Guru Nanak was an Enlightened Master who founded the Sikh Religion. He was born in 1469 in West Punjab in a town which falls in Pakistan today. He was born at a time when there was corruption in both Hinduism and Islam and the religious authorities did whatever they pleased and the common man suffered at their hands. Guru Nanak’s teachings of Oneness of God – Ek Omkaar Satnam- appealed to all. His teachings are compiled in the Holy Book of Sikhs – The Guru Granth Saheb.
Guru Nanak’s parents had a grocery store and young Nanak was asked to sit and mind the store. Nanak was taking stock of the goods and began to count: Ek, do, teen.... (one, two, three... ) gyara, barah, terah... ( eleven, twelve, thirteen..) The minute he reached terah or thirteen – he stopped. Terah also means ‘Yours’. Nanak realised that all was God’s. He was filled with bliss and went into deep meditation for hours.
Once, Guru Nanak and one of his disciples Mardana, went to Mecca in Arabia. The Guru travelled to Surat, which is a seaport near Bombay and from there they boarded a ship with some Mohammedan travelers who were on a pilgrimage. After a few weeks they reached Mecca and the holy Kaaba. The Kaaba is a cuboid shaped building and is the most sacred site in Islam. It was constructed by Abraham and his son Ishmael and is called the ‘House of God’ (Allah). There is mosque constructed around the Holy Kaaba.
Guru Nanak and Mardana were very tired after long travels. Guru Nanak lay down to take rest and fell asleep immediately. His feet were towards the Kaaba. The travellers, his companions, were very much surprised. Guru Nanak appeared to be a holy man and talked like one but he was doing something stupid: his legs were towards the great Kaaba when he lay down and fell asleep. They became very much afraid; this was a sacrilege and could cause uproar. The chief priest came to check. Guru Nanak looked like a holy man and not an atheist. But he did not look like a Muslim and had committed an offensive act. The decision was taken to throw him out.
Guru Nanak’s sleep was disturbed due to the noise buzzing around him. He opened his eyes and asked what the matter was. The priest said that Guru Nanak had committed a sin by sleeping with his feet pointed to the Holy Kaaba. He was asked to immediately move his feet away from that direction and place it elsewhere and sleep. Guru Nanak smiled. He said: You can place my legs anywhere. But wherever my legs are, they will always point towards God. For I know that God is everywhere! Hearing this, the priest was very angry and he caught hold of Guru Nanak’s feet and dragged them in another direction. And the Holy Kaaba moved in the same direction as Guru Nanak’s feet! The upset priest moved Guru Nanak’s feet in every direction and the Holy Kaaba too moved that direction.
Guru Nanak was an enlightened soul. He lived in the awareness of the Presence of God in every particle of Creation. God is everywhere. Once we find God within ourselves, we can find Him everywhere. God exists in all places. This truth was shown by Guru Nanak.
Guru Nanak replied, "There is one God. He is Truth. He makes everything. He is not afraid of anyone. He is not born. He never dies. He is self-made. We need only think of Him and pray to Him and He is ever present to help us."
