It is the year 1469 when Guru Nanak was born in this world. At that time Lodhi was the emperor of India and his kingdom extended over the country, north of the Vindhya, right up to Peshawar and from Gurjrat right up Patna, and this part of the country was quite peaceful, the Muslims dominating and the Hindus tolerating their dominance, considering themselves as slaves.
To undo this slavery, the Hindus were simply worshiping the idols and praying to their gods and goddesses, with deep devotion, The number of these gods and goddesses was quite large, a such as Rama, Krishna, Vishnu, Shiva, Hanuman, Durga, Vaishnu Devi, Lakshmi, etc. besides local mahatmas and celebrities. The people were split up into the followers of these gods and goddesses and celebrities, each worshipping devoutly in his own way. There were also Sanyasis, Sidhs, Yogis, Jamkus, Gorakhnathias, etc, who were roaming about, enjoying life and befooling others to give them liberation from worldly existence. The system of Sati, burning of widowed women, was very common, nay it was enforced on unfortunate women, In brief, renouncers, witches, and pretenders were found in large numbers. In fact, there was ignorance and folly in which people were living, hoping that in this way their slavery and misery will end and Hindu raj will return and their liberation will be possible.
In the South of Vindhya, the people, being blissfully ignorant, were steeped in castes, the Brahmans having supremacy and the Shudras neglected to the lowest position. The Muhammadan influence, not having penetrated there, they were worshipers of idols, snakes, lizards and birds like Garran. They were extremely poor and their ladies were very much neglected and considered inferior to men. Demons and monsters were frequent and they were much feared. The Buddhist influence was supreme and it was intermixed with illiteracy and ignorance.
In the Eastern India, there was also Buddhism but witchcraft and sorcery were too common. The position of women here was not inferior to that of men and in soma. Islam was the religion of the people. This religion spread because the people were vigorous and fighters and the faith had an appeal for Theism and brotherhood of man. But among them also their were sects and classes which did not enable them to unify and live the life of civilized citizens. They were rather adventures, marauders and freebooters. There was too much of sex prevailing among them and women were non entities.
In the West, Christianity had prevailed and the people had become civilized and God fearing. But they were not God loving and depended upon Christ as the son of God. Who bore their sins and got them redeemed. Womenfolk were not much inferior to men but polygamy and polyandry were common. Wine and woman were freely enjoyed by men and by divorce was very common.
The above mentioned conditions of the world badly needed a Saviour. In the words of Guru Nanak himself the world affairs were as follows:
The time is the knife and the ruler as butchers. And Dharma (good conduct) assuming wings has flown away.
The amavas (moonless night) of falsehood prevailing, the moon of truth is no where visible to have appeared.
In search, I have been dismayed.
And I find no way out.
Guru Nanka’s infancy and childhood, showed that he, was a divine being, marked with care and anxiety to ameliorate the society. Some of his acts, during the period showed that he was marked for something big.
Though the son of a Hindu, Nanak was shown reverence by Muslims even during this boyhood. When grown up, with his ideas fully formed, a married man, having two sons and parents, at the age of 37, he set out to preach his mission, considering his home and his town too small a place for his activities. The world awaited his preaching and example.
Once during his travels, he went to Multan where present so many holy and religious persons were. They, before his entry into the town, sent him a bowl full of milk, signifying the place was already full of goodness and piety, so much so that it needed nothing more from him. Guru Nanak, according to his captivating and gen tle ways, confident to give the people of Mutan some good message, placed a lily flower on the top of the milk, filling the bowl, and asked those who had brought it to him to carry it back to the persons who had sent to them. Thus, the guru was welcomed in Multan.
To preach his mission, Guru Nanak, in four travels, extending over a period of 30 years, went to a number of places all over India like Hardwar, Kurukshetra, Banaras, Allahabad, Orissa, and Assam and in Lanka, Tibet, Panja sahib, Peshawar, Kabul, Mecca and Baqu, where there were no roads, no route and no Sarais and Dhar mashalas, carrying no money or provision with him, braving rain and sunshine, in the only company of his faithful friend. The task was gigantic as well as difficult and dangerous. But he accomplished it and enlightened the humanity he met people of all kinds and creeds and conversed with them and discussed and converted them to his way of thinking. Wherever he went, he established units of his followers. His reputation as a divine teacher spread far and wide and Nanak’s name became very common.
Guru Nanak preached God, which means firm belief in Him, who is the panacea of all ills. He called him the Only Being, the true name, the creator personage, the Fearless, the Unjealous, the timeless entity, the Unbom and the Immortal. He is to be remembered for He was true in the beginning, True in all ages and will be true hereafter.
God is Omnipotent, Omniscient and Allpervading.
His will is inevitable and implacable.
We are ruled by His will and there is no way out.
His remembrance alone will guide you to good actions.
Guru Nanak adds further:
God is presenting all and all of are alike, born the same way and going the same way.
Ishwar, Allah, Ram, all mean the same thing, so why quarrel over these names.
Poverty, riches and comforts are the result of our: actions.
Treat well and all and look down upon none.
Be above whims and superstitious and avoid idolatry.
Consider not woman inferior to man and respect her.
Regard castes as humbug and value one for his action.
Earn your bread with labor and share it with others.
Pray to God for His Grace which is above good actions, God’s Grace can be had through the Gum.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 17, 1989
