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Travels of Guru Nanak: A Brief
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<blockquote data-quote="dalvinder45" data-source="post: 225004" data-attributes="member: 26009"><p style="text-align: center"><strong>BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS OF GURU NANAK</strong></p><p></p><p>A child was born on 15th April 1469 AD (20th Vaisakh 1526 Bikrami) to Mata Tripta. The father of the child was Mehta Kalyan Chand, a village land recorder (Patwari) to Rai Bular, the village land lord of Rai Bhoi ki Talwandi in Punjab.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]22155[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]22156[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Photo 2. Mehta Kalu holding baby Nanak (Photo by Bhagat Singh Sikh Art) Photo 3. Relatives having first look of Nanak</strong></p><p></p><p>Janamsakhi Bhai Bala states Guru Nanak’s birth date as Katak Sudi Pooranmasi Samvat 1526 (1469 AD) [1] Janam Sakhi Walait Wali mentions his date of birth to be 3 Vaisakh Samvat 1526. [2] Janam Sakhi Meharban and Janamsakhi Bhai Mani Singh also agree with Walait Wali Janamsakhi considering the birthdate to be 3 Vaisakh Samvat 1526 (15 April 1469) hence Dr Kirpal Singh in Janamsakhi Parampra accepts the same. [3] The same is accepted here as well taking Gurū Nānak Dev Ji’s period as 15 April 1469 to 22 September 1539. There is no difference in place of birth and parentage and relationships. Place of birth is Talwandi Rai Bhoi (now known as Nanakana Sahib) Kalyan Chand Bedi (Mehta Kalu) as father and Mata Tripta as the mother. His sister was Nanaki (known as Bebe Nanaki) who was elder to him. His uncle was Lal Chand Bedi (Lalu). Kalyan Chand was an administrator on the landed properties of Rai Bular, a local landlord and a brother-in-law of the Nawab Dault Khan, the Nawab of Sultanpur Lodhi. Talwandi Rai Bhoi is now named Nankana Sahib. It is in the district by the same name in Punjab, Pakistan.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]22157[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>[ATTACH=full]22158[/ATTACH]</strong></p><p><strong>Photo 4 and 5 Nankana Sahib: Guru Nanak’s Birth Place</strong></p><p></p><p>The political, cultural and religious environment at the time of his birth were both disturbing and balancing. The political turmoil was countered by religious renaissance. The state of the political turmoil has been well described by Guru Nanak himself:</p><p></p><p>Time is on sword’s edge. The kings are acting as murderers; they forgot their primary duty i.e., well-being of their public.……"[1]</p><p>He adds:-</p><p>Corruption has reached the top. Even the king has to be bribed to get justice……. [2]</p><p></p><p>The gloriously rich tradition of religious tolerance was powerless against the tyranny of the bigots. Dissent was carried to a point of intolerance and intolerance to unrivalled persecution. The warriors had conflicting desires to conquer and achieve worldly gains. They came not as conquerors, but enemies and the face of Indian history was marred, if not charred, with these suppressive forces; for it was not the policies but the institutions which were ruthlessly oppressed. The invaders had trampled the rich civilisation of ages under their feet, without the slightest remorse or inequity.</p><p></p><p>In an era of contention and in the background of these disabilities, the epoch of transition and interregnum in a suffering country, only a spiritual revolution could survive.</p><p></p><p>Pandit Hardyal, the village astrologer, prepared Nanak’s horoscope and said, “This is no ordinary child. He is a divine incarnation.” He predicted that this soul would have a profound influence on the world. During naming ceremony on 13th day, Pandit Hardyal announced the name of the child as ‘Nanak’ after his sister’s name ‘Nanaki’ who had born at her mother’s place i.e,, at her <em>nanakas</em> hence named Nanaki. As he grew, he played with the children, but appeared definitely above them, since he got into meditative mood occasionally. As he became five, he started speaking of inner and outer world. Whatever he spoke, he spoke after a due thought, satisfying the listener. Hindus said: ‘He appeared to be a Devta (god); Muslims said: ‘He is an Allah’s messenger’</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]22162[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Photo 