Gurpurab, The Celebration of Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti
The word ‘Gurpurab’ consists of two words ‘Guru’ or Master, and ‘Purab’, which is derived from the Hindi word ‘parv’ to mean festival or celebrations.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji (15 April 1469- 22 September 1539) was the founder of the Sikh religion. He was born to Kalu Mehta and Mata Tripta, in a Hindu family in the village of Talwandi, located at Nankana Sahib near Lahore, Pakistan.
Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev ji:
Eminent Sikh historian Dr. Hari Ram Gupta in his book ‘History of the Sikhs-vol 1(page 57) wrote: “Guru Nanak Ji was born on 15 April, 1469; but he was enlightened on the full moon day of Kartik, which is his spiritual birth. That is why Guru Nanak’s birthday is celebrated on the full moon day of Kartik every year.”
The Sanskrit word dvija (द्विज) means “twice-born.” It refers to the belief that a person is born physically first, and then spiritually later, upon enlightenment.
According to the lunar calendar, the date of Guru Nanak Jayanti or Gurpurab celebration varies from year to year depending upon the occurrence of full moon. The Guru Nanak Jayanti festival in the year 2024 is on 15 November; and it was on 27 November in the year 2023; and on November 8, in 2022.
Gurdwara Nankana Sahib:
Gurudwara Nankana Sahib is also known as Gurudwara Janam Asthan. It is the site where the first Guru of Sikhs, Guru Nanak was born. After partition of India, this site is now located in Pakistan which is an Islamic country with 96% Muslim Population, and all other religions are in minority.
The Gurdwara at Nankana Sahib is heavily guarded by the police for safety of the tourists and for protection of the heritage site.
The writings of Guru Nanak Dev ji were integrated into the scripture of ‘Guru Granth Sahib ji’ by the fifth Guru Arjan Dev ji in the form of 974 spiritual hymns or shabads.
The formal Guruship was bestowed upon ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ by the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh ji, and ‘Guru Granth Sahib ji’ is thus the eternal living Guru for the Sikhs, as living human Gurus are not permitted in the Sikh religion.
Did Guru Nanak eat meat?
According to Dabistan e Mazhib (a contemporary Persian chronology of the Sikh Gurus), Guru Nanak ji did not eat meat. — — Guru Arjan Dev Ji also stated that meat eating was not in accordance with Guru Nanak’s wishes.
The langar service in all Gurudwaras, and at other places, is a simple vegetarian food in the form of bread rotis, a dal and a vegetable, which is eaten as ‘Prasad’ with blessings of God.
Did Guru Nanak ji speak Sanskrit?
As a young child Guru Nanak Dev Ji first studied Punjabi with Pandit Gopal, and then Sanskrit with Pandit Brij Lal at the age of 13 years. He learnt Persian language from Maulvi Kutab Ud Din, as his teacher.
The school where Guru Nanak Ji studied is preserved as a historical monument; and is located near Nanakana Sahib Gurdwara Lahore, Pakistan. There is a heritage signboard at the site which states that Guru Nanak Ji studied in this school with names of his teachers.
Guru Nanak Jayanti Celebrations
The celebrations of the day begin in the early morning with Prabhat Pheris from the Gurudwaras or from a designated house. Two days before the Guru Nanak Jayanti, Akhand Path or 48 hours of non-stop reading of the ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ is held in the Gurudwaras, and it can also be done at home as convenient.
A procession named as Nagar kirtan is also organized one day before the Gurpurab to sing the glories of God. This is followed by a community lunch or langar which is arranged by volunteers at the Gurudwaras, and at other designated places.
Formation and Genesis of the symbol Ek Omkar…Ik Ongkar… ੴ ਇੱਕ ਓਅੰਕਾਰ to denote and signify Sikhism:
Guru Nanak Dev Ji gave the symbol of “Ek Omkar…Ik Ongkar… ੴ ਇੱਕ ਓਅੰਕਾਰ” to denote ‘Sikhism’ which is a monotheistic religion to worship one God as One Creator.
Tracing the path of the word “Onkar” (also pronounced oh-ANg-kaar) reveals that the word, which has come to imply “One Creator” is derived from the sacred syllable “OM…AUM”.
Worship in Sikhism:
Worship in Sikhism usually revolves around the musical rendering of the holy shabads from the ‘Guru Granth Sahib ji.’
The soulful rendering of the Gurbani shabads along with musical instruments is called shabad kirtan. It is a form of meditation, and a way to express one’s love and devotion to the one creator God.
Many religions use sound and music, as a medium to meditate on God. Singing and chanting the shabads helps people to connect with the divine power.
Holy Shabads of Guru Nanak Dev Ji to form Sikhism as a new religion:
The two words ‘Gurmukh’ and ‘Manmukh’ needs to be deciphered, so as to understand ‘Guru Granth Sahib ji.’
