Guru Nanak
A 15th-century mystic whose radical message of one God and universal equality sparked a major world religion, Sikhism.
1469–1539 (age 70)·Founder and first guru of Sikhism·Birthday: April 15
Biography
Born into a Hindu family in a village near Lahore, Guru Nanak was a contemplative child who questioned religious rituals from a young age. His life pivoted after a profound spiritual experience in his late twenties, after which he declared, "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim." For the next two decades, he embarked on extensive journeys, called Udasis, traveling as far as Tibet, Sri Lanka, and Mecca, engaging in dialogues with scholars and saints. He settled in Kartarpur, establishing the first Sikh community, where he instituted the practice of communal meals (langar) and composed poetic hymns that form the core of the Sikh scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib. His teachings rejected caste, idol worship, and asceticism, emphasizing honest labor, sharing with others, and constant remembrance of the divine.
#1 When Guru Was Born
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Guru's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1469Born
1474Started school
1482Became a teenager
1485Could drive
1487Could vote
1490Turned 21
1499Turned 30
1509Turned 40
1519Turned 50
1529Turned 60
1539Turned 70
Key Achievements
- Founded Sikhism, a monotheistic religion now followed by over 25 million people worldwide.
- Composed hundreds of hymns that were later compiled into the Guru Granth Sahib, the central religious scripture of Sikhism.
- Established the institution of langar, the community kitchen serving free meals to all regardless of background.
- Appointed a successor, Guru Angad, ensuring the continuity of his teachings and the Sikh community.
Did You Know?
The traditional account of his life includes a miraculous three-day disappearance in a river, after which he began his ministry.
He worked as a store accountant and a herdsman before his spiritual calling.
His close companion during his travels was a Muslim musician named Bhai Mardana, who played the rabab as Nanak sang.
The city of Kartarpur, where he spent his final years, is now home to a major gurdwara visible from the Indian border.
“Truth is high, but higher still is truthful living.”
