rai Bullar, the local Muslim Chief. The father and mother Mata Tripta Ji of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji were both very religious-minded. 

To spread the word of God Almighty Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji covered several cities in India and abroad. He undertook four Udasis (long journeys) in the four directions - north, south, east and west. The places visited by him in India during the first Udasi included Kurukshetra, Mathura, Haridwar, Delhi, Kashi, (Banaras), Gaya and Jagannath Puri. During this Udasi he visited several places in Bengal and Assam. In the second Udasi he went south-ward and visited Arbudgiri (Kohabu), Setuband, Rameshwaram, Sinhaldeep, Sri Lanka. During this third Udasi he visited Garhwal, Hemkunt Sahib, Gorakhpur, Sikkim, Bhutan and Tibbet. His last Udasi was towards the West during which he visited Balochastan, Mecca, Madina. Rome, Baghdad, Iran, Kandhar and Kabul. After these Udasis he returned to Hasan Abdal (Panja Sahib) which falls now in Pakistan.

During these travels he visited the Sufi establishments at Pak Pattan and Multan and shrine sites along the west coast of India. He concluded his travels around 1521 and arrived at the village Pakkhoke Randhave now named as Dera Baba Nanak which falls in District Gurdaspur of Punjab and sat near a well owned by Ajitta Randhava who was Chaudhary (headman) of this village. Guru Sahib's family was already staying in this village with his wife Mata Sulakkhni Ji's parents. It may be mentioned that Mata Sulakkhni Ji's father Mul Chand Ji who belonged to Batala was holding a minor revenue office at the village Pakkhoke Randave and was residing in this village. It is around this spot where Guru Sahib halted grew the town of Dera Baba Nanak. The people from the surrounding villages started pouring in to receive Guru Sahib's blessings. Ajitta Randhava requested Guru Sahib to settle at this place. But in the meantime a wealthy follower of Guru Sahib donated land on the right bank of the river Ravi for establishing a habitation. Thus Guru Sahib went across the river Ravi and established a village which he named Kartarpur Sahib which is now named as Kartarpur (Ravi) and which became the centre for the congregation of his followers. Thus Kartarpur Sahib became the centre of the newly founded Sikh Panth (Community). Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji lived at Kartarpur Sahib (Ravi) for about 17-18 years and thus this place became the principal seat of Sikh faith. The parents of Guru Sahib also moved to Kartarpur (Ravi). According to the Encyclopedia of Sikhism published by Punjabi University, Patiala. Guru Sahib's father Mehta Kalu Ji (1440-1522) died at Kartarpur (Ravi) Sahib in 1522. Soon after his death Mata Tripta Ji also left for her heavenly abode at Kartarpur (Ravi) Sahib. 

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji propagated the principles of Nam, Dan and Isnann. In one of his hymns he has stated as follows: 

naam daan isnann na manmukh tit tan 

Dhoorh Dhumaa-ee 

(SGGS, P 596) 

which means that the self-willed mankind does not remember the Name of the Lord, does not give in charity and does not cleans his consciousness; his body rolls in the dust. 

In another hymn he stated about the Gurmukh as follows: 

naam daan isnann darirh har bhagat so jaaogay 

(SGGS, P 419) 

This means that they hold fast to the Naam, to charity, to cleansing and purification, they remain awake in devotion to Lord. 

Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji highlighting the importance of Nam, Daan and Isnaan has stated as follows: 

naam daan isnaan na kee-ou 

ik nimakh na keerat gaa-i-o 

naana jhooth laa-ay man tokhi-o 

nah boojhio apnaa-i-o 

(SGGS, P 712)

This means that one who does not practice the Naam, who does not sing the  Kirtan of the Lord's praises even for an instant clinging to his many falsehoods, he  does not please his mind and does not understand his own self. 

In another hymn Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji has stated as follows: 

naam daan isnaan drih sadaa 

karahu gur kathaa 

sehaj bhaeiaa prabh paaiaa jam kaa bhau lathaa 

(SGGS, P 1101) 

This means that confirm your faith in the naam and charity and self purification, chant the Guru's sermon forever. Blessed with intuitive poise I have found God; I am rid of the fear of the Messenger of Death. 

Highlighting the benefits of Nam, Daan Isnaan Sri Guru Guru Arjan Dev Ji has stated as follows: 

kar isnaan simar parabh apnaa 

man, tan bha-ay arogaa 

(SGGSS, P 611) 

This mean that, if after taking your cleansing bath you remember God in meditation your mind and body shall be free from mental and physical disease. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji calling Isnaan a pure thing greets and salutes isnaan saying: 

namstann shnanon (Sri Dasam Granth Sahib P.3) 

Other Guru Sahiban also highlighted the importance of Nam, Dan and Isnaan and in addition they propagated the principle of 'kirat'. So the saying Kirat Karo (indulge in labour), Nam Japo, (pray to God) and vand chhako (share your food with others) gained importance. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji lived at Kartarpur Sahib for about 18 years and ploughed his own fields. 

