Baba Guru Nanak and the Sacred Word
Baba Guru Nanak (1469-1539) emerged as a pivotal figure in the religious landscape of the Punjab region. Born into a Hindu merchant family in Nankana Sahib, he transcended his initial Hindu upbringing to forge a unique spiritual path. Trained in Persian and familiar with the practices of contemporary sufis and bhaktas, he traveled extensively, spreading his teachings.
Nanak's core message revolved around nirguna bhakti, or devotion to the formless God, which stood in contrast to the rituals and scriptures of both Hinduism and Islam. He emphasized a personal connection with the rab (God) that rejected formal practices such as sacrifices and idol worship. Instead, he promoted the remembrance of the Divine Name through hymns—known as shabad—performed in ragas, a musical tradition, accompanied by his disciple Mardana on the rabab. Though his intention was not to establish a new religion, after his demise, his followers began to formalize their practices, ultimately leading to the creation of Sikhism under the leadership of his successors, especially Guru Arjan, who compiled the Adi Granth Sahib, encompassing hymns that included contributions from contemporary poets like Kabir. The significance of Guru Nanak lies not only in his theological contributions but also in the way he laid the groundwork for one of the world's major religions.