Sikh - School Resource Kit

Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born in 1469 in a small town called Talwandi, now named Nankana Sahib. Guru Nanak spread the message of love and tolerance, to love God one must first love your neighbour.

Guru Nanak rejected the deities and rituals of the Hindus and the intolerance and persecution by the Muslims. That is not to say that Guru Nanaks teachings were a combination of these two religions, Guru Nanak said “ O Lord, I do what you bid me to do, I speak what you want me to speak.” Guru Nanak's message was a divine revelation from God.

Guru Nanak spent most of his early life in the company of holy men and helping and feeding the poor. But the divine call was too strong and he set off, with his companion Mardana, on a number of very long journeys (Udasis) spreading the name of God.

The journeys took him to far off places like the Himalayas and Nepal in the east, to Sri Lanka in the south, to Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia in the west. At all times Guru Nanak spread the word of God, that one must meditate on his divine Name, that one must do an honest days work and one must share the fruits of ones toils with those around them.

Guru Nanak Dev was also a great composer and wrote poetry in praise of God and all the Gurus hymns can be found in the Sikh scriptures, Guru Granth Sahib.

Here is one of many stories about Guru Nanak Dev.

On one of his journeys Guru Nanak and his companion Mardana came to a town. A local rich merchant Bhai Bhago saw the arrival of two holy men and invited them to his house for their blessings. He brought many rich and colourful dishes for the Guru to eat, but Guru Nanak refused, much to the dismay of Mardana.

They left the large villa of the merchant and met a poor farmer Bhai Lalo sitting outside his hut. Bhai Lalo invited Guru Nanak to eat with him. “I have but a few scraps of food and a two day old chapatti ” he said. Guru Nanak was much pleased and sat down to eat. Mardana on the other hand could not believe they had passed on a banquet and were about to eat stale chapatti.

Just then the rich man who had followed the Guru sat down beside them and asked, “Guru Nanak I have heard you are a man of God, but why do you not share my food and instead come here, to this ramshackle of a place and eat this ?” pointing at the small plate of food. By this time a crowd from the town had gathered. Guru Nanak asked Bhai Bhago to go get some of his food, which he duly did.

Guru Nanak took a chapatti of Bhai Bhago in one hand and the stale chapatti of Bhai Lalo in the other and squeezed them. From the chapatti of the poor man milk droplets appeared, but from the other blood dripped to the floor. Guru Nanak explained “Lalo, you have earned your keep doing an honest days work and you have sung the Lords praises while doing it, Bhago, on the other hand you have earned your riches by cheating and deceit and from the hard work of others.” Realising his past mistakes Bhai Bhago bowed his head and with hands clasped together asked for forgiveness.

Guru Nanak Said “ Go Bhai Bhago, do an honest days work without cheating other people, share your riches with those less fortunate then you and keep the Lord in your heart at all times.”