NANAIC, the founder of the Sikh religion, is often styled Nauak Shah by the Sikh historians, w h °like wise designate him Baba Nanak, also Nanak Narinkar, or Nanak the Omnipotent. Nanak was a Hindu of the Kshatriya caste and Bedi tribe. Ile was born A.D. 1469, at the small village of Talwandi (since become a town, and now called Rayapur), on the banks of the Beas, in the dis trict of Matti and province of Lahore. He was son of a grain factor at Talwandi, but in early life lie deserted the humble shop of his father to seek, in study and retirement, a more genial occupation for a naturally reflective mind. The tenets of the Hindu and Muhammadan of that day alike dissatisfied him ; and, after prolonged travel in search of truth, he returned to his family and passed his life in calling upon men to worship the one invisible God, to live virtuously, and to be tolerant to the failings of others. He began to teach A.D. 1490. For the gross polytheism of Hindu mythology, he substituted what may be defined a high philosophic deism, and succeeded in collecting together a large body of followers, whom he called Sikh or disciples; and these he organized under a theocratic form of polity, being himself recognised as their guru or teacher. For many years this rapidly-increasing body of con- .
vents continued to lead a peaceful meditative life, absorbed in the study of their sacred book, the Grantli, which contained all the recorded dogmas of their founder. They gradually spread over other parts of India, and a college of them ex isted so far south as Patna. But in the beginning of the 17th century, Govind Singh, the tenth guru, gave a new character to this religious com munity. Ile was a man of a naturally warlike spirit and ambitious views, and, thirsting to be revenged for domestic wrongs, soon converted the hitherto contemplative Sikhs into a band of warriors. These were the men who a century after wards formed the flower of Ranjit Singles army, and who presented so formidable an array against the British on the different battlefields during the Sutlej and Panjab campaigns. Nanak's bio graphical history is contained in the Janam-Sakhi.
Stories of his miraculous gifts are still current ; the tree where he lay concealed, the shops where be used to trade, the weights which he used, are still shown ; travellers at Hasan Abdul may look on the impression of a hand in marble religiously believed to be his. • Of his real goodness, of the purity of his Motives, of the excellence of his life, and of the moral effect of his teaching, there can be no question. Nanak's view of the omni presence of the Deity has been told in pointed terms. The Sikh reformer was reproved at Mecca by zealous Mnharnmadans for daring to turn his feet towards the Kaba or sanctuary where God is Turn them if you can,' was the immediate answer, ' where God is not.' He died A.D. 1539.
Of the distinguishing features of their respective teachers, it may be said that Nanak disengaged his little society of worshippers from Hindu idolatry and Muhammadan superstition, and placed them free on a broad basis of religious and moral purity. tJmar Das preserved the infant community from declining into a sect of quietists and ascetics. Arjuu gave his increasing followers a written rule of conduct and ti civil organization. Har Govind added the use of arms and a military system, and Govind Singh bestowed upon them a distinct political existence, and inspired them with the desire of being socially free and nation ally independent.
Angad, the second guru, wrote some of the sacred books. He died A.D. 1552, followed by Umar Das, who died 1574.
Tho fourth guru, Ram Das, founded Amritsar. A piece of land was presented to Ram Das, within which a pool or reservoir was dug, since well known as 'Amritsar, or the Pool of Immortality; but the temples and the surrounding huts were at first named Ham-Das-pur, from its founder. Arjun, his son and successor, was the first who really understood the pure doctrines of Nanak, and made Amritsar the seat of his followers. This Arjun was the fifth guru of the Sikhs, Was born A.D. 1553. He compiled the Adi Grant% in the Gurmukhi dialect. Ho died a prisoner at Lahore, 1606.