6. Gurdwara Bal Lila Sahib where Nanak’s played in childhood</strong></p><p>At the age of seven, he was sent to village <em>pathshala</em> for schooling where he was taught Hindu scriptures, culture, languages, and arithmetic, geography and business methodologies. He studied for over 2 years with Pandit Gopal, who was touched with the deep concentration and progress of learning of Nanak. Uncommon maturity appeared in the child Nanak. His pick-up was so fast that he left all others behind. One day, Gopal told the class about the creation and the Creator. He then asked Nanak to write on his wooden slate (<em>Fatti/Patti</em>). Nanak wrote a long treatise. Pandha enquired as to what he was writing, “I am writing alphabet (Patti) extending it to the praise of the God whom I revere most”.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]22160[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Photo 7: Gurdwara Patti Sahib: Place of Nanak’s first schooling</strong></p><p></p><p>“He who created the world, is the One Lord and Master of all. Whose consciousness remains committed to His service, their birth and coming into the world is blessed…. The Primal Lord is the Giver; True; Limitless: sing his praises. Performing service to him and practising truth is fruitful and rewarding. Pandit (a religious scholar) is the one who understands spiritual wisdom…Ego dies the moment one recognises God.. Chain of Maya binds as one grows and leads one to death. . The Creator; the King of the world feeds all; binding all to Maya, where no other command other than God’s, prevails. …One who recognizes bad and good as one and the same; he is absorbed into the Lord and Master... When the Lord bestows His Glance of Grace, one is redeemed. The One Lord is totally pervading everywhere and abides within every mind. Peace pervades within those who link their consciousness to the Lord… Those humble beings, whose consciousness is so linked, are saved; by His Grace, they obtain peace… (SGGS, p.432)</p><p></p><p>“Marvellous! How did you get it?” surprised Pandha enquired. “It just came to me from Him and I wrote it,” Nanak said smilingly. He further said, “Studying all other things is fruitless. Without the Name of the Lord, everything is fruitless.’ He further said, “Where ever you take your mind, best is to be meditating on the Name of the God. It will give you great happiness, inner pleasure and gift of being ever pleasant”. (<em>Puratan Janamsakhi</em>, p.23)</p><p></p><p>Pandha Gopal was astonished, He said, “Pandit Hardyal prophesied right. You are great already. The one who has realised self and God, has nothing more to learn. It is my good luck that you became my pupil. I have learnt more from you than I taught. You do not need to come to me for further learning.” Nanak did not go to Pandha next day.</p><p></p><p>Mehta Kalu sent him to Pandit Baij Nath to learn Sanskrit, Vedas and Shashtras. On the advice of Rai Bular, he was also sent to to Mullah Qazi Qutub-ud-Din, where he was taught Muslim scriptures, culture, Turkish, Persian and Arabic languages, literature and administrative and justice systems. Maulvi also explained the spiritual experiences of Sufi saints which impressed Nanak. Nanak sensed his meanings and often thought of correlating these ideas with his own inner feelings. As a student, Nanak impressed the teacher by his deep insight and spiritual depth. Once he was asked to write Alif ‘I’ in Persian, resembling figure 1, he explained it, depicting it as the Unity of God.</p><p></p><p>Both, the Pandit and the Qazi were impressed on Nanak’s learning progress and respected him due to his fast learning. With the learning of religious experiences his own yearning to write increased and he started composing his own hymns. He started working hard on his writing, humming softly and then correcting where needed.</p><p></p><p>When put into worldly activities, he was not getting attached to any worldly affair and did not care for the house. To keep him busy in home affairs, Mehta Kalu sent him for grazing cattle. As the animals grazed, Nanak meditated by the side of the wheat field. The farmer thought that the animals have destroyed some of his crop since Nanak did not seem to be paying attention to the animals. He took Nanak to Rai Bular. On examining the fields, no damage to the crops was found. This amazed Rai Bular, Mehta Kalu and the farmer, who claimed that he had seen the cattle in his fields.