1. The Descendance of Guru Nanak Dev Ji on Earth
The world was drowning in suffering, and the only cure was the Divine Name (Naam). In His boundless compassion, Nirankar (the Formless One) chose to manifest in human form, bringing forth a divine event that would change the course of history forever. We humbly invite you to read below to learn more.
ੴ ਸਤਿਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ ਜਪੁ ॥ ਆਦਿ ਸਚੁ ਜੁਗਾਦਿ ਸਚੁ ॥ ਹੈ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਹੋਸੀ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ ॥੧॥
When Nirankar contemplated that the entire creation was in great suffering (1), He decided that He Himself must come to this world because without Naam (the Divine Name), the ailments of the world cannot be cured. Moreover, Satguru Ji accepted the heartfelt prayers and devotion of seven sages who had meditated and prayed for countless lifetimes, pleading with Him to manifest in human form.
Between the rivers Ravi and Beas lies a sacred place where many sages and seers performed intense meditation. The deities (devtas) also performed deep meditation at that sacred place. Among these devoted souls were these seven sages: Mehta Kalu Ji, Mata Tripta Ji, Bebe Nanaki Ji, Bhaia Jairam Ji, Rai Bular Ji, Bhai Lalo Ji, and Dasi Tulsa. This place was later known as Dukh Bhanjani Beri—a name bestowed by the Fourth Guru Ji. It was here that the sacred pool, Amrit Sarovar, was created and then the city of Amritsar. These seven sages had meditated for countless lifetimes at this holy site, unaware that Nirankar was soon to appear before them in human form.
Guru Angad Dev Ji records Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Life Events
The Second Guru, Sahib Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji, requested the birth horoscope of Guru Nanak Dev Ji from Talwandi. (Guru Angad Dev Ji asked for the birth horoscope because the specific date and time of when Guru Nanak Sahib Ji descended into this world was written on it. However birth horoscopes do not have any place in Sikhi).
Guru Angad Dev Ji instructing Bhai Bala Ji to narrate the life & teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Guru Angad Dev Ji would hold Diwaan (spiritual court) every day, sit on the Takath (sacred throne), and instruct Bhai Bala Ji to narrate the life and teachings of Guru Nanak Sahib Ji in great detail from the very beginning. Guru Ji Himself recited the Saakhie (witnessed events) after hearing them from Bhai Bala Ji, and they were then carefully recorded in detail under Guru Ji’s guidance. Every day in the court, Bhai Budha Ji, Bhai Paro Ji, Bhai Jeeva Ji, and Bhai Julfa Ji—who were regarded as Paramhans (enlightened souls imbued in Naam) in those times—were present in Guru Angad Dev Ji’s Darbar. They attended the court daily, along with many other devotees who would come to listen to the accounts of Guru Nanak Sahib Ji’s life and teachings.
Descendance of Guru Nanak Dev Ji
On the Full Moon night of the month of Katak in 1469, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji appeared on this Earth in a physical body in Mehta Kalu ji and Mata Tripta Ji’s home. This auspicious event took place at 12:21 AM during Amritvela (ambrosial hours). Upon receiving the news of the child’s birth, Mehta Kalu ji waited a couple hours and then went to the house of of Pandit Hardyal Ji (their household priest). Pandit Ji asked, “Kalu Ji, why have you come so early today?” Mehta Kalu Ji replied, “A child has been born. Please prepare His birth horoscope.” Pandit Hardyal Ji said, “You go ahead; I will come after performing the worship of Thakur Ji (God).” After some time, Pandit Hardyal Ji arrived at Mehta Kalu Ji’s home and Mehta Kalu Ji received him with great respect.
Gurdwara Nankana Sahib (Pakistan), situated at the sacred birthplace of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji
It is important to note that Mehta Kalu Ji was a Khatri (2), and in those times, the Brahmins, who were pandits (priests), were regarded as gurus (spiritual teachers), and most people had no direct knowledge of the Divine; Pandits used to say that other castes are lower castes and that they have no right to know or sing the praises of God. That’s why they had written about God in the complex Sanskrit language, which was inaccessible to the common people. Furthermore, every household had a designated pandit. In the villages, each Pandit had claimed certain households as his own. Families consulted the Brahmins for life decisions.
