The Bhakti
movement in northern India, which had been
gathering strength ever since the time of
Ramanda, got another ardent bhakta in Guru
Nanak. He was preceded by an evolution of ideas
and he followed the path blaxed by his illustrious
predecessors. He founded a new religion which
has survived as a permanent element in the
Indian society.
Guru Nanak, sharing to the full the eclectic
spirit of his time, sought for a creed capable of
expressing Hindus and Muslim devotion alike.
He use both Hindu and Muslim nomenclatures
for God, rama, Govinda, Hari, Murari, bad and
Rahim. He wanted to domlish the wall that stood
in the way of the two communities and unite
them.
He
wrote inspiring poems and songs which were
collected in a book form subsequently published
as the Adi Grantha. He was recognised as a
Guru, and died at Krtarpur in 1528.
Nanak was a revolutionary religious
reformer, he proclaimed that there is no
distinction between man and man, all were born
equal in the eyes of God. He felt that the real
cause of the misery of the people was their
disunity born of diversity of belief. He considered
education essential for the attainment of true and
complete life, True education helps the soul to
unfold itself like a lotus of countless petals.
The universalism of his message and
reasonableness of his precepts brought about a
moral renaissance in India. He preached to the
high and the high and the low without any
distinction of caste, creed or colour.
Guru Nanak was a monist and his
monotheism, unlike that of some other bhaktas.
was undiluted. He did not believe in the
incarnation of God. he regarded himself as the
prophet of God who had come for the divine
Court. He taught that there is one God in the
world and the no other and that Nanak, the
caliph (son) of God, speaks truth. Nanak looks
upon God as one Lord and the commander of
all. The universe is His domain and from His
brilliance everything is brilliant. All is illumined
by the light of His apperance.
Nanak says that devotion cannot exist
without virtue. Truth is no doubt great but
greater is truthful living. The qualities which one
should cultivate assiduously are humility,
charity, forgiveness and sweet words.
Remembrance of god is the primary duty of a
seeder of truth remember the name of God and
give up everything else, Simran is the practice of
devotion to God. He (God) is high and worthy
of worship. God is not outside but within every
individual. He that pervades the universe also
dwells in the body. Speak the truth, then you
would realise God within you.
