Gurupurab

by meerasapra | Make your own at www.toondoo.com

Guru Purab means 'festival of the Guru' and denotes the Birthday of Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh faith. Besides being the founder of the Sikh religion, Guru Nanak was also a great poet, philosopher, humanist and a powerful social reformer, a teacher of mankind.

Here are some words of wisdom from him...

by meerasapra | Make your own at www.toondoo.com

Guru Nanak also attacked the vicious tentacles of corruptions in society. He strongly protested against formalism and ritualism and carried the message of peace and of love to everybody. He was very liberal in his views and tried his level best to rid people of superstitous beliefs. Also, he firmly believed that there are no barriers of race, class, caste, creed or color which check the progress of any in reaching the goal. He realized the great truth of the brotherhood of religions and preached the universal brotherhood of man.

A beautiful summary of his teachings is contained in one of his hymns:

Love the saints of every faith:
Put away thy pride.
Remember the essence of religion
Is meekness and sympathy,
Not fine clothes,
Not the Yogi's garb and ashes,
Not the blowing of the horns,
Not the shaven head,
Not long prayers,
Not recitations and torturings,
Not the ascetic way,
But a life of goodness and purity,
Amid the world's temptations.

Gurupurab is the most important festival of the Sikh calendar and is celebrated with great zeal by Sikhs from all over the world.

Read more from wikipedia on how we celebrate this festival of Gurupurab

Happy Gurupurab to all!

Meera