However, Guru Granth Sahib Ji later proclaimed, ਕਬੀਰ ਬਾਮਨੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਹੈ ਜਗਤ ਕਾ ਭਗਤਨ ਕਾ ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਹਿ॥ (Kabeer Baaman Guroo Hai Jagath Kaa Bhagathan Kaa Gur Naahi || “The Brahmin may be the guru of the world, but he is not the Guru of the devotees.”)
Mehta Kalu Ji prepared a plate filled with rice, placing jaggery on top along with some money as an offering, and presented it to Pandit Hardyal Ji. He respectfully requested Pandit Ji to prepare the child’s horoscope. Hardyal Ji looked at his jantari (astrological reference chart) and said, “This is a very auspicious time. This child will grow to be a great spiritual figure, and I sense that a canopy will adorn His head. However, I am puzzled about what kind of canopy this will be.”
Mehta Kalu Ji replied, “Please write the child’s horoscope and also note down His characteristics.” Hardyal requested, “Bring me a sheet of paper and some saffron.” These items were brought to him, and then the Pandit asked, “What was the first sound the child made upon entering this world?”
They called for the midwife, Daulta, and asked her about the child’s first sound. She said, “I have delivered many children in my life, but I have never seen a child like this. As soon as this child entered this world, He laughed instead of crying. And that laugh wasn’t like that of a typical baby—it was the laugh of a great being. I was astonished by what I witnessed, wondering what divine miracle this could be.” (Surely, Maharaj Ji must have laughed to tell the world, “Rejoice! For I have brought the Word (Shabad) that will be the remedy for all your ailments.”). The Pandit was filled with wonder and made a humble request to see the child. The midwife wrapped the child in a cloth and brought Him to the Pandit. As soon as the Pandit saw the child, he stood up, folded his hands in reverence, and bowed. He then turned to Mehta Kalu Ji and said, “You are truly blessed. The child born in your household will ensure that your name lives on forever.”
Mehta Kalu Ji responded, “Please name the child.” The Pandit replied, “I cannot name Him right now. I must think carefully about this. I will decide the name after thirteen days of contemplation.”
Thirteen days later, the Pandit returned and said, “Mehta Kalu Ji, this child’s name is ‘Nanak.’”
Mehta Kalu Ji said, “Pandit Ji, do not keep this name. Think of and suggest other names. We are Khatris, and this is not a name we have ever heard before. Give a name that is more in line with Khatri traditions.” The Pandit replied, “Mehta Kalu Ji, this is no ordinary child. Both Hindus and Muslims will worship Him. His name will echo across the skies, realms, and the universe. The earth, oceans, heavens, and mountains will all yield to Him. Yogis, sages, seers, and the entire world will abide by His commands.” Hearing this, Kalu Ji was astonished and agreed to keep this name.
Pandit Ji then explained the meaning of the name. “In Sanskrit, ‘Nanna’ means ‘Purakh’ (Being), ‘An’ means ‘without,’ and ‘Ak’ means ‘free of sorrows.’ Thus, the name means ‘The One who is free of sorrow.’”
In Gurmukhi, its meaning is Nanak, ‘Na-anak’ (Na- No | Anak- Many), meaning ‘The one who is not many but is the only One in the entire creation.’
“I have thought deeply before choosing this name.” Hearing this, Kalu Ji was greatly pleased. He offered the Pandit a generous reward, including a cow as a gift.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Divine Nature
Maharaj Ji’s nature was entirely different and unlike that of other children. Whenever He went outside, He would sit cross-legged in deep meditation.
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One important point for everyone to reflect upon is that the human mind often evaluates and judges others based on three factors: their age, their intelligence, and their experience. From these three facts, our mind forms conclusions about a person’s capability.