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]22161[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong> Photo 8. Gurdwara Malji Sahib Photo </strong></p><p></p><p>Another day, Rai Bular while passing through the village common land, was amazed to see that the shadow of the tree under which Nanak was meditating, did not move. Another day, after return from his hunting, he again found Nanak meditating, while a black Cobra appeared to be providing shade to Nanak. Rai Bullar was shocked and worried about the safety of Nanak and shouted at him to awaken him. Listening to the loud sound, the cobra slipped away into a bush and Nanak got up smiling. Rai Bular had the firm belief that these were all miracles, which Nanak never believed. Rai Bular called Mehta Kallu and said, “Listen Mehta Kalu. Never admonish or speak harsh words to Nanak. He is the chosen one of the Lord. God’s ways are great; we will never understand these”.</p><p></p><p>Rai Bular, and Bibi Nanaki were the first people who recognised divine qualities in the boy. They encouraged and supported him to study and travel. His sister Nanaki being very much attached to him took extra care in providing what he liked. When she was married to Jai Ram, she left for Sultanpur Lodhi where her husband served the Nawab of Sultanpur Lodhi. This left a great loneliness in Nanak and he preferred solitude and occasionally got into meditation. He frequently, went out with hermits. Mehta Kalyan Das thought of his marriage as he thought that once married, Nanak will start caring for his family and his solitude will go off as well. But, this did not happen as his family desired. So his marriage was arranged and he was married to Sulakhani, daughter of Mool Chand of Batala a land record holder (<em>patwari</em>) of village Pakhoke close to Dera Baba Nanak.</p><p></p><p>Marriage party reached Sultanpur Lodhi. The girls from host family got together and asked Nanak to be seated under the shadow of the wall in the house of Kaulo and Veero. An old lady Mai Durgi, came and said, “Bhai Nanak, please be away from here. This wall is likely to fall.” Guru Nanak said, “Respected Mata Ji, this wall shall remain till the world survives.” She was blessed by the Guru saying, “<em>Chone chuge gaye, Bhandari Bharpoor, Puri poor and Teri tich’</em>. The wall is 10 feet by 6 feet (<em>das hath by 6 hath</em>) and can be seen even now in Mohalla Sohnia. The old lady was from Bhandari community. Bhandari developed a lot in Batala. A two storeyed building Gurdwara Kandh Sahib was constructed close to the Kandh Sahib. A 3 feet square Manji Sahib is placed at the place. Guru’s marriage ceremony is regularly rejuvenated by the <em>sangat </em>on the day of this marriage with great pomp and show to this day. Later Gurdwara ‘Kandh Sahib’ was constructed at the place by Raja Sher Singh of Lahore. It has a 60 Acres of land allotted to it. It was originally looked after by a family of a Manhant but now the control is with Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee through a local Committee.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]22167[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Photo 9. Gurdwara Kandh Sahib where the Guru was seated before marriage ceremony</strong></p><p></p><p>The place of marriage was the house of Mool Chand Chona in Mohalla Chonia. Pandit Hardyal got the marriage solemnised in Bikrami 1554 (1497AD) and the marriage party stayed here for 7-9 Assu when a grand fair is organised. This place was also converted into a Gurdwara known as Dera Sahib Baba Nanak.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]22164[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]22165[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]22166[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Photo 10, 11,12: Gurdwra Dera Sahib the place of marriage of Guru Nanak with Sulakhni</strong></p><p>Even after marriage, Nanak did not take interest in worldly affairs and remained in seclusion. Realising God’s great way, Nanak went into meditation and started meeting the hermits increasingly. At home, he preferred to keep quiet generally. The doctor was called, but of no use; since Nanak was perfect physically. Hakeem Haridas said: “Treatment of your son is beyond me. He is yearning to meet God and it is God alone who can treat his soul. Allow him some free air and do meditations to seek God.” Nanak sang: “The physician was called in; he touched my arm and felt my pulse. The ignorant physician did not know that the pain was in the mind” (SGGS, p.1279).