How Guru Nanak Dev Ji showed the Path of Enlightenment by discarding Superstitions!

From Kurukshetra, Guru Nanak Dev went to Haridwar. On the auspicious day of Vaisakhi, a large number of priests and Hindu devotees used to gather for offering water to their dead ancestors, according to the prevailing Hindu tradition.

All those devotees were bathing in the River Ganges, and were offering water towards East, which, according to their belief, would quench the thirst of their dead ancestors. To put the pilgrims and the priests on the right path of spirituality, Guru Nanak Dev started offering water of the River Ganges towards the West, which was Punjab side. This annoyed the priests, who questioned Him, “Are You mad, that You are throwing water towards the West against the traditional ritual?” The Guru humbly replied, “My crop in West Punjab is parched due to lack of moisture and so, I am throwing water in that direction to save my crop from withering.”

The priests questioned His stupid action and said to the Guru, “How is it possible that water offered by You can irrigate Your crop hundreds of miles in the west, whereas it falls into this river itself within a few yards?” Guru Nanak Dev said, “How is it that your water being thrown towards East could possibly quench the thirst of your ancestors, who have subtle bodies and are roaming in the cosmos thousands of miles from this place?” Many of the wise priests understood His divine Wisdom and bowed before Him in reverence for His divine Knowledge.

Guru Nanak Dev told them that after reciting and meditating the Divine Name, they would definitely quench the thirst and would have their ego eradicated for getting salvation. In a lengthy discourse, they clarified their doubts and started meditating on the Divine Name.

~ Source: Sikh Faith Book
~ Written by Baba Iqbal Singh Ji