"Dhan Guru Nanak Dhan Teri Sikhi"
Celebrating the 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji Through His Teachings.
Blog 3: Brief Account of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Travelings or Udasis.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji along with his Companions Bala And Mardaana Travelled Extensively for over two decades to Asia, Ladakh, Tibet, Nepal, Baghdad, Mecca, Jedah and across India spreading the message of One God; One Humanity.
It is believed that Guru Nanak Dev Ji is the second most travelled person in the world; most of his journeys were made on foot with his companion Bhai Mardana. He travelled in all four directions - North, East, West and South. The founder Sikh Guru is believed to have travelled more than 28,000 Kms in five major tours of the world during the period from 1500 to 1524.
The record for the most travelled person is held by Ibn Battuta of Morocco.
Guru Nanak saw the world suffering out of hatred, fanaticism, falsehood and hypocrisy. The world had sunk in wickedness and sin. So he decided that he had to travel and educate and press home the message of Almighty Lord. So he set out in 1499 on his mission for the regeneration of humanity on this earth. He carried the torch of truth, heavenly love, peace and joy for mankind. For 1 year he spread his message of peace, compassion, righteousness and truth to the people in and around his home.
In one of his compositions Guru Nanak Dev Ji said, “As long as we are in this world, we should listen to others and say something to them”. This is the basic principle of dialogue, of exchange of opinions or ideas.
During his four lengthy journeys to the east, south, north and west, he opened a dialogue with all the existing faiths, not in today’s empirical or utilitarian language, but in ethical and spiritual language capable of expressing human realities and spiritual values.
He filled the inter-religious space with love, ethical humanism and spirituality. He approached every religion as his own and presented his own faith and philosophy as everyone’s religion, in the crucible of eternal Truth.
He travelled to various centres of religious pilgrimage. His dialogue with pandits, sadhus and yogis of every sect, as with mullas, pirs and kazis continued throughout his life. He visited the places of pilgrimage of Kurukshetra, Mathura, Haridwar, Benaras, Gaya as well as those in Bengal, Assam and Sri Lanka.
He visited the sufi establishments at Pak Pattan and Multan and shrine sites along the west coast of India. He travelled beyond India in the west to Mecca, Medina and Baghdad. There are accounts of still farther travels to the east to Tibet and China. He reached mount Sumer and had a long dialogue with siddhas (hermits). He recorded his discourse with siddhas in his famous composition Siddha Gosht (Dialogue with siddhas).
Guru Nanak Dev Ji was moved by the plight of the people of world and wanted to tell them about the "real message of God". The peoples of the world were confused by the conflicting message given by priests, pundits, qazis, mullahs, etc. He was determined to bring his message to the masses; so in 1499, he decided to set out on his sacred mission to spread the holy message of peace and compassion to all of mankind.
Guru Nanak's Dev Ji's Divine Journeys
Then in 1500, he embarked on his Divine Mission and went towards east, west, north and south and visited various centers of Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Jainis, Sufis, Yogis and Sidhas. He met people of different religions, tribes, cultures and races. He travelled on foot with his Muslim companion named Bhai Mardana, a minstrel. His travels are called Udasis. In his first Udasi (travel), Guru Nanak covered east of India and returned home after spending about 6 years. He started from Sultanpur in 1500 and went to his village Talwandi to meet and inform his parents about his long journey. His parents wanted their young son to provide comfort and protection for them in their old age and so they told him they would prefer it if he did not go. But he told them that the world was burning in the fire of Kalyug and that thousands and thousands were waiting for the Divine message of the Almighty for comfort, love and salvation. The Guru, therefore, told his parents, "There is a call from Heaven, I must go whither He directs me to go." Upon hearing these words, his parents agreed and gave their blessings. So Guru Nanak started his mission and the roots of Sikhism were laid down first towards the east of India.
According to the Puratan Janamsakhi, which is one of the oldest accounts of the life history of Guru Nanak, Guru Ji undertook five missionary journeys (udasiya) to the far away places of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Mecca, Baghdad, Kamroop (Assam), Tashkand and many more. Guru ji travelled far and wide to spread the word of Gurbani and covered most of India, present day Bangladesh, Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, South West China, Afganistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
The Religious Journey:
MECCA
Companions
Bhai Mardana(1459–1534): He was the first follower, who was from Muslim background and longtime companion of Nanak. As he was from Muslims Background, Hajj is treated as pious deed in Islam, so it is believed that on request of Mardana; Nanak planned for Mecca and was last journey after traveling and discussing at Hindu, Jain and Buddhist pilgrimages.