However, here the story is different, as the Divine Light of God is manifesting through Guru Nanak Sahib Ji.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji was only 18 years old when He ascended the throne of Guruship. Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji was just 14 years old when He ascended the throne of Guruship. Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji was only 11 years old when He ascended the throne of Guruship. The Tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, ascended the throne of Guruship at the age of 9. Guru Har Krishan Ji was just 5 years old when He became the Guru. So, it is not about age—whether Guru Sahib Ji was of a certain age or not. Their age holds no significance in this context.
At the age of 5 years and 3 months, Guru Har Krishan Ji ascended the throne of Guruship. His elder brother, Ram Rai, became extremely jealous and went to Aurangzeb (the Emperor of India), complaining and crying that the throne rightfully belonged to him since he was the elder brother. Aurangzeb then summoned Guru Sahib Ji to Delhi. Despite being just 5 years old, Maharaj Ji sent a reply, refusing to come. Even when the Emperor of Hindustan demanded, Guru Sahib responded, “We will not come.”
Aurangzeb then requested Raja Jai Singh of Jaipur, who was a devout follower of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, to persuade Guru Sahib to come to Delhi. At Raja Jai Singh’s humble request, Guru Har Krishan Ji agreed to travel to Delhi. However, even upon reaching Delhi, Guru Har Krishan Ji did not grant His darshan (His holy presence) to Aurangzeb.
While traveling from Kiratpur Sahib to Delhi with a large Sangat (devotees), the group made several stops along the way. Near Ambala, they stopped at a village named Panjokhra. In this village lived a Pandit named Kishan Chand, who was a great scholar of Sanskrit. Seeing a 5-year-old Child as a Guru, he approached Guru Sahib and said, “Your name is Har Krishan Ji, and it is greater than Krishna Ji. Krishna Ji recited the Gita, and yet your name is even higher. You should know the meanings of the Gita.”
Maharaj Ji replied, “Yes, I should. Tell me, what would you like to know?” The Pandit requested, “Please explain the meanings of the Gita to me.”
The Gita is written in Sanskrit. Maharaj Ji said, “We could explain its meanings, but why not let someone who is mute and deaf interpret it instead?” The Pandit thought to himself, “That would be even better—how could a mute and deaf person possibly explain the meanings of the Gita?”
In the Pandit’s village, there was a mute and deaf man named Chhajju who happened to be present.
Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji, who always carried a staff with Him, placed the tip of the staff on Chhajju’s head and said, “Answer the Pandit’s questions about the Gita.”
To everyone’s astonishment, the mute and deaf man gave fluent answers to the Pandit’s questions in Sanskrit for an entire hour. The Pandit, completely awestruck by this miracle, fell at Maharaj Ji’s feet and became a Sikh.
Thus, here, age does not matter. Guru Nanak Sahib Ji performed many miracles, and we cannot think in terms of His ageat that time and question how it was possible. It is the light of Divine operating within Him.
That Pandit, Kishan Chand, had no idea that all the holy scriptures came directly from the Divine and that Divine light is operating through Guru Nanak Dev Ji. For Him, nothing is a challenge.
When Guru Nanak Sahib Ji was a young child, He would leave home, sit cross-legged like a wise elder and speak to other children, telling them, “There is one Parmeshar (God) who loves us deeply. Whoever chants His Name makes Him immensely happy. Then you can ask Him for whatever you desire”. The children would ask, “Nanak Ji, where does He live?” If they were children born into a Hindu household, Guru Nanak Ji would reply in their language, “There is one Prabhu (God) who resides in Sachkhand; He is our Father, and He provides everything for us.” If they were children born into a Muslim household, He would say, “Khuda resides in Sachkhand.” All the children would follow Maharaj Ji everywhere.
There was absolutely no childlike restlessness in Him; whenever He came home, He remained in the natural state of peaceful ease, balance and harmony.
If He noticed something in the house—a utensil, a water pitcher, or a bucket—He would give it away to the poor. If a wandering fakir (ascetic) came to the village, He would hand over items to them as well.
