Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder of the Sikh religion, was born in 1469 in a
small village called Talwandi, in northern India, now known as "Nankana
Sahib". When the British left India they divided Punjab and gave the
northern part to the Muslims, which became Pakistan. It is now a great
shame that the Sikhs can not visit one of our sacred shrines at will.
Guru Nanak's father, Mehta Kalu Chand, was an accountant and worked for
Rai Bular, the Muslim ruler of Talwandi. His mother's name was Mata
Tripta and his only sister was called Nanaki who was five years older,
also became his first Sikh (disciple).
Before Guru Nanak Dev Ji
God sent Guru Nanak to the world when 'Kaljug'(the age of darkness)
became so strong that the creation began to forget God. The two religions
of that time Islam and Hinduism dominated the world scene but were
nothing but refuge for superstition, bigotry and ritualism, confined to
peculiar ways of eating, drinking, bathing and forehead painting. The
priests alone could study the scriptures and controlled the truths of the
Hindu philosophy. The Muslims hunted the Hindus in the name of Islam,
this led to bloodshed, opression and high-handedness. Great jealousy and
hatred existed between the Hindus and Muslims.
God
Guru Nanak went to bathe in the River Ganges and went missing for 3 days.
At this time writes Bhai Gurdas Ji the guru was summoned to God's abode
(Sach Khand) and the following occured:-At the Divine Command the devotee
Nanak was ordered into the Divine presence. A cup full of Nectar was by
Divine pleasure offered to him. The voice came: 'Nanak, this Amrit, the
cup of my Name, drink this it is offered to Thee. At this Guru Nanak
made obeisance and quaffed the cup of Amrit. The Lord's grace fell upon
him. "Nanak, I am ever by thy side". I have showered my blessing on Thee.
Whoever calls on thee shall also receive my blessing. Go thou into the
world and meditate on the Name, and make mankind meditate on the Name.
Be thy ever unpolluted by the lure of the world. Engage thyself in meditation
on the Name(Gur-Mantar), in charity, in self purification, service and
in remembering thy Lord. I have conferred on thee the blessing of my Name.
Make the name alone thy occupation.
* Janam Asthan Or sacred birthplace
Built in Nankana Sahib
in the
remembrance of the holy birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
* Bal Lila-
A room was built for the sacred game played by Guru
Nanak and his playmates. Later a gurdwara was built instead of a room.
* Kiara Sahib-
(Or the sacred field). A gurdwara built
for the remembrance of the time when the cattle ate the farmers crops and
later it was covered with even greener crops by God to show love for the
sacred child.
*Tambu Sahib-
(Or the sacred tent). The remembrance of the
tent that Guru Nanak had built after feeding the sadhus. It was built
under a t$
called Tambu Sahib.
*Panja Sahib-
(Or the sacred hand print). A rock which was
thrown at Guru Nanak but he held it with one hand. His hand print still lies
on the rock.
*Talwandi-
A village that Guru Nanak was born in.
*Chuharkana-
A village where Nanak spent his money to buy
food for the sadhus. (A good Bargain).
*Sultanpur Lodhi-
Where Mehta Kalu sent Guru Nanak to find a
job.
*Eminabad-
One of the villages Nanak travelled to. It lies in
the
district of Gujranwala in Pakistan.
*Charpai-(Or cot).
A sought of throne (not fashioned) that the
Guru sat on Bhai Lalo's home.
*Dharamsala-(A religious commune).
Everyday people used to
go there to listen to the Guru's hymns.
*Tulamba-
Now in the district of Multan in Pakistan. A man
called Sajjan Thag (the thief) lived there.
*Hardwar-
The place where the Hindus poured the water to the sun.
*Lahore-
One of the villages Nanak travelled to.
*Decca-
Where the man-eaters lived. One of the man-eaters is
called Kauda.
*Kaaba-
One of the places Guru Nanak went to. Muslim way
of calling House Of God.
*Hasan Abdal-
One of the places Guru Nanak visited. 50 kilometres
away from Rawalpindi in Pakistan.
*Kartarpur-
Guru Nanak stayed here for the rest of his life
after
doing the great tours. He was over 60 years of age. This the village where
Guru Nanak formed a big happy family including Muslims, Hindus and people of
low and high castes.