Question

What do you understand by Udasi? Describe the four significant events that occurred during the first Udasi between 1499-1510.

Answer 1

Instructions:
The answer to this question should be divided into two parts:

• Write one line introduction about Udasi.
• Give 2-3 lines regarding the four incidents during the first Udasi.

Solution:

• First Udasi travel was done By Guru Nanak ji in 1499. Bhai Mardana accompanied him. Guru Nanak ji visited many places such as Sayyidpur, Lahore, Sialkot, Talumba, Kurukshetra, Panipat, Delhi, Haridwar, Gorakh Matta, Banaras, Gaya, and others.
• At Sayyidpur, Guru stayed with a poor carpenter named Bhai Lalo. Malik Bhago, who was the chief of the town, invited Guru to come over to his place for a feast. However, Guru ji refused to go saying that his money was from exploiting the poor. Thus, he emphasised on earning a livelihood by working hard and not by cheating anyone.
• At Haridwar, Guru ji found a few pilgrims offering water to their ancestors facing the east direction. He started to do the same but in the opposite direction. When the pilgrims laughed at him, he in turn stunned them by telling the same thing that since the water he was offering was not to reach his field, similarly the offerings they were making to their ancestors could not reach the latter.
• At Talumba, there lived a person named Sajjan who used to invite people to come to his house and stay there. At night, he used to loot them and eventually kill them.When Guru Nanak ji went there and interacted with him, he was a changed person. He then spent the rest of his life spreading the Guru’s message and even converted his house into a Dharamshala.
• At Jagganath Puri’s temple, Guru Nanak ji witnessed an Aarti being performed before the idol of Lord Vishnu. He gave an explanation about God being formless, i.e., Nirankar. Thus, the Aarti was being sung by the universe including the sun, moon, sky, vegetation, flowers and so on before the altar of God which was invisible.