Guru Nanak Dev - General Knowledge of Modern India

Guru Nanak Dev - General Knowledge of Modern India

Early Life of Guru Nanak: Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, was born in a Khatri family in November 1469 at Talwandi (modern Nankana Sahib, Pakistan) on the banks of the Ravi. His father's name was Mehta Kalu Chand. He was married at the age of 18 and was educated in Persian to train him in the preparation of accounts relating to his father's business. But Guru Nanak was inclined towards spiritualism and devotion from the beginning and he used to take great pleasure in satsang. He did not experience any joy in household life. Although he had two sons (Srichand and Lakhmidas), he took sannyasa when he got spiritual vision after leading a household life for some time. He used to compose poetry and sang along with the sarangi. He made many journeys for the welfare of the many living beings of the world. It is said that they went to countries like China, Burma, Sri Lanka, Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Afghanistan etc. Two of his disciples Bala and Mardana often accompanied him. A large number of people were attracted towards him.

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Teachings And Ideas

(A) Religious Views

Monotheism: Like Kabir, Nanak also emphasized monotheism. He imagined a presiding deity who is famine, intangible, unborn and self-proclaimed. According to his view, God can neither be established nor created. He is Swayambhu, He is Alakh, Apara, Agama and beyond the senses. He has no time, no karma, no caste. He said in a couplet - 'Parbrahm Prabhu is one, not the other.

Devotion and love path and ideal character

According to Guru Nanak Dev, salvation is possible only through devotion and love for God. For this there is no distinction of varna, caste and class. According to him, closeness to God can be achieved through good behavior and ideals and high character.

Praising The Importance Of The Guru and Opposing The Pomp: Guru Nanak also considered the inevitability of a Guru as the first condition for the path or guidance. He strongly criticized religious ostentation like idol worship, pilgrimage etc. He also opposed incarnation.

God Is Omnipresent: Guru Nanak has seen the world not full of Maya but with divine power in every particle.

There is an inseparable relationship between the soul and the soul

According to Nanak, the soul is born from the Supreme Soul. The soul resides in the soul and the soul is immortal.

Middle Way And Syncretic Approach: He stressed upon his devotees to adopt the middle path, on which one can follow the householder-ashram and also adopt a spiritual life. Like Kabir, Nanak also opposed communalism and emphasized Hindu-Muslim unity. In fact, his goal was not to establish a new religion. His puritanical approach was to establish peace, harmony and brotherhood and to remove differences between Hindu and Muslim. He realized that it was necessary to remove religious differences in order to heal the wounds of the society. According to his view, Hinduism and Islam are two different paths to reach God, but the goal of both of them is the same - realization of God. According to him, Hindu-Muslim saints are crazy about God. He wanted to establish harmony and peace in the country by establishing coordination and unity in both the sects.

(B) Social Thought

Casteism: He opposed casteism. He was a true humanist. He considered the service of human society to be true God worship.  He considered every human being equal and taught only love. His love was not verbal but was filled with the spirit of service.

Women-Empowerment: He had a reformist approach towards women. He considered women great. Guru Nanak emphasized the need to get back the lost rights of women in his religion. He emphasized the equality of women and men.

Economic Thoughts: Guru Nanak Dev loved the poor more than the rich and considered honest earnings to be true earnings. According to him, the rich man, under the control of ego, performs demonic deeds. He said that those who take property as their own are really fools. Nanak emphasized the proper distribution of wealth rather than its accumulation.

In short it can be said that the teachings and thoughts of Guru Nanak were great and influential. He influenced medieval Indian society the most after Kabir. His personality was so powerful and influential even though he was calm, that he could destroy the bad sanskars of a person without hurting his heart. There was a wonderful sweetness in his speech, purity, integrity and flow and speed in thoughts. He not only raised his voice against social vices but also strongly attacked religious superstitions. His ideas later took the form of Sikhism.