Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Gurpurab will be celebrated by millions of Sikhs around the world this week, yet the majority will celebrate without truly knowing who He is.
Most Sikhs misunderstand Guru Sahib’s identity and status in the world. For instance, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is often seen as a social reformer, someone who brought people from all faiths “back” to the core message of each religion.
Yet this perspective is a misconception and reflects a limited understanding of Guru Sahib’s contribution to the world.
In a 1969 article in The Sikh Review, Sirdar Kapur Singh argues that Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji cannot be considered a reformer, a term implying the restoration of old doctrines. Guru Sahib Ji had no allegiance to the doctrines of Hinduism or Islam, nor did He attempt to “reconnect” anyone to their messages.
In fact, He rejected all other doctrines, establishing a Dharam that was fundamentally new and distinct from all prior religions.
In Sirdar Kapur Singh’s words:
Indeed, the Avtar Purab of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji was an unprecedented event in the history of all humanity. The essence of this event is that Akal Purakh Waheguru, in the Guru-Joti form, manifested in the world in a human body for the first time.
As Bhai Nand Lal Ji wrote:
ਹੱਕਸ਼ ਆਫ਼ਰੀਦਾ ਜ਼ਿ ਨੂਰਿ ਕਰਮ
Waheguru created him (Guru Nanak) out of His own light,
ਅਜ਼ੋ ਆਲਮੇ ਰਾ ਫ਼ਯੂਜ਼ਿ ਆਤਮ ॥ ੨ ॥
The whole world, then, receives many blessings from him.
Bhai Randhir Singh Ji writes:
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Patshah came with a mission to offer salvation to the world, something all previous Mahapurakhs were unable to accomplish. As Sri Dasmesh Pitajee said:
ਸਭ ਅਪਨੀ ਅਪਨੀ ਉਰਝਾਨਾ ॥ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਕਾਹੂ ਨ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥
Everyone placed his own interest first and foremost and did not comprehend God.
And:
ਸਭ ਤੇ ਅਪਨਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਾਯੋ ॥ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਾਹੂੰ ਨ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਾਯੋ ॥੨੭॥
They caused all to utter their own name and did not enshrine Satnaam in anyone. ||27||
– Sri Dasam Granth
But Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji praised only Akal Purakh. With His arrival, the mist of darkness began to clear:
ਭਇਆ ਅਨੰਦ ਜਗਤੁ ਵਿਚਿ ਕਲਿ ਤਾਰਨ ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਆਇਆ।
The world filled with bliss because Guru Nanak came to give deliverance to the Age of Darkness.
ਹਿੰਦੂ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਣਿ ਨਿਵਾਇਆ ॥੩੭॥
Hindus and Muslims alike bowed before him.
– Bhai Gurdas Ji
For this reason, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji must be regarded as more than merely a saint or a prophet like those who preceded Him. He was the one and only True “Guru”—a word with profound implications in Gurbani:
ਗੁਰੁ ਈਸਰੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਗੋਰਖੁ ਬਰਮਾ ਗੁਰੁ ਪਾਰਬਤੀ ਮਾਈ ॥
The Guru is Shiva, the Guru is Vishnu and Brahma; the Guru is Paarvati and Lakshmi.
Guru Granth Sahib Ji: 2
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is the embodiment of all gods and deities. Indeed, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is the form of Akal Purakh Himself:
ਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਹਰਿ ਸੋਇ ॥੪॥੭॥੯॥
Nanak is the Guru; Nanak is the Lord Himself. ||4||7||9||
Guru Granth Sahib Ji: 864
It’s time for Sikhs to understand the true status of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He is beyond gods, prophets, deities, saints, and “gurus” of any other religion. This is why Gurbani declares:
ਸਭ ਤੇ ਵਡਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਜਿਨਿ ਕਲ ਰਾਖੀ ਮੇਰੀ ॥੪॥੧੦॥੫੭॥
The highest of all is Satguru Nanak, who has protected (saved) me during Kaljug.
Guru Granth Sahib Ji: 750
This Gurpurab, let’s proclaim this loudly, as per the Hukam of Gurbani:
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਵਡਾ ਕਰਿ ਸਾਲਾਹੀਐ ਜਿਸੁ ਵਿਚਿ ਵਡੀਆ ਵਡਿਆਈਆ ॥
Praise the True Guru by exalting His greatness; He, within whom, is the greatest greatness.
Guru Granth Sahib Ji: 473
ਅਬਿਗਤਿ ਅਲਖ ਅਭੇਵ ਅਗਮ ਅਪਾਰ ਅਨੰਤ ਗੁਰ ।
Eternal, imperceptible, fearless, beyond reach, illimitable, infinite and destroyer of the darkness of ignorance
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪੂਰਨ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥੧॥੨॥
Waheguru (Lord) who is transcendental and immanent in the form of Guru Nanak Dev.
ਅਗਮ ਅਪਾਰ ਅਨੰਤ ਗੁਰ ਅਬਿਗਤ ਅਲਖ ਅਭੇਵ ।
The embodiment of formless God, who is imperishable, beyond description, inaccessible, illimitable, infinite and destroyer of darkness of ignorance.
ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪੂਰਨ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ॥੨॥੨॥
Satgur (True Guru) Nanak Dev is the immanent form of God.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਦੇਵ ਦੇਵੀ ਸਭ ਧਿਆਵਹਿ ।
All gods and goddesses contemplate on the True Guru, Guru Nanak Dev.
ਨਾਦ ਬਾਦ ਬਿਸਮਾਦ ਰਾਗ ਰਾਗਨਿ ਗੁਨ ਗਾਵਹਿ ।
They along with minstrels of heaven sing his praises to the accompaniment of musical instruments producing ecstatic music.
ਸੁੰਨ ਸਮਾਧਿ ਅਗਾਧਿ ਸਾਧ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਸਪਰੰਪਰ ।
Saints and holy men in his company (Guru Nanak) go in deep meditation and state of nothingness,
ਅਬਿਗਤਿ ਅਲਖ ਅਭੇਵ ਅਗਮ ਅਗਮਿਤਿ ਅਪਰੰਪਰ ॥੩॥੨॥
And get absorbed in the eternal, imperceptible, infinite, fearless, and inaccessible Lord (Satguru). (2)
– Bhai Gurdas Ji: Kabit Savaiye