What is Manmukh?
‘Manmukh’ is a person who is attached to worldly desires, material wealth, worldly allurements and sensual enjoyments. The actions of a ‘Manmukh’ are controlled by lust, anger, greed, material attachment, self-conceit, envy and a stubborn mind.
What is Gurmukh?
The opposite of Manmukh is Gurmukh, which means a person who follows the teachings and life-code as stated in Gurbani, and follows the will of God as ‘Hukam Rajai Chalna.’
A Gurmukh is centred in contemplating the name of One Creator as Satnam (God). The aim of the Gurmukh’s life is to attain union with the spirit of God.
Shabads of Guru Nanak Dev Ji
ਓਅੰਕਾਰਿਸਬਦਿਉਧਰੇ॥
Ouankaar Sabadh Oudhharae ||
Ōaṅkāri sabdi udhrē ॥
ओअंकारि सबदि उधरे ॥
English translations on the internet:
Ongkaar saves the world through the Shabad. (Translation1)
It is through the One Lord, that the world is saved. (Translation 2)
Teeka/comments: It is not saving the world, and it does not convey the right meaning of the Guru Nanak’s shabad.
My English translation from the original Gurmukhi shabads:
ਓਅੰਕਾਰਿ : Omkar; ਸਬਦਿ : Shabad; ਉਧਰੇ : Emerged
The world emerged from the sound of the shabad…Omkar. (3)
ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ : ਅੰਗ ੯੩੦ ਪੰ. ੧ Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Page 930)
Importance of the sound AUM in the scriptures:
Sri Krishna said to Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita:
My Spirit is the Father of this world, the Mother, the Grandsire; the sustainer and ruler of the entire Universe. I am the one to be known and the purifier. Know Me as the sacred sound AUM and the Rik, Saman and the Yajur Vedas. (Book: Word of God Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 9 verse 17)
पिताऽहमस्य जगतो माता धाता पितामहः।
वेद्यं पवित्रमोंकार ऋक् साम यजुरेव च।। (9:17)
Commentary/Teeka:
The sound of Pranava ‘AUM’ in the Rik, Sama and Yajur Vedas are all sacred. The primal Spirit of God is the sustainer and nurturer of the world.
Sound is one of the basic elements, and a means to focus the mind during meditation. In the beginning was the sound of the ‘Word’ and the creation started from there.
The Upanishads say that the Word was ‘AUM’. As all leaves are held together by the stem of a plant, similarly all speech is held together by the Word ‘AUM’. — Christians use a similar Word ‘Amen.’
It is the symbol of manifest God in waking, dreaming and deep sleep state. The fourth state is known as ‘Turiya’ state, which is the final state of merging with the super consciousness. The first letter ‘A’ of the sound ‘AUM’ is the waking state of consciousness. The second letter ‘U’ of the sound is the dreaming state of consciousness; and the third letter ‘M’ is the deep sleep state of consciousness.
The fourth state is the total silence after the sound of AUM and is called the ‘Turiya’ state which is non-dual and the ultimate merging with the absolute Spirit.
The word AUM according to Hindu philosophy is the primordial sound from which the whole universe was created. AUM is the original Word of Power, and is recited as a mantra.
In the yoga tradition, AUM is the most sacred and a holy word, the supreme mantra. Aum is a Sanskrit word which means controller of life force (prana) and life giver. Aum is called the Shabda Brahman or the energy of God as Sound Vibration. The universe has emanated from this primal energy.
Mandukya Upanishad explicitly explains the full significance of the word ‘AUM’ and the different states of consciousness. The Upanishad states that the word AUM establishes a direct link between our individual consciousness and the cosmic Divinity.
By chanting and meditating on the sound ‘AUM’; the energy level is raised higher and higher when one keeps awareness and significance of the sacred Word ‘AUM’. It is regarded as a mystic syllable representing the essence of the Vedas and the universe. It is indeed a syllable of the everlasting Spirit of God.
The Rig-Veda the most ancient scripture of the world says, “First was the absolute Spirit of Brahman, and then there was ‘Waak’, the sound as the vibrating energy which became the universe. — — ‘AUM’ is the root of all sounds. Every other sound is contained in this sound, and one has to finally go beyond all sounds.”
The sound of Pranava, “AUM is the highest Name of God, and comprises many other names of God. It should be borne in mind that AUM is the name of God exclusively…and not of other objects or materials.”
…………………….
References:
Copyright © Ajay Gupta — Reference book: Amazon: Ajay Gupta: Amazon.in: Kindle Store : Word of God Bhagavad Gita by Ajay Gupta
Online book references on the internet: History of the Sikhs (1469–1708) by Dr. Hari Ram Gupta