</p><p></p><p>Once sitting in his fields, Nanak heard some music coming from nearby. It was Dana, the village bard (<em>Mirasi</em>), playing with a local instrument. Going to him, he said, “You play the instrument well.” “Yes! I am a <em>Mirasi</em>; the village bard who earns by playing music and singing songs of the rich and powerful. My name is Dana,” Dana said. Nanak said: “Wonderful! This is what your music is for. Will you join me? When you are with me you won’t die of hunger. You are Mardana (who does not die) now onwards”. Mardana felt such inordinate power and magnetism in the eyes of Nanak that all he could say, “Take me where you will. I will follow you in your footsteps.” A neighbour told Mehta Kalu: “Your son is now in the company of <em>Mirasi</em> Dana.” Shocked, Kalu thought of engaging him in some professional job. Twenty rupees were given to him for purchases.</p><p></p><p>On the way to market of Chuharkana, he met a group of hungry hermits. He went to the city market; purchased provisions for rupees twenty for feeding the hungry hermits. Giving all of it to them, he said, “Please have your meals for some days at least”. Nanak felt relieved and pleased at having done a true business. According to him, nothing could be a better business than feeding the hungry.</p><p></p><p>Back home, in anger his father questioned the futility of deal. Nanak replied, “As per your direction, I have done a worthwhile deal by feeding the hungry.”…..Mehta Kalu got infuriated hearing this and slapped Nanak in anger. Knowing this, Rai Bular called Mehta Kalu and rebuked him for punishing Nanak. Mehta Kālu’s son-in-law Jai Ram came to know of this too. He called Nanak to join him in Sultanpur Lodhi. Family felt it to be a good relief, though Sulakhni was quite worried.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]22168[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]22169[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong> Photo12. Guru Nanak feeding the hermits Photo 13. Gurdwara Sacha Sauda, Chuharkana </strong></p><p></p><p>While visiting Chuharkana again Mardana said that he was feeling hungry. They saw some donkeys of a merchant laden with sugar passing by. Guru Nanak Dev Ji told Baba Mardana to inquire from the owner as to what was in those bags. When Mardana asked the merchant, he replied that it was sand. Sat Gur said, "All right! Sand it will be!". The merchant became worried lest the saying of the saint should come true. He checked the bags and found that it was actually sand. He held Guru’s feet. Guru Ji said if it were not sand what else could that be. The merchant said, "Sire! It was sugar." Guru Ji said, "All right! Then sugar it will be.” The merchant checked again and found that to be sugar. He sat at the feet of Guruji and unloaded his sugar. There is a splendid Gurdwara with a dome built by the road at this place to commemorate this event. Now its condition is bad and if no maintenance is done it will disappear without leaving a trace. This holy shrine stands gloomily in the fields on the other side of the railway line only one km from Gurdwara Sacha Sauda. (Acknowledgements: Text and photographs:Historical Sikh Shrines in Pakistan : Iqbal Qaiser)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]22163[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>14. Gurdwara Shakarganj</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>References</strong></p><p></p><p>1. Janamsakhi Bhai bala, edited by Dr Surinder Singh Kohli, Punjab University Chandigarh, 1990, (2nd edn), p.50 mentions: “<em>Janampatri Nanak Vedi, Sammvat 1526, Miti Katak Sudi, Pooranmasi Nanak janam lia.Adhi raat(i) guzri ghadi upar. Kalu Vedi de ghar(i).</em></p><p>2. Puratan Janam Sakhi edited by Bhai Veer Singh Sahit Sadan, New Delhi, Jan 2006 (15th edn), p.17: Samvat 1526 Baba Nanak(u) janmia, Vaisakh Mah(i) tritia. Chanani raat, Amrit vela pahar raat rahindi ku janmia.</p><p>3. Kirpal Singh (Dr.) Janam sakhi Prampara, Punjabi University, Patiala, Dec 1969, p. xxx: mentions: “<em>Walait Wali Janamsakhi ate Bhai Mani Singh wali janamsakhi…dohan janamsakhian vich janam tareekh Vaisakh Sudi tin samvat 1526 bikrami hai. Meharban wali Janamsakhi vich vi janamtareekh iho hai.”