The SikhRI team extends warm wishes on the occasion of Guru Nanak Sahib's Prakash Purab (Illumination Day).

Guru Nanak Sahib’s arrival illuminated a world steeped in darkness and ignorance, divided along religious, political, and social lines—much like today. Like the radiant light of the sun, the Guru’s message brought with it Divine consciousness, shaking the very foundations of hypocrisy and falsehood to build something new.

Guru Nanak Sahib established Divine rule, the political-spiritual (raj-jog) dominion, where no dichotomy or division existed. Everything was guided by Divine love, and there was no second or third class. Kirtan—the singing of Divine praises—became the foundation of this revolution.

The Guru calls on those of us who are content with merely following rituals and wearing religious garb to awaken—to move beyond superficial displays of ‘religiosity’ or spiritual achievement. In Guru Nanak Sahib’s guidance, we are reminded that without genuine devotion springing from a deep, heartfelt, and loving relationship with IkOankar (the One), all outward observances are hollow and futile.

Bhai Gurdas beautifully illustrates this in his writings:

ਬਾਬਾ ਆਇਆ ਤੀਰਥੀਂ ਤੀਰਥ ਪੁਰਬ ਸਭੇ ਫਿਰ ਦੇਖੈ॥
ਪੂਰਬ ਧਰਮ ਬਹੁ ਕਰਮ ਕਰ ਭਾਉ ਭਗਤਿ ਬਿਨ ਕਿਤੇ ਨ ਲੇਖੈ॥
ਭਾਉ ਨ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੇ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਚਾਰ ਬੇਦ ਸਿੰਮ੍ਰਤਿ ਪੜ੍ਹ ਦੇਖੈ॥
ਢੂੰਡੀ ਸਗਲੀ ਪਿਰਥਮੀ ਸਤਿਜੁਗ ਆਦਿ ਦੁਆਪਰਿ ਤ੍ਰੇਤੈ॥
ਕਲਿਜੁਗ ਧੁੰਧੂਕਾਰ ਹੈ ਭਰਮ ਭੁਲਾਈ ਬਹੁ ਬਿਧਿ ਭੇਖੈ॥
ਭੇਖੀਂ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਨ ਪਾਈਐ ਆਪ ਗਵਾਏ ਰੂਪ ਨ ਰੇਖੈ॥
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਵਰਨ ਅਵਰਨ ਹੋਇ ਨਿਵ ਚਲੈ ਗੁਰਸਿਖ ਵਿਸੇਖੈ॥
ਤਾਂ ਕੁਛ ਘਾਲ ਪਵੈ ਦਰ ਲੇਖੈ ॥੨੫॥

Guru Nanak came to the pilgrimage centers and, having traveled widely, witnessed the various observances of the people.
People were deeply absorbed in following old ritual practices and traditions, yet without loving devotion, none of it held any value or worth.
Even after studying the four Vedas and the Simritis, one finds that Brahma nowhere wrote about loving devotion.
In search of true devotion, the entire earth was explored, even the ages of Satjug, Treta, and Duapur.
In Kaliyug also, darkness and delusion prevail; countless guises and hypocritical ways have taken root.
The Sovereign cannot be realized through outer garbs or appearances; through self-effacement, such outer forms lose all significance.
The distinctive quality of the Guru’s Sikh is that they transcend social stratifications and walk the path of humility.
Only then do their efforts to seek and realize the Divine bear fruit and become acceptable at the door of the Divine.‍

     Bhai Gurdas Var 1, Pauri 25

As we mark this Prakash Purab, perhaps we can pause to reflect.

Pause to ask ourselves—not out of guilt or obligation, but from a place of love—how we are walking with the Guru today. Not just on a day of celebration, but in the quiet, everyday moments that often go unnoticed.

Guru Nanak Sahib never asked us to simply observe or perform. The Guru’s invitation is much deeper: to live with awareness, to love the One sincerely, and to be transformed through that relationship.

May the Sabad-Wisdom continue to gently shape how we live, how we see, and how we show up in the world. May the Wisdom-Guru continue to guide us. We wish you a joyous and reflective Gurpurab!

With gratitude,
The SikhRI Team