Guru Nanak
From Wikireligion
Guru Nanak was the founder of the Sikh faith. He was born into a Hindu family. His father was called Mehta Kalu and his mother's name was Mata Tripta. He had one older sister who was called Bibi Nanaki. From childhood, Bibi Nanki recognised that her younger brother was special and saw in him the Light of God. She is known as the first follower (disciple) of Guru Nanak. As young Nanak grew up, he learnt about the Hindu religion. He was not comfortable with the way of the Hindu.
During his teenage years, young Nanak worked for a Muslim businessman. During this time he learned about the Muslim religion too. Even this knowledge did not make him comfortable. Young Nanak was unhappy with way the people in his country lived and behaved towards each other - there was war and conflict despite many great religions in the world. This made him sad and very concerned for the people of his country. He decided to became a religious teacher.
He began teaching about a new faith which shared ideas with Hinduism and Islam and other faiths of the time. This new religion is now called Sikhism. He became known as a "Guru". Guru Nanak said that there was only one God; This powerful God was the creator and destroyer of all that we see. He taught his followers that all human beings were equal before God; he considered women equal to man. He asked his followers to remember God at all times and only do good deeds.
Nanak travelled far and wide to teach about the new religion. He travelled many thousands of miles. During his travels, he wrote ans sang sacred hymns about his beliefs. Many common people came to listen to his teaching. His most famous composition is the Japji, which Sikhs say at dawn each day. In the Japji, Guru Nanak talks about God and how one can become closer to Him. He preached to the Hindus to be good Hindus and to the Muslims to be good Muslims. He asked his followers to practise righteousness by being kind and compassionate.
Guru Nanak taught his followers the three pillars of Sikhism. These are:
* 1. Naam Japo:
Remember God at all times - day and night. Only follow the path of righteousness and keep away from evil ("Listening to the name gives truth, holy wisdom, contentment... by listening to the Name, sorrow and sin are destroyed." Guru Nanak)
* 2. Kirat Karni:
Live a life as a householders in a family. Earn a truthful life of honest labour, positive thinking and hard work. Do not ever even in a dream, consider treading on a devious path.
* 3. Wand kay Shako:
- Share your wealth and earnings with other around you especially with the needy. Do not be greedy. Treat all men and women as equals regardless of nationalities, religions or creed.
A simple breakdown of his teaching is:
- There is only one God.
- We should worship and pray to the one God and no-one else.
- Work hard and help others.
- Be honest and truthful at all times.
- Everyone is equal in the eyes of God, there is no rich, poor, male, female, black nor white for God. The only difference between people is in their actions. only good actions matter in the end.
- Be kind to all; birds, animals and people.
- Fear nothing apart from God, pray for the good of all.
- Be humble, truthful and honest in your daily life.
Before he died, Nanak told his most trusted follower, Lehna, that he must be the next guru. Lehna was given the name Guru Angad.