</em></p><p>4. Indubhusan Banerjee, Evolution of Khalsa Vol I, A Mukherjee & Co. Pvt Ltd., Calcutta)</p><p>5. Dr Surinder Singh Kohli, Travels of Guru Nanak ,</p><p>6. Gyani Gian Singh, Twareekh Khalsa, p. 86: 22 Katak 1558 Bikarmi</p><p>7.Gyani Lal Singh Sangrur, Twareekh Guru Khalsa</p><p>8.Dr Surinder Singh Kohli edited, Janamsakhi Bhai Bala</p><p>9.Sahib Singh, Prof: 30 October 1507 (1 Asu Samvat 1564) –November 1515.</p><p>10.Sukhdial Singh, Punjab da itihas Guru Kal 1469-1708: Jild Panjvin, Patiala Punjabi University, pp.45-46,</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="dalvinder45, post: 225004, member: 26009"] [CENTER][B]BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS OF GURU NANAK[/B][/CENTER] A child was born on 15th April 1469 AD (20th Vaisakh 1526 Bikrami) to Mata Tripta. The father of the child was Mehta Kalyan Chand, a village land recorder (Patwari) to Rai Bular, the village land lord of Rai Bhoi ki Talwandi in Punjab. [ATTACH type="full" width="196px" alt="1703694440044.png"]22155[/ATTACH][ATTACH type="full" width="414px" alt="1703694458721.png"]22156[/ATTACH] [B]Photo 2. Mehta Kalu holding baby Nanak (Photo by Bhagat Singh Sikh Art) Photo 3. Relatives having first look of Nanak[/B] Janamsakhi Bhai Bala states Guru Nanak’s birth date as Katak Sudi Pooranmasi Samvat 1526 (1469 AD) [1] Janam Sakhi Walait Wali mentions his date of birth to be 3 Vaisakh Samvat 1526. [2] Janam Sakhi Meharban and Janamsakhi Bhai Mani Singh also agree with Walait Wali Janamsakhi considering the birthdate to be 3 Vaisakh Samvat 1526 (15 April 1469) hence Dr Kirpal Singh in Janamsakhi Parampra accepts the same. [3] The same is accepted here as well taking Gurū Nānak Dev Ji’s period as 15 April 1469 to 22 September 1539. There is no difference in place of birth and parentage and relationships. Place of birth is Talwandi Rai Bhoi (now known as Nanakana Sahib) Kalyan Chand Bedi (Mehta Kalu) as father and Mata Tripta as the mother. His sister was Nanaki (known as Bebe Nanaki) who was elder to him. His uncle was Lal Chand Bedi (Lalu). Kalyan Chand was an administrator on the landed properties of Rai Bular, a local landlord and a brother-in-law of the Nawab Dault Khan, the Nawab of Sultanpur Lodhi. Talwandi Rai Bhoi is now named Nankana Sahib. It is in the district by the same name in Punjab, Pakistan. [ATTACH type="full" alt="1703694574120.png"]22157[/ATTACH] [B][ATTACH type="full" alt="1703694639409.png"]22158[/ATTACH] Photo 4 and 5 Nankana Sahib: Guru Nanak’s Birth Place[/B] The political, cultural and religious environment at the time of his birth were both disturbing and balancing. The political turmoil was countered by religious renaissance. The state of the political turmoil has been well described by Guru Nanak himself: Time is on sword’s edge. The kings are acting as murderers; they forgot their primary duty i.e., well-being of their public.……"[1] He adds:- Corruption has reached the top. Even the king has to be bribed to get justice……. [2] The gloriously rich tradition of religious tolerance was powerless against the tyranny of the bigots. Dissent was carried to a point of intolerance and intolerance to unrivalled persecution. The warriors had conflicting desires to conquer and achieve worldly gains. They came not as conquerors, but enemies and the face of Indian history was marred, if not charred, with these suppressive forces; for it was not the policies but the institutions which were ruthlessly oppressed. The invaders had trampled the rich civilisation of ages under their feet, without the slightest remorse or inequity. In an era of contention and in the background of these disabilities, the epoch of transition and interregnum in a suffering country, only a spiritual revolution could survive. Pandit Hardyal, the village astrologer, prepared Nanak’s horoscope and said, “This is no ordinary child. He is a divine incarnation.” He predicted that this soul would have a profound influence on the world. During naming ceremony on 13th day, Pandit Hardyal announced the name of the child as ‘Nanak’ after his sister’s name ‘Nanaki’ who had born at her mother’s place i.e,, at her [I]nanakas[/I] hence named Nanaki. As he grew, he played with the children, but appeared definitely above them, since he got into meditative mood occasionally. As he became five, he started speaking of inner and outer world. Whatever he spoke, he spoke after a due thought, satisfying the listener. Hindus said: ‘He appeared to be a Devta (god); Muslims said: ‘He is an Allah’s