Possible Influences on the thought of Guru Nanak

Traditions which may have influenced the thought of guru nanak Guru Nanak was born in 1469 CE to Hindu parents in the village of Talwandi, Punjab, which now lies in Pakistan. Concerning his actual life-events, one has to turn to the Janamsakhis, which are literally the ‘birth testimonies’ of Guru Nanak. His attitudes towards ritual is demonstrated by the fact that at the age of nine, he refused to wear the sacred thread which members of the top three Hindu classes are to wear as a symbol of their spiritual rebirth. It was at the age of thirty that Guru Nanak underwent a religious experience which fully enlightened him. Nanak went to bathe in the river, as he normally did every morning, except that this time he disappeared for three days. Tradition holds that he was taken to God’s court and on reappearing at the bank of the river said the following words: “There is no Hindu, there is no Musalman, so whose path shall I follow? I shall follow God’s path. God is neither Hindu nor Musalman, and the path which I follow is God’s”. The implications of this utterance indicates the unity of God, that God is beyond all religious divisions; furthermore, there is no Hindu or Muslim from God’s perspective.

Hence the teachings of Guru Nanak were tolerant towards the 2 dominant faiths of the time. Did he ever intend on establishing a new religion? Guru Granth Sahib has hymns from Muslim and Hindu saints as well as many of the Sikh Gurus. All can reach God? If we believe Guru Nanak was called by God, then his teachings are wholly original. The uniqueness of the origin of the Sikh faith is disputed however by a number of different definitions of origin: (a) That Sikhism is a Hindu reform movement, (b) Sikhism is an offshoot of Islam, (c) Sikhism is a synthesis of both Islam and Hinduism. (d) Guru Nanak was an heir to the Northern Sant tradition.

HINDU REFORM MOVEMENT? Guru Nanak was Hindu As member of dvija, would have studied scriptures However, much of the ritual very unnecessary – taught against idols, caste and supremacy of brahmins, eating together. Liberation for all Many Hindu concepts survived however.

Islamic influence? Islam had been in the Punjab now for centuries, not a “foreign” culture Sufism Islamic mysticism Mardana Similarities – no idols, one God However karma and samsara not compatible with Muslim beliefs

Synthesis of Hinduism and islam? “No Hindu no Muslim” Not wanting new religion

Northern sant tradition Scholars generally of opinion that Guru Nanak was an heir to the Northern Sant tradition Not confusion with the Vaisnava Sants Similarities with Northern Sants: They accepted that God is essentially without form (nirguna) and thus rejected the external elements of religion, condemning all images and idols. The community of saints is reflected in the importance of the sangat. according to the Sants, mukti is based on three pillars: (a) Insistence on the divine Name (nama); (b) Bhakti to the Satguru, the Divine Guru; and (c) The importance of the satsangat. All three pillars play a prominent part in the religious thought of Guru Nanak as found in the Guru Granth Sahib; devotion is to be offered to the Supreme God alone, there is no scope for intermediaries.

Activity Read p.229 – 249 “The Development of the Sikh Panth” from Schomer, K. and McLeod, W.H. (1987) The Sants, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. Prepare a presentation on what traditions you think may have influenced the thought of Guru Nanak. You need to have looked at each one before you can decide on which one you would like to concentrate on. You need to explain in as much detail as possible the reasons for your choice Finally, decide on whether you think Guru Nanak intended on establishing a new religion. What leads you to your conclusions?