Guru Nanak, also known as Baba Nanak ('father Nanak'), was the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. He was born as Nanak on 15 April 1469 and died on 22 September 1539. On Katak Pooranmashi ('full-moon of Kattak,' i.e. October–November), his birth is commemorated as Guru Nanak Gurpurab.

Nanak is said to have traveled throughout Asia spreading the message of it Onkar (, 'one God,' who dwells in all of his creations and is the eternal Truth. With this concept, he intended to establish a distinct spiritual, social, and political platform based on equality, fraternal love, goodness, and virtue.

Guru Nanak is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus and the founder of Sikhism. Nanak was also a social reformer and Nirguna Bhakti saint. This article will explain Guru Nanak which will be helpful in Indian Art and Culture preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Guru Nanak (1469-1539)

• Guru Nanak, the founder and first Guru of Sikhism, was born in the village Talwandi in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent in the year 1469.
• In modern-day Pakistan, the village of Nankana Sahib is located near the city of Lahore.
• Guru Nanak's birth is commemorated by Sikhs all over the world on the Pooranmashi (full moon) day in the Lunar month of Katak (October-November), which varies from year to year.
• He was a proponent of Nirguna School and was inspired by Kabir Das.
• He emphasized "Nam Japna," or repeating God's name in order to sense his presence. It is important to stress, however, that Sikhism is not a continuation of the Bhakti movement.
• He also chastised discriminatory caste systems and called for all people to be treated equally. Everyone was welcome to come and eat in the community kitchens (langars), regardless of their caste or creed.
• Guru Granth Sahib, the renowned Sikh text, contains his teachings.
• He taught about God's unity and fiercely condemned idol worship, pilgrimages, and other formal religious observances.
• He called for a medium road in which a spiritual life could coexist with domestic responsibilities.
• One of his famous quotes was, "Abide pure amidst the impurities of the world."
• He intended to blur the lines between Hindus and Muslims in order to foster a climate of peace, friendliness, and reciprocal giving and taking.
• Guru Nanak was venerated by both Hindus and Muslims throughout his lifetime on Earth, and many people outside of the Sikh faith still hold him in high regard today.

Guru Nanak

Teachings of Guru Nanak

• Nanak's teachings are documented as a collection of verses in Gurmukhi in the Sikh book Guru Granth Sahib.
• Guru Nanak and subsequent Sikh Gurus emphasized bhakti (love, "devotion,' or worship,' and taught that spiritual and secular life are inextricably linked.
• The everyday world is part of an infinite reality in the eyes of the Sikhs, and enhanced spiritual awareness leads to increased and lively engagement in the daily world.
• Guru Nanak Dev ji established and formalized Sikhism's three pillars:
• Naam Japna - Guru Nanak taught the Sikhs how to meditate on God through recitation, chanting, singing, and persistent memory, as well as thorough study and grasp of God's Name and attributes.
• To practice and tread the road of Dharam (righteousness) in actual life. The Sikh's inner thinking is always immersed in praises and appreciation of the Creator and the One eternal god, Waheguru.
• Kirat Karni - He intended Sikhs to live honorably as homeowners and to practice Kirat Karni, which means earning honestly through physical and mental work while accepting both pains and pleasures as God's gifts and blessings.
• One must always be genuine and fear none but the Eternal Super Soul.
• Live a life based on decency and guided by lofty spiritual, moral, and social ideals while immersed in Dharam.
• Vand Chakna - Vand Chakna Sikhs were encouraged to share their wealth throughout the community by practicing "Share and Consume together."
• The Sadh Sangat, or community, is an important aspect of Sikhism.
• One must be a part of a community that lives by the faultless objective values established by the Sikh Gurus, and every Sikh must contribute to the common community pool in whatever way they can.
• Guru Nanak's key message is one of sharing and giving.

Contributions of Guru Nanak

Society

• The vision of Guru Nanak Dev of a casteless society with no caste system can aid in the establishment of an egalitarian society.
• The following innovative social institutions, as stated by him, might be used to deduce his concept of equality.
• Langar: Food preparation and sharing in a group setting.
• Pangat: Eating without discriminating between high and poor castes.
• Sangat refers to a group of people who make decisions together.
• Untouchability and the caste system have been directly challenged by these egalitarian behaviors, and they continue to do so.

Social Harmony

• He believes that the entire world is God's creation (Jeeye kaa ik daata) and that everyone is born equal. "Ik Onkar Satnam," the one global creator, is "Ik Onkar Satnaam."
• Guru Nanak Dev's obvious realization that there is no difference between a Hindu and a Muslim started this spirit of equality. For him, there was no such thing as a foreign country or an alien people.
• This attitude is related to the Sanskrit proverb "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," which refers to the entire world as a single-family.
• Apart from that, Guru Nanak Dev's teachings are centered on forgiveness, tolerance, forbearance, and kindness.

Equality of Women

• "How can women be lesser when they give birth to men" Guru Nanak Dev questioned.
• "Women and men share God's grace and are equally responsible for their acts toward him," he says.
• The most essential lesson to be learned from Guru Nanak Dev's life is respect for women and gender equality.

Inequality

• Guru Nanak Dev taught his disciples to "kirat karo, naam japo, and vand chhako" (work, worship, and sharing).
• He advocated for karma as the foundation of dharma, and he changed spiritualism into a social duty and reform ideology.
• He proposed that we earn via honest labor and distribute the proceeds to those in need.
• He promoted the practice of "dasvandh," or donating one-tenth of one's earnings to those in need.
• "Seva," or unselfish service to others, is at the heart of Sikhism's teachings.
• These ideas can assist us in creating a just society in today's world.

Conclusion

Nanak was not a conventional Saint, he was a member of the Khatri (trade) caste and was far from illiterate, yet he felt the same spirit of God in everything around him and inside him as others in the movement he created. He was born in Punjab, which has long been the spiritual heartland of the Sikh faith.