Taajudin Naqshbandhi: He was historian and writer who met Guru Nanak in Iran. He recorded his meeting with Nanak in manuscript called Sayatho Nanak Shah Faqir. He traveled all way to Mecca with Guru Nanak.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji's account of Mecca Sakhi:
When I went to the Kabbah at Mecca Sharrif I was resting. From there a Kaddam (Moluvi/priest) came to me running and with raging anger and said " O Fakir move your feet away from the Kabbah and sit properly". I said with patience, humbly "Why talk in so much anger (rudely) to tell me for what I have done". After saying this I started to move my feet, whereever I moved my feet the Kabbah sharrif's door moved. That kaddam/qaddam (priest) after seeing such a miracle was suprised and asked for forgiveness. In such the priest's knowledge was enlightened and he kissed my (Guru Nanak's) hands and for his rudeness and asked for forgiveness. Everything that occured was due to Allah's great given utmost mercy and grace.
Reason of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's visit
In Gurmaukh's viewpoint, The Supreme Command always makes Nanak visit so far and to talk with Religious Scholars and tell them the way which they are following is not what allah wants. They even not stand with their holy quran. Nanak was follower of God's Hukam so under guidance of Hukam, Nanak went to Mecca. In very beginning, person have no knowledge by Attaining Naam Padarath he is able to Listen to the supreme Command. Allah says Nanak to visit Mecca, on his command Nanak travelled so far in west.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji taught that even in the quran omnipresence is stated which says: "To Allah belongs the East and the West. Wherever you turn there is the presence of God..." <Qur'an Baqara 2:115> The issue was some misunderstood the understanding of the qibla prayer direction to be the direction of God and for other omnipresence to be the same thing as idolatry as shirk. Guru Nanak Dev ji taught the age old teaching throughout the worlds traditions of God residing everywhere as Guru sahibs states in gurbani.
Islam is propagated through Mecca and During those times people have immense devotion for the place. Guru Nanak Dev Ji met all high priests of Various religions, sects, but not mecca. So During Fourth Udasi Guru Nanak Dev Ji decided to go towards the west in the direction of the setting sun. He turned his attention to the Muslim countries and the places of worship that had been established long before the beginning of Islam.
He chose Mecca as the first of the many Muslim cities he would visit. From there he would begin his long walk home. Today everyone knows that Mecca is in Saudi Arabia, but in Guru Nanak's days before Ibn Saud was born the land around Mecca and Medina, the Hijaz, was part of the Mamluk Sultanate centered in Egypt.
For hundreds of years it had been a resting place on the trading routes between the East and the Mediteranean.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Visit to Haridwar:
Guru Nanak Dev Ji while on his eastward journey reached Haridwar. Haridwar is located on the banks of the River Ganges and is one of the major centers for Hindu pilgrimage. People gathered there in large numbers and would bathe in the holy river. Guru Nanak Dev Ji observed many people throwing water towards the sun in the east. The Guru had already heard about this meaningless ritual. He, therefore, thought it the right place and the proper time to give correct guidance that those kinds of mindless hollow rituals have no value.
The people who were throwing handfuls of water from the Ganges River towards the sun in the east believed that by this ritual they could offer water to their dead elders in the next world. This next world was in the east from where the sun rose.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji entered the river for purposes of bathing as other common pilgrims were doing. Instead of throwing water to the east, he, however, started throwing water in the opposite direction towards the west where Guru Ji's farm was. Taking him as a naive visitor, the nearby bathers told him that he was not performing the rituals correctly. They advised him to throw water to the east.
Guru Nanak "watering" his crops in Punjab
Guru Nanak Dev Ji continued throwing water towards the west pretending that he was very much absorbed in the 'holy' act and had not heard anything. Soon, many people gathered there to tell him that the proper method of performing the ritual was to throw water in the other direction. His water thrown to the west was of no use to him or to his dead ancestors. The pilgrims thought that the Guru was acting strangely and soon hundreds of bathers surrounded him and were telling Guru Ji that he was throwing the water in the wrong direction and that it will never get to his ancestors - who live in the east. They flocked to the Guru and laughed at what they thought was a very funny action.
