Sunday Special!---Jagat Guru Nanak Dev!--Lord of the Time!

Guru Nanak Dev,The Founder of Sikhism

Guru Nanak was moved by the plight of the people of the world and wanted to tell them about the "real message of God". The peoples of the world were confused by the conflicting message given by priests, pundits, qazis, mullahs, etc. He was determined to bring his message to the masses; so in 1499, he decided to set out on his sacred mission to spread the holy message of peace and compassion to all of mankind.
It is believed that Guru Nanak is the the second most travelled person in the world; most of his journeys were made on foot with his companion Bhai Mardana. He travelled in all four directions - North, East, West and South. The founder Sikh Guru is believed to have travelled more than 28,000 Kms in five major tours of the world during the period from 1500 to 1524. The record for the most traveled person is held by Ibn Battuta of Morocco.



Guru Nanak saw the world suffering out of hatred, fanaticism, falsehood and hypocrisy. The world had sunk in wickedness and sin. So he decided that he had to travel and educate and press home the message of Almighty Lord. So he set out in 1499 on his mission for the regeneration of humanity on this earth. He carried the torch of truth, heavenly love, peace and joy for mankind. For 1 year he spread his message of peace, compassion, righteousness and truth to the people in and around his home.
(Below is the original Painting of guru Nanak Dev when he was about to leave for his travels with his companion Bhai Mardana,In this picture is seen his sister Bibi Nanki nd guru's Wife.The picture was found during excavation in vicinity of Gurudwara bibi Nanki at Sultanpur Lodhi in Indian Punjab)

  

Guru Ji undertook five missionary journeys to the far away places of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Mecca, Baghdad, Kamroop (Assam), Tashkand and many more. Guru ji travelled far and wide to spread the word of Gurbani and covered most of India, present day Bangladesh, Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, South West China, Afganistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.In various countries he is known as follows:-

• In India except Sikkim area People called Guru as “Guru Nanak Dev Ji”
• In SriLanka People called Guru Nanak as  “NanakChariya”
• In Tibet People called Guru Nanak as  “NanakLama”
• In Sikkim and Bhutan People called Guru Nanak as  “Guru Ripochia”
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• In Russia People called Guru Nanak as  “Nanak Kdamdar“
• In Iraq People called Guru Nanak as  “Nanak Pir”
• In Nepal People called Guru Nanak as  “Nanak Rishi”
• In China People called Guru Nanak as “Baba Phusa”
• In Egypt People called Guru Nanak as “Nanak Wali”
• In Saudi Arabia people called Guru Nanak as “Wali Hind” 
• In Rome as Nanac
  . in Sindh. He came to be known as ``Khat Waro Bao" (Khaat wala Bawa) because he gave his sermon while sitting on a cot."
  The most famous teachings attributed to Guru Nanak are that there is only one God, and that all human beings can have direct access to God with no need of rituals or priests. His most radical social teachings denounced the caste system and taught that everyone is equal, regardless of caste or gender.

  Guru Nanak Dev's Joti Jot : When it became apparent that Guru Nanak Dev Ji's end was imminent, an argument ensued as to who would claim the guru's body for funeral rites. The Muslims wished to bury him according to their customs, while the Sikhs and Hindus wished to cremate his body according to their beliefs. To settle the matter, Guru Nanak Dev himself was consulted as to how his remains should be disposed of, and by whom. He explained the concept of joti jot, that only his mortal body would expire, but that light which illumined him was divine light and would pass to his successor.The Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims decided they would built two separate memorials in praise of the Divine Master. Thus, on the banks of the River Ravi in Kartarpur, which is today a part of modern day Pakistan, two shrines were built one by the Hindus and Sikhs and the other by the Muslims. Over a period of time,It is believed that Guru Nanak's spirit or Jot is passed on successively to the Sikh Gurus and resides in the Holy Text Guru Grandh Sahib
  

Gurdwara Shri Kartarpur Sahib Narowal Pakistan built by Hindus and Sikhs

Mazaar of Baba Nanak at Kartarpur ,Narowal Pakistan built by Muslim Followers

Shashi Tharoor during a visit to Dera Baba Nanak near Amritsar watching the gurudwara from Indian side of the border

This is how pilgrims could view the shrine from the 3 km distance separating the Indian border and the Gurdwara.

Indian High Commissioner to Islamabad Ajay Bisaria at Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan

Memorial of Guru Nanak Ji in Turkey

In Arabic/Persian/Turkish languages

(Jehangir jaman hind lat abd al majid Nanak.)

