Travelling by Baba Nanak
Guru Nanak is recognized as the second most traveled person. After the well-known Moroccan scholar and explorer, Ibn Battuta (1304-1369), Guru Nanak (1469 – 1539) is the second most traveled person in the world.
Between 1500 and 1524, spanning 24 years, Guru Nanak traveled more than 28,000 km. He made five major Udasis or journeys in his lifetime, most of which were on foot.
In all his travels, Bhai Mardana, a Muslim and his childhood friend, accompanied him. The two complemented each other as they traveled to distant lands. Guru Nanak would sing his spiritual Shabads (hymns) while Bhai Mardana would play the musical string instrument – the Rebab. They would create soulful music with a lasting message.
Why did Guru Nanak travel so extensively?
At a very young age, Guru Nanak began questioning the social and religious beliefs and practices around him. He was upset to see the society around him so dominated by superstition, rituals, hypocrisy, untouchability, and irrationality.
A Hindu by birth, he studied Islam at the local Madrasa, where he met his friend and companion, Mardana. Guru Nanak was quick to learn different languages, including Punjabi, Hindi, Sanskrit, and Persian, enabling him to read several religious scriptures of Hindu and Islamic faith.
The more he read, the more he questioned existing practices. He was disturbed by the irrational and often conflicting spiritual messages given by priests and other religious scholars, and he disagreed with most of them.
His thoughts and beliefs centered on the existence of one omnipresent and formless God, believing all humans, irrespective of faith, caste, or profession, were equal before the only Supreme Power. He believed there was a better way to connect with God through devotion and action, as all the answers lay within oneself.
Guru Nanak wanted to go out and enlighten people’s lives with his message of connecting with God. He felt it was his divine mission to go out and spread his spiritual message.
Back then, traveling on foot was no easy task. Loot and plunder, diseases, and wildlife were all serious threats to a traveler besides the lack of availability of food. However, none of these held back Guru Nanak from setting off to unknown lands along with Bhai Mardana, in a quest to spread his divine message.
Puratan Janamsakhi records the earliest accounts of Guru Nanak’s Udasis (journeys). As per accounts available, Guru Nanak was just 30 when he started his first Udasi, and over the next 24 years, he traveled to distant places in the North, East, West, and South of his hometown.
Besides traveling extensively within India, he traveled widely to several countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, present-day Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Tibet, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
In each of his journeys, Guru Nanak visited local religious centers and meet local priests, seers, pirs, and other scholars in an attempt to learn their spiritual customs, beliefs, and practices. He would engage with them on spiritual matters and reason with them why and how his message made rational sense in connecting with the one and only Almighty and finding inner peace in the process.
One must keep in mind the times when Guru Nanak traveled. It was a period where religion, culture, and social practices were steeped in rigid tradition, and therefore, it was not easy for an outsider from a different culture to arrive and be accepted by local people.
Yet, Guru Nanak was received very warmly by all communities wherever he traveled. His simplicity, humility, and earthy logic connected with locals, and they listened keenly to his divine message.
Such was his acceptance, there are documented instances of Guru Nanak being remembered by various names even today, including, Nanak Rimpochea (Bhutan and Sikkim), Nanak Shah, Nanak Peer (Baghdad), Nanak Rishi (Nepal), Nanak Acharya, Nanak Lama (Tibet), Nanak Vali (Egypt), Baba Nanak (Iraq), Nanak Kadamdar, Baba Foosa (China), Vali Hind (Mecca), Peer Balgdaan (Mazhar-e-Sharief), Guru Nanak Vali Hind (Russia).
Map of world depicting places visited by Guru Nanak Dev Ji
There is a debate between whether Guru Nanak returned after the First Udasi before starting the Second or whether the First and Second Udasi were combined as one extended journey.
The five journeys: Below is a brief summary of the confirmed places where Guru Nanak visited: (http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/The_Udasis_of_Guru_Nanak)
First Udasi: (1500-1506 AD) Lasted about 7 years and covered the following towns and regions: Sultanpur, Tulamba (modern Makhdumpur, zila Multan), Panipat, Delhi, Banaras (Varanasi), Nanakmata (zila Nainital, U.P.), Tanda Vanjara (zila Rampur), Kamrup (Assam), Asa Desh (Assam), Saidpur (modern Eminabad, Pakistan), Pasrur (Pakistan), Sialkot (Pakistan). Guru Nanak was of the age of 31-37.
Second Udasi: (1506-1513 AD) Lasted about 7 years and covered the following towns and regions: Dhanasri Valley, Sangladip (Ceylon). Guru Nanak was of the age of 37-44
Third Udasi: (1514-1518 AD) Lasted about 5 years and covered the following towns and regions: Kashmir, Sumer Parbat, Nepal, Tashkand, Sikkim, Tibet. Guru Nanak was of the age of 45-49
Fourth Udasi: (1519-1521 AD) Lasted about 3 years and covered the following towns and regions: Mecca and the Arab countries.