The leader of the pilgrims approached and asked Guru Ji, “Why are you throwing the holy water to the west which is the wrong direction?” By this time thousands of bathers were watching Guru Ji. "The water is to be thrown towards the rising sun in the east so that it reaches your dead ancestors."
The Guru calmly replied, "I am watering my withering crops in Punjab. All of my crops in the village are dying as there has been no rain" and continued to splash the water to the west. He wanted to irrigate those crops. Hearing Guru Ji reply the people started laughing.
The curious spectators asked, "Are you crazy? How can your water reach hundreds of miles away to Punjab from here?”
Guru Ji replied, “The very same way yours reaches your ancestors in the other world many millions of miles away. In fact, my farm is quite closer on this very earth." Guru Ji stopped splashing the water,became serious and asked, "If the water thrown by me cannot reach a few hundred miles away on this very earth, how can water thrown by you to your dead ancestors reach them in the heavens?"
The leader of the pilgrims had no answer to this. The people became silent and started thinking over the reply that was given by the Guru. They had no logical argument to challenge his statement. This made the people think about the uselessness of their ritual.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji came out of the river and the crowd followed him. The Guru calmly told them the truth and explained that hollow rituals do not have any religious value. They should love, respect and take care of their people, friends and religions when they are alive rather then perform these useless rituals afterwards. When people die, they do not need anything from us and neither can we send them anything after they have left this world. After death, people get what they have given to the needy, out of their honest earnings, while living on this earth.
So remember the message - Do the good deeds for your elders now - because once they are gone, you will not be able to do any service for them. Don't lose this opportunity!
How effective and rational of a way to get peoples' attention and remove their ignorance!
Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Visit to Baghdad"
Guru Nanak Dev soon arrived in Baghdad and took up a position, along with Mardana, outside of the city. Guru Nanak Dev Ji shouted the call to prayer, a gesture upon which the whole population became wrapped in silent astonishment as the Guru had omitted the usual words Muhammad ar Rasul Allah, and substituted Arabic words of a similar sound to express his own ideas.
In Iraq, it is said, "Even today there are several disciples of Guru Nanak in Iraq. These people live on the banks of the Tigris river, particularly in the cities of Al Kut and Baghdad. They are called Sobi and generally they are gold-smiths by occupation. They are experts in their trade. They keep long hair and do not cut their beards and remember the Guru by names of Baba Nanak or Baba Nana."
Bhai Gurdas Ji's Vaar tries to explain the visit of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Bhai Gurdas Ji says the following of Guru Nanak Dev ji's visit to Baghdad:
"From Mecca, Baba went to Baghdad and stayed outside the city.
Firstly, Baba himself was in the form of Timeless and secondly, he had his companion Mardana, the rabab player.
For namaz (in his own style), Baba gave call, listening to which the whole world went into absolute silence.
The whole city became quiet and lo! to behold it, the Pir (of the town) also got wonder-struck.
Observing minutely he found (in the form of Baba Nanak) an exhilarated fakir.
Pir Dastegir asked him, which category of fakir you belong to and what is your parentage.
(Mardana told) He is Nanak, who has come into kaliyug, and, he recognizes God and His fakirs as one.
He is known in all the directions besides just earth and sky.
Who is Pir Dastgir? The Persian word “Dastgir” literally means holder of hand but is interpreted as “one who rescues or leads by the hand.” This was the appellation applied to Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani by which his successors would not unnaturally be referred.
In a significant development, the Government of Iraq has decided to rebuild the 15th century Sikh Guru Guru Nanak Dev’s shrine which was destroyed in the 2003 war in Baghdad.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji is said to have visited the place on his way back from Mecca where he stopped to speak with religious leaders including the caretaker of the mausoleums of Abdul Qadir gilani and Bahlol the Wise, who were greatly impressed by his views on God and religion. A monument, in the form of a platform, was raised where Guru Nanak had sat and provided these discourses. It is documented that Sikh soldiers who went to Iraq during the First World War, 1914-18, raised a Gurdwara here, but now only a room exists which is visited by Sikh and non-Sikh Punjabis who work in Iraq. In addition, it is noted that since the gurdwara is located within a graveyard, visitors are banned from staying overnight, cooking meals or holding Langar and Kirtan. I was not able to locate any information regarding who is currently in charge of the gurdwara or what the dynamics of the gurdwara are (without Langar or Kirtan).I do wonder if a Guru Granth Sahib is kept there and, in that case,who does the seva.
