Gurdwara Janam Asthan referred to birth place of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder & first Guru of Sikhism, (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539) was born in Rāi Bhoi Kī Talvaṇḍī, Present day NankanaSahib, Punjab, Pakistan, approx 75 kilometres from Lahore. Sikhs around the world celebrate Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth on the Pooranmashi (full moon) day in the Lunar month of Katak (October-November).

Quote: "Even Kings & Emperors with Heaps of Wealth & Vast Dominion cannot compare with an Ant filled with the love of God".

Facts

1. From an early age, it was evident that Nanak was an extraordinary child, distinguished by his divine grace. Growing up, he refused to take part in traditional religious rituals, & often spoke out against several societal practices.

2. He meditated & sang hymns accompanied by Bhai Mardana on the rabab (a stringed instrument). During one of those early mornings while bathing in “Vain Nadi” (a small river), Guru Nanak heard God‘s call to dedicate himself completely to the service of humanity. He then began the next stage of his life, to preach his unique doctrine (Sikhi) to the entire world.

3. For the next 30 years, accompanied by Bhai Mardana, Guru Nanak undertook four major spiritual journeys, running across India, South Asia, Tibet & Arabia, covering about 30,000 kilometers.

4. In the later years, Guru ji settled down at the township of Kartarpur ("creator's town"), on the banks of river Ravi in Punjab. He donned the robes of a peasant, earning his own honest living by cultivating the lands. Followers came from near and far to listen to the Master.

5. He introduced the institution of Langar (free communal kitchen) at Kartarpur, establishing the basic equality of all people regardless of their social and economic status.

6. In the year 1539, Guru Ji, after having tested his own two sons & some followers, installed Bhai Lehna ji (Guru Angad Dev Ji) as the Second Nanak, & after a few days passed into Sach khand.

7. Guru Nanak's writings, in the form of 974 spiritual hymns comprising the Japji Sahib, Asa di Var, Bara Mah, Sidh Gosht & Dakhni Onkar were incorporated in the scripture "Guru Granth Sahib" by the fifth Guru Arjan Dev ji.