Before Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji left for his heavenly abode on September 7, 1539, he proclaimed Bhai Lehna Ji as his successor who later became the second Guru of the Sikhs and named Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji. 

These are the drops of saffron that have fallen over Bhai Lehna Ji's clothes. Because of his obedience and perfection in the errands of seva instead of bestowing Guruship on his sons Baba Sri Chand Ji and Baba Lakhmi Das Ji Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji chose Bhai Lehna Ji as his successor. It is also said that when Bhai Lehna Ji met Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji for the first time, Guru Sahib asked him as to what was his name. Bhai Lehna Ji said my name is Lehna. 'Lehna' or 'Laina' means to receive. Guru Sahib retorted 'tu sathonlaina te asin tenu dena' i.e. I have to give to you and you have to receive. Guru Sahib named him 'Angad' which denotes that his disciple had become as much a part of his body as his own limbs (ang). Bhai Lehna Ji devoted himself whole-heartedly to Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and it was because of his loyal obedience that Guru Sahib by passed his sons and many other reputed disciples and chose him as his successor.  

At the time of installation of Bhai Lehina Ji as his successor Sri Guru Nank Dev Ji  asked Baba Buddha Ji to apply the ceremonial tilak on his forehead. By proclaiming  Bhai Lehna Ji as his successor Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji introduced the concept of  Guruship as a continuing process wherein Sri Guru Granth Sahib is our prestigious eleventh Guru. 

As mentioned earlier Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji established the village Kartar (Ravi) Sahib around 1521-1522 and lived here for about 18 years. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Holy Spirit left for its heavenly abode from this place The Sikhs, Hindus and Musalmans were involved in a tussel each of whom wanted to dispose off the mortal remains according to their respective religions. The Musalmans got some clothes of Guru Sahib and buried them in a Smadh (Grave). The Sikhs and Hindus cremated the mortal frame. The mortal remains were buried near Kartarpur (Ravi) Sahib. In his fond memory a monument was raised over this place. Soon thereafter Guru Sahib's wife left for her heavenly abode. After a short time floods in the river Ravi washed away the monument raised in the fond memory of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Guru Sahib's elder son Baba Sri Chand Ji salvaged the urn containing Guru Sahib's mortal remains and reburied them. 

At the place where Guru Sahib had alighted after his four Udasis Dharam Das Ji, son of Guru Sahib's younger son Bhai Lakhmi Das Ji founded a new habitation and named it Dera Baba Nanak. In Dera Baba Nanak now stands Gurdwara Darbar Sahib which falls in the centre of Dera Baba Nanak. Three memorials exist at Dera Baba Nanak (i) the well which originally belonged to Bhai Ajitta Randhava which is reverently called Sarji Sahib (ii) Kirtan Asthan which is the site where Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji had sat rapt in Kirtan when visiting Dera Baba Nanak for the condolence of the death of Baba Dharam Das Ji (iii) the central shrine called Thara Sahib marks the thara (platform) on which Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji had sat when he had first come to Ajitta Randhava's well. 

Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji left for his heavenly abode on September 7, 1539 at Kartarpur Sahib which now falls in Pakistan. Kartarpur Sahib situated on the right bank of river Ravi in District Narowal of Pakistan near the Indo-Pak border usually referred to as Kartarpur (Ravi) to distinguish it from the Kartarpur town which falls in District Jallandhar of Punjab is a very sacred place for the Sikhs because Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1539) the founder of Sikh Religion spent the last 17-18 years of his life at this place and also left for his heavenly abode from this place. Until the partition of India i.e. 1947 this place fell in the Tehsil Shakargarh, District Gurdaspur of Punjab. Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib Patshahi-Pahili is visible from the high embankment marking the Indo-Pak boundary north of Dera Baba Nanak which is situated on the left bank of river Ravi and falls in District Gurdaspur of Punjab. The aerial distance between these two places is less than two km. 

After the partition of India in 1947, Gurdwara Kartarpur (Ravi) Sahib Patshahi Pahili became inaccessible to the Sikhs and there were many efforts by the Sikhs. As a result of which the Pakistan Government has constructed a passage which is called a corridor which is a 4.1 km long four-line highway to make it accessible to the Sikhs for whom it is a very sacred place. 

Four years ago with the construction of the corridor the pilgrims from all over the world were allowed to have a holy glimpse of Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib. The pilgrims are required to have an on-line permit, passport and adhaar card as proofs  of identity. The Indian citizens have to pay a fee of U.S.$ 20 at the entry point.It may  be added that it has now been decided to supply the water of Khoohi Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Kartarpur Sahib to places across the world. 

This year i.e., in 2023 Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 554th Birth Anniversary is being celebrated all over the world on November 27. Every year Sikh Sangat from all over the world reach Nankana Sahib to pay their obeisance. 

DHAN DHAN SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI! 

Dr. Amrit Kaur Retd. Professor Punjabi University Patiala, Punjab India