Recently spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,who is on a peace mission to Iraq, met with Iraqi Vice President Adil Abd-al-Mahdi about rebuilding the over 500-year-old Sikh shrine. While I am not very familiar with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, I think it is important to acknowledge his efforts on behalf of the Sikh community. Without these types of efforts, many of our important and historic Sikh sites are dis apearing (a fellow Langa-(w)riter previously discussed preserving what history we have left).
The Great God hath fulfilled the wish. A new building for Baba Nanak Darvesh has been constructed. Seven holy men extended their help in the construction. Its date as reckoned comes to 927. The lucky disciple caused a new current of water from the earth.”
From here Guru Sahib Ji traveled west into Persia and the city of Baghdad. Guru Sahib Ji stopped near a tomb and early every morning would sing the praises of the Lord. Mardana would play the rabab and Guru Sahib Ji would sing about the inf initeness of God and His Creation, wherein occurred the expression: there are numerous patals (earths) and innumerable akashs (sky). When some Muslim who was listening to it and understood its purport went and reported the blasphemy of the utterance - inasmuch as the Qu'ran had mentioned seven earths and seven skies only - to the Sajjdanashin of the Shrine of Pir Dastagir, Abdul Qadir Jilani. An agitated crowd gathered on the spot. The people were on the verge of throwing stones when they heard the Guru’s divine invocation. The people in remorse went to their Pir and told him of the presence of a holy man.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Tibet:
In his lifetime, Guru Nanak Dev Ji traveled to various distant places, among which was Tibet. Guru Nanak Dev Ji is still well respected by Tibetan Buddhists who consider him a saint; The Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Buddhists in Tibet, has confirmed this in his discussions with some Sikh leaders saying that Tibetans revere Guru Nanak as a Buddhist saint under the name of Guru Gompka Maharaj.
When you go to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, India one of the most interesting things you will observe are Tibetan pilgrims who come to pray there, bowing down at each of their steps. These people are Buddhists who may belong to one of the numerous sects of Tibetan Buddhism, who regard Guru Nanak as Guru Rinpoche. Guru Padmasambhava brought Buddhism to Tibet and they regard the Guru as a reincarnation of the precious one, 'Rinpoche'. There are many teachings in common? the middle path of living, the importance of congregation called sangam/sangat, the importance of meditation, the individual's responsibility for their destiny, even the archetypal images of the warrior monk, in Gurmat the saint-soldier tradition. Sikhs equally have great reverence for Buddhist teachers. It is a matter of no small pride that a Sikh escorted the Dalai Lama to India when he exiled Tibet. Indeed, Punjab, the Sikh homeland, was formerly called Gandhara, the home of Mahayana Buddhism. This goes back to a period when the Dhamma was revered by almost half the people of the world.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Visit in Ladakh:
While traveling back from Mansrovar (Kailash Parbat),Guru Nanak Dev Ji passed through Leh, capital of Ladakh and an important trading center, enroute to Central Asia as well as Kashmir and other parts of India. The caravans to Lahsa, central Asia and India passed through this town. About 20K.m from Leh on the Leh-Srinagar highway, a Gurudwara called PATHER SAHIB, to commemorate his visit to the place, was established in the year 1964 A.D. The local residents venerate this place as Lama Guru's place and for them the boulder was sacred to the memory of Guruji's visit.
The site is on the ridge of a wide plateau between the Leh valley and Nimu village. Devoid of any vegetation, barren for kms together, there is hardly any habitation around the place - upto 4 to5km distance. A deep ravine from the place leads to the nearest village, Nimu and river Indus. Before the construction of the road by the state govt./Border Roads Organisation in early 1960's, the path through the ravine used to be the main route followed by the travelers to Nimu and beyond.
