Akali Guru Nanak, the re-establisher of the ancient Sanatan Sikh faith was born in 1469 in the North-West region of India the Punjab. From the beginning he was spiritually inclined. As a young child he would spend hours meditating on Nirankar God and seeking out Hindu, Muslim, etc. holy men and discoursing on the profound.

Akali Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj
The great Guru as a yound man discussing spiritual matters
with Hindu Sadhus (holy men). The Guru is seen here wearing a 'Seli Topi'
(a loosely woven hat often worn amongst holy men of India). Modern paintings depict the
Guru as wearing a turban, however the turban was only formally introduced by the sixth Sanatan Sikh Guru

At the age of thirty or so he had his spiritual calling. He vanished from the face of the earth say the traditional Sikh biographies, the 'Janam Sakhis', for three days.

He had been summoned to the true, formless, eternal abode of Nirankar God, ‘Sach Khand’. There, Va-eh Guru gave him his mission of spreading the universal Sanatan Sikh teachings and reviving the Sanatan Sikh teachings amongst all men and faiths. Akali Guru Nanak was to be the bridge that linked all mankind so they could travel in peace and harmony upon one common universal spiritual path.

On reappearing back on the Earth the first words Guru Nanak uttered were:

This phrase meaning 'all were children of Nirankar God'. From that day with his Muslim musician companion Mardana, and Hindu companion Bala, Akali Guru Nanak traveled all over the Hindu and Muslim world far as Mecca. Wherever he went he would sit down with his companions and sing the divine God inspired hymns, which are to be found today in the Adi Guru Durbar.

Akali Guru Nanak Devji Maharaj
A painting done in the persian style showing the great Guru
with the Musim Bhai Mardana (left) with the Rabab, and Bhai Bala (right)

Listening to these compositions, those with Karma (merit of past deeds) would seek him out. Then if they desired to know more they could discourse with the Guru or join in with the singing. The hymns spoke out against religious hypocrisy, bigotry and fundamentalism and exhorted all the men to appreciate the true inner essence of their respective faiths - let Muslims be true Muslims, Hindus be true Hindus etc.

The hymns spoke of universal brotherhood of man and love of truth and Nirankar God. Many people, who, because of their great Karma appreciated what Akali Guru Nanak represented and is said, became his 'Sikhs' (disciples). It was this way Akali Guru Nanak endeavored to re-establish the ancient faith of Sanatan Nirankar God.

Akali Guru Nanak, like all true men of God, stood for the universal respect and love of mankind, so mankind could, living in peace and harmony, progress spiritually and materially. His son, Baba Sri Chand Ji Maharaj set up the Udasi order which represents the missionary aspect within Sanatan Sikhism.

Baba Sri Chand Ji Maharaj
Son of the great Akali Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and founder of
the Udasi order of Sanatan Sikhism. Baba Sri Chand Ji Maharaj
is considered as being the reincarnation of the great warrior Shiva

How successful the Guru was can be ascertained from the fact that the Muslims considered him a Pir (Muslim holy man) and the Hindus considered him as a Guru (Hindu holy man). So at Akali Guru Nanak’s death a dispute arose between Hindu Sikhs and Muslim Sikhs, each wanting to do his final rites according to their respected religions.

As the corpse of Guru Nanak lay covered under a shroud, the two disputing parties argued near to the point of violence. Then, it is said someone observed that the body under the shroud had miraculously vanished. In its place were but sweet scented flowers. Once more reminding all, that all the faiths of the world are but beautiful flowers. Sanatan Sikhism is their true sweet fragrance.

The Muslim Sikhs collected half the flowers and Hindu Sikhs the other half, and the shroud was torn in half. Each group, taking their half of shroud and flowers, performed their respected religions death rites. Hence ended the life of Guru Nanak in 1539. Even the transliteration of name ‘Nanak’ echoed his God mission in life.

Sanatan Sikhs also employ another analogy to describe Sikhism.

They consider that from the great religions and philosophies of the world, Sanatan Sikhism is the spiritual 'Gadi Rah' (high road), upon which all may travel in whatever religious and/or philosophical garb.

'Nanak' transliterates into, ‘That which is not many’, meaning 'the One' (see section on 'Nanak'). It was with the definition of Nirankar One that Akali Guru Nanak stared his scripture. This definition today is accepted as the fundamental creed of Sikhism. This short terse creed translates as:

'Sarab Kala Barpoor'
Knower of all forms of knowledge. The great Sikh Guru inspired
men of all faiths to persue the path of Dharam regardless of caste, creed, or colour

To this day, the great legacy of Guru Nanak is such that in addition to Sikhs, many Muslims in Pakistan and Hindus in India revere him as a Muslim Faquir and Hindu Guru respectively.

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