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Guru Naanak
A brief life sketch
By Dr. Tarlochan Singh, Khalsa
In India, in the middle of the 15th century the decency and doctrine of truth disappeared because of distortion. The Hindu and the Muslim priests lost their duties and trust in the masses. The rulers instead of protecting the public became butchers in the utter darkness of spiritual ignorance. At this time a true and perfect spiritual master Guru Naanak came into this world to reveal the word of truth.
Guru Naanak was born on April 15th, 1469 in a village Talwandi Rai Bhoai in undivided India now called Nankaanha Sahib a neighborhood of Lahore in Pakistan. His father and mother’s names were Kalyan Das (Bedi) and Tripta respectively. He had one affectionate elder sister Naanki (1464).
The life of Guru Naanak can be divided chronically as follows:
1. 1469 – 1504 AD: Childhood and marriage
Guru Naanak at the age of five (1474) started asking questions about the purpose of human life. He was sent to school when he was seven (1476). His sister Naanki got married to Jai Ram in 1477. At the age of nine or ten Guru Naanak refused the Hindu pundit to perform the meritorious rituals to wear the so-called sacred thread. He also helped his father and mother as a cowboy in grazing buffaloes. He preferred to spend his time with holy men, behaved like elders, liked solitude and always remembered God. Guru Naanak married Sulakhanhi at the age of 18 (1487). He was blessed with two sons Siri Chand and Lakhamee Chand in 1497 and 1500 AD respectively.
2. 1504 – 1507 AD: At Sultanpur
He went to stay with his sister at Sultanpur, Punjab (India) and got job as an accountant at the grocery store of the Nawab Daulat Khan Lodhi. Guru Naanak discharged his job honestly and won the respect of all.
Later the family of Guru Nanaak joined him at Sultanpur. A musician Mardana born in a Muslim family, a friend and a follower of Guru Nanaak also came here, and they started organizing holy congregations. And many others became followers—Sikhs of Guru Naanak. In 1507, one day Guru Naanak developed an absorbing union with the Creator and revealed the word of truth—of one and only God. That is almighty—a supreme truth, creator in spirit of all the creation, without fear, without hate, beyond term, beyond transmigration, and self-existent. By the pleasure of the factual guru, spiritual merger with the Creator is realized, Guru Naanak made known to the world.
He resigned his job in Aug. 1507. He made arrangements for his family and decided to go to fulfill his mission by being on foot on the road with Mardana to spread the message of truth to the spiritually ignorant humanity.
3. 1508 – 1516 AD: First expedition
Guru Naanak went on three spiritual expeditions in different directions from the Northwest India including the neighboring countries to spread the message of one infinite universal Sovereign - God (monotheism). He specified human life to meditate on and sing Thy name in holy congregation. To develop unity with Creator, one must not to abandon the world and living; rather having detached attachment with the world one should make an honest living and should share earnings with the needy. He strongly advocated equality of woman and race.