Guru Nanak Dev Ji returned to the Punjab after many months. He wished to end his days in the country-side he knew and loved best. So he settled down with his family at a small town named Kartarpur. One question kept troubling him, “are not all men equal? When then is the Brahmin regarded as […]
Guru Nanak Dev Ji returned to the Punjab after many months. He wished to end his days in the country-side he knew and loved best. So he settled down with his family at a small town named Kartarpur.
One question kept troubling him, “are not all men equal? When then is the Brahmin regarded as holier than the Sweeper? Surely this division of man from man is inhuman?” (Guru) Nanak often said.
So he decided to true and change the system which by building walls better men cause such bitterness.
“I will make sure that that any men or women who come to me, be they rich or poor, or high case or low, shall eat together. They shall take it in turn to cook and wash dishes. For why should only the Brahmin be considered clean enough to cook?” Nanak said. “And moreover all shall recite prayers. Then we shall have no priests who can look down other men.”
Large numbers of people began to gather to see (Guru) Nanak and hear him speak of god. (Guru) Nanak told them how they should live. He asked them to wake up three hours before sunrise, bathe in the stream and then go to the temple to recite morning prayers and sing hymns. Thereafter they were to be free to earn their livings. In the evening after having done a full day’s work, be it farming, shop-keeping or weaving, the people were asked to gather to pray and sing hymns. After this they all dined together in the temple. Before going to bed to sleep, everyone was expected to say another short prayer.
This become the life of work and prayer of (Guru) Nanak’s followers all over the country.