Essay, Biography or Paragraph on “Guru Nanak Dev Ji” complete biography for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji

Guru Nanak was the founder of Sikhism. Sikhism is a form of Hinduism with the evident influence of Islam on it. Sikhism accepts the Hindu doctrines of karma and sansar, Maya and Moksha.  In shares with Hinduism faith in the efficacy of the holy name and the grace of the Guru.

Nanak was born at Nankana village in the district of Gujranwala near Lahore (now in Pakistan) on the Vaishakhi Purnina in 1469. His father’s name was Kalu and mother’s name was Tripada. At the age of fourteen, he married Sulaghani and they had two sons Srichand and Lakshmichand. At the age of twenty seven, Nanak left his house and became a Sannyasi. He tried to abolish the forms and rituals, but emphasized the Oneness of God and the brotherhood of man. He wanted a casteless society. He believed in the dignity and value of labour and in the usefulness of the life of the house holder.

He travelled widely within this country and upto Baghdad abroad. The Gurus who succeeded him are — Guru Angad, Amar Das, Ramdas, Arjun Dev, Har Govind, Hari Roy, Hari Krishna, Teg Bahadur and Guru Govind Singh. To him there was no difference between a Hindu and a Muslim. His disciples came from both the sects. Mardana, a Muslim devotee was his favourite disciple. And among the Hindu disciples were Bhai-Buddha (Ramdas), Angad, his son Srichand, etc.

The simple poplular songs, Viz. “Ballad” were the method of Nanak’s preaching. The collection of his teachings are in Gurumukhi language and is known as “Guru Grantha Sahib”, which is the most holy book among the Sikh community. Nanak said —

“None is mine, none is an outsider”

Said Nanak, “All are my brethren.”

His teachings were for all sects of people — To a Muslim teacher, Nanak said : “Make kindness thy mosque, sincerity thy prayercarpet, justice and Law thy Quran, modesty thy circumcision, civility thy fasting. Thus you can he a Muslim. To farmers, he said: “Make thy body the field, good works the seed, irrigate with God’s name; make thy heart the cultivator; God will germinate in thy heart and thou shall thus obtain the dignity of liberation”. To merchants, he said: “Make the knowledge that life is frail thy shop, the true name thy stock-in-trade, meditation and contemplation make thy piles of vessels. Put the true name into them. To a soldier, he said, “Make honesty thy horse, truth thy saddle, continuance thy armour; and truth thy sword and shield: Mildness is food, force is oppression, and Justice is pure”. Nanak also said :” Truth is  higher than everything; but higher still is true living. Religion is not in mere prayers; he who sees all as equal is religious”.

Nanak’s religious life is a mystery and he never uttered his Guru’s name. He said, to attain Salvation or Moksha, Guru’s blessing is essential. Also he said, “Three things are difficult to obtain in this world and depend on the mercy of God — the Human birth, the desire for salvation and the company of the great — souled ones like Sadguru.” The essence of his teachings, will be found in his book “Japaji”, where he emphasized on “OM” as the symbol. He was the Nirankari Bhakta (Advaitism). He said, the Omnipresent Cod is inside every human being, do not try to search for him in Temples, Mosques, Churches etc. Nanak said, “EKONG SAT VIPRA BAHUDHA BADANTI” — He who exists is one, the sages call Him by various names. He died in 1538.