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A Guru, A Prophet and an Enlightened Being
Guru Nanak Dev Ji is the first Guru (religious teacher) and the founder of the Sikh religion (Sikhism).
The basic foundation of Sikhism is laid on the teachings of Guru Nanak. He is considered by the Sikhs to have extricated them from the accumulated errors of ages and left them erect and free, unbiased in mind and unfettered by rules, to become an increasing body of truthful worshippers.
Guru Nanak's teachings centered around believing in and taking the name of one true God, earning an honest living and sharing and loving of all people of all religions.
This site provides information on Guru Nanak's teachings, his background and the Sikh religion.
Words do not the saint or sinner make,
Action alone is written in the book of fate,
What we sow that alone we take;
O Nanak, be saved or forever transmigrate.
His Early Life
Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born on April 15, 1469 in the Western Punjab village of Talwandi (now part of Pakistan).He was born to a Hindu family and his father was Kalayan Das Mehta, also known as Mehta Kalu, and his mother was Mata Tripta ji. He had an older sister named Nanki.
Nanak was married and had two sons, Srichand (born in 1494 A.D.) and Lakshmichand (born in 1497 A.D). His wife's name was Sulakhani.
Guru Nanak's Teachings
The Three Pillars of Sikhism
The main teachings of Nanak included faith in one true God, worship and recital of his name and the necessity of Guru in pursuing the path to God. God, according to him, is immanent and transcendent. Nobody knows the limits of God. God alone knows how great he is. Nanak compares God to the beloved and says God is in the heart of every individual. Nanak had belief in a personal and merciful god. Nanak denounced the worship of idols. He put emphasis on the worship of true name. Nanak endeavored to remove the cloud of ignorance and superstitions from the minds of people.=> Naam Japna: Chanting the Holy Name and thus remembering God at all times (often meditation).
=>Kirat Karo: Earning an honest living.
=>Vano Chakko: Sharing with others. These were some of basic teachings of Nanak
Nanak put great emphasis on the worship of True Name. Repetition of the True Name Satnam Vahiguru was to be done with greatest devotion. To quote Nanak "The name is the God, the God of all Gods. Some propitiate durga, some shiv, some ganesh and some other Gods but the Guru's Sikhs worship the True Name and thus remove all obstacles to salvation". Nanak put emphasis on the importance of Guru for the realisation of God. To quote him "Without the Guru, no one can obtain God, however long the matter be debated". With the help of guru, man enjoys divine pleasure, he does not know any sorrow. Guru is the raft or the ladder of the Sikhs. Guru is found through divine grace.
source
Sikhism - Recommended Reading
The First Sikh Spiritual Master: Timeless Wisdom from the Life and Techniques of Guru Nanak
Amazon Price: $13.25 (as of 12/15/2009) 
The Story of Guru Nanak
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Guru for the Aquarian Age: The Life and Teachings of Guru Nanak
Amazon Price: $12.95 (as of 12/15/2009)
Understanding Sikhism (Understanding Faith)
Amazon Price: $14.49 (as of 12/15/2009)
Sikhism
Amazon Price: $23.45 (as of 12/15/2009)
Nanak's Conributions to Humanity
Guru Nanak had many beliefs which were considered unpopular at the time but are now widespread.Equality of Humans
When in the middle east, the west and the rest of asia slavery, varna/class and race discrimination was rife and respect between the different classes and caste was at a peak, Guru Nanak preached against discrimination and prejudices due to race, caste, status, etc. He said: "See the brotherhood of all mankind as the highest order of Yogis; conquer your own mind, and conquer the world." also "There is one awareness among all created beings." and finally "One who recognizes the One Lord among all beings does not talk of ego. He urges all the peoples of the world to "conquer" their minds to these evil practises. All human beings had the light of the Lord and were the same -- only by subduing one's pride and ego could one see this light in all.
Equality of Women
In about 1499 when the world offered low to no status or respect to women, Guru Nanak sought to improve the respect of women by spreading this message: "From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married. Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come. When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound. So why call her bad? From her, kings are born. From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all. O Nanak, only the True Lord is without a woman." In so doing, he promoted women's rights and equality - a first for the 15th century!
Universal Message for All People
It had been a custom at the time for religious leaders to address only their own congregation and for segregation of the different religions -- but Guru Nanak broke with tradition and spoke to all of humanity.
Some Photos of Sikhs
"Komagata Maru&...
Repose
Brick Lane, E1
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Teachings of Guru Nanak
Religion consisteth not in mere words;
He who looketh on all men as equal is religious,
Religion consisteth not in wandering to tombs or places of cremation, or sitting in attitudes of contemplation.
Religion consisteth not in wandering in foreign countries, or in being in places of pilgrimage.
Abide pure amidst the impurities of the world;
Thus shall thou find the way to religion.
The Guru Granth Sahib
The Sikh Holy Book
The Guru Granth Sahib: Canon, Meaning and Authority
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Sikhism
The Beliefs
Sikhism is a progressive religion well ahead of its time when it was founded over 500 years ago, The Sikh religion today has a following of over 20 million people worldwide and is ranked as the worlds 5th largest religion. Sikhism preaches a message of devotion and remembrance of God at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind and denounces superstitions and blind rituals. Sikhism is open to all through the teachings of its 10 Gurus enshrined in the Sikh Holy Book and Living Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.Sikhs proclaim the Divine name of God, the power of devotion to that Name, the unity of all people and the equality of men and women. Sikhs confess God as Creator, sustainer of the universe, and one intimately involved in the events of the world and the lives of human beings. They believe that divine help is available for those who seek deliverance from the power of evil and put great emphasis on a personal relationship between the believer and God.
Sikhs believe that God is One and that all religions that seek to know God have beauty and power. The Sikh religion has strict moral standards. Believers are held to a code of five virtues and five vices.
The virtues are:
1. Truthfulness in living
2. Contentment
3. Patience
4. Faith in the Great Teacher, Nanak
5. Compassion
The vices, whose description is necessary because of the human tendency to defy the moral law of humanity, are:
1. Lust
2. Anger
3. Greed
4. Excessive attachment to any earthy object or person
5. Pride
Sikhs put great emphasis upon humble service for the welfare of others, and are strongly opposed to any kind of discrimination, especially that which is based on social class or sex.
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Sikh Gurus
The 10 Gurus of the Sikh Religion
- 1) Guru Nanak Dev JI
- 15 April 1469 - 7 May 1539
- 2) Guru Angad Dev
- March 31 1504 - March 29 1552
- 3) Guru Amar Das
- 5 May 1479 - 1 September 1574
- 4) Guru Ram Das
- 24 September 1534 - 1 September 1581
- 5) Guru Arjan Dev
- 15 April 1563 - 30 May 1606
- 6) Guru Hargobind
- 19 June 1595 - 03 March 1644
- 7) Guru Har Rai
- 26 February 1630 - 30 May 1661
- 8) Guru Har Krishan
- 7 July 1656 - 30 March 1664
- 9) Guru Teg Bahadur
- April 1, 1621 - November 11, 1675
- 10) Guru Gobind Singh
- December 22, 1666 - October 7, 1708
Sikhism
Sikhism, or ; , '', founded in fifteenth century Punjab on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev and ten successive Sikh Gurus (the last one being the sacred text Guru Granth Sahib), is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world. This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the Gurmat (literally the counsel of the gurus) or the Sikh Dharma. Sikhism originated from the word Sikh, which in turn comes from the Sanskrit root meaning "disciple" or "learner", or ' meaning "instruction".
