Who was Guru Nanak Dev Ji and why is he considered the founder of Sikhi?
Guidance from Gurbani
Guru Nanak Dev Ji, born in 1469 in Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib in present-day Pakistan), is revered as the first of the ten human Gurus and the cherished founder of the Sikh faith. His profound teachings centered on the belief that the Divine resides within every person, a truth accessible through devoted remembrance of the Name (Naam Simran), honest and diligent work (Kirat Karni), and selfless sharing with others (Vand Chakna). It was Guru Nanak Dev Ji who lovingly established the first Gurdwara at Kartarpur, a beacon of community and spiritual gathering.
His foundational message, encapsulated in the Mool Mantar, begins with the sacred words: "There is one God. His Name is Truth. He is the Creator, without fear, without hatred. The Image of the Undying, beyond birth, self-existent, by Guru's Grace." (Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 1)
Sources & Citations
“There is one God. His Name is Truth. He is the Creator, without fear, without hatred. The Image of the Undying, beyond birth, self-existent, by Guru's Grace.”
“Accounts of the Udasis and the Sultanpur Lodhi experience are preserved in the Janam Sakhis.”
“The Rehat Maryada affirms Guru Nanak Dev Ji as the first of the ten Gurus.”
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