News Highlight
Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti is widely celebrated worldwide among people of the Sikh community on 8 November of this year.
Key Takeaway
- On this occasion, people of the Sikh community carry out huge processions with immense enthusiasm.
- They visit Gurdwaras to offer prayers, conduct langars and meet people to celebrate Gurupurab yearly.
Guru Nanak Dev
- About
- He was born in 1469, at Rai Bhoi Ki Talwandi, near Lahore, which is in the Sheikhpura district of modern-day Pakistan.
- He was born into a middle-class Hindu family and raised by his parents, Mehta Kalu and Mata Tripta.
- Sikhism
- He was the first of the 10 Sikh Gurus and the founder of Sikhism in the 15th century.
- He started writing the Guru Granth Sahib.
- His Teachings
- He advocated the ‘Nirguna’ (devotion to and worship of formless divine) form of bhakti.
- Guru Nanak Dev Ji spread the message of ‘Ek Omkar’, which means that God is one and is present everywhere.
- He set up rules for congregational worship (Sangat) involving collective recitation.
- Guru Nanak Dev Ji also gave the message of humility and service to humanity.
- His verses also preach selfless service to humanity, prosperity and social justice for all, irrespective of differences.
- He inspired us to practise love, unity and brotherhood.
- One should adopt eternal values like truth, sacrifice and moral conduct from Japji Sahib’s teachings.
- Guru Nanak travelled across South Asia and the Middle East to spread his teachings.
- The messages of ‘Kirat Karo’ and ‘Vand Chhako’ inspire us to live honestly and share the available resources with others.
- Nankana Sahib
- A Gurdwara was built at his birthplace in the city now known as Nankana Sahib. It is located in the Punjab province of Pakistan.
- Kartarpur corridor
- The corridor was built to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev, founder of Sikhism in 2019.
- It is one of the holiest places for Sikhs, where Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji settled and preached for the last 18 years.
- Adi Granth
- His written compositions were included in the Adi Granth compiled by Guru Arjan (1563-1606), the fifth Sikh guru.
Sikhism
- About
- Sikhism is an Indian religion that originated in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the end of the 15th century CE.
- Foundation
- It was founded by Guru Nanak and is based on his teachings and those of the 9 Sikh gurus who followed him.
- The Sikh place of worship is called a Gurdwara.
- Sikhs believe that the way to lead a good life is to:
- Keep God in heart and mind at all times.
- Live honestly and work hard.
- Treat everyone equally.
- Be generous to the less fortunate.
- Serve others.
- Guru Granth Sahib
- The tenth Sikh Guru decreed that after his death, the spiritual guide of the Sikhs would be the teachings contained in that book, so the Guru Granth Sahib now has the status of a Guru, and Sikhs show it the respect they would give to a human Guru.
- 10 Gurus of Sikhism:
Content Source: Indian Express