Guru Nanak Dev Ji at a Glance
Birth: 1469 AD
Birthplace: Rai Bhoi di Talwandi, Nankana Sahib (Pakistan)
Mother’s Name: Mata Tripta Ji
Father’s Name: Mehta Kalu Ji
Sister’s Name: Nanki Ji
Marriage: 1487
Wife’s Name: Sulakhni Ji (Sulakshani Devi Ji)
How many children: Two sons
Children’s Names:
Shri Chand Ji Lakhmidas Ji When was the elder son Shri Chand Ji born: 1494
When was the younger son Laxmidas Ji born: 1496
Teachers’ Names: Gopal Das, Brijlal, Maulvi Qutubuddin
How many missionary journeys (Udasis) were undertaken: 4 journeys
When was the first missionary journey undertaken: 1497
When was the second missionary journey undertaken: 1511
When was the third missionary journey undertaken: 1516
When was the fourth missionary journey undertaken: 1518
At what age was the recitation of the Gita heard: 8 years
First Udasi: Towards Sanatan Hindu religious centers
Second Udasi: Towards Buddhist religious centers
Third Udasi: Towards religious centers of Yogis and Naths
Fourth Udasi: Towards Islamic religious centers
Seed of Gurbani was sown: Praise of 'Ek Onkar' Establishment of Sangat-Pangat Beginning of Guru tradition Chanting God's name was considered the true prayer
Main Bani: Shri Japji Sahib Ji (included in the recitation of five Banis)
Sister Nanki’s husband (brother-in-law) name: Jairam
Contribution in Bani: 974 hymns in 19 Ragas
Creator of the Mool Mantra
Who was made the second Guru: Bhai Lehna (Shri Guru Angad Dev Ji)
The first congregation or Gurdwara was established at: Shri Kartarpur Sahib Ji
Bhai Mardana Ji always stayed with him.
The first missionary center (Manji) was established at the house of Bhai Lalo in West Punjab.
Name of the mountain where the discourse with Siddhas took place: Kailash (Sumer Mountain)
The dialogue with Siddhas in Gurbani is referred to as: Siddh Gosht
Which ruler was contemporary to Guru Ji: Babar
During his missionary journey, when Guru Ji reached Gorakhmatta, the Yogis there named the place Nanakmatta.
Which city was founded: Shri Kartarpur Sahib Ji
When did Guru Ji merge into the divine light (Joti Jot Samae): 1539
Where did Guru Ji merge into the divine light: Shri Kartarpur Sahib Ji
Spiritual Teachings:
One should chant only and only the name of the Almighty. In life, a true and complete Guru is necessary, through whom the true path of life can be found. The Almighty is present everywhere and is not confined to any specific place or idol; He is omnipresent. Once a person realizes this, they come out of confusion and embark on the true spiritual path. By performing good deeds while chanting the name of the Lord, one crosses the ocean of existence and reunites with the Almighty from whom the soul had separated.
God is one. He is Ajooni (unborn), meaning He never takes birth. His light exists by itself. He fears no one and has no enmity with anyone. He is a timeless, immortal entity full of divine qualities, and one can attain Him only by the grace of the Guru.
When ignorance and darkness spread across the world, and mankind drifted away from spiritual wisdom and divine knowledge, forgetting the Almighty and engaging in idol worship, the Supreme sent Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji to this world. In Gurbani, all Gurus and devotees have written that they are mere servants of the Almighty. This is true because God never takes birth; He sends His messengers from time to time. However, the irony is that instead of following the message of the messenger, humans get busy worshiping the messenger himself and waste their precious lives.
We should strive to follow the teachings of these messengers in our daily lives. Gurbani emphasizes that we should chant only the name of God while performing righteous deeds. The Almighty, who pervades every particle of the universe, is present in every being. He is to be sought within ourselves, not in the wilderness or through adopting saffron robes. A person can realize Him while living a household life.
It is crucial to understand that if we keep engaging in idol worship and rituals but do not chant the name of the Almighty, all these actions will be futile. This would be a waste of time and money, yielding nothing in this life or the hereafter, and we will remain trapped in the cycle of 8.4 million births. People seek God in pilgrimage sites, but He resides within their own bodies. Instead of looking for Him in stones and holy places, one should seek Him within their heart and soul.
"God is one, and to attain Him, we must also become one." This means we must imbibe His divine virtues. When we chant His name in solitude, we become one with Him. Hence, rather than wasting time on useless rituals, one should chant the name of the Almighty.
Now, the question arises—what is God?
We firmly believe that if you read the complete history of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji with full attention, you will automatically find the answer to this question: What is God?
Birth Details of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji: Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born on the first Baisakh Shukla Paksha Purnima, Monday, in Samvat 1526 Bikrami (1469 AD), during the 7th hour of the night at the home of Mehta Kalyan Chand (Mehta Kalu), a Kshatriya, and Mata Tripta. At that time, the town was called Rai Bhoi di Talwandi, which later became known as Nankana Sahib in honor of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji's birth. Upon His birth, the entire town celebrated with joy, divine beings showered flowers from the sky, and celestial music resounded.
Guru Ji belonged to the Bedi sub-caste. His elder sister, Bebe Nanki, was born in 1464 AD. She later became well-known as Bebe Nanki. Guru Nanak Ji used to encourage His fellow children to chant Sat Kartar, Sat Kartar.
The midwife, Daai Daulata, assisted in Guru Ji’s birth. According to her, the newborn did not cry but entered the world laughing. Guru Ji’s father, Kalyan Chand Ji, had His birth chart prepared by the family priest, Pandit Haridayal Ji, who prophesied that this child was a divine soul.
A few days later, Pandit Ji named the child Nanak in an auspicious ceremony. However, His father raised an objection, saying that His elder sister was already named Nanki. Pandit Ji replied that it was a mere coincidence that both names matched. The name was chosen based on the astrological alignment, indicating that two divine souls were present in the family.