The glory of Guru Nanak: A homage to the spiritual teacher by Dr. Himabrata Das

Nov. 30: A visit to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in Connaught Place, New Delhi on the eve of Guru Nanak’s 551st Birth Anniversary turned out to be a deeply spiritual experience. A plaque at the entrance of the shrine recounts the history behind this remarkable place of worship.An erstwhile bungalow of Mirza Raja Jai Singh of Amber(Jaipur), it was at this place that the 8th Sikh Guru Hari Krishan Sahib stayed in 1664 when Aurangzeb called the Guru to Delhi and the Guru obliged at the insistence of Raja Jai Singh and the Sikh Sangat Congregation.

To test the guruship of the “child guru”,the chief queen of Raja Jai Singh dressed herself as a maid servant.The Guru, who was 8 years old at the time, immediately recognised the chief queen and sat in her lap. At the time, Delhi was in the onslaught of a severe onslaught of cholera and smallpox that was killing scores of people everyday. The Guru, with the grace of God, turned the water of the sarovar into holy nectar by dipping His feet into it thereby curing the patients. Hence millions were cured of the deadly pandemic.

As I was circumnavigating the holy sarovar, I wondered how humanity is grappling with a similar global pandemic at this present time and how spirituality continues to offer solace. On my way out I chanced upon an exhibition titled “The Glory of Guru Nanak” that chronicles the fascinating highlights of the life of the founder of Sikhism.

Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated with much joy and fervour throughout the country and different parts of the world on the full moon day of the Kartik month as per the Hindu calendar. It is also marked as Kartik Poornima. Guru Nanak Jayanti is celebrated with much joy and fervour throughout the country and different parts of the world on the full moon day of the Kartik month as per the Hindu calendar. It is also marked as Kartik Poornima.

Also Read: In the Lap of Nature, writes Dr. Himabrata Das

**Dr. Himabrata Das, Registrar, Department of Psychiatry, Tezpur Medical College & Hospital (TMCH). Apart from this, he is a vivid lover of sports, an eloquent commentator and a columnist.