Guru Nanak Flashcards
What is Bhakti?
Loving devotion to a personal God. Worshipping together through dancing and singing.
What is Sufism?
It is the name given to Islamic mysticism. Congregations formed around a master which met for spiritual reasons.
What are the Sants?
They worship the name (nam) or truth (sat) of God. Men and women of any social status worshipped together. This is how Nanak taught his followers to worship.
What are the three pillars?
Kirt karo
Nam simran
Vand kakko
What is kirt karo?
Honest living.
What is Nam simran?
Personal meditation/worship to God.
What is vand kakko?
Giving to charity.
When was Nanak born and when did he die?
1469-1539.
What caste was Nanak born into and where?
Kshatriyas (second highest behind Brahmins) in Punjab when it was under Muslim control.
Who was Nanak married to?
Mate Sulakhni
What happened to Nanak when he was 30?
Disappeared in river Ganges for 3 days where he was enlightened and now one with God (waheguru). When he returned he said “There is neither Hindu nor Musleman.”
When did Nanak become guru?
Aged 30 after his enlightenment.
Who did Nanak go on his 4 major journeys with?
Mardana (Muslim) and Lehna (Hindu).
What are the key parts of Nanak’s life?
- Member of Kshatriya caste in punjab when Punjab was in Muslim control.
- Highly intelligent and spiritual as a child.
- Disappeared for 3 days in river Ganges. Enlightened “NHNM”. 30.
- 4 major journeys across India with Mardana and Lehna, preached waheguru, 3 pillars and sewa.
- Influenced by Sants.
- Established special community at Kartapur based on Sikh principles of honest living and sewa.
- Died aged 70. Asked about which flowers to put on his bed.
What are Nanak’s main teachings?
- Criticised Hindu caste system so created langar (a free kitchen for all regardless of caste).
- Sewa - Selfless service (Gurdwara).
- Three pillars.
- Achieving Mukti (enlightenment) - becoming one with God.
- Becoming Gurmurkh and less Manmurk - do good deeds to all.
- Meaningless rituals.