Fifth Udasi: (1523-1524 AD) Lasted about 2 years and covered the following towns and regions: Places within the Punjab. (http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/The_Udasis_of_Guru_Nanak)
After attaining spiritual enlightenment Guruji began his Udasis (travels). The main aim behind these udasis was to show the true path of life to the misled souls. His aim was also to criticise the useless rituals and customs. Guru Nanak Dev Ji travelled far and wide to remove the darkness of ignorance with his divine knowledge.
It is a difficult for the historians to prepare a chronological order of these Udasis.The main source of these, descriptions is Janam-Sakhis of Guruji.
There is a controversy regarding the number of Udasis undertaken by Guruji among the historians. On the basis of the Puratan Janam Sakhi and the Vars of Bhai Gurdas, some historians claim the number of Udasis undertaken by Guruji is four whereas some historians claim it to be five in number. But Dr. Fauja Singh and Dr. Kirpal Singh proved the number of Udasis as three which is regarded as correct.
The description of these Udasis is as follows :
1. The First Udasi : The First Udasi of Guru Nanak Sahib began approximately in 1500 A.D. He visited the eastern and the southern areas of India. During this time Bhai Mardana accompanied him. He was Guruji’s rababi too. During this Udasi Guruji visited the following places :
Starting from Sultanpur Lodhi first of all he came to Sayyidpur (Aminabad). There Guruji made Lalo his disciple. He also refused to accept food from Malik Bhago because he had earned his livelihood throughout corruption and cheating.
From Sayyidpur Guruji reached Tulumba. He met a cheat named Sajjan. He called himself a saint but acted like a cheat. Sajjan was so impressed by the Bani and the personality of Guruji that he left cheating for ever. He became a follower of Guruji. Thus Sajjan’s dera became a place of worship (Dharamsala).
From Tulumba Guru Nanak Dev ji reached Kurukshetra. Many people had gathered there because of the Solar eclipse.Guruji preached the people gathered at Kurukshetra not to believe in the superstitions of solar and lunar eclipses. He asked them to worship God and do good deeds. which is the real dharma.
From Kurukshetra, Guruji reached Panipat. From Panipat, Guruji came to Delhi. Guruji reached Haridwar from Delhi. Here Guruji saw people throwing water for their ancestors facing the sun early morning. Guruji started throwing water in the opposite direction to remove the superstitions of the people. When people asked Guruji as to what he was doing, he said that he was irrigating the fields in Punjab. When people made fun of him Guruji told them that when his water could not reach a few miles away then how could their water reach their ancestors, crores of miles away. Many people present there were impressed by Guruji.
After Haridwar, Guruji reached Gorakhmata via Kedarnath, Badrinath, and Joshimath. He met the followers of Gorakhnath there. Guruji taught them that one can not achieve salvation by wearing rings in ears, applying ash on the body, holding a stick in hand, shaving one's head and renouncing the world. The Yogis were impressed by Guruji's teachings and the name of Gorakhmata became Nanakmata.
From Gorakhmata Guruji came to Benaras. He met Pandit Chaturdas there who was also impressed by Guruji, teachings. Chaturdas and his followers too, became Guruji’s followers.
From Benaras, Guruji reached Gaya, a famous Buddhist pilgrimage. Here he made many followers.
From Gaya he went to Patna and Hazipur and influenced people by his thoughts. Guru Nanak Dev Ji reached Assam via Bengal and Bihar. At Dhubari Guruji met Shanker Dev.
At Kamrup (Assam) Guruji taught a witch named Nurshah that true beauty lies in high character.
Guruji reached Silhit via Guahati and Shillong. He met Saini Sheikh Jalal there who was also impressed by the teachings of Guruji.
From Silhit Guruji reached Dhaka. There he met the leaders of different religions.
Guruji reached Jagannath Puri in Orissa via Cuttack from Dhaka. In Puri temple, Guruji saw that many people were worshipping idols and performing god Vishnu’s Arti. He told people that idol worship is useless.God is Omnipresent. The nature always perform Arti for the Omnipresent God.
From Puri Guruji proceeded towards the south. He reached Sri Lanka via Guntur, Kanchipuram,Trichnapalli, Nagpattam, Rameshwaram and Tiravandrum. The evidence of Gurujis visits to these places found in the Jaffna area of Lanka. The King of Lanka Shivnabh or Shivnath was greatly impressed by Guruji’s personality. He became a follower of Gurji. The queen of Lanka and many other people also became his followers. There he appointed one of his followers named Jhanda Baadhi to promulgate the name of God.
While he was coming back from Lanka he reached Pakpattan spending few days in Panar, Bidar, Ujjain, Ajmer, Mathura, Rewari, Hissar and Takhatupur (Moga). He met Sheikh Braham or Sheikh Ibrahim the 10th successor of Sheikh Farid at Pakpattan. The Sufi Saint was Impressed by the thoughts of Guruji. Guruji reached Sultanpur Lodhi via Dipalpur from Pakpattan.
