Focus: GS I- History
Why in News?
The Prime Minister attended and offered prayers at celebrations of the 553rd Prakash Parv of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji at New Delhi.
About Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji
- The Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1539) was born in a village, Talwandi Rai Bhoe, near Lahore (it was renamed later as Nankana Sahib).
- The Guru Nanak Dev Ji initiated inter-faith dialogue way back in the 16th century and had conversations with most of the religious denominations of his times.
- The Guru Nanak Dev Ji, also referred to as Baba Nanak, was the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus.
- His birth is celebrated worldwide as Guru Nanak Gurpurab on Katak Pooranmashi i.e October – November.
- His written compositions were included in the Adi Granth compiled by Guru Arjan (1563-1606), the fifth Sikh guru.
- This came to be known as Guru Granth Sahib after the additions made by the 10th Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708).
- In compiling the Adi Granth, Guru Arjan showed a remarkable commitment to pluralism while retaining the unity of thought initiated by Guru Nanak Dev.
- He advocated Nirguna Bhakti.
- He firmly repudiated practices of religions around him like sacrifices, ritual baths, idol worship, austerities, and scriptures of both Hindus and Muslims.
- He appointed Angad to succeed him as the Guru.
- He never wished to establish new religion, but after his death his followers consolidated his practices and distinguished from both Hindus and Muslims by calling themselves ‘Sikhs’.
Above attached image of all the 10 Guru’s of Sikhism.
5 teachings of Guru Nanak Ji
The One God
- The Guru Nanak ji said “I am neither hindu nor Muslim, I am follower of God”, which actually spoke about his belief in one God. In Sikhism, the god is omnipresent, shapeless, timeless and sightless. (Nirankar, akar, alakh)
No Discrimination
- The Guru Nanak Ji was strongly against all artificially created divisions and all discriminations, both in word and deed.
Stay Away
- The Guru Nanak ji asked his followers to shun five evils of Ego, Anger, Greed, Attachment and Lust and adopting five virtues Truth, Compassion, Contentment, Discipline and Contemplation
Importance of Guru
- The Guru Nanak Ji laid great emphasis on having the importance of Guru in one’s Life.
Sewa is the Key to Humanity
- As Said by Guru Nanak Ji “In the midst of this world, do Sewa and you shall be given a place of honor in the court of the Lord”.