The beautiful area of Ladakh
A local legend (as narrated to the writer in 1964) has that Lama Guru, while returning from a pilgrimage to Tibet, passed through the Ladakh region. At Chang-la pass, the residents of the area made a representation to the Lama Guru that a demon resides in the hills and causes much harm to the lives and property of the inhabitants. They requested Guruji to intercede on their behalf and direct him to desist from such acts, so that they could live in peace. Guruji summoned the demon to his presence, without any success. After a few days stop at the place, Guruji left for Leh. The demon followed him. Guruji stayed for a few days at Leh town, where a small gurdwara exists, preaching the sermons to the local population. Meanwhile, the demon hid himself on the hillock a few k.m from Leh, overlooking the bridle path.
The inside of Gurdwara Pather Sahib - You can see the boulder in the background.
After a few days stay at Leh, Guruji started his intended journey towards central Asian plains across the Himalayas. As soon as Guruji reached within the range of the demon, he rolled down a big boulder towards Guruji with the intention of killing him. Instead of hitting the intended target, the big boulder took Guruji in its embrace without causing any harm, thereby creating an impression on the stone itself. Even at the time of narration (1964), one could discern an impression of Guru Nanak's image as depicted in old painting, from a distance of about 10 to 20 paces.
After the encounter, the demon moved to the nearest village on the right bank of the Indus, causing much havoc to the human life and property. Guruji followed the demon to the village, caught hold of him and made him to realise his wicked ways thereby relieving the people of the pain and misery caused by the demon, even as Guruji continued on his journey onward to Central Asian plains, Yarkand, Tashkand, Gilgit, Kargil and entered the Kashmir valley through Amarnath, Mattan, Srinagar, and back to Kartarpur in Punjab.
The revealing of this site has filled an important void and provided a much debated link to the travels of Guruji in the northen Himalayas, but the construction of the Gurdwara has fullfilled a much needed resting place for the travellers to these arid lands.
Guru Nanak and the Vaishno ascetic
Guru Nanak Dev ji, in 1508 set out to propagate his mission. This odyssey was particularly aimed at visiting Hindu places of pilgrimage. During this mission when Guru ji reached Hardwar from Kurukshetra, he camped on the bank of the river Ganga. It was the first day of Baisakh, close to the second month of the Indian calendar, considered sacred according to Hindu belief. A Vaishno Sadhu, who attracted many admirers, was also camping nearby. People would come from far off places and keep his company. He was representing himself as a very religious person.
Guru ji knew that he was only pretending to be a Holy mendicant. Therefore, Guru Nanak Dev Ji had camped there to expose the man's deceit. Early in the next morning, the hermit took a bath in the river and commenced the process of preparing his meals. He plastered a patch of ground with cowdung to sanctify it for using it as a ‘Chaunka’ (a cooking place open to the sky; "Chaunka" literally means a "square" or a "compound"). He washed the pieces of firewood to purify them and then drew a line around the ‘Chaunka’ and lit the fire. Guru ji sent
Bhai Mardana to him to get some burning embers to light their own fire. When Bhai Mardana approached near his ‘Chaunka’, the hermit suddenly flushed with anger and started abusing him, saying, “you have defiled my Chaunka”. In his anger, he took a burning piece of wood from the hearth and ran after Bhai Mardana. Bhai Mardana reached Guru ji with the hermit close on his heels. Guru ji asked the hermit why he was so furious, when he had asked only for a small amount of fire to light their own hearth. The hermit replied that the shadow of this ‘Mirasi’ (a bard; a derogatory term) had fallen on his ‘Chaunka’ which had thus become desecrated. Mardana being both a Muslim and a bard was considered by the supposed Holy man a ‘Shudra’ of so low a varna (caste) that even his shadow could defile his life.
“How can it be, said Guru ji, when he (Bhai Mardana) is also a human being ?” ‘No, he is not a human being, he is a ‘Shudra’ ’, said the hermit. Guru ji impressed upon the hermit that God was never pleased by these externalities, those who depicted outward piety. God's abode was in the heart of all human beings.
‘If the heart has cruelty, hatred, slander and anger for others, God, certainly would not be residing in such a malicious mind. Look for Him in the whole of mankind. Don’t hate a person believing him to be of low caste. Just despise the bad deeds.
