All About Sikhism
In November 1504, Sri Guru Nanak Dev's elder sister Nanaki ji took him to Sultanpurlodhi where her husband Jai Ram ji got him the Job of storekeeper in the Modikhana of the local Nawab, Daulat Khan Lodhi.
At the age of 38, in August 1507, Guru Nanak Dev Ji heard God 's call to dedicate himself to the service of humanity after bathing in "Vain Nadi" (a river Near Sultanpur Lodhi). The very first sentence which he ' uttered then was, " There is no Hindu, no Musalman".
He now undertook long travels to preach his unique and divine doctrine (Sikhism). After visiting different places in Punjab, he decided to proceed on four long tours covering different religious places in India and abroad. These tours are called Char Udasis of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Click to view the brief summary of the confirmed places where Guru Nanak visited
The real aim of the tour was awakening the people to realise the truth about God and to introduce Sikhism.
He established a network of preaching centers of Sikhism which were called "Manjis". He appointed able and committed followers as its head (preacher of Sikhism). The basic tenants of Sikhism were willfully conceived by the people from all walks of life. The seeds of Sikhism were sown all over India and abroad in well-planned manner.
In the year 1520, Babar attacked India. His troops slaughtered thousands of innocent civilians of all walks of life. Women and children were made captives and all their property looted at Aimnabad. Guru Nanak Dev Ji challenged this act of barbarity in strong words. He was arrested and released, shortly after making Babar realizing his blunder. All the prisoners were also released.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji settled down at Kartarpur city (now in Pakistan) which was founded by him in 1522 and spent the rest of his life there (1522-1539). There was daily Kirtan and the institution of Langar (free kitchen) was introduced.
Knowing that the end was drawing near, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, after testing his two sons and followers, installed Bhai Lehna ji (Guru Angad Dev Ji) as the Second Nanak in 1539. After a few days passed into Sachkhand on 22nd September 1539.
Thus ended the worldly journey of this god-gifted Master (Guru) of mankind.
He rejected the path of renunciation Tyaga or Yoga, the authority of the Vedas and the Hindu caste system. Guru Nanak Dev Ji emphasized the leading of householder's life (Grista), unattached to gross materialism. The services of mankind Sewa, Kirtan, Satsang and faith in 'One' Omnipotent God are the basic concepts of Sikhism established by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Thus he laid the foundations of Sikhism. He preached new idea of God as Supreme, Universal, All-powerful and truthful. God is Formless (Nirankar), the Sole, the Creator, the self-existent, the Incomprehensible and the Eve
