Real Date of Birth of Sri Guru Nanak Sahib Ji

Guru Nanak Sahib was born on the full moon day of Katak in 1526 (October 20, 1469). Another date for the birth of Guru Nanak Sahib is also recorded as Baisakh Sudi 3 (15 April 1469). The incorrect date of Baisakh (April) was first written by Miharban, son of Prithi Chand Meena. He was the first Sikh culprit to distort Sikh history. Second, there is a misconception among some Hindus that a baby born in the month of Katak is doomed. It seems that Hindu and Hindu-like writers had preached the birth of Baisakh to the Sikhs out of fear of this superstition, which some naive Sikhs quietly accepted.

Real Date of Birth

Guru Nanak Sahib founded Sikhism, as revealed to him by Akaal Purakh (God). Guru Nanak (20.10.1469–7.9.1539), son of (Mata) Tripta and(Baba) Kalyan Das (son of Baba Shiv Narayan and grandson of Baba Ram Narayan Bedi, was born at village Rai-Bhoi-Di-Talwandi*(now Nanakana Sahib).

Another date (the 15th of April 1469) has also been mentioned by some writers as Guru’s birth date. This mistake occurred due to distortion by Mehrban (who wrote a biography of Guru Nanak suiting his planning to establish himself in the Sikh world). Meharban, who had been functioning under the guidance of the Brahmins, who assert that a child born in the Katak month of Bikrami calendar(October-November of Gregorian calendar or Common Era/ C.E.) is in-auspicious; hence he changed the date of birth of Guru Nanak.

The date 15th of April 1469 has been accepted by those who have followed Janamsakhi Meharban Wali. Well-known writer Karam Singh Historian too accepted the April date. Karam Singh, in his book “Katak Ke Visakh”, rejected the authenticity of the book “Bhai Bale Wali Janamsakhi”, and proved that it (book) was the work of the descendants of Handal (of Jandiala, district Amritsar), who wanted to present Handal as superior to Guru Nanak. Karam Singh Historian totally rejected this ‘Janamsakhi’ and with this, he rejected even the date of the birth of Guru Nanak Sahib. But, Karam Singh made a mistake; he accepted Meharban’s date of birth of Guru Nanak without analyzing it. (Meharban’s Janamsakhi is the basis of the rest of the Janamsakhis, i.e. Bhai Mani Singh Wali Janamsakhi, Puratan Janamakhi, Wilayat Wali Janamsakhi etc).

But, there are numerous references in earlier and most authentic books mentioning the celebration of the birthday of Guru Nanak by the sixth and the ninth Guru Sahib, in the Katak month. Several other works from an earlier period confirm the date of Katak (the 20th of October).

References:

Bhai Gurdas, the 1630s ( Kabit no. 345);

Guru Kian Sakhian, 1790, by Swarup Singh Kaushish;

Sakhi Pothi, 1726 (unknown author),

Kesar Singh Chhiber, 1780, BansavalinamaDasan Patsahina Da;

Gulab Singh Nirmala, 1753, Guru Parnali;

Sant Singh Chhhiber, early 19th Century,

Janamsakhi Baba Nanak; Ram Sukh Rao, c.1820s,

Jassa Singh Binod & Sri Fateh Singh Partap Parbhakar,

Santokh Singh, 1832, Nanak Parkash;

Gulab Singh IInd, 1851, Gurparnali;

Nihal Singh — Gurmukh Singh, 1890, Khursheed Khalsa;

Sondha Kavi, end of 18h century, Guru Bansavali;

Tara Singh Narotam, 1884, Gur Teerath Sangrah,

J.D. Cunningham, 1848, History of the Sikhs and several others.