Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, was born in an epoch making-period, the period of adventure, discovery, inquiry and renaissance. The adventures and discoveries not only led to physical achievements but also to colonialization, domination, oppression and invasion, while the inquiry and renaissance led to the search into human existence and reformation the oppressive systems.
The famous oppressors, invaders, traders and travellers like Bahlol Lodhi (1451-1489), Sikander Lodhi (1486-1517), Ibrahim Lodhi (1517-1526), Babar (1483-1530), Columbus (discover America in 1942) and Vasco-Da-Gaama (discovered sea route to India in 1498), co-existed along with eminent reformists, sages and saints like Guru Nanak (1469-1538) Vallabhacharya (1479-1530), Chaitnya Mahaprabhu (1486-1533) Kabir (1440-1518) Namdev (1217-1351), Sankardev (1490-1637) Mira Bai (1499-1570), Eknath (1528-1595/1609), Dadoo (1544-1603), Tuka Ram (1608-1648), Isasmus (1466-1536), Zawang (1484-1531) Calvin (1564-1605) and Saint Francis Xavier (1506-52).
The political, cultural and religious situations were both disturbing and balancing. The political turmoil was countered by religious renaissance. The state of the political turmoil has been well described by Guru Nanak himself :- "This age is like a dragon sword
The kings are butchers, Goodness has taken wings and flown:¹. He adds :-
"There is no one who receives or gives Not bribes.
The King administers justice only When his palm has been greased (filled)'.
The gloriously rich tradition of religious tolerance was powerless against the tyranny of the epoch of the extreme bigotism. Dissent was carried to a point of intolerance and intolerance to unrivalled persecution. The warriors had conflicting desires to conquer and achieve wordly gains. They, came not as conquerors, but enemies and the face of Indian history was marred, if not charred, with these suppressive forces, for it was not the policies but the institutions which were ruthtessly oppressed. The invaders had trampled the rich civilisation of ages under their feet, without the silghtest remorse or inequity.
In an era of contention and in the background of these disabilities, the epoch of transition and interregnum in a suffering country, only a spiritual revolution could survive.
Backdrop to these historical developements in India, in which Guru Nanak chose his path are hence of consequence. From tenth century onwards, successive hordes of invaders had poured in from Central Asia. As the highway to Delhi lay through the Punjab, the greatest suffering was caused to the people of this province.
Bhai Gurdhas (1531-1639 A.D.) described this situation in Guru Nanak's biographical accounts :-
"Degeneration occurred in the world, leading to the four-caste division and enactments about four stages of life. The sanyasis were divided into ten, and the yogis belonged to twelve. Various orders of hermits, Jain monks and unclad recluses had set up endless recrimination debate, None practised the way of salvation."
Hindu (935)
Agriculture (118)
Ancient (1086)
Archaeology (753)
Architecture (563)
Art & Culture (910)
Biography (702)
Buddhist (544)
Cookery (167)
Emperor & Queen (565)
Islam (242)
Jainism (307)
Literary (896)
Mahatma Gandhi (372)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist