Contents
Guru Nanak
Founding Sikhism and teaching devotion to one God alongside human equality.
Japji Sahib · Asa di Var
- Born
- 1469
- Birthplace
- Talwandi, present-day Pakistan
- Died
- 1539
More people
Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak was a spiritual teacher and poet from Punjab, recognised as the first Sikh Guru. His hymns and the community he established shaped Sikh worship and ethical life.
Early life
Punjabi origins
Was born in Talwandi, now Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, into a family associated with revenue work.
Family accounts
Sikh tradition emphasises the support of his elder sister Nanaki and his early interest in spiritual questions.
Career
- Late 15th century
Sultanpur
Worked in Sultanpur before beginning his life as a religious teacher.
- Early 16th century
Teaching journeys
Tradition records extensive travels and conversations with different religious communities.
- 1520s–1539
Kartarpur community
Settled at Kartarpur, where worship, work and shared meals became part of community life.
Teachings
Japji Sahib
A foundational Sikh prayer reflecting on God, truth and spiritual discipline.
Asa di Var
Hymns addressing devotion and ethical conduct.
Sidh Gosht
A poetic dialogue on spiritual life and the path of the householder.
Beyond teaching
Householder
Married Sulakhani and had two sons; spiritual practice did not require abandoning family life.
Transmission
Named Angad as his successor, beginning the line of subsequent Sikh Gurus.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Further source: pluralism.org ↗Photo: Amritpal Singh Mann . Painted by Jaimal Singh Naqqash (1860–1916), Mehtab Singh Naqqash (1871–1940), and Hukum Singh.. CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
