Guru Nanak Dev Ji

Guru Nanak was born in a small village called Talwandi in Punjab, and even as a boy he asked deep questions about God. When he grew up, he taught that there is only one God, and that no one is higher or lower because of caste, wealth or gender.

He travelled long distances on foot, all the way to Assam, Sri Lanka and even Mecca, singing gentle songs about love and truth. Wherever he went, he started community kitchens called langar, where anyone — rich or poor — could sit down together and share a warm meal.

His teachings became the beginning of the Sikh faith.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born in 1469 at Nankana Sahib, in today's Pakistan, and lived until 1539. He rejected empty rituals and taught three simple ideas: Naam Japo (remember the Divine), Kirat Karo (do honest work) and Vand Chhako (share what you have with others).

His central belief, Ik Onkar, means 'there is one God, one universal Creator'.

He made four long journeys known as udasis, meeting Hindu, Muslim, Jain and Buddhist teachers and singing his own devotional poetry with his companion, the Muslim musician Mardana. His hymns were later collected into the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs.

By starting langar — the free community kitchen open to everyone — he made a strong statement against caste divisions. Nine more Sikh Gurus followed him, but Guru Nanak's voice remains the foundation of the faith.