(This is Part 4 of the article on Guru Nanak. Read Part 3 and Part 5)

Nanak was living in  Sultanpur Lodi with his family. One morning he went for morning ablutions by the Kali Bein river, a seasonal rivulet, accompanied by Mardana, his life-long companion and the minstrel boy. To Mardana's surprise, he plunged into the river but never surfaced. Mardana waited and waited but Nanak never came out. Mardana panicked and rushed to the town to seek assistance. Everyone thought that either Nanak had drowned or washed away in the river which was in spate. 

Nanak was then working for Nawab Daulat Khan. The latter had become very fond of him so when he learnt about the incident he immediately engaged some fishermen to throw in the nets and search for  Nanak. All efforts stood wasted as Nanak was nowhere to be found.

Taking advantage of the absence of Nanak, a few vicious people started a whisper-campaign that Nanak had embezzled the Nawab's stores and fearing the consequences had either committed suicide or drowned. The stores and accounts were checked and everything was found in order.

Then, suddenly on the fourth day, Nanak appeared in the town. The Nawab heaved a sigh of relief and there was great rejoicing among his friends and relatives. But by now Nanak was a completely changed man. His face was resplendent and there was divine light in his eyes. He was in deep reflective thought. 

As word about Nanak's return spread people started thronging the place and made all sorts of remarks on him. The Nawab asked him where he had been but he remained silent. People said he was in the water for many hours so he was out of mind. But Nanak did not respond and remained silent. After a day passed he said: "There is no Hindu, there is no Mussalman." Each time he spoke he repeated these words.

The Janamsakhi describes the incident as a communion with God who gave him a cup of nectar to drink and charged him with the mission in the following words:

"Nanak I am with thee. Through thee will my name be magnified. Whosoever follows thee, him will I save. Go into the world to pray and teach mankind how to pray. Be not sullied by the ways of the world. Let your life be one of praise of the Word (nam), charity (dan), ablution (isnan), service (seva) and prayer (simran). Nanak I give thee my pledge. Let this be thy life's mission." 

.The Mysterious voice spoke again: "Nanak he whom you bless will be blessed by Me; he to whom you are benevolent shall receive My benevolence. I am the Great God, the Supreme Creator. Thou art the Guru, The Supreme Guru of God."

Nanak is said to have received the robe of honour from the hands of God Himself who Revealed to him the Divine Reality.  

It is significant to understand here, that though the Muslims were the main persecutors of the Hindus and the Sikhs Nanak's utterance: "There is no Hindu, there is no Mussalman"  was meant to disregard the conflict with them in the spirit of a spiritually aroused person, one who bears ill-feelings towards none. The greatest tribute, the world can pay him is by realising the depth and intensity of his message.  While many religions make idealistic statements of  "One God"  a question needs to be asked in today's climate of the dominance of one religion over the other,  whether they truly practice that philosophy? That is why, perhaps, Guru Nanak laid emphasis on ethics and morality in religion.  It was truly the greatness of Nanak who saw and experienced the persecution caused by the Muslim rulers and yet believed in the ideal of life - equality in all realms of human living. It was the ideal of Nanak, the Guru and the greatest teacher.

(This painting by Arpana Caur depicts Guru Nanak's philosophy that there is one God)

The Revelation, therefore,  was the culmination of a spiritual direction his childhood and youth had taken. The silences, the questioning of beliefs and petty prejudices all were part of his life's journey leading to his spiritual enlightenment. When he reappeared he provided a new spiritual and humanistic message of universality. Nanak, the teacher of his people was now ready and spoke with the courage of truth when he spoke the words: "There is no Hindu, there is no Mussalman." It was the message of ONENESS  of humanity that would go out to millions in his lifetime and in the centuries to come.

(Picture Credits: Agam Sharma via Pixabay)

 

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