Guru Nanak Dev Ji
ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ
Born: 15 April 1469 • Joyti Jot: 22 September 1539 at Kartarpur
| Father’s Name: | Mehta Kalu Ji |
| Mother’s Name: | Mata Tripta Ji |
| Spouse Name: | Mata Sulakhani Ji |
| Children’s Name: | Sri Chand, Lakhmi Chand |
| Cities Founded: | Kartarpur |
| Baani(s): | Japji Sahib, Asa di Var, and 974 hymns in Guru Granth Sahib |
| Contemporary Rulers: | Babur, Ibrahim Lodhi |
| Message: | Ik Onkar (One God), Naam Japna, Kirat Karo, Vand Chakko |
| Special Contribution: | Founded Sikhism, established Kartarpur, preached equality |
| Journeys: | Four Udasis covering Mecca, Baghdad, Sri Lanka, Tibet, India |
| Joyti Jot: | 22 September 1539 at Kartarpur |
Quick Facts
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469–1539) was the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. His core philosophy for righteous living is based on three pillars: Naam Japna (meditation on Gods name), Kirat Karni (honest earning), and Vand Chakna (sharing with others). For over two decades, he undertook extensive spiritual journeys known as the Udasis, traveling across vast regions, including parts of the Middle East and the Himalayas, to spread his universal message. He spent his final years (1521–1539) in Kartarpur, a town he established on the River Ravi in present-day Pakistan. His divine compositions, including the foundational Japji Sahib, form the basis of the Sikh holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib.
Biography & Contributions
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469–1539) was the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus, born in Rai Bhoi di Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib, Pakistan). His life’s mission was to bridge the divide between different faiths, establishing a universal path based on truthful conduct and devotion to the One God (ੴ / Ik Onkar). He spent his early life questioning empty rituals and the caste system, leading to his spiritual awakening around age 30. For over two decades, he undertook extensive spiritual journeys known as the Udasis, traveling widely to spread his universal message of truth and righteous living. Accompanied by his companion, Bhai Mardana, he used music (Kirtan) to spread his message, challenging religious intolerance and societal inequality. His core philosophy is built upon three ethical pillars—Naam Japna (meditation on Gods name), Kirat Karni (honest earning), and Vand Chakna (sharing with others)—which define the ideal Sikh householder’s path rooted in ethical conduct and selfless community service (Sewa). He spent the last years of his life in Kartarpur, a town he founded, working as a farmer and establishing the foundation of Sikh community life, where he formalized the institution of Langar (free community kitchen) to practically demonstrate social equality and break down caste barriers. His teachings strongly advocate for the equality of women and the dismantling of the caste system, asserting that all people are equal in the eyes of the Formless Lord (Nirankar). His divine poetic compositions, including the foundational Japji Sahib, are enshrined in the Sikh holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib.