On behalf of the entire SikhRI team, I extend to you my warm wishes on the Prakash Purab of Guru Nanak Sahib.

As you know, Guru Nanak Sahib’s arrival symbolizes the spread of Divine awareness and illumination in the ignorance-ridden world, illustrated through the rising sun that overpowered star lights in its grand radiance. The Sikh tradition further likens his arrival to a roaring lion that made the deer herd of falsehood disperse.

The Guru engaged with people from all walks of life, speaking to them within their cultural context and transforming each one by establishing the Divine way of the enlightened as the new way.

ਸਬਦਿ ਜਿਤੀ ਸਿਧਿ ਮੰਡਲੀ ਕੀਤੋਸੁ ਅਪਣਾ ਪੰਥੁ ਨਿਰਾਲਾ ।  
ਕਲਿਜੁਗ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮ ਸੁਖਾਲਾ ॥
‍Through Sabad, he won over the group of sidhs, and propounded a unique path.
O Nanak, in the age of darkness, Nam is the source of happiness and comfort.
– Bhai Gurdas, 1:31

Today, it is up to us to ponder: as Guru’s Sikhs, what is our heritage? How do we so fearlessly confront power? How do we approach people and ideas around us with the clarity worthy of Guru Nanak Sahib’s legacy?

ਜਤੁ ਪਾਹਾਰਾ ਧੀਰਜੁ ਸੁਨਿਆਰੁ ॥
ਅਹਰਣਿ ਮਤਿ ਵੇਦੁ ਹਥੀਆਰੁ ॥
‍Make restraint the furnace, and patience the goldsmith. On the anvil, sharpen your mental faculties through the tool of knowledge.
– Guru Nanak Sahib, 8

Throughout centuries Sikh tradition has been primarily that of learning and dialogue, which allows for fostering culture amongst ourselves, thus coming closer to the Guru and engaging with the world in a more meaningful way.

ਹੋਇ ਇਕਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਲਹੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਭਾਈ ਦੁਬਿਧਾ ਦੂਰਿ ਕਰਹੁ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਇ ॥
ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੈ ਕੇ ਹੋਵਹੁ ਜੋੜੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬੈਸਹੁ ਸਫਾ ਵਿਛਾਇ ॥
‍Come together and meet my brothers; remove doubt through Divine connection.
In connection with the Relieving Nam, becoming Guru-oriented, spread out the mat and sit down (reflect).
– Guru Arjan Sahib, 1184

We wish you a festive and reflective Gurpurab!

With love and gratitude,

Inni Kaur

Sikh Research Institute

www.sikhri.org