By Bhupinder and Jaspreet

 Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the first Guru  Born in year 1469 in the Village Talwandi now known to be Nankana Sahib  Who was the first to recognise Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Enlightened Soul?  Which Bania did Guru Nanak Dev Ji write?  What was Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s three basic teachings?  He taught to have equality for humans and women

 Who was the first to recognise Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Enlightened Soul?  Answer: Sister, Bibi Nanaki  What Bania did Guru Nanak Dev Ji write?  Answer: Japji Sahib, Sidh Gost, Baavan Akri and Dhakanee Oankar  What was Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s three basic teachings?  Answer: Naam Japna, Kirat Karni and Vand Chakna

 Naam Japna:  Meditation on Vaheguru mantar  Sikhi is all Naam, it makes everything we do in life Accepted  Example- Clap your hands  Kirat Karni:  Gristee Jeevan  Earning a honest living  Vand Chakna:  To Share with Others – Give Examples?

After teaching people in Lahore to live honestly, Guru ji returned to Talwandi to see his parents. Then after a short stay, he went with Mardana his friend on a long journey to visit the sacred places of pilgrimage of the Hindus. On the way they reached Bhai Lalo’s workshop at Saidpur.

Bhai Lalo earned his living by honest work. Bhai Lalo was nearly seventeen years older than Guru Nanak. When Lalo saw two holy men coming towards him, he put aside his work and spread a bed for them and went to get some lunch for them.

Bhai Lalo asked Guru Nanak to come there and have his meal. So the meal was brought out and Mardana then divided it into three parts and they all ate it together. “This meal tastes like nectar. What has been put in it?” asked Bhai Mardana. Guru Nanak replied “That was the sweet flavour of truthfulness and honesty that you tasted. This taste is above the worldly tastes.”

One day Malik Bhago, a high government official of the city, gave a general feast. He invited Guru Nanak too. Guru ji refused the invitation saying, "We are fakirs(poor), what have we to do with your feast?" On being asked a second time, Guru Nanak took Bhai Lalo with him and went to Malik Bhago’s house. With great anger Malik Bhago said to Guru ji, “You are dishonoring Kshatriyas by eating dry chapaties in the house of a low caste carpenter. My feast will offer you delicious food. Why do you refuse to eat it?”

“Look Malik Bhago, wealth gathered by cruelty and corruption towards the poor is like sucking their blood which you have done. You had invited me to partake of blood, leaving food pure as milk. How could I accept it?” said Guru ji. Malik Bhago was silent then. Bhai Lalo on the other hand was the symbol of honesty and hard work. So according to Guru ji it’s better to earn little money with honesty than to amass a huge wealth by tricky and unkind means. Bhai Lalo was blessed by Guru Ji to spread the message of Naam. He became a spiritual Sikh and preached the Guru's teachings to the people of Saidpur.

pihlW bwby pwXw bKsu dir ipCo dy iPir Gwl kmweI] First of all Baba Nanak obtained the gate of the grace (of Lord) and then He underwent and earned the rigorous discipline (of heart and mind). ryqu Aku Awhwru kir roVW kI gur krI ivCweI] He fed himself with sand and swallow-wort and made stones his bedding i.e. he enjoyed poverty too. BwrI krI qpisAw vfy Bwgu hir isau bix AweI] He offered full Devotion and then he was fortunate to have union with God. bwbw pYDw sc KMif nau iniD nwmu grIbI pweI] Baba reached the region of Truth wherefrom he received Naam, the storehouse of nine treasures and humility.

bwbw dyKy iDAwn Dir jlqI siB ipRQvI idis AweI] In his meditation, Baba found the whole earth burning (with the fire of lust and anger). bwJhu gurU gubwr hY hY hY krdI suxI lukweI] Without Guru there is utter darkness and he heard the cries of the common men. bwby ByK bxwieAw audwsI kI rIiq clweI] To further understand the people, Guru Nanak donned robes in their manner and preached them to be detached (from the pleasure and pain). ciVAw soDix Driq lukweI ]24] Thus he went out to purify humanity on earth.(24)

 What two things did Guru Nanak Dev Ji receive from Saachkhand? 1 2

 What two other requirements were necessary in his discipline in order to please God? 1 2

 What did Guru Nanak Dev Ji see and do when in meditation? See: Do:

Read the story about Kauda Rakash (man-eater) addresses!