messenger’ [ATTACH type="full" alt="1703695239006.jpeg"]22162[/ATTACH] [B]Photo 6. Gurdwara Bal Lila Sahib where Nanak’s played in childhood[/B] At the age of seven, he was sent to village [I]pathshala[/I] for schooling where he was taught Hindu scriptures, culture, languages, and arithmetic, geography and business methodologies. He studied for over 2 years with Pandit Gopal, who was touched with the deep concentration and progress of learning of Nanak. Uncommon maturity appeared in the child Nanak. His pick-up was so fast that he left all others behind. One day, Gopal told the class about the creation and the Creator. He then asked Nanak to write on his wooden slate ([I]Fatti/Patti[/I]). Nanak wrote a long treatise. Pandha enquired as to what he was writing, “I am writing alphabet (Patti) extending it to the praise of the God whom I revere most”. [ATTACH type="full" alt="1703694783807.png"]22160[/ATTACH] [B]Photo 7: Gurdwara Patti Sahib: Place of Nanak’s first schooling[/B] “He who created the world, is the One Lord and Master of all. Whose consciousness remains committed to His service, their birth and coming into the world is blessed…. The Primal Lord is the Giver; True; Limitless: sing his praises. Performing service to him and practising truth is fruitful and rewarding. Pandit (a religious scholar) is the one who understands spiritual wisdom…Ego dies the moment one recognises God.. Chain of Maya binds as one grows and leads one to death. . The Creator; the King of the world feeds all; binding all to Maya, where no other command other than God’s, prevails. …One who recognizes bad and good as one and the same; he is absorbed into the Lord and Master... When the Lord bestows His Glance of Grace, one is redeemed. The One Lord is totally pervading everywhere and abides within every mind. Peace pervades within those who link their consciousness to the Lord… Those humble beings, whose consciousness is so linked, are saved; by His Grace, they obtain peace… (SGGS, p.432) “Marvellous! How did you get it?” surprised Pandha enquired. “It just came to me from Him and I wrote it,” Nanak said smilingly. He further said, “Studying all other things is fruitless. Without the Name of the Lord, everything is fruitless.’ He further said, “Where ever you take your mind, best is to be meditating on the Name of the God. It will give you great happiness, inner pleasure and gift of being ever pleasant”. ([I]Puratan Janamsakhi[/I], p.23) Pandha Gopal was astonished, He said, “Pandit Hardyal prophesied right. You are great already. The one who has realised self and God, has nothing more to learn. It is my good luck that you became my pupil. I have learnt more from you than I taught. You do not need to come to me for further learning.” Nanak did not go to Pandha next day. Mehta Kalu sent him to Pandit Baij Nath to learn Sanskrit, Vedas and Shashtras. On the advice of Rai Bular, he was also sent to to Mullah Qazi Qutub-ud-Din, where he was taught Muslim scriptures, culture, Turkish, Persian and Arabic languages, literature and administrative and justice systems. Maulvi also explained the spiritual experiences of Sufi saints which impressed Nanak. Nanak sensed his meanings and often thought of correlating these ideas with his own inner feelings. As a student, Nanak impressed the teacher by his deep insight and spiritual depth. Once he was asked to write Alif ‘I’ in Persian, resembling figure 1, he explained it, depicting it as the Unity of God. Both, the Pandit and the Qazi were impressed on Nanak’s learning progress and respected him due to his fast learning. With the learning of religious experiences his own yearning to write increased and he started composing his own hymns. He started working hard on his writing, humming softly and then correcting where needed. When put into worldly activities, he was not getting attached to any worldly affair and did not care for the house. To keep him busy in home affairs, Mehta Kalu sent him for grazing cattle. As the animals grazed, Nanak meditated by the side of the wheat field. The farmer thought that the animals have destroyed some of his crop since Nanak did not seem to be paying attention to the animals. He took Nanak to Rai Bular. On examining the fields, no damage to the crops was found. This amazed Rai Bular, Mehta Kalu and the farmer, who claimed that he had seen the cattle in his fields. [ATTACH type="full" alt="1703694868693.png"]22161[/ATTACH] [B] Photo 