2. The Second Udasi : After spending some time with his family, Guru Nanak Dev Ji started his Second (travel) in 1514 A.D. This time he went towards North. In this travel he was accompanied by a blacksmith Hasu and a Chhimba named Siha. During this travel Guruji went to the following places:
Passing through the regions of Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur Guruji entered the present Himachal Pardesh. First of all he met Pir Buddan Shah who became a follower of Guruji. Guruji visited places like Bilaspur, Mandi, Suket, Rawalsar, jawalaji, Kangra, Kulu and Spiti. People from different communities became his followers.
After crossing the Spiti valley Guru Nanak Ji entered Tibet. From here he reached the Mansarovar Lake and the Kailash mountain where met many Siddh yogis. Guruji told them that, instead of sitting on hills they should go to the plains and enlighten people lost in the darkness of ignorance.\
After visiting Kailash mountain Guruji came to Ladakh. Even now, he has many followers there who have built a Gurudwara in Guruji’s memory.
Guruji reached the Amarnath Cave in Kashmir via Sakardu and Kargil. Later he visited Pahalgam and Mattan. At Mattan he met a Pandit Brahmdas who was famous for his knowledge of the Vedas and the Shashtras. Guruji taught him that by reading Scriptures only, salvation can not be attained.From here, Guruji came to Baramullah, Anantnag and Srinagar.
While returning from Kashmir Guruji stopped at Hasan Abdal situated to north west of Rawalpindi. An arrogant Muslim Fakir Vali Kandhari tried to kill him by throwing a stone from the hill. But Guruji stopped the stone with his hand. At present a beautiful Gurudwara named ‘Panja Sahib’ stands there.
After crossing the rivers Jhelum and Chenab, Guru Nanak Dev Ji reached Sialkot. He impressed his followers by his teachings. From Sialkot he went to his residence at Kartarpur.
3. The third Udasi : In 1517 A.D. Guruji began his Third Udasi (travel). This time he wore a blue dress like a Muslim Haji. During this Udasi, he visited western Asia. Mardana also accompanied him.
Guruji began this Udasi from Pakapattan. After meeting Sheikh Brahm he reached Multan. Here he met a famous Sufi Saint Sheikh Bahaudin who was greatly impressed by Guruji’s thoughts.
Guruji reached Mecca (birth place of Hazrat Mohammad) by the sea all the while preaching on way to Ucch, Shukar. Miyani and Hinglaz. At Mecca he slept with his feet towards the Kaaba. Qazi Rukun-ud-Din objected to it. Guruji told the Qazi politely. You may turn my feet towards that direction where Allah is not present. “On hearing Guruji’s words, the Qazi was enlightened and he realised that Allah is there not only in Mecca but he is Omnipresent.
Guruji reached Medina from Mecca. A tomb of Hazrat Mohammed has been built here. Guruji exchanged views on religious matters with Imam Azim Khan. A lot many people were impressed by Guruji.
Guruji reached Baghdad after completing the journey of Medina. There he met Sheikh Behlol. Influenced by his Bani he became his follower. Words in Persian language inscribed on the tomb of sheikh Behlol, situated two Kms away from the city is a proof of Guruji’s visit to Baghdad.
From Baghdad Guruji reached Kabul via Iran and Kandhar. Babur, a Mughal empror was the ruler of Kabul at that time. Guruji promuglated his teachings at Kabul. Many people were impressed by Guruji.
After crossing the Khyber pass Guru Nanak Dev Ji reached Sayyidpur passing through Peshawar, Hasan Abdal and Gujarat. At that time Babur had invaded Sayyidpur. During this invasion Babur committed many atrocities on the people and imprisoned many of them. Guru Nanak Dev Ji was one of those prisoners. When Babur came to know about it, he himself came to meet Guruji. He was greatly influenced by the personality of Guruji. He released Guruji and other prisoners along with him. Guru Nanak Dev Ji has severely criticized the invasion of Babur in Babarbani.
Conclusion :
In 1521 A.D. Guru Nanak Dev Ji completed his last Udasi (travel). Later he toured in Punjab around Kartarpur only. He spent last eighteen years of his life in Kartarpur as an ideal family man. In 1522 A.D, Guruji settled down at Kartarpur with his family. Till his last Breath he stayed there. During this period, Guruji gave his teachings a definite shape. He wrote Banis like Var Malhar, Var-Majh, Var Asa, Japuji Sahib, Onkar, Patti, Thit and Bara Mah etc. at Kartarpur.
The following books have been used to prepare the maps. 1) Kohli, S. S. (1969). Travels of Guru Nanak. Publication Bureau, Panjab University. 2) Grewal, D.S. (2000). Amazing Travels of Guru Nanak. Dharam Prachar Committe (SGPC)
While Grewal (2000) has been referred to prepare the maps for second and third travels Kohli(1969) has been referred for first and fourth travels. According to the books, there is overlapping of places visited by Shree Guru Nanak Dev ji in first and second travels.
companion Bhai Mardana. He travelled in all four directions - North, East, West and South. The founder Sikh Guru is believed to have travelled more than 28,000 Kms in five major tours of the world during the period from 1500 to 1524. ( http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/The_Udasis_of_Guru_Nanak)