Nanak

Nanak, usually referred to as Guru Nanak, is the founder of Sikhism. Born in 1469 in Rai Bhoi Ki Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib, Pakistan), he grew up in a family of merchants and began his spiritual quest amid the religious debates of his time. He challenged ritualism, caste discrimination, and religious exclusivism, seeking a universal path to God.

Nanak preached that there is one God, the Creator, and that the name of God (Naam) should be remembered through honest work, truthful living, and compassionate action. His teachings emphasized equality of all people, including women, rejected caste barriers, and urged a life of service to others. He promoted social justice, charitable acts, and the sharing of food and resources through the practice of langar (community kitchen).

He undertook extensive travels, or udasis, to spread his message across the Indian subcontinent and beyond, engaging in dialogue with people of various faiths and laying the groundwork for a distinct spiritual community. His hymns and teachings were collected by his followers and form a foundational part of the Sikh scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, which contains the writings of Guru Nanak and subsequent Gurus.

Nanak’s legacy lies in the founding of a new religious tradition that grew into Sikhism, oriented around devotion to God, equality, and service to humanity. He died in 1539 at Kartarpur, where he had established a community and spiritual center. Today, Nanak is also a common given name, and his influence persists in religious calendars, culture, and place names. The Nanakshahi calendar, used by some Sikhs, counts years from his birth.