8. Gurdwara Malji Sahib Photo [/B] Another day, Rai Bular while passing through the village common land, was amazed to see that the shadow of the tree under which Nanak was meditating, did not move. Another day, after return from his hunting, he again found Nanak meditating, while a black Cobra appeared to be providing shade to Nanak. Rai Bullar was shocked and worried about the safety of Nanak and shouted at him to awaken him. Listening to the loud sound, the cobra slipped away into a bush and Nanak got up smiling. Rai Bular had the firm belief that these were all miracles, which Nanak never believed. Rai Bular called Mehta Kallu and said, “Listen Mehta Kalu. Never admonish or speak harsh words to Nanak. He is the chosen one of the Lord. God’s ways are great; we will never understand these”. Rai Bular, and Bibi Nanaki were the first people who recognised divine qualities in the boy. They encouraged and supported him to study and travel. His sister Nanaki being very much attached to him took extra care in providing what he liked. When she was married to Jai Ram, she left for Sultanpur Lodhi where her husband served the Nawab of Sultanpur Lodhi. This left a great loneliness in Nanak and he preferred solitude and occasionally got into meditation. He frequently, went out with hermits. Mehta Kalyan Das thought of his marriage as he thought that once married, Nanak will start caring for his family and his solitude will go off as well. But, this did not happen as his family desired. So his marriage was arranged and he was married to Sulakhani, daughter of Mool Chand of Batala a land record holder ([I]patwari[/I]) of village Pakhoke close to Dera Baba Nanak. Marriage party reached Sultanpur Lodhi. The girls from host family got together and asked Nanak to be seated under the shadow of the wall in the house of Kaulo and Veero. An old lady Mai Durgi, came and said, “Bhai Nanak, please be away from here. This wall is likely to fall.” Guru Nanak said, “Respected Mata Ji, this wall shall remain till the world survives.” She was blessed by the Guru saying, “[I]Chone chuge gaye, Bhandari Bharpoor, Puri poor and Teri tich’[/I]. The wall is 10 feet by 6 feet ([I]das hath by 6 hath[/I]) and can be seen even now in Mohalla Sohnia. The old lady was from Bhandari community. Bhandari developed a lot in Batala. A two storeyed building Gurdwara Kandh Sahib was constructed close to the Kandh Sahib. A 3 feet square Manji Sahib is placed at the place. Guru’s marriage ceremony is regularly rejuvenated by the [I]sangat [/I]on the day of this marriage with great pomp and show to this day. Later Gurdwara ‘Kandh Sahib’ was constructed at the place by Raja Sher Singh of Lahore. It has a 60 Acres of land allotted to it. It was originally looked after by a family of a Manhant but now the control is with Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee through a local Committee. [ATTACH type="full" alt="1703696103265.png"]22167[/ATTACH] [B]Photo 9. Gurdwara Kandh Sahib where the Guru was seated before marriage ceremony[/B] The place of marriage was the house of Mool Chand Chona in Mohalla Chonia. Pandit Hardyal got the marriage solemnised in Bikrami 1554 (1497AD) and the marriage party stayed here for 7-9 Assu when a grand fair is organised. This place was also converted into a Gurdwara known as Dera Sahib Baba Nanak. [ATTACH type="full" alt="1703695983173.png"]22164[/ATTACH] [ATTACH type="full" alt="1703696019767.png"]22165[/ATTACH] [ATTACH type="full" alt="1703696059699.png"]22166[/ATTACH] [B]Photo 10, 11,12: Gurdwra Dera Sahib the place of marriage of Guru Nanak with Sulakhni[/B] Even after marriage, Nanak did not take interest in worldly affairs and remained in seclusion. Realising God’s great way, Nanak went into meditation and started meeting the hermits increasingly. At home, he preferred to keep quiet generally. The doctor was called, but of no use; since Nanak was perfect physically. Hakeem Haridas said: “Treatment of your son is beyond me. He is yearning to meet God and it is God alone who can treat his soul. Allow him some free air and do meditations to seek God.” Nanak sang: “The physician was called in; he touched my arm and felt my pulse. The ignorant physician did not know that the pain was in the mind” (SGGS, p.1279). Once sitting in his fields, Nanak heard some music coming from nearby. It was Dana, the village bard ([I]Mirasi[/I]), playing with a local instrument. Going to him, he said, “You