Three Days in the River

Each day before sunrise, Guru Nanak would go to the river to bathe in the cold water and sing God's praises. But one day he disappeared and could not be found. His clothes were still lying next to the riverbank, but there was no sign of Nanak. His friends walked up and down calling , "Nanak, Nanak," hoping against hope that they would find him. They grew afraid that he had drowned.

But Nanak was far from the reach of any of them. He was in a divine trance in which he was sitting in God's own presence. God gave him a cup of nectar and said, "I am with you. Go and repeat My Name, and teach others to do the same." Nanak was so filled with love for God that he sang the first part of the Japji: "Ek Ong Kaar, Sat Naam, Kartaa Purakh, Nirbhao, Nirvair, Akaal Moorat, Ajoonee, Saibhang, Gurprasaad, Jap. Aad Sach, Jugaad Sach, Haibee Sach, Naanak Hosee Bhee Sach!" God looked upon him with infinite kindness and said, "My Name is God, and you are the divine Guru."

After three days, Nanak came out of the river. The villagers gasped in disbelief. They had given up any hope of ever seeing him again. For a long time, he said nothing. Finally, when he did speak, he said, "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim." From that day on, he spread the message to everyone that all are equal, and equally loved by God, no matter how they worship him. He also taught that the best way to show their love for God is by praising His Name.