Guru Nanak Dev, the first Guru of the Sikhs, started his first religious journey from Mathura, the birthplace of Shri Krishna. About 510 years ago, on the occasion of ‘Prakash Varsh’, in 1512, Guru Nanak Dev came to Mathura and stayed for 40 days. During this, people were also given the message of peace, harmony and ending social evils.
Sri Krishna’s Leelabhoomi Braj has been attracting saints, mahatmas, preachers and religious teachers from time to time since ancient times. Guru Nanak Dev, the first Guru of the Sikhs, started his first religious journey from Mathura, the birthplace of Shri Krishna. About 510 years ago, on the occasion of ‘Prakash Varsh’ in 1512, Guru Nanak Dev came to Mathura and stayed for 40 days. During this, he also gave the message of peace, harmony and ending social evils to the people.
Guru Nanak, a famous saint of his time and the founder of Sikhism, was born on Kartik Purnima on 15 April 1469 in Talwandi (Pakistan). The spirit of philosophy, social reform and universal brotherhood is clearly visible in his thoughts. Guru Nanak, a contemporary of the writers of devotional poetry, was successful in creating a unique place for himself in the Sanatan religion-oriented environment. Nanak chose his disciples from the lowest class of the society. The large and popular book ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ is filled with the words of Guru Nanak. The message of welfare of all, disagreement with social inequality and caste system is the essence of Guru Nanak’s teachings. In this sense, he is considered a saint in the tradition of Kabir and Raidas.
In 1507, Guru Nanak, who lived a household life, set out on a pilgrimage for the purpose of spiritual contemplation and satsang and traveled far and wide with his companions. During this period, camps were set up at various places and programs of Guru Nanak’s sermons were organised. These journeys became famous by the name ‘Udasi’ in Punjabi language. Guru Nanak had come to Mathura on one such ‘Udasi’.
During his stay in Braj, Guru Nanak Dev also visited places like Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, Nandgaon etc. In Mathura, he camped in a garden near Masani intersection. He also had company in the garden. It is said that at that time there was a flood in Yamuna, due to which there was a shortage of clean water in the entire city. Guru Nanak immediately ordered his disciples to prepare a well. The well dug at that time is still present in the garden of Mathura. Later, the ‘Udasi sect’ promoted by his son Srichand built a grand Gurudwara in place of the garden. This place is today known as ‘Guru Nanak Garden’.
