Guru Nanak (1469-1539)

Guru Nanak (1469-1539)

Guru Nanak's insights and message have fundamentally shaped the Sikh community. His insight and charisma are clearly evident after more than five hundred years, as one easily sees in his writings in the Guru Granth Sahib. According to one well-known formula, he summed up the his teachings by directing his disciples (Sikhs) to work hard, to remember God, and to serve others.

Historical details of Nanak's life are rather spare, and although this picture shows a common image, it is only a conventional depiction, since no contemporary likeness survives. The image of the old man with the tranquil face and half-closed eyes clearly corresponds with Nanak's stress on contemplation and inner realization. The cap, cloak, and frock coat were pieces of clothing associated with the Sufis (Muslim mystics), whereas the two rosaries (in the hand and on his cap) were Hindu religious objects. In his outer appearance as well as in his ideas, Nanak transcended both Hindu and Muslim identity.

This image shows Nanak with two of the disciples who reportedly went with him on his travels: on the left is Mardana (a low-caste Muslim musician), and on the right Bala (a Hindu)--showing again how Nanak's message transcended religious boundaries.

He is shown here with the Sufi fakir's patched cloak, and a Hindu ascetic's sandals and water-pot.

This image comes from Popular Sikh Art by W.H. McLeod (Oxford U. Press, 1991).

This picture has Nanak in the center, and under it an image of Gurudwara Janam Asthan, his birthplace in Talvandi (now in Pakistan). The other images depict various episodes from his life drawn from the janam-sakhi (hagiographical) literature. At top left is his birth with his mother Tripta, and at top right a story in which an enormous cobra was found shading the sleeping Nanak with its hood. Center left shows an episode when Nanak used money from his fathers' business to feed some wandering ascetics. At the bottom are images of his two sons, at left Baba Siri Chand (founder of the Udasi ascetics) and on the right Lakhmi Das.

This image comes from Popular Sikh Art by W.H. McLeod (Oxford U. Press, 1991).

This image also shows traditional stories of Nanak's life, which is filled with miracles, as one often finds in the lives of charismatic religious figures.

At upper left is the infant Nanak with his parents, and at upper right the miracle at Pir Panja. After Nanak and Mardana were thrice refused water by a Sufi who controlled a hilltip spring, Nanak created a spring by striking a stone, after which the Sufi's spring dried up. The enraged Sufi then rolled a huge boulder down the hill, but Nanak stopped it with his hand, leaving a handprint in it that can reportedly be seen to this day.

The large picture depicts the tale of the cobra that used its hood to shelter Nanak from the sun; the buffaloes above him call to mind another traditional story, in which a grain field ruined by animals was miraculously restored.

This image comes from Popular Sikh Art by W.H. McLeod (Oxford U. Press, 1991).

The traditional tales of Nanak's travels contain many events that could very well have happened, and others that are more difficult for an outside reader to accept. This depicts Nanak's visit to Kuaru-desh, which has been identified with modern Assam. This land was inhabited solely by women sorceresses, who magically transformed any men into animals (note the sheep at Guru Nanak's feet, whose hands and head are clearly those of Mardana. Guru Nanak defeated them by the power of the divine Name (seen as the symbol in the sun) and they were forced to admit their defeat.

These travels took place before Guru Nanak settled in Katarpur, note that this image is of a younger, dark-haired Nanak.

This image comes from Popular Sikh Art by W.H. McLeod (Oxford U. Press, 1991).

Another fabulous story is the encounter with a demon who kidnapped passing travelers, cooked them in a giant pot, and ate them. Here the demon is poised to kill Mardana, who is crying to Nanak for help. Here Nanak's saving power is depicted as a stream of light from his hand, but according to another story Nanak miraculously cooled the cauldron by dipping his finger into it, after which it remained cool despite the demon's efforts to stoke the fire.

This image comes from Popular Sikh Art by W.H. McLeod (Oxford U. Press, 1991).

Another miracle story illustrates the Guru's teaching on the the importance of honest labor. A wealthy moneylender (to the left) had asked Nanak to dine with him, but Nanak preferred to eat at the house of a poor farmer. When asked why, Nanak squeezed one of the flatbreads from each of the meals. Out of the moneylender's bread came blood, signifying that he lived off the sufferings of others, whereas the poor man's gave milk, bearing witness to his honest labor.

This image comes from Popular Sikh Art by W.H. McLeod (Oxford U. Press, 1991).