Guru Nanak Dev
Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539) was the founder of Sikhism, and was the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. His father's name was Kalyan Chand Das Bedi who is commonly referred to as Mehta Kalu. His mother's name was Mata Tripta. Both his parents were Hindu Khatris and Guru Nanak Dev ji was born into a Hindu Khatri landowning family. The last Guru said that there would be no more Gurus after him and Sikhs would be taught by the Sikh holy book, which is called Guru Granth Sahib ji. The word "Guru" means "teacher" in Sanskrit.[1] His two sons were Sri Chand and Lakshmi Das.
| Guru Nanak Dev | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Office | The first Sikh gurus |
| Date of birth | 15 April 1469 |
| Place of birth | Nankana Sahib, Punjab, Delhi Sultanate |
| Date of death | 22 September 1539 (aged 70) |
| Place of death | Kartarpur, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Successor | Guru Angad Dev |
| Known for | Creator of Sikhism |
Beside followers of Sikhism, Guru Nanak is considered holy by Punjabi Hindus and Hindu Sindhis across the Indian subcontinent.[2] Because of his close connection with Hazrat Sheikh Farid-ud-din Ganj Shakar, the Punjabi Sufi saint, Nanak Dev is also considered by many Muslims to be a Sufi, or adherent of Sufic tenets.
His main teaching to the world was written down to be "devotion of thought and having good actions as the first of our jobs".
Life
Guru Nanak was born in Nankana Sahib, in Punjab. This is now part of Pakistan.
When Guru Nanak was a child he refused the upanayana (holy thread) to initiate him into the Hindu religion. Later in his life he married Mata Sulakhani with whom he had two sons. They were called Sri Chand and Lakshmi Das. According to the Sikh religion, one day he was bathing in the river and god took him up to heaven. His family members were very worried as they had thought he died. After three days he returned with the message of god. He gave up his job to spread the message on how to be a good person.
He died in Kartarpur.
References
- "Guru Definition and Meaning". merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- Duggal, Kartar Singh (1988). Philosophy and Faith of Sikhism. Himalayan Institute Press. pp. xxii. ISBN 0-89389-109-6.