A very Happy Gurpurab to all. Guru Nanak’s founded Sikhism  and his message is eternal.

Guru Nanak with followers, done in the Kashmiri style, taken from the book, Guru Nanak: His Life and Teachings by Roopinder Singh, published by Rupa and Co, New Delh

As we celebrate his birth anniversary, my mind goes to his bani, in which he answers the question regarding where man comes from and where he goes:

By the Lord’s order he comes
By His order he departs
From ego he is born and from ego he stays
He who surrenders himself to God’s Will is released and remains not in bondage
He meditates on the Word and practises the Name, finding deliverance
***

Without God’s remembrance life is empty
The Guru’s word dispels ignorance.
Man meets a revered soul if he is so destined
Those dedicated to Hari rejoice in truth
To His will they submit their body and soul.
I, says Nanak, would touch the feet of such men.

Guru Granth Sahib, page 152

You may also like to visit the following links:

Guru Nanak Illustrations

US Congressmen read about Guru Nanak’s Life and Teachings

Photos of Guru Nanak (Hindi) launch

A very Happy Gurpurab to all. Today is the day when Guru Nanak Dev ji came to this world to dispel fog through the light of enlightenment. Guru Nanak Dev’s message is universal, and as various man-made boundaries crumble, the world needs to understand and adopt the Guru’s message of oneness of mankind. 

I feel that the youth and the world at large is seeking Guru Nanak’s message and we have to provide it to them through every means possible. Having written “Guru Nanak: His Life and Teachings,” in 2004, I thought that the 2006 Hindi translation would enable it to reach wider audience. It did, and now I thought that I would reach for the cyber world. Today I unveiled a page on Twitter, which is devoted to the teachings of the founder of Sikhism. The venue was the Panjab Kala Bhavan where my publishers, Rupa and Co, are holding a book exhibition.  

The Twitter page, will be updated daily with a new message from Gurbani, translated into simple English every day. I must thank my friends from Intelligaia, Rajiv, Cheena, Sandeep and their team for going out of their way for translating my ideas into workable cyber solutions. The website, blog and now the Twitter page, all this I owe to their skill and enthusiasm for my projects.

From Website

The original experience of being in a Gurdwara and listening to Gurbani recitation has no substitute, but it is not possible for many people to go to a Gurdwara, and for many others to understand Gurbani in its original language. That would be ideal, but they can still get the Guru’s word through other languages and in various mediums.

Guru emphasised on “shub karam”. Now, if we look at the cyber world, we see that people are working together, across continents and civilisations without knowing each other physically. What binds them is their work ethic, and the ability to work together. This proves that all too often we are caught up with minor differences that take away our attention from the essential universality of mankind. 

Today, we have a cyber sangat that extends the reach of the message far beyond normal geographical limitations. Websites such as SikhWiki.com, Sikhnet.com and SikhChic.com have brought out various aspects of the Gurus, and Sikh religion, art and culture for the world to see.

When we are in a world which is yet evolving and which is seeking guidance, I feel that Guru Nanak’s message is what the world needs, and that too in simple English for people to understand and follow.

Besides my family and friends, a number of Chandigarhians and some foreign students were present at the event.  THANK YOU ALL.

Guru Nanak Dev ji taught us how to seek God and live a pious life while attending to our responsibilities and duties. We should not seek to “renounce” the world, because we never can; while living in the world, we must devote ourselves to God.

Please click here to read more and also to see an album of beautiful pictures.

I have uploaded selected illustrations from by book on my web album.

Please click on the thumbnails below to view them:

Guru Nanak’s message is eternal. The Guru who founded Sikhism is, indeed now being recognised globally. On the day of his birthday celebrations, let’s affirm our faith in his teachings and try to follow the path he lived and preached.
One of my favourite banis is the following composition where he dwells on the mystery of existence:
Where does he go and where from he comes?
What gives birth to him and what is it that he merges into in the end?
How is he enmeshed and how is he released?
How is he subsumed with the Eternal
He who treasures the Name in his Heart
And repeats the Name on his lips;
He who dwells in the Name becomes free from attachment like the Lord
By the Lord’s order he comes
By His order he departs
From ego he is born and from ego he stays
He who surrenders himself to God’s Will is released and remains not in bondage
He meditates on the Word and practises the Name, finding deliverance
Like birds flocking to the trees at night,
Men come into the world
Some have a peaceful existence, while others live in distress.
Every morning and evening, their eyes wander over the skies
And they roam aimlessly trapped in the cycle of their deeds.
Those seeped in the Name regard this world
As a grazier’s temporary hut in a rain-grown pasture.
The poisonous earthen vessel that contained their passions and anger is shattered
Without God’s remembrance life is empty
The Guru’s word dispels ignorance.
Man meets a revered soul if he is so destined
Those dedicated to Hari rejoice in truth
To His will they submit their body and soul.
I, says Nanak, would touch the feet of such men.

Guru Granth Sahib, page 152