Guru Nanak lived during the turbulent period under the last moghul rulers, the founder of the Sikh religion was witness to the political turmoil, social injustice, economic exploitation, rampant superstition, and government by caprice, that marked the age.
A number of popular socio-religious movements took place when Sufism, and Bhakti, emerged. These movements, with their emphasis on emotional worship and the equality of all worshippers before God, exercised a great influence over Nanak. Both Sufism and Bhakti contributed to the development of Nanak's philosophy. Sufi mystics with their gospel of love and grace, provided the scope for an endless variety of approaches to God; similarly, Bhakti saints like Namdev, Ramananda, Chaitanya and Kabir with the doctrine of self-surrender to the Divine, and relaxed the caste rules dividing the worshippers.
Nanak's teachings were composite in nature. He accepted the noblest principles of both Hinduism and Islam, into a new synthesis, Sikhism, which was appropriate to the needs of the social milieu that had emerged at that time. Hindus and Muslims from all walks of life were attracted to Nanak's teachings & it started a process of healing through cultural interaction, & the two communities embarked upon mutual understanding and integration.
Nanak believed that there is only one God, whose name is Truth. He is immortal and self-existent; He was neither born nor will He die. God is Karta Purukh, Sat Kartar, the Creator; He is nirankar, formless. Nanak emphasised that his God was a God of grace: the door to salvation is opened by His nazar or kripa. Nanak also preached the doctrine of Hukam, or divine will, which determines the position of man and directs him towards enlightenment.
It was Nanak's mission to transform manmukh into gurumukh, through the Guru; who is compassionate and humane, the incarnation of love. Manmukh tends to get carried away by such evil impulses as kama, lust, krodh, anger, lobha, attachment to worldly things, and ahankar: These impulses conspire to bring about violence, falsehood and man's fall.
Message Of Love
Nanak traveled extensively, spreading the message of love and humility. Through his hymns, which express his devotional ecstasy, Nanak reached out to the Divine. To his disciples, he emphasized the importance of simran or the practice of thinking continually of God, which brings comfort, peace and solace.
His aim was to create a religion for householders, not for ascetics. He established the institution of Guruship, which provided cohesion and solidarity. The sangats, holy assemblies, and the institution of langar, common kitchen, brought people together from across the distinctions of caste, gender and economic status.
Naam-simran and sadhsangat along with seva (service) is the only way to achieve His grace which finally leads to the ultimate stage of bliss. That’s why every Sikh prays and wishes for 'Nam Khumari Nanaka Charhi Rahe Din Raat — May I ever be imbued with the Name (Shabad) of Guru Nanak.'