Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and His Teachings and Life for PSSSB, PPSC, Punjab Police, Patwari, Excise Inspector, Senior Assistant, Labour Inspector, and Other Related Exams
In this article, you will learn about Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his teachings and life, which are very important for competitive exams like PSSSB, PPSC, Punjab Police, Patwari, Excise Inspector, Senior Assistant, Labour Inspector, and other related exams. Studying the life and teachings of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji not only helps you prepare for upcoming competitive exams but also aids in character building and makes you aware of the challenges faced during the time of his birth.
The life of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji can be categorized into three main periods to better understand the different phases of his life. This categorization also helps us comprehend the chronological sequence of events in the life of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Table of Contents
1. First Period: 1469 to 1499 A.D.
In this period, we will learn about the Birth and Parentage , Childhood and Primary Education , Various Occupations , Marriage Life , Service at Sultanpur Lodhi , and the attainment of Enlightenment .
2. Second Period: 1499 to 1521 A.D.
After attaining enlightenment in 1499 A.D. , Guru Nanak Dev Ji left Sultanpur Lodhi and embarked on Udasis (religious travels). In this section, we will learn about all three Udasis of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, which he undertook with his devoted companion, Bhai Mardana Ji .
3. Third Period: 1521 to 1539 A.D.
After completing his third Udasi, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji settled in Kartarpur , a town he founded on the banks of the River Ravi in 1521. In this article, we will learn about the last 18 years of his life, which he spent in Kartarpur. During this time, he nominated his devoted disciple, Bhai Lehna Ji , as his successor, who later became Guru Angad Dev Ji . Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji merged with the Divine in 1539 A.D.
1. First Period: 1469 to 1499 A.D. – Life of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Birth and Parentage
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born on 15th April 1469, on Purnima (the day of the full moon), at Rai Bhoi Ki Talwandi (now known as Nankana Sahib in Pakistan). His father, Mehta Kalu Das Bedi, more commonly known as Mehta Kalu Ji, was a Bedi Khatri by caste and the Patwari of the village in the service of Rai Bular, a local Muslim chief. His mother, Bibi Tripta Ji, was a deeply religious lady.
Childhood and Education
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji was a quiet, serious, and precocious child who, at the age of five, began asking profound questions about the purpose of life. He was more interested in the worship of God than in playing games. At the age of seven, he was sent to the Pathshala (school) of Pandit Gopal Ji for elementary learning, including the Hindi alphabet and mathematics. His thoughts and wisdom surprised Pandit Gopal Ji with his deep spiritual knowledge. Two years later, he was sent to learn Sanskrit from Pandit Brij Nath and Arabic and Persian from Mulla Qutub-ud-Din. He continued to astonish them with his compositions, such as an acrostic poem imbued with deep philosophical and mystical meaning.
When he was nine years old, Purohit Hardyal was called to perform the sacred thread ceremony (Janeu). However, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji bluntly refused to wear the sacred thread, remarking that he would instead wear the “thread” of kindness, contentment, and truthfulness—qualities that cannot be broken.
Occupations
When Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s father, Mehta Kalu Ram, noticed that he was often lost in deep thoughts, he decided to keep him busy with some work. First, he asked him to graze buffaloes. However, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji remained absorbed in meditation, and the buffaloes would often wander into the farmers’ fields, damaging their crops. One day, the farmers, angered by this negligence, collectively complained to Rai Bular, the village chief, seeking justice. In response, Rai Bular sent a man to assess the damage. Upon reaching the fields, the man was astonished to see no harm to the crops—they were standing as if nothing had happened.
After this incident, Mehta Kalu Ji put him to work in agriculture. However, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji showed no interest in farming either. Consequently, his father decided to involve him in trade. He gave him a sum of twenty rupees and sent him to the market to make a profitable business. On his way to the market, Guru Nanak Dev Ji encountered some hungry Sadhus (holy men) who had not eaten for days. Instead of using the money for trade, he spent the entire amount feeding the Sadhus and returned home empty-handed, much to his father’s surprise.
This event is famously known as Sacha Sauda (the True Bargain).
Marriage and Children
His ascetic nature worried his father. In order to divert him toward worldly pursuits, his parents decided to arrange his marriage. Thus, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji was married to Sulakhni Ji, the daughter of Mool Chand from Pakhoki village in Batala (Gurdaspur District), on 24th September 1487 . In due course of time, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji was blessed with two sons: Sri Chand Ji , born on 8th September 1494 , and Lakhmi Chand Ji , born on 12th February 1497 . However, even the responsibilities of married life and raising children did not distract Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji from his spiritual path.
Work at Sultanpur Lodhi
After observing all this, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s father, Mehta Kalu Ji, decided to send him to his sister, Bibi Nanki Ji. At her home, Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s brother-in-law, Sri Jai Ram, held a high position under Nawab Daulat Khan Lodhi in Sultanpur Lodhi. At the age of 20, through Jai Ram Ji’s recommendation, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji was appointed as the ModiKhana (the store) of the government storehouse under Nawab Daulat Khan Lodhi.
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji performed his duties diligently for ten years and earned the affection of his employer. However, whatever he earned, he always distributed among those in need.
Attainment of Enlightenment
Mardana, a Muslim minstrel and a childhood companion of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, joined him in Sultanpur Lodhi. Together, they organized the singing of hymns at night after completing their daily work. They shared their meals with common people and preached the importance of living a simple, righteous life.
While in Sultanpur Lodhi, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji would go to the River Kali Bein (a tributary of the Beas River) every morning for his bath. One day, he went as usual but did not return from the river and remained untraceable for three days. During these three days, Guru Nanak Dev Ji attained true spiritual knowledge at the age of 30. His disappearance is often described as a divine meeting with God, who ordained him to spread His message to the world. Upon reappearing, his first words were: “Na Ko Hindu, Na Musalman” (“There is no Hindu, no Muslim”), signifying that all humanity is equal and that everyone is a child of one God.
After this transformative experience, Guru Nanak Dev Ji renounced worldly attachments, including his ties to family life, and undertook extensive journeys, known as Udasis , with the sole objective of preaching the message of God. He aimed to save people from sin and suffering caused by worldly attachments, dedicating about 21 years of his life to these missionary travels.
The life of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji serves as a beacon of hope, compassion, and universal brotherhood. His teachings transcend religious boundaries, advocating for a life rooted in humility, truth, and selfless service. Understanding his life and contributions is crucial not only for excelling in competitive exams but also for fostering personal growth and societal harmony.
This is the 8th article in the series on Punjab (History and Culture) for competitive exams like PSSSB, PPSC, Punjab Police, Patwari, Excise Inspector, Senior Assistant, Labour Inspector, and other related exams. If you have not read the previous articles, click on this link to catch up and take one step closer to securing your dream job by achieving a top rank in the merit list of these exams.
For the next article on the Second Period: 1499–1521 A.D. , please click here.
FAQs
1. Who taught Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Hindi and Mathematics?
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji was taught Hindi and Mathematics by Pandit Gopal Ji during his early education at the age of seven in the Pathshala (school).