The Udasis of Guru Nanak

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Guru Nanak in the Himalayas
Painting by Ravi Bhangu


The five Divine Journeys of Guru Nanak Dev

Guru Nanak saw the world suffering out of hatred, fanaticism, falsehood and hypocrisy. The world had sunk in wickedness and sin. So he decided that he had to travel and educate and press home the message of Almighty Lord. So he set out in 1499 on his mission for the regeneration of humanity on this earth. He carried the torch of truth, heavenly love, peace and joy for mankind. For 1 year he spread his message of peace, compassion, righteousness and truth to the people in and around his home.

Then in 1500, he embarked on his Divine Mission and went towards east, west, north and south and visited various centers of Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Jainis, Sufis, Yogis and Sidhas. He met people of different religions, tribes, cultures and races. He travelled on foot with his Muslim companion named Bhai Mardana, a minstrel. His travels are called Udasis. In his first Udasi (travel), Guru Nanak covered east of India and returned home after spending about 6 years. He started from Sultanpur in 1500 and went to his village Talwandi to meet and inform his parents about his long journey. His parents wanted comfort and protection from their young son in their old age and so they told him they would prefer if he did not go. But he told them that the world was burning in the fire of Kalyug and that thousands and thousands were waiting for the Divine message of the Almighty for comfort, love and salvation. The Guru, therefore, told his parents, "There is a call from Heaven, I must go whither He directs me to go." Upon hearing these words, his parents agreed and gave their blessings. So Guru Nanak started his mission and the roots of Sikhism were laid down first towards the east of India.

According to the Puratan Janamsakhi, which is one of the oldest account of the life history of Guru Nanak states that Guru Ji undertook five missionary journeys (udasiya) to far away places like Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Mecca, Baghdad, Kamroop (Assam), and Tashkand etc. Guru ji travelled far and wide to spread the word of Gurbani and covered most of India, present day Bangladesh, Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, South West China, Afganistans, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, West Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Below is a brief summary of the confirmed places where Guru Nanak visited:


  • First Udasi: (1500-1506 AD) Sultanpur, Tulamba (modern Makhdumpur, zila Multan), Panipat, Delhi, Banaras (Varanasi), Nanakmata (zila Nainital, U.P.), Tanda Vanjara (zila Rampur), Kamrup (Assam), Asa Desh (Assam), Saidpur (modern Eminabad, Pakistan), Pasrur (Pakistan), Sialkot (Pakistan).
  • Second Udasi: (1506-1513 AD) Dhanasri Valley, Sangladip (Ceylon).
  • Third Udasi: (1514-1518 AD) Kashmir, Sumer Parbat, Nepal, Tashkand.


Map of Guru Nanak Dev Ji Journeys


Alternative Account:

The following is an account by: Harbhajan Singh S.E. (retd.) 2/1 Sanjay Nagar JAMMU-180010.

To spread his gospel, Gur Nanak ji traveled widely throughout Asia . To this end he undertook four Udasis (Tours).The first udasi(1500-1505A.D) was to the central and eastern parts of India.Second udasi (1506-1509) took him to important towns and religious centers of south India, including Sri Lanka.During the third Udasi (1514-1516) Guru Nanak traveled to Gangetic plains, Bihar, Nepal, Lahsa, Leh, upto Tashkand, and back to Punjab via Kashmir valley. The fourth Udasi (1518-1521) took him to various Arab countries.


Guru Nanak Udasiya.jpg


See Also

Quotes

Guru Nanak in Shikarpur?

Read full article at: Sindi Society and Culture

"A significant factor in Hindu survival in Sindh during the Muslim period, in reasonably good shape, was the rise of Sikhism in the Punjab. Sanatan Dharma having gone moribund under prolonged Muslim rule, Sikhism came as a fresh breeze in the stale Sindhi atmosphere. The fact that the two provinces were neighbours, their people, kin and their languages allied, made Sikhism tick very well in Sindh. lt is believed that Guru Nanak Dev had visited Shikarpur in his wide-ranging travels. One Kanayalal of Sindh joined Guru Govind Singh, who made it his duty to serve water to the wounded on the battle-field. Kanayalal gave water not only to the Hindu wounded but also to thc Muslim wounded. Some Sikhs thought it wrong to revive enemy soldiers. They took Kanayalal to the Guru, who appre- ciated his action and asked him to go and preach Sikh Dharma in Sindh. He came to be known as ``Khat Waro Bao (Khaat wala Bawa) because he gave his sermon while sitting on a cot."


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Travels of Guru Nanak

First Udasi · Second Udasi · Third Udasi · Fourth Udasi · Fifth Udasi