On Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 556th birthday, the world honors not only the founder of Sikhism but also one of the greatest explorers in history, a spiritual pilgrim who traveled across continents to awaken humanity to the unity of creation. Guru Nanak traveled thousands of kilometers by foot, sea, and speech long before passports and pilgrimages were popular. He traveled from Punjab to Bengal, from Sri Lanka to Mecca and Baghdad, and as far north as Mount Kailash. The scholars often refer to his spiritual journeys as the Udasis. The word “Udasis” is derived from Sanskirt word ‘Udasis’ which means detachment. Instead of crossing geographical borders, the journeys were intended to reach into people's hearts.
As per historical records, Guru Nanak Dev Ji undertook four long journeys (Udasis) to the east, west, north & west.
The first Udasi (1500-1506 AD) lasted around 7 years and covered Sultanpur-Delhi-Banaras-Assam-Sialkot (Pakistan).
The second Udasi (1506-1513 AD) lasted 8 years and covered Ceylon.
The third Udasi (1514-1518 AD) lasted five years and covered Kashmir, Nepal, Tibet.
The Fourth Udasi (1519-1524 AD) lasted three years and covered Mecca and Arab countries.
Later, Guru Nanak Dev Ji covered places within Punjab region and finally settled in Kartarpur.
Early meditations
Dr. Gopal Singh in his book titled “Guru Nanak” mentioned one of many incidents from Guru Nanak’s early childhood in which it Guru Nanak would now keep to himself for long hours and take little interest in the affairs of the world. He would sit listless in long and deep meditations.
Hence, Guru Nanak’s father fearing that perhaps his child had been gripped by some mysterious malady called in a physician to examine him. The physician felt his pulse, but the 'patient' smiled and said,
"O worthy physician, feel not my pulse, for the malady is not in my body, but in my soul. Take care not of me, O wise one, but of thyself, for he who is not of himself would respond not to thy cure. The malady I'm blessed with is that l am in love, and He alone whose lover I am knows how to get me over it."
When the physician, wonderstruck, asked Nanak what the malady of his soul was like, he answered in most profound terms:
"My one malady is, that I live separated from myself,
And the other, that I seek to be what I ought to be;
And the third, that I'm in the eye of the all-powerful
Angel of Death.
And the fourth that I can sıt not with myself.
O man, thy malady is not in thy body, but in
thy soul, which if pure and whole, maketh
also the body healthful and whole."When asked what man's maladies were due to, he answered "Pleasures. The pleasures are the sickness of the soul, and their medicament lies in the courting of pain." The physician bowed to him, saying, "O Master, thy cure Is only in thyself."
This early seed of awakening found in Guru Nanak's deep meditative states in his youth was a phase of self-realization. The meditation did not only provide peace but also gave him a purpose as a divine command to share that understanding with the world. Hence, his travels to the sacred spaces of Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists became a natural extension of his enlightenment in the form of outer compassion, spiritual dialogue and social reform. Those years spent in meditation provided him with wisdom & prepared him for tolerance & clarity required to engage with people from various faiths across sub-continents.
In his Udasis, he did not preach isolation rather listened, interacted and dialogued with people. The lengthy Udasis can be marked as a deeply transformative phase of Guru Nanak's life. What once began as a deep inner silence found its full expression in compassionate movement across the world.
Lessons Learnt from Udasis
Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Udasis left an indelible mark on lands he traversed confronting deep rooted challenges of those times - social inequality, religious orthodoxy guiding people towards one Eternal, Formless Creator (Ik Onkar). Udasis still can be recounted as great reminders of how love, faith, understanding and dialogue can dissolve boundaries and nurture harmony among people.
A Call for Journey Within
As we celebrate Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s 556th birthday, perhaps the most meaningful homage in this age of easy travels but restless minds, is to undertake our own journey. To listen as much as we talk. To seek unity, not validation. To move with love not malice.
Guru Nanak’s Udasis remind that it is essential to traverse both the map of the world and map of the soul. His footsteps echo even now urging all of us to walk in faith- not away from others but towards them.
(Author is a poet, columnist and doctoral researcher. Feedback: writerbali007@gmail)