Meaning

(jamanay da malik, hind da banda, rab da Nanak)

The Lord of the time, resident of India, Nanak – the man of God

Gurdwara built in Baghdad in honour of Guru Nanak

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Leo-x, the Pope(1475-1521)(the Pope from 1513-1521)

Leo-x had a discussion with Guru Nanak in St.Peters Square  in Vatican Rome where the Roman Emperor Charles-v had listened to Great Guru's Views on this universe and the life Hereafter (Pralok).Leo-x,Nicholas Copernicus and Martin Luther were his translators as Charles-v(1500-1558) did not understand Persion(Note that Martin Luther's writings were declared Anti-Christion in JUNE 1521 where as Guru Nanac and Bhai Mardana had visited Rome in March/April of 1520.Moreover, Martin Luther had the support and security of the Roman Emperor Charles-v(His letter to the Roman Emperor dated Jan 15, 1520 has confirmed it)

The Roman Conclave(meeting of the Cardinals) confirms that “Nanac” (Nanak) went Rome and other Nations.This confirms the Papal Brief of 1518. Leo-X and all the cardinals have a clave (Religious meetings of cardinals). In that clave Leo-X, instructed all the christians to follow the footsteps of Nanac, ” Common Father of our race”. He instructed all the christians to thank Nanac for his practical help in Italy and elsewhere in the world.The Catholic Pope underlined Nanac’s starting Liberty of human slavery in Rome.This conclave was printed in 1609. Earlier it was a Roman manuscript

The First Meeting Of Babur And Guru Nanak in Khurasan.

This is actually the first meeting of Zahiru-din-Mohammed Babur and the Prince Humanyun at the Ismail Mosque in Bukhara(Khurasan). Humanyun was about 14 years old at that time. Babur and the others came to thje Mosque to read the Namaz in the evening in the month of Ramzan of 1520. In that year the Month of Ramzan began in the middle of September and the Idul-Fitter was in the middle of October,1520 A.D.Babur mentioned that he is said to be a Marad(Purakh) who takes wine, bhang and other intoxicants.But Almightyand fearless Satguru made the defintion of "Marad" and uttered the two Saloks of Mardana -I here.This definition of "Marad" is again clarified by the fifth Nanak, Satguru Arjan Sahib as----"Soi Marad Marad Mardana ----" Holy Page 1084 of SGGS.In these Holy Saloks ther Almighty Satguru clarifies that in this Kaliyug(Dark Age) the wine is being given the wrong ones.This painting is taken as a courtesy from"The Guru'S Word & Illustrated Sikh History by Dr. Santokh Singh, published by Spiritual awakening Studies,Princton, Ontario, Canada,2000.

Thou hast shielded Khurasan,
Thou hast struck terror in Hindustan,
Yet Thou takest no blame on Thyself.
You have sent Yama in the guise of Babur,
Terrible has been the slaughter,
Loud have been the cries of innocent sufferers,
Did not this awaken pity in Thee, O Lord.
Thou art part and parcel of all, 0 Creator,
Thou must feel for all men and all nations;
If a strong power attacks another strong power,
No one would grieve, none would complain;
But when fierce tigers prey on helpless cattle,
Thou Herdsman must answer for it.
A kingdom that was a jewel,
Has been brought to ruin by these dogs (Afghans)
No one would mourn their passing
Glory, glory unto God,
Who bringeth people together and parteth them.
(Guru Nanak: Asa p-360)

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Guru Nanak Dev along with Bala and Mardana

Tail Piece:

Sidhu -Bajwa controversy in India Prompted me to write this Article.Guru Nanak was a Hindu of Bedi clan.He Founded the Sikh Religion.Bajwa's ancestors  were persumably from Jat Sikh clan  got converted into Islam by Aurangzeb.Allama Iqbal's ancestors were Kashmiri Pandits.I have many friends in Pakistan who are Randhawa,Gill ,Dhillon,Janjua,Chauhaan..One of my friends Mr. Dhillon,a devout sikh,when he learnt that I was going for a meeting with my Pakistani counterparts.He requested me to meet his elder brother who lived in a village 6 miles from Wagah brder in Pakistan.He further told me that his brother Chanchal Singh Dhillon did not want to leave their 20 Acre land and became a Muslim.He gave me his picture as a  turbaned sardar .Superintending engineer Lahor Mr. Sardar Hassan offered to bring the then Chanchal singh from his village to Wagah border the venue of the meeting.The brother of my friend was bed ridden but he sent his two grandsons to meet me .They brought with them Lahore's famous  Be nazeer kulfa and Shardha Fruit.They touched my feet I embraced them .Tears rolled from eyes of us, the trio! To me it appeared that the same blood flowed through veins on both sides although they were not connected.Awam ( Janta) on both sides is the same. I'm reminded of a Couplet:

" Har cheez nahi hai markaz ( Centre) par.

Ikk zarr-a Idhar,ikk zarr-a udhar;

Dushman ko na dekho nafrat se,

Shayad wo mohabbat kar baithey!"

Searched,compiled and Illustrated by Tejinder Kamboj