Guru Nanak Dev Ji Essay in Punjabi — ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ

Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469–1539) was the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. He was born on 15 April 1469 in Rai Bhoi Di Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib, Pakistan). His parents were Mehta Kalu Ji (father) and Mata Tripta Ji (mother). Guru Nanak Dev Ji travelled across Asia spreading his message of one God (Ik Onkar), equality of all people, hard work, and selfless service. He is revered as a prophet and social reformer who transformed religious and social life in India.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji's three core teachings are: (1) Kirat Karo (ਕਿਰਤ ਕਰੋ) — earn your livelihood through honest hard work. (2) Vand Chhako (ਵੰਡ ਛਕੋ) — share your earnings with those in need. (3) Naam Japo (ਨਾਮ ਜਪੋ) — meditate on God's name. He also taught: Ik Onkar (God is one, beyond religion); rejection of caste discrimination (all humans are equal); respect for women; opposition to idol worship and empty ritual. These teachings are the foundation of Sikhism.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji undertook five major spiritual journeys (Udasis — ਉਦਾਸੀਆਂ) to spread his message. He travelled across South Asia and the Middle East: visiting Hindu pilgrimage sites like Haridwar and Jagannath Puri; Muslim holy places like Mecca and Medina; Buddhist sites; and the Himalayas. During these journeys, accompanied by his Muslim companion Bhai Mardana, he sang hymns (shabads) and taught equality, devotion to one God, and the importance of honest living.

ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ ਸਿੱਖ ਧਰਮ ਦੇ ਬਾਨੀ ਸਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਜਨਮ 1469 ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਇਆ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਕਿਰਤ ਕਰੋ, ਵੰਡ ਛਕੋ ਅਤੇ ਨਾਮ ਜਪੋ ਦੀ ਸਿੱਖਿਆ ਦਿੱਤੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਜਾਤ-ਪਾਤ ਦਾ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਕੀਤਾ। ਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਸਿੱਖਿਆਵਾਂ ਅੱਜ ਵੀ ਸਾਡੇ ਜੀਵਨ ਲਈ ਮਾਰਗਦਰਸ਼ਕ ਹਨ।

Gurpurab (ਗੁਰਪੁਰਬ) is a Sikh festival celebrating the birth or other significant events of the Sikh Gurus. Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Gurpurab (Prakash Purab) is celebrated on the full moon day (Purnima) of the Kartik month — usually in October or November. Celebrations include akhand path (continuous reading of Guru Granth Sahib), prabhat pheris (early morning processions), langar (community kitchen serving free food), and kirtans (devotional singing). It is one of the most important festivals in Sikhism.

Ik Onkar (ਇੱਕ ਓਅੰਕਾਰ) is the fundamental concept of Sikhism, taught by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It means: 'There is one God' — God is one, singular, formless, and beyond all human distinctions of religion, caste, or nationality. The symbol ੴ (Ik Onkar) appears at the beginning of the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh holy scripture). This teaching rejected the idea of multiple gods and also rejected the religious exclusivity that said God could only be reached through a specific religion.

The Guru Granth Sahib (ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ) is the eternal, living Guru of the Sikhs — the holy scripture of Sikhism. It contains the hymns (Gurbani) of six Sikh Gurus and many Hindu and Muslim saints. Guru Nanak Dev Ji composed a significant portion of the Guru Granth Sahib. The tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, declared the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru of the Sikhs in 1708 — since then, the scripture itself is the Guru and no human Guru has succeeded him.

Kartarpur (ਕਰਤਾਰਪੁਰ) is the town where Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent the last 18–20 years of his life (after his Udasis). He established a community there — farming the land himself to demonstrate the ideal of Kirat Karo (honest labour) — and gathering devotees for kirtan and seva. He passed away at Kartarpur on 22 September 1539. Kartarpur is now in Pakistan and is a major pilgrimage site for Sikhs. The Kartarpur Corridor (opened 2019) allows Sikhs from India to visit without a visa.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji's most famous companion was Bhai Mardana (ਭਾਈ ਮਰਦਾਨਾ), a Muslim musician who played the rabab (a stringed instrument) while Guru Ji sang his hymns during the Udasis. Bhai Mardana was with Guru Ji for almost all his journeys and is considered one of the first Sikhs. Guru Ji also had a sister, Bebe Nanaki, who was one of his earliest believers. His wife was Mata Sulakhni, and he had two sons: Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das.