Mehta Kalu Ji, distressed by this behavior, went to Pandit Hardyal to complain about Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s behavior, that He is ruining the household by giving everything away! Hardyal responded, “Kalu Ji, now you come here to complain but when His glory is revealed, you won’t even speak to me”.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s time at School
By the time Maharaj Ji reached the physical age of seven, Mehta Kalu Ji thought that Maharaj Ji should learn accounting. This is so that he can then ask Rai Bular to pass his responsibility of a revenue officer (Patwari) to Maharaj Ji after him. With this in mind, he took Maharaj Ji to a Pandha (teacher). The Pandha was a Pandit named Gopal Das. The term “Pandha” means someone who shows the path to the world.
Mehta Kalu Ji, carrying a plate filled with rice, jaggery, and other offerings, along with Guru Sahib, went to the Pandha and said, “Pandha Ji, please check for an auspicious moment.” (At that time, the Pandits had instilled so many superstitions among the people that even if someone had to visit another person, they would first consult a Pandit to determine an auspicious time and ensure that no obstacles would arise before going.).
Mehta Kalu Ji asked the Pandha to determine whether it was an auspicious time for Guru Nanak Dev Ji to start school. The Pandha consulted his jantari and said, “Yes, today is an auspicious day.” Mehta Kalu Ji then said, “Teach Him all the mathematical tables—multiplication, fractions, and divisions—thoroughly. He must eventually handle the duties of a revenue officer (Patwari).” Saying this, Mehta Kalu Ji returned home.
The Pandha handed Guru Sahib a wooden slate (Takhti) and wrote the numbers one, two, three, and four on it with a pencil, instructing Guru Sahib to trace over them with ink. Guru Sahib took the slate but did not write anything. Instead, He simply sat there, sometimes looking at the slate, sometimes at the other children, and sometimes at the Pandha. The Pandha reminded Guru Ji once or twice but didn’t insist too much, since it was His first day. Eventually, school ended for the day, and Maharaj Ji returned home.
(One very astonishing thing to observe is that from the very beginning, Guru Nanak Sahib Ji did what He intended to do but did not answer back (or said “I will not do this”). Guru Nanak Dev Ji did not answer back to His father “I will not go to school”, He went to school. He did not wish to hurt anyone’s feelings, but whatever He intended to do, He did exactly that.)
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1. Suffering: Leading up to the 15th century, humanity suffered under oppression, greed, and division. Love and righteousness had disappeared, replaced by darkness and injustice.
- Caste & Religious Oppression: Society was divided by caste, skin color, gender, and religion. The elite few controlled religious practices, claiming only they had access to God. The lower castes were denied entry into places of worship, and devotion to God was restricted. Speaking or singing about God outside the elite class could result in severe punishment, even death.
- Superstition & Empty Rituals: Religious practices became focused on meaningless rituals rather than genuine worship, distancing people from God.
- Women’s Oppression: Women were seen as inferior and treated as property. Female infanticide, child marriage, and sati (widow-burning) were common. Women were believed to be unworthy of spiritual connection with God.
- Religious Persecution & Jizya Tax: Under foreign rule, Hindus had to pay a tax (jizya) just to practice their faith and protect their lives.
- Slavery & Exploitation: In the west, the Portuguese began the transatlantic slave trade, capturing and enslaving Africans. Pope Nicholas V granted permission for slavery as long as the enslaved were converted to Christianity
- Corruption of Religion: Instead of uniting humanity, religion was misused to justify oppression and discrimination. Governments and religious authorities distorted its true purpose, turning it into a tool for division and control rather than love and unity.
2. Khatri: a person who belongs to a Hindu mercantile caste -
-In a world full of suffering, Naam (the Divine Name) is the remedy. How can we incorporate the practice of Naam into our lives to heal ourselves and others?
-Guru Nanak Dev Ji's early acts of charity, such as giving away household items to the poor, reflect selfless service. How can we practice selfless service in our daily lives to benefit others?
-Guru Nanak Dev Ji recognized and spoke of God in terms familiar to both Hindus and Muslims. How can we bridge the divides between different faiths and foster unity and understanding in a diverse world?