The principal belief of Sikhism is faith in waheguru?represented using the sacred symbol of '', the Universal God. Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God. A key distinctive feature of Sikhism is a non-anthropomorphic concept of God, to the extent that one can interpret God as the Universe itself. The followers of Sikhism are ordained to follow the teachings of the ten Sikh gurus, or enlightened leaders, as well as the holy scripture entitled the Gur? Granth S?hib, which, along with the writings of six of the ten Sikh Gurus, includes selected works of many devotees from diverse socio-economic and religious backgrounds. The text was decreed by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru, as the final guru of the Khalsa Panth. Sikhisms traditions and teachings are distinctively associated with the history, society and culture of the Punjab. Adherents of Sikhism are known as Sikhs (students or disciples) and number over 23 million across the world. Most Sikhs live in Punjab in India and, until India's partition, millions of Sikhs lived in what is now Pakistani Punjab.
The Khanda
Insignia of the Sikh Faith
The Khanda is the insignia of the Sikh Faith. It represents a powerful spiritual symbol. The central double edged sword signifies truth, strength, freedom and justice. The circle or chakkar represents the eternal and the two swords of Miri and Piri represent political and spiritual sovereignty. Blessed are those...
Let mercy be the cotton, contentment the thread,
Continence the knot and truth the twist.
Oh priest! if you have such a thread,
Do give it to me.
It will not wear out, nor get soiled, nor be burnt, nor lost.
Says Nanak, blessed are those who go about wearing such a thread.
(Rag Asa)
The many colors of Sikhs and Sikhism
You can buy these posters online at AllPosters
Guru Nanak online
- "Dasam" Granth - A Look at the Core Problems
- This fact is also apparent because of the inclusion (within Guru Granth Sahib) of the Bani of Sheikh Farid and Bhagat Kabir, etc. who preceded Guru Nanak Sahib. Here, I shall not address the fact that there are some distinctions made by ...
- A Sikh Approach to War and Peace
- In early 17th century, Bhai Gurdass wrote that Guru Nanak (1469 ?1539), the founder of the Sikh religion ?meditated and saw the whole world ablaze? (Vara(n) Bhai Gurdass). The world was at war at every level as a result of human greed, ...
- Sikhi & The Rule Of Law
- Guru Nanak Sahib's Bani shows clear understanding of the socio-religious systems of his times. Asa di Var is just one example of this fact. Guru Nanak identified himself with the common people, with the ?lowliest of the low?. ...
- [Questions and Answers] Re: Guru Nanak and Color
- I do not know of any history if Guru Nanak Dev ji ever wore yellow (haven't read about it), but I do know Guru Nanak Dev ji wore blue, when he went to Mecca. The reason for this was, the colours for Muslams was blue in that time, ...
Your thoughts please...
Share what you like or dislike about this page here and also any additional information and experiences you have on Guru Nanak and Sikhism.
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- prabhjot prabhjot Aug 17, 2009 @ 11:50 am
- I think ,we need to tell all the peoplrs that how great is our GURU's and Religion is.
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- SemperFidelis SemperFidelis Apr 11, 2009 @ 5:51 pm
- Very nice work Rajays! I'm surprised this lens doesn't have a better lensrank. Blessed by a SquidAngel today! ~ Colleen :o)
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- Brain_Washer Brain_Washer Mar 29, 2009 @ 8:25 am
- Great work. Really encouraged to see something on Sikhism on Squidoo. Keep up the good work.
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- jaspreet jaspreet Feb 1, 2009 @ 10:07 am
- its very interesting to see such a think....we are prud to be sikhs
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- GIITANJALI GIITANJALI Jan 22, 2009 @ 5:58 am
- I BELILEVE IN GOD I SAW ALL THA PHOTO ITS VERY GREAT . GOD IS GREAT. I PRAY TO GOD THAT THE WORLD SHOULD BE KNOWN THAT THE GOD IS PRESENT IN THEIR HEART. THE TRUE POOJA IS BELIEVE IN GOD EVERYSECOND OF LIFE REMEMBERANCE OF GOD..
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