The birthday of Shree Guru Nanak Dev Ji is celebrated as Jayanti. Guru Nanak Jayanti is also called as “Guruparv”. It is the biggest festival of Sikh religion. It is also one the oldest festival of Sikh religion. Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindi month “Kartik” and is also called as “Kartik Poornima”. Shree Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the founder of the Sikh religion. Few important facts related to Shree Guru Nanak Dev Ji are below-
Name – Nanak
Famous Name – Shree Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Birth Date – 15 April, 1469
Father’s Name – Kalyanchand Mehta Kalu Ji
Mother’s Name – Tripta Devi
Sister’s Name – Nanaki
Birth Place – Village Rai-Bhoi Di Latvandi (situated on the banks of river Ravi), District Shaikhpura. Today, this place is known as Nankana Sahib, and is situated in Punjab, Pakistan.
Death – 22 September 1539.
Death Place – Kartarpur, Mughal Samrajya, Pakistan.
On the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti, Shikh people wear new cloths and visit Gurudwaras. Guru Nanak Jayanti is started with “Prabhat Pheri” in Gurudwaras and Sikh people keeps procession in every locality with chanting of “Aasa-de-war (Morning Bhajans)”. They pray Shree Guru Nanak Deve Ji and pay tribute to “Guru Granth Sahib”. Through out the day, the holy book of Shikh religion “Guru Granth Sahib” is continuously read and listened in Gurudwaras. People lit the holy lamps (“Diye”), keeps processions, held “Langas” i.e. free distribution of food, and sweet “Prasad” (or Karah Prasad) is distributed everywhere. Besides Sikhs and “Nanppan Hindu”, several other followers of Shree Guru Nanak Dev Ji celebrate the holy festival of Guru Nanak Jayanti.
Sikh people keep procession under their holy flag which is followed by bands of peace and bhajans. The males participate in the “Gatka” shows, and they exhibit their special form of martial art. People march on roads while saying holy words said by Shree Guru Nanak Dev Ji. In the evening Gurudwaras are well decorated wth lights and lots of people visit them for having blessings of their lord Guru. They lit candles and lamps in their homes as well.
Our country is blessed with the birth of great people from time to time, and Shree Guru Nanak Dev Ji was one of such great person. He has played a great role in national social reformation and devoted his whole life for betterment of people. We pay our heartily regards to such a great soul. The followers of Shree Guru Nanak Dev Ji call him with various other names such as Guru Nanak, Baba Nanak, NanakShah, and more. Shree Guru Nanak Dev Ji was a great phelospher, a great yogi, recluse, social reformer, poet, great patriot, and was a world well wisher.
Shree Guru Nanak Dev Ji was a child of intese intelligence. He was not interested in materialistic world from childhood. He was not very studious child as he didn’t get interest in normal school subjects. In the age of 7-8 years his teachers found themselves unable to answer his questions related to god and spirituality and they decided to leave him at his home themselves respectfully. After that he devoted his all time in religious thinking and programs. In his childhood, many divine events took places by seeing which people accepted him as special divine child.
Shree Guru Nanak Dev Ji got married in the age of 16 years, and when he was 32 years old he was blessed with his first son Shree Chand. After 4 years, she was blessed with his second son Lakhmidas. Later in the year 1507, he left his family with the parents of his wife and went for pilgrimage with his four followers namely—Mardana, Lahna, Bala, and Ramdas. They all gave the preachings of Shree Guru Nanak Dev Ji till 1521 and travelled through India, Afganistan, Faras, and Arab countries. In Punjabi, such travellings is called “Udasiyan”.
Shree Guru Nanak Dev Ji was a pantheist. Idol worship was meaning less for him. He was against illogical customs. His philosophy throws light on religious, political, social and humanity issues. He gave higher value to women. He has given 10 theories and he himself followed them. These 10 theories are–
- There is one god.
- We should follow or worship only one god.
- God exists everywhere and in every living being.
- There is no fear for those who believe in god and have full faith on him.
- Work with all sincerity and pray to the God.
- We should never persecute any living being.
- We should always feel happiness and live happily.
- We should donate some part of money we earned with our honesty and hardwork.
- Every person is equal – eighter male or female.
- We have to eat for keeping our sound health but we must stay away from greediness.
The conclusion of his preachings was that… there is one god and every person in this world should be devoted to that one god. Idol worship was not necessary for him. There was a good impact on the people of both the religions; the Hindu and the Muslim. Some people have complained nagetively about his preachings to the king of that time Ibrahim Lodi and he even jailed for few days. When Ibrahim Lodi was defeated by Babar in the battle of Panipat then he was released from the jail.
In his last days, he got very popular and there are millions of his followers. His own thoughts were changed and he started living with his family members and continues giving donations to the needy people, held “Langars” etc. He founded a town named “Kartarpur”, which is now in Pakistan, where he opened a big hospice. He left his body in this hospice itself.
He declared his brother “Lahna” as his successor who become famous with the name of “Angad Dev” later.
Guru Nanak Jayanti is a very special festival and every human being should celebrate with all welcoming heart and everyone should remember his preachings.
