5 Stories of Guru Nanak Dev Ji for Kids

Interesting and Inspiring stories of Guru Nanak Dev Ji – ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ, Guru Nanak Dev JI is the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. Baba Nanak as he lovingly called by all followers, traveled to places far and wide teaching people the message of God is ONE. Ik Onkar! Janamsākhīs (life accounts) and the vārs (expounding verses) of the scribe Bhai Gurdas share many stories of Guru Nanak, his travels, and his childhood to be shared with kids.

Kids love to hear stories and it is up to us to inspire them with meaningful stories of compassion, humanity, valor, and gratitude. Guru Nanak’s stories leave an impression on young and adults alike, here are a few famous stories of Guru Nanak Dev Ji which I grew up listening to.

1. Guru Nanak’s Disappearnace and Emergance as ‘Guru’

Nanak had the habit of taking bath in the river Kali Bein every morning, while his friend Mardana would sit by the banks of the river. One morning, Nanak went to meditate and bathe, he walked into the river and disappeared beneath the water. When he did not show up for a very long time, Mardana feared for his friend’s life and started shouting for help. Villagers came around to help and search for Nanak, but could not trace him in and around the river. Assuming that he had drowned except for his sister Nanaki and friend Mardana, everyone left the banks of river Kali Bein. Three days passed and then, Nanak emerged from the river alive saying,

“Na koe Hindu, na koe Musalman – There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim.”

The astonished villagers agreed that Nanak is an enlightened being and began to call him “Guru.”

2. Bhai Lalo

Guru Nanak embarked on the spiritual pilgrimage of sharing knowledge and preaching God is One. He taught people to live with honesty and love with each other, removing any barriers of caste or creed. His friend and companion, Bhai Mardana accompanied him on all the journeys.

Once Guru Nanak and Bhai Mardana reached Bhai Lalo’s workshop at Saidpur (presently Eminabad in Pakistan). Bhai Lalo was a simple man who followed the path of honesty and hark-work. When he saw two holy men approaching his shop, he ran inside the shop to get them a clean place to relax and some food to eat.

He was anxious as the workshop was very dirty, and asked the holy visitors to come inside the kitchen as it is the cleanest place in there. Nanak Dev Ji understood his worry and said, ‘every place is clean bring food here’ pointing towards the workshop littered with scraps of wood and tools.

When Bhai Lalo brought food, Mardana divided bread into three equal portions. ‘This meal tastes like Amrit (nectar), what have you put inside this, Guru Ji?, asked Bhai Lalo.

Guru Nanak replied “That was the sweet flavor of truthfulness and honesty that you have tasted. This taste is above all foods.“

Thus taught a lesson, hard work and honesty are most rewarded by God.

3. Gurudwara Kiara Sahib

Another beautiful tale I heard from my grandmother is that of Kiara Sahib. Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s father, Mehta Kalu once sent him to graze buffaloes in the grassland. Nanak tended to meditate at every opportunity, he sat under the tree and started to meditate. The herd of buffaloes started grazing on the neighbor’s farm and destroyed his crops.

When the neighbor saw the damage, he got very furious and called the officer – Rai Bullar. When the officer heard about the case, he went to see the damage and called Mehta Kalu to show his son’s irresponsible behavior. To everyone’s shock, the farm was full of green lush crops, dancing in the tune of the mild breeze flowing in the area. In fact, the crops were better than they were earlier. The place, at which this miracle took place, is known as Gurudwara Kiara Sahib.

4. Story of Sajjan Thug and Guru Nanak Dev Ji

On one of their journeys, Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhai Mardana stayed with Sajjan Thug for the night. Sajjan means a decent person, while thug means a thief. Sajjan was known as a good man in the area, he built an inn for travelers to rest for the night and began their journey the next day.

Over the years, he developed a habit of robbing innocent travelers. When Nanak Dev Ji along with Mardana stayed at Sajjan Thug’s inn, he had planned to rob them during the night after they were asleep. But Guruji was just not ready to retire for the night, instead, he started singing a Shabad while Bhai Mardana played on the rabab (a musical instrument with strings).

ਉਜਲੁ ਕੈਹਾ ਚਿਲਕਣਾ ਘੋਟਿਮ ਕਾਲੜੀ ਮਸੁ ॥
Oujal Kaihaa Chilakanaa Ghottim Kaalarree Mas ||
Bronze is bright and shiny, but when it is rubbed, its blackness appears.

ਧੋਤਿਆ ਜੂਠਿ ਨ ਉਤਰੈ ਜੇ ਸਉ ਧੋਵਾ ਤਿਸੁ ॥੧॥
Dhhothiaa Jooth N Outharai Jae So Dhhovaa This ||1||
Washing it, its impurity is not removed, even if it is washed a hundred times. ||1||

ਸਜਣ ਸੇਈ ਨਾਲਿ ਮੈ ਚਲਦਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ਚਲੰਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ॥
Sajan Saeee Naal Mai Chaladhiaa Naal Chalannih ||
They alone are my friends, who travel along with me;

ਜਿਥੈ ਲੇਖਾ ਮੰਗੀਐ ਤਿਥੈ ਖੜੇ ਦਿਸੰਨਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Jithhai Laekhaa Mangeeai Thithhai Kharrae Dhisann ||1|| Rehaao ||
And in that place, where the accounts are called for, they appear standing with me. ||1||Pause||

~ Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Guru Nanak, Raag Suhi, Ang 729

Sajjan Thug was listening to the conversation attentively to execute his plan at the night, but when the lines of Nanak’s song reached his ears, he could see through the words into the truth of his life. Sajjan fell into Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s feet and asked forgiveness. He understood the song was indirectly meant for him and confessed to his crimes.

The Guru was pleased to see the change of his heart and advised to give away all the ill-got money to the needy and start his life afresh as an honest man. He sincerely followed the path shown by Guru Nanak. He started helping the travelers honestly.

5. Manikaran Sahib’s Hot Water Spring

Guru Nanak was traveling in the Himalayas with Bhai Mardana. During their stay (the exact location Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara is located today) Mardana was asked to collect food for langar by Guruji. When Bhai Mardana collected all the food ingredients, he couldn’t understand how to cook, as due to heavy rain and cold wood was soaking wet.

Nanak Dev Ji lifted a stone and a hot spring appeared. Bhai Mardana and other disciples cooked langar (community food) but chapatis were pending, as he didn’t have tools to make Prasada (chapatis served in langar).

On Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s directions, Bhai Mardana rolled and dipped the chapatis in the hot spring. But each chapati dipped in the spring would sink. Seeing this Mardana was very worried and sought Guruji’s advice.

As directed by the Guru Nanak, Mardana started praying to God, ‘I am donating my life in the name of One God’, once he opened his eyes, all sunken chapatis started floating in the hot spring Sarovar.

Even today, the entire langar in Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib is cooked in the Hot Springs.

These are my favorite stories of Guru Nanak Dev Ji that I have grown up listening to and also tell to my child. Hope you too share these stories with your loved ones.

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