From its brilliancy everything is illuminated.
23rd November marks the birthday anniversary of the Shri Guru Nanak Devji (1469 – 1539 CE) and is known as his GURPURAB. This day is one of the most auspicious days to those who follow his teachings. On this day the words (baani) and the life of the first Guru of Sikhs is contemplated upon.
Here’s a look at the essential teachings of Guru Nanak Devji found in the famous Mool Mantar ~‘Ik-Onkar’ from his composition the “Japji Sahib”.
Guru Nanak Devji was born to Mehta Kalyan Das Bedi and Tripta Devi in 1469, in the village of Talwandi also known as Nankana Sahib. This village is near Lahore in present day Pakistan.
The life of a Guru or a Prophet is a blessing to the disciple and becomes a message in itself. As the word (baani) of a Prophet becomes a scripture for the followers, so did the words of Guru Nanak Devji, the Adi Guru of the Sikh panth, got immortalized in the Shri Guru Granth Sahib – the scripture of the Guru’s followers.
Writing about Guru Nanak Devji, Swami Vivekananda wrote: “Guru Nanak was born in the sacred land of India.
He gave a message of love and peace to the whole world and preached the same through his teachings. He was full of affection for everyone and his arms were always open as if to embrace the whole world.”
On an auspicious day like Guru Nanak Dev ji’s birth anniversary, the Guru’s teachings need sincere listening and contemplation upon it, in order to commemorate the blessing of his birth - because a Guru is ultimately known for his teachings, not as a personality. A spiritual opportunity would be missed if the Guru’s words are not fully understood and just ritualistically chanted.