The arguments which were being exchanged loudly, particularly from the hermit, caused many other people to gather around and ask each other what the dispute was all about. The hermit kept making noise accusing and maligning Bhai Mardana in utter anger. He was saying that that the ‘Shudra’ had defiled his ‘Chaunka’ with his shadow, and how would he prepare his meal now? Hearing the hermit’s affliction, Guru Nanak Dev ji sung the following shabad:
QUOTE
SGGS Ang 91 Full Shabad
Shalok, First Mehl:
False-mindedness is the drummer-woman; cruelty is the butcheress; slander of others in one's heart is the cleaning-woman, and deceitful anger is the outcast-woman.
What good are the ceremonial lines drawn around your kitchen, when these four are seated there with you
Make Truth your self-discipline, and make good deeds the lines you draw; make chanting the Name your cleansing bath.
O Nanak, those who do not walk in the ways of sin, shall be exalted in the world hereafter. ॥1॥
After completion of the shabad, all present sat around Guru ji to listen to his sermons and new ideas. The vaishno hermit also realized how full he was with evil thoughts. How could he then call himself holy? The words of wisdom spoken by Guru Nanak impressed the hermit so much that he along with many others become a devout Sikh of the Guru and accepted this true way of life.
Many fake hermits and mendicants, gianis (learned people), Yogis and preachers wearing the garb of holy man and displaying externalities are duping the gullible seekers of the truth. They themselves are totally in the grip of worldly desires and Maya (mammon). Their minds are soiled with lust, anger, greed, attachments and false pride beside other ill traits. Sikhs must be cautious of such impostors. They must strive to understand and grasp the philosophy of Sikhism as propounded by Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj.
Guru Nanak Dev And Kaljug Pandit at Jaganath Puri.
During his first preaching odyssey Satguru Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji he reached Jagannath Puri via Cuttack. Enroute, he apprised the masses of his ideology, freed people from superstitions and infructiuous deeds, caste based differences and freeing them from the shackles of fake hermits and Yogis. This incident took place in 1510. A Brahmin named ‘Kalyug’ had made his abode there. He was a learned man beside being very rich. Many pilgrims were his followers and often stayed in his Dera (Camp).
This Pandit was swindling the gullible people who were not aware of what the true religion was. Many rich persons who visited him were more interested in knowing about their future life or the life hereafter. They would feel happy listening to good and favourable stories about themselves. Pleased with such fables, they would make handsome offerings to him.
In Jagannath Puri, where Satguru ji condemned the ritualistic. Aarti (A form of prayer in temples), he also unmasked the deeds of ‘Kalyug’ pandit. Kalyug Pandit was sitting in meditative mood while many devotees were surrounding him. He had a small pitcher like metallic container placed in his front in which the pilgrims were putting their offerings. He would close his eyes for sometime and open them again. Sometimes he would close one of his nostrils, either right or left with his hand. Then he would suddenly declare that he is seeing Vishnu Bhagwan in the heaven. Similarly he would claim an audience with other gods and his visits to Brahmpuri (Abode of Brahma) and Shivpuri (Abode of Shivji). The devotees were listening to all his claims with rapt silence and expected that soon he would take them to the divine trip too. He then asked all those present to shut their eyes and perceive the heaven in their minds, and he would help them see it.
When all those present there closed their eyes, Guru ji signalled Bhai Mardana to pick up the small pitcher like container from his front and hide it behind him in a bush. When the ‘Panda’ opened his eyes, he did not see the container in his front. He was beside himself with rage and started shouting loudly and asking who had taken his small container. “Don’t crack jokes with the Saints. We don’t crave for money... etc.”, he said.
The pilgrims in his attendance were also surprised. Hearing his shouts, many more people gathered around. Guru ji steped forward and said, “Pandit ji, you were able to see Brahmpuri, Shivpuri and Vishnupuri, why don’t you look around in this Universe ? You may be able to locate where the container is lying”. Hearing these remarks the ‘Panda’ vexed still more. Some present also said, “Pandit ji, you were seeing the divine abode but now you can’t find your small pitcher. How could it be ?”
People understood the deceit of the Pandit. Guru ji well disclosed his beguile and advised people that those who sit in meditative postures, closing their eyes, nose and ears were not to be trusted. They were like herons who stood still on one leg in the water to pounce upon at fish and frogs. Here was that ‘Pandit’ who could see the divine abodes but could not spot his money container lying behind him. Guru ji further explained that these were the tricks used by the imposters to swindle people of their hard earned money. Satguru ji explained to all the pilgrims that one may succeed in collecting money by closing eyes, nose, ears and sitting still like a heron, but it can neither lift the character of a man nor raise his spiritual life.