play the instrument well.” “Yes! I am a [I]Mirasi[/I]; the village bard who earns by playing music and singing songs of the rich and powerful. My name is Dana,” Dana said. Nanak said: “Wonderful! This is what your music is for. Will you join me? When you are with me you won’t die of hunger. You are Mardana (who does not die) now onwards”. Mardana felt such inordinate power and magnetism in the eyes of Nanak that all he could say, “Take me where you will. I will follow you in your footsteps.” A neighbour told Mehta Kalu: “Your son is now in the company of [I]Mirasi[/I] Dana.” Shocked, Kalu thought of engaging him in some professional job. Twenty rupees were given to him for purchases. On the way to market of Chuharkana, he met a group of hungry hermits. He went to the city market; purchased provisions for rupees twenty for feeding the hungry hermits. Giving all of it to them, he said, “Please have your meals for some days at least”. Nanak felt relieved and pleased at having done a true business. According to him, nothing could be a better business than feeding the hungry. Back home, in anger his father questioned the futility of deal. Nanak replied, “As per your direction, I have done a worthwhile deal by feeding the hungry.”…..Mehta Kalu got infuriated hearing this and slapped Nanak in anger. Knowing this, Rai Bular called Mehta Kalu and rebuked him for punishing Nanak. Mehta Kālu’s son-in-law Jai Ram came to know of this too. He called Nanak to join him in Sultanpur Lodhi. Family felt it to be a good relief, though Sulakhni was quite worried. [ATTACH type="full" alt="1703696171149.png"]22168[/ATTACH] [ATTACH type="full" alt="1703696200598.png"]22169[/ATTACH] [B] Photo12. Guru Nanak feeding the hermits Photo 13. Gurdwara Sacha Sauda, Chuharkana [/B] While visiting Chuharkana again Mardana said that he was feeling hungry. They saw some donkeys of a merchant laden with sugar passing by. Guru Nanak Dev Ji told Baba Mardana to inquire from the owner as to what was in those bags. When Mardana asked the merchant, he replied that it was sand. Sat Gur said, "All right! Sand it will be!". The merchant became worried lest the saying of the saint should come true. He checked the bags and found that it was actually sand. He held Guru’s feet. Guru Ji said if it were not sand what else could that be. The merchant said, "Sire! It was sugar." Guru Ji said, "All right! Then sugar it will be.” The merchant checked again and found that to be sugar. He sat at the feet of Guruji and unloaded his sugar. There is a splendid Gurdwara with a dome built by the road at this place to commemorate this event. Now its condition is bad and if no maintenance is done it will disappear without leaving a trace. This holy shrine stands gloomily in the fields on the other side of the railway line only one km from Gurdwara Sacha Sauda. (Acknowledgements: Text and photographs:Historical Sikh Shrines in Pakistan : Iqbal Qaiser) [ATTACH type="full" alt="1703695421100.png"]22163[/ATTACH] [B]14. Gurdwara Shakarganj References[/B] 1. Janamsakhi Bhai bala, edited by Dr Surinder Singh Kohli, Punjab University Chandigarh, 1990, (2nd edn), p.50 mentions: “[I]Janampatri Nanak Vedi, Sammvat 1526, Miti Katak Sudi, Pooranmasi Nanak janam lia.Adhi raat(i) guzri ghadi upar. Kalu Vedi de ghar(i).[/I] 2. Puratan Janam Sakhi edited by Bhai Veer Singh Sahit Sadan, New Delhi, Jan 2006 (15th edn), p.17: Samvat 1526 Baba Nanak(u) janmia, Vaisakh Mah(i) tritia. Chanani raat, Amrit vela pahar raat rahindi ku janmia. 3. Kirpal Singh (Dr.) Janam sakhi Prampara, Punjabi University, Patiala, Dec 1969, p. xxx: mentions: “[I]Walait Wali Janamsakhi ate Bhai Mani Singh wali janamsakhi…dohan janamsakhian vich janam tareekh Vaisakh Sudi tin samvat 1526 bikrami hai. Meharban wali Janamsakhi vich vi janamtareekh iho hai.”[/I] 4. Indubhusan Banerjee, Evolution of Khalsa Vol I, A Mukherjee & Co. Pvt Ltd., Calcutta) 5. Dr Surinder Singh Kohli, Travels of Guru Nanak , 6. Gyani Gian Singh, Twareekh Khalsa, p. 86: 22 Katak 1558 Bikarmi 7.Gyani Lal Singh Sangrur, Twareekh Guru Khalsa 8.Dr Surinder Singh Kohli edited, Janamsakhi Bhai Bala 9.Sahib Singh, Prof: 30 October 1507 (1 Asu Samvat 1564) –November 1515. 10.Sukhdial Singh, Punjab da itihas Guru Kal 1469-1708: Jild Panjvin, Patiala Punjabi University, pp.45-46, [/QUOTE]
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Travels of Guru Nanak: A Brief
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