Guru Nanak Dev Ji the Prophet of Humanity

In 1913, Punjab Historical Society, Lahore organized a seminar on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Shimla. British Governor of Punjab was the president of seminar. Sardar Joginder Singh, a famous Sikh scholar put light on the life and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Then, Ram Sharan Dass, a famous Hindu leader, said, “Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj was a great reformer of Hindu religion”. Nawab Zulfi Ali Khan, Nawab of Malerkotla, criticized Ram Sharan Dass by saying, “I do not agree with it. Guru Sahib was a great Muslim saint. Bhai Mardana Ji, a low caste Muslim was always with him. His first disciple Rai Bular was a also a Muslim”. Then, the British Governor who was a Christian, said, “I don’t agree with both. I have studied the writings of Guru Sahib and I have no doubt in saying that Guru Sahib was a great Christian Saint”.

This simply shows that Guru Sahib was the prophet not only of Sikhs but for whole humanity. His teachings are for whole humanity not only Sikhs. That’s why this Prophet went to whole world to eradicate Darkness and give the Divine Message of Universal Brotherhood. He went to India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Arab, Africa, Europe, Tibet, China, Russia, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Burma, Myanmar etc.

Name of Guru Nanak Sahib Ji

Today on the occasion of Prakash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, I would like to write about why only name ‘Nanak’ was given to Guru Patshah Ji.

After 13 days of Prakash of Guru Sahib, Pandits (Priests) chose name Nanak for Guru Sahib.

ਸਿਸ ਕੋ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮ ਧਰੀਜੈ||

ਇਸਕੀ ਸਰਬਰ ਕੋ ਨ ਜਨੀਜੈ||

Give the name Nanak to the child. No other name can be equivalent to this.

But Mehta Kalu, father of Guru Sahib was disappointed and said this name belongs to both Hindus and Muslims. I will not accept this name.

ਰਲਮਿਲ ਨਾਮ ਸੁ ਤੁਰਕਨ ਹਿੰਦੂ ||

ਨਹਿਂ ਰਾਖਵ ਇਹ ਨਾਮ ਦਿਜਿੰਦੂ ||੪੭||

He asked for some other name.

ਅਵਰ ਨਾਮ ਕੋ ਸੋਧਿ ਧਰੀਜੈ||

Priest replied this child will be adored by Hindus, Muslims and the whole world.

ਇਹ ਸਿਸੁ ਕੋ ਮਾਨਹਿਂਗੇ ਦੋਊ||

ਹਿੰਦੂ ਤੁਰਕ ਸਿਖ ਸਭਿ ਕੋਊ||

He will ‘shine’ in the whole world.

ਸਕਲ ਜਗਤ ਮਹਿਂ ਹੋਇ ਉਜਾਗਰ ||

(Note:- All these references are from Sri Nanak Prakash by Bhai Santokh Singh Ji)

This was reality this child became the King of the whole world. He is respected not only by the Sikhs but by the whole world.

That's why some European writer wrote " If Guru Nanak Sahib would have born in Europe, then whole world would have only one religion Sikhism."

He became Pir for Muslims and Guru for Hindus.

ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਸ਼ਾਹ ਫਕੀਰ ||

ਹਿੰਦੂ ਕਾ ਗੁਰੂ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ਕਾ ਪੀਰ ||

ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਗੁਰਪੁਰਬ ਦੀ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