This human life is not meant to be wasted in such spurious and fake acts. Remembering God is the right path of this life. Perpetual meditation of His name relieves a man from the worldly desires. Kalyug Panda was highly impressed by the personality of Guru ji and his sermons. He requested Guru ji to honour him with his stay in his abode. Guru ji agreed and during this period apprised him with his idealogy. He was then appointed as a missionary by Guru Nanak to spread his message; whereas he used to swindle the people earlier, now he was teaching them to follow the right path of life as dictated by the Guru. The place where Guru ji stayed in front of the temple, it still exists and is named ‘Mangoo Math’. For our guidance, Guru Nank Dev ji composed the above event in the following shahbad of Rag Dhanasri.
QUOTE
Dhanaasaree, First Mehl, Third House:
ik oa(n)kaar sathigur prasaadh ||
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:
kaal naahee jog naahee naahee sath kaa dtab ||
No, no, this is not the time, when people know the way to Yoga and Truth.
thhaanasatt jag bharisatt hoeae ddoobathaa eiv jag ||1||
The holy places of worship in the world are polluted, and so the world is drowning. ||1||
kal mehi raam naam saar ||
In this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Lord's Name is the most sublime.
akhee th meettehi naak pakarrehi t(h)agan ko sa(n)saar ||1|| rehaao ||
Some people try to deceive the world by closing their eyes and holding their nostrils closed. ||1||Pause||
aaa(n)tt saethee naak pakarrehi soojhathae thin loa ||
They close off their nostrils with their fingers, and claim to see the three worlds.
magar paashhai kashh n soojhai eaehu padham aloa
But they cannot even see what is behind them. What a strange lotus pose this is! ||2||
khathreeaa th dhharam shhoddiaa malaeshh bhaakhiaa gehee ||
The K'shatriyas have abandoned their religion, and have adopted a foreign language.
srisatt sabh eik varan hoee dhharam kee gath rehee |
The whole world has been reduced to the same social status; the state of righteousness and Dharma has been lost..
asatt saaj saaj puraan sodhhehi karehi baedh abhiaas ||
They analyze eight chapters of (Panini's) grammar and the Puraanas. They study the Vedas,
bin naam har kae mukath naahee kehai naanak dhaas|
but without the Lord's Name, no one is liberated; so says Nanak, the Lord's slave.
Guru Nanak Dev ji is impressing upon the people that meditation Lord’s name is the only superior work deed in a man’s life. All other ritualistic actions are not worship but acts of impressing people. Closing eyes or nose and sitting in still postures does not enamour the Lord nor can it build moral character. These acts are polluting the concept of religion and the society. Through these deceitful acts and false statements, you claim the visions of heavenly abode but can’t spot your own utensil lying behind you. The slavery of the Muslim rulers have brought down your conscience so much that you call Persian as dirty language (being used by Muslims), you yourself have now accepted it for your livelihood and forgotten your own religion. You claim to search and research Vedas but have ignored the essence of them, that is Naam. Without Naam, vices and evil traits can not be got rid of; says Guru Nanak.
Below is a brief summary of the confirmed places where Guru Nanak Dev Ji visited:
First Journey (East) (1500-1506) : Suktanpur (Punjab)- Haridwar- Nanakmata- Banaras-Patna- Shilong-Sylhet- Agartala- Chittagong- Dhaka-Calcutta- Jagannathpuri.
Second Journey (South) (1500-1513) Jagannath Puri-Guntur- Nagapattinam-Batticaloa-Kataragama-Badulla-Kotte- Anuradhapura- Mannar-Rameshwaram- Trivamdrum-Bidar-Nanded-Ujjain- Mathura- Punjab.
Third Journey (North) : 1514-1518: Sultanpur (Punjab)- Kangra - Kullu- Masarovar- Kailash Parhat- Leh- Sakardu, Kargil, Srinagar, Sialkot-Pasrur-Punjab.
Fourth Journey (West) (1519-1521): Sultanpur (Punjab) - Multan-Lakhpat-Hinglaj- Aden- Mecca-Madina- Baghdad- Tehran- Kandhar- Kabul- Punjab.
After competing his long Journey Guru Nanak Dev Ji Spent the Final phase of his Life in Kartarpur.
