1 246 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
2 he established an alms-house where thousands of helpless and poor people
3 were fed. The place of his residence still exists on the banks of the Rdvi
4 and is known as Derdé B&ébé Nanak. He built there many houses, which were
5 given free to his disciples.
6 Of N&nak’s two sons, Lakhmi Chand and Sri Chand, the former became
7 a man of the world and had two sons whose descendants remain to this
8 The sect of Uaasts, day. Sri Chand became a faqir and was the founder of a sect called
9 Uddsis. These wear their hair long, binding it on the head like a turban,
10 They do not use trousers, but wear a cloth, a yard long and a span broad,
11 which they pass between their legs to conceal their nakedness, and give it the
12 name of langoté. They rub ashes over the body and go unshaved, the
13 application of a razor to any part of their body being strictly prohibit-
14 The Nénakpotras. ted. ‘The descendants of Sri Chand are called Ndnakpotras, or descen-
15 dants of Nanak, and also Sahib Zdédas, or sons of masters. Some call them
16 kirtdris, or holy men devoted to the worship of God.
17 Nanak founds Nénak also founded the town of Kirtérpfr in the Jalandar district, a
18 SAS place of great sanctity and veneration among the Sikhs, and built there a
19 dharmsala which exists to this day.
20 _Death of Nanak, Nanak lived along and useful life, and died at the age of 71 years”
21 me in 1538 A.D. He reigned as Guru sixty years, five months, and seven
22 days. He died at Kartdrpir, a town founded by himself on the Ravi,
23 about forty miles above Léhore. A tomb, or samadh, was erected to his
24 memory, where large crowds used to assemble to commemorate the date of
25 his death, and perform certain religious ceremonies; but it has since been
26 washed away by the Rdvi, though a piece of Ndnak’s garment and his
27 other relics are still exhibited to the pilgrims at a dharmsdld, or temple,
28 erected in commemoration of his decease.
29 His doctrines. The doctrines of Nanak were those of pure deism. He believed in the
30 unity of God, the one invisible God, and strictly prohibited idolatry, and
31 the worship of images. He maintained that true and pure religion was
32 one, and that men were all equal. The numerous religions and castes
33 which had sprung up in the world, were, he said, the device of men. He
34 said, he had read the Qurdén and the Purdnds, but true religion he could find
35 in neither. Yet he respected both, and advised his followers to pick oué,
36 His mental struggles and to act upon the truths which each contained. His best endeavours
37 for improving aces” during his long public career, were directed towards removing, or reducing
38 men, to a minimum, those religions and social differences which had. sprung up
39 between the two great sects of India, the Hindus and the Mahomedans,
40 and to reconciling them both; and to a great extent he was successful. His
41 tenets were misunderstood after his death by his zealous followers, who,
42 from a host of faqirs, turned into warriors, though, as will be explained
43 further on, they were driven to such a course by circumstances peculiar to
44 the times they lived in. He viewed with disfavour the intolerance of
45 the Musalmans towards the Hindus, and the precepts of his religion incul-
46 cated peace to all mankind, brotherly love to one another, and living virtu-
47 ously and harmoniously.
48 alts perions ofthe Nanak believed in the holy mission of Mahomed and the Hindu in-
49 and of the Hindu carnation. He admitted that Mahomed was the messenger of God sent to
50 nm,
51 instruct mankind and to lead them to the path of righteousness. But, unlike
52 the Arabian prophet, he never claimed that what he himself preached or -
53 addressed to the people was inspired or revealed to him from Heaven; nor did
54 he ever boast of being gifted with supernatural powers, or attribute any of
55 his acts to a power not at the command: of other men. He said he was a
56 man among men, mortal as they were, and sinful. “He was a, faqir,” said
57 : Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com