Nanak Dev Ji

Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born on 15 April 1469 (celebrated on Kartik Pooranmashi) in Rai Bhoi di Talwandi, now known as Nankana Sahib in present-day Pakistan. From an early age he showed deep spiritual awareness, often meditating instead of working and questioning the rituals of the day. His father, Mehta Kalu, tried to engage him in trade and farming, but the young Nanak gave away goods to feed the hungry — an early expression of the sewa (selfless service) that would define Sikhism.

At around age 30, Guru Nanak had a profound spiritual experience at the Bein river near Sultanpur Lodhi. He disappeared underwater for three days, and when he emerged he declared: 'There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim' — proclaiming the oneness of humanity under one God. This moment marks the founding of the Sikh faith. He then began his four great journeys, known as the Udasis, travelling thousands of miles across South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia — as far as Mecca and Baghdad — spreading his message of Ik Onkar (One Creator).

Guru Nanak challenged the hypocrisy of religious orthodoxy, the injustice of the caste system, and the oppression of women. He taught through his Shabads (hymns), composed in multiple languages and poetic forms, which were later compiled into Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. His three core teachings — Naam Japna (meditating on God's name), Kirat Karni (earning an honest living), and Vand Chakna (sharing with others) — remain the pillars of Sikh daily life.

Before leaving this world in 1539 at Kartarpur, Guru Nanak founded the city of Kartarpur (in present-day Pakistan) as a model community where people of all castes and religions lived, worked, and ate together. He established the Langar (community kitchen) as a cornerstone institution and appointed his devoted disciple Bhai Lehna as his successor — giving him the name Angad, meaning 'my own limb'. Guru Nanak Dev Ji passed from this world in the early hours of a September morning, leaving behind a faith that would eventually count hundreds of millions of followers worldwide.