Guest guest Posted August 17, 2007 Report Share Posted August 17, 2007 [edit] Stories of Guru Nanak's life The stories of Guru Nanak's life are collected in writings known as the 'Janamsâkhîs'. The most popular Janamsâkhî purports to have been written by Bhai Bala close companion, before Guru Nanak left this world [4]. However, the writing style and language employed have left scholars such as Max Arthur Macauliffe certain that they were composed after Guru Nanak left this world.[5] Bhai Gurdas, the scribe of the Gurû Granth Sâhib, also wrote about Nanak's life in his vârs. However, these too were compiled after Guru Nanak's demise, and are less detailed than the Janamsâkhîs. Sikhs tend to hold Gurdas's accounts in higher esteem because of the author's generally perceived trustworthiness. [edit] Early life Nanak with Hindu holy men. Guru Nanak was born on 13 April 1469 in a Hindu family of the Bedi Khatri clan,[6] in the village of Râi Bhôi dî Talvaṇḍî, now called Nankana Sahib (after the Guru), near Lahore, Pakistan.[7] Today, his birth place is marked by Gurdwara Janam Asthan. His father, Mehta Kalyan Das Bedi, also known as Mehta Kalu, was a Patwari—an accountant of land revenue in the government. He worked for the Muslim landlord of the village, Rai Bullar. Guru Nanak's mother was Tripta Devi and he had one older sister, Nanaki. Gurdwara Nankana Sahib The Janamsâkhîs recount in minute detail all the circumstances of the birth of the guru. They claim that at his birth, an astrologer who came to write his horoscope insisted on seeing the child. On seeing the infant, he is said to have worshipped him with clasped hands. The astrologer then remarked that he regretted that he should never live to see young Guru Nanak's eminence, worshipped as he should be alike by Hindus and Muslims, and not merely by Hindus.[8] At the age of five years Nanak is said to have begun to discuss spiritual and divine subjects. At age seven, his father Mehta Kalu enrolled him at the village school.[9] Nanak left school early after he had shown his scholastic proficiency. He then took to private study and meditation.[10] All the Janamsâkhîs are unanimous in stating that Nanak courted the retirement of the local forest and the society of the religious men who frequented it. Several of them were profoundly versed in the Indian religious literature of the age. They had also travelled far and wide within the limits of ancient India, and met its renowned religious teachers. Nanak thus became acquainted with the latest teachings of Indian philosophers and reformers.[11]Ram ChuganiKobe, Japanrgcjp Got a little couch potato? Check out fun summer activities for kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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