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Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak

Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak is situated in the city Dera Baba Nanak which is located in Gurdaspur District of Punjab, India. It is about 1 kms from the Indo-Pakistan border and on the east bank of River Ravi. To its west is located the town of Kartarpur (Ravi) which is located in Pakistan.

As its name implies, this shrine is connected with Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhi. The Guru used to meditate on God by the well called "Ajita Randhawa da khooh" after his first udasi in 1506. On the stage situated in the Gurdwara sahib, Guru Ji had discussion with Ajita Randhawa.

Guru Nanak, the first master, spent the last days of his temporal life at Gurudwara Dera Baba Nanak. The exact location of Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak is on the left (or east) bank of Ravi River adjacent to the present-day Indo-Pak border. Guru Nanak Dev used to visit this site for meditation.

On the right (or west) bank of river Ravi Guru Nanak Dev founded the city of Kartarpur. At the age of seventy, Guru Nanak Dev Ji left for his heavenly abode from here. The Gurdwara marking the location of the Guru's heavenly departure is in the territory of Pakistan. However, you can see it standing ashore the East bank of River Ravi or from the town Dera Baba Nanak at a distance of about 4 or 5 Kms across the border line. .....More

Guru Nanak

Sikhism is the youngest of the world religions; it is barely five hundred years old. Its founder, Guru Nanak, was born in 1469. Guru Nanak spread a simple message of "Ek Ong Kar": we are all one, created by the "One Creator of all Creation".

This was at a time when India was being torn apart by casteism, sectarianism, religious factions, and fanaticism. He aligned with no religion, and respected all religions. He expressed the reality that there is only one God and many paths, and the Name of God is Truth, "Sat Nam".

Guru Nanak's followers were called Sikhs -seekers of truth. He taught them to bow only before God, and to link themselves to the Guru, the Light of Truth, who lives always in direct consciousness of God, experiencing no separation. Through words and example, the Guru demonstrates to followers how to experience God within themselves, bringing them from darkness into light.

The first Sikh Guru was a humble bearer of this Light of Truth. He opposed superstition, injustice, and hypocrisy and inspired seekers by singing divine songs which touched the hearts of the most callous listeners. These songs were recorded, and formed the beginnings of the Sikhs' sacred writings, later to become the "Siri Guru Granth Sahib". ....Continued

Did you know...

• ..... that Hazrat Mian Mir was a famous Muslim Sufi saint who is highly respected by the Sikhs. He was a close friend of the Sikh leader Guru Arjan Dev, upon whose invitation he laid the foundation stone of the famous Sikh Golden Temple in Amritsar on 3 January 1588.

• ..... that the word Singh from Sanskrit sinha which means Lion and is an essential component of the name for a Sikh male.

• ..... that the Sikh concept of Sarbaht dah Phahla which means "Blessings for Everyone" or literally "May everyone Prosper" is a new concept for many people and is not common knowledge for many followers of the Sikh religion.

• .....that Guru Ram Das ji was born at Chuna Mandi Bazaar, Lahore on 24th September 1534 and spent the first seven years of his life here and that his name before obtaining Guruship was Bhai Jetha which means the first born.

Once there was no rain in a particular area for an extended period resulting danger to the crops. In some areas, the crops had already been destroyed.

So the local people of that area decided to do Ardas - a prayer or supplication to God so that their crops may be saved. Many hundreds of people gathered together at the designated place for this Ardas.

While this gathering was in progress, a passing Sikh Saint stopped by. He asked one of the crowd why there was such a big crowd gathered and what was the purpose of the gathering. One of them told the Sikh Saint that that they had gathered here to do Ardas because the crops will be destroyed in the absence of rain; they were going to ask God for rain.

The Saint said that was a good thing that they were doing an ardas but he did not see anyone carrying an umbrellas or "barsatie" (rain coats)…. When Waheguru (God) accepted your Ardas then there will be lot of rain. One group leader laughingly said, "But we do not know whether it will rain or not."

The Saint said, "How will your Ardas be accepted when you do not have faith in Waheguru" . He told them all to go home .

....More

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Sikhi FAQ...

Q. Can Sikhs have tattoos?
	A. I don't believe there is anything directly written against or in favour of tattoos in the Sikh scriptures. Tattoos can be grouped with "extreme make-up" which the Guru calls "decorations" and I ask you.. .....More

Kirtania Bhai Dharam Singh Zakhmi
Photo by Flickr See also Sikhi at Flickr

Sikh Taxi driver's story on 9 News

Watch this video (1.60 mins) on YouTube of the a Sikh cabbie in Australia who has set an example of honesty after he returned 110,000 Australian dollars to passengers who had left the bundle of cash in his taxi. The incident happened in Melbourne recently (October 2013) when the cab driver Lakhwinder Singh Dhillon was doing his routine job of picking and dropping passenger .....Watch, listen, read & ponder...

• Can Hindu law cover Sikhs, Jains & Buddhists asks the Supreme Court If Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism are separate and distinct religions, can followers of these faiths be bracketed as Hindus under the Constitution and be governed by Hindu personal law, the Supreme Court asked before issuing notice to the Centre and attorney general G E Vahanvati.
• Film reveals Canadian Sikh community’s World War I stories - On Remembrance Day another little known part of Canadian history was brought to light by the hour-long documentary “Canadian Soldier Sikhs: A Little Story in a Big War.”

Interesting articles
	The links below are to articles that have a Sikhi message presented in a new and interesting way. Please spent a few minutes reading some of these articles:

Sikhi on Youtube!
	On the 28th March 2012, a new YouTube channel was launched for the global Sikh community. Basics of Sikhi has released more than 40 videos focusing on spreading the wisdom of the Sikh Gurus. The main philosophy of the channel is to simply teach the basics wisdom of Guru in a way that avoids..... → read more

Jo Mangay Thakur Apnay Tae Sohe Sohe Dhava
	This wonderful Shabad by Guru Arjan in Raag Dhanasari is beautifully sang by Ustaad Baljeet Singh Namdhari "Whatever I ask for from my Lord and Master, he gives that to me". ...... Listen, read & enjoy

If only someone would unite me with the Lord!
	Watch this video in 2 parts of beautiful katha by ragi Guriqbal Singh and Jatha, of Gurbani shabads "Koee jan har sio dhaevai jor" If only someone would unite me with the Lord! - A slow, smooth and devotional peformance by ragi ji .....Read,    watch, listen & ponder...

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