The founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev Ji was a spiritual revolutionary who proclaimed the oneness of God and the equality of all humanity. His divine compositions form the foundation of Gurbani.
ਨਾ ਕੋ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨਾ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨੁ ॥
Naa ko Hindu naa Musalmaanu.
"There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim."
Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 1136
Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born on April 15, 1469, in Rai Bhoi Ki Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib in Pakistan) to Mehta Kalu and Mata Tripta. From his earliest years, Nanak showed signs of extraordinary spiritual depth, often falling into deep contemplation and engaging village elders in profound theological discussions.
At the age of 30, Guru Nanak received his divine calling. While bathing in the Bein River, he disappeared for three days. When he emerged, he declared: "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim" — a proclamation that challenged the religious divisions of his time and announced a new universal spiritual path.
Guru Nanak undertook four major journeys (Udasis) across the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and Central Asia — covering over 28,000 kilometers on foot. He traveled to Mecca, Baghdad, Sri Lanka, Tibet, and across India, engaging with saints, scholars, and ordinary people alike. Wherever he went, he sang divine hymns and challenged superstition, caste discrimination, and empty ritual.
He established Kartarpur in 1521, where he spent the last 18 years of his life farming and leading a community of devoted followers. He instituted the three pillars of Sikh practice: Naam Japna (meditation on God's Name), Kirat Karni (honest labor), and Vand Chakna (sharing with others).
Before his passing in 1539, Guru Nanak appointed Bhai Lehna as his successor, renaming him Guru Angad Dev Ji, recognizing his complete devotion and spiritual readiness.
God is One, formless, timeless, and present in all creation. The divine is not exclusive to any religion, caste, or creed.
Guru Nanak rejected the caste system and declared all human beings equal before God. He sat and ate with people of all backgrounds.
Naam Japna (remembering God), Kirat Karni (honest work), and Vand Chakna (sharing with others) form the foundation of a righteous life.
True devotion comes from the heart, not from external rituals, fasting, or pilgrimages performed without inner transformation.
Serving others is the highest form of worship. The divine is found in the service of humanity.
Guru Nanak's legacy is the very foundation of Sikhism. His hymns, compiled in the Guru Granth Sahib, continue to guide millions worldwide. His vision of a casteless, egalitarian society rooted in devotion to one God remains as revolutionary today as it was five centuries ago.