Maarg Manthan · Topic 5.12

Guru Nanak and the Founding of Sikhism

Medieval History › Bhakti and Sufi Movement · Topic 5.12

Guru Nanak (born 1469 at Talwandi, died 1538 or 1539 at Kartarpur) taught one God, devotion through the Name, honest work, sharing and the guidance of a guru, and made no plan for a new religion. His successors gave the movement institutions: Guru Arjun compiled the Adi Granth and built at Amritsar, and the clash with the Mughal state after his execution turned the community into a military brotherhood.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Bhakti and Sufi Movement

At a Glance

Founder Guru Nanak, born 1469 at Talwandi
Teaching One God, the Name, honest work, sharing
Base Kartarpur
Scripture Adi Granth, compiled by Guru Arjun
Turning point Execution of Guru Arjun by Jahangir
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Bhakti and Sufi Movement

Where Does It Fit?

This is the twelfth topic of the category on the Bhakti and Sufi movement. The previous topic described the interaction of Bhakti and Sufism, which formed Nanak’s background, and this topic describes the faith that grew from it. The next and last topic of the category assesses the impact of the Bhakti and Sufi movements. Previous topic: Interaction and Syncretism Between Bhakti and Sufi Traditions.

Who Was Guru Nanak?

In short: Guru Nanak was a nirguna Bhakti saint of the Punjab whose teachings, preserved and organised by his successors, grew into the Sikh faith.

Item	Detail
Birth	1469, in a Khatri family at Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib); father Mehta Kalu; sister Bebe Nanaki
Career	Trained in Persian for accountancy; worked at Sultanpur Lodhi under Ibrahim Lodi, who succeeded Sikandar…">Daulat Khan Lodi
Vision	A mystic vision about 1496 after a disappearance in the Bein river, per later accounts
Travels	Said to have toured widely, with Mardana, to Sri Lanka and to Mecca and Medina; the historicity of some journeys is debated
Kartarpur	Settled in later life; farmed, taught honest work, and set up the sangat and communal kitchen, the langar
Successor	Passed the guruship to Bhai Lehna, named Guru Angad, not to his sons
Death	1538 or 22 September 1539, at Kartarpur

Much of his life is known only from janamsakhis written centuries later, so the stories are tradition and not firm history.

What Did He Teach?

Nanak laid stress on one God, by repeating whose name and dwelling on it with love and devotion one could gain salvation without distinction of caste, creed or sect. He insisted on purity of character and conduct as the first condition of approaching God and on the need of a guru. He denounced idol worship, pilgrimages and other formal observances. He advocated a middle path in which spiritual life could be joined with a householder’s duties. His hymns, 974 in all, are in the Guru Granth Sahib, including the Japji Sahib. He had no intention of founding a new religion, and his broad approach aimed to bridge Hindus and Muslims.

How Did the Gurus Build Sikhism?

The movement developed through the institution of guruship. The first four gurus continued the tradition of quiet meditation and scholarship. The fifth guru, Arjun, completed the compilation of the Sikh scriptures, the Adi Granth or Granth Sahib, which includes hymns of Nanak and also verses of Kabir, Ravidas and Baba Farid. To show that the guru combined spiritual and worldly leadership, he began to live in an aristocratic style, built lofty buildings at Amritsar, wore fine clothes, kept fine horses from Central Asia and kept retainers. He also began collecting offerings of one-tenth of Sikhs’ income for the movement.

How Did Relations with the Mughals Change?

Guru	Event
Akbar’s time	Akbar was deeply impressed by the gurus and is said to have visited them at Amritsar
Guru Arjun	Imprisoned and killed by Jahangir on a charge of helping the rebel prince Khusrau with money and prayers
Guru Hargobind	Briefly imprisoned, then on good terms with Jahangir; clashed with Shah Jahan over a hawk, a new city on the Beas and two horses
Guru Tegh Bahadur	Executed in 1675 under Aurangzeb
Guru Gobind Singh	Founded the Khalsa in 1699

As an analytical point, the Sikh movement is the one among the Bhakti-era movements in which religion played a strong role in a political clash, and the execution of two gurus pushed it from a peaceful sect towards a military brotherhood. For the rise of political power, see The Sikh Kingdom and Rise of Sikh Political Power Under Ranjit Singh.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Origin of a faith One of the key examples of Bhakti turning into a separate religion
Institutions Guruship, langar and the Adi Granth are common facts
Mughal link Explains the transition to a military order

What Came Next?

The next topic assesses the impact of the Bhakti and Sufi movements on society and the growth of religious harmony. Next topic: Impact of the Bhakti and Sufi Movements on Medieval Indian Society and Religious Syncretism.

Key People and Terms

Langar Communal kitchen
Sangat Congregation
Adi Granth Sikh scripture compiled by Guru Arjun
Janamsakhi Biography of Nanak
Guru Angad Second guru
Japji Nanak’s opening hymn

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Nanak born 1469; died 1538 or 1539.
Kartarpur: langar and sangat.
Guru Arjun compiled the Adi Granth.
Jahangir executed Guru Arjun.
Khalsa: 1699.

Do Not Confuse With

Nanak and Kabir Founder of Sikhism versus the weaver saint
Adi Granth and Guru Granth Sahib Early name versus the final form
Guru Arjun and Guru Tegh Bahadur Executed under Jahangir versus under Aurangzeb

Memory Hook

Nanak teaches, Angad follows, Arjun compiles and dies, Gobind forms the Khalsa.

Mains Angle

Questions on Sikh origins ask how a Bhakti movement became a separate faith. These points add depth.

Origin Nirguna Bhakti and Sufi background
Institutions Guruship, scripture and langar
Politics Clash with the Mughals

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“How did the Sikh movement develop from the teachings of Guru Nanak into a distinct religion?”

How to Answer

Nanak Teachings and Kartarpur.
Gurus Guruship and Adi Granth.
Clash Arjun’s execution.
Result Khalsa and a military brotherhood.

GS Relevance

Prelims: Guru Nanak and the Sikh gurus. GS Paper 1: the origin of Sikhism and its growth under the Mughals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who founded Sikhism?

Guru Nanak is regarded as the founder of Sikhism. Born in 1469 at Talwandi, he taught one God and the need for a guru, and his ideas gave birth to a new creed over time, though he had no plan to found a new religion.

What is the langar?

The langar is the communal kitchen that Guru Nanak established at Kartarpur along with congregations called sangat. It served food to all irrespective of caste, and it became a lasting and central institution of Sikhism.

What is the Adi Granth?

The Adi Granth or Granth Sahib is the Sikh scripture compiled by the fifth guru, Arjun. It contains the hymns of Nanak and also verses of saints such as Kabir, Ravidas and Baba Farid, which shows its link to Bhakti and Sufi thought.

Why did Jahangir execute Guru Arjun?

Jahangir imprisoned and killed Guru Arjun on a charge of helping the rebel prince Khusrau with money and prayers. The clash with the Mughal state grew from this event and moved the Sikh community towards a military organisation.

How did Sikhism become a separate religion?

The guruship gave the movement leaders and institutions, Guru Arjun compiled its scripture, and clashes with the Mughals led to the Khalsa of 1699 under Guru Gobind Singh. Over time the creed became distinct from Hinduism and Islam.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Guru Arjun compiled the Adi Granth.

True

He was the fifth guru.

2 Guru Nanak established the langar at Kartarpur.