What does “Nanak” signify in Bani?

The word Nanak, which refers to Guru Nanak Sahib, the founder of the Sikh faith, appears throughout Guru Granth Sahib. It denotes the contributor or revealer of a composition, functioning as a “signature” used by Guru Nanak Sahib and the rest of the Gurus as well.

The Gurus use it because we believe, in the Sikh tradition, they were all part of a continuation of the same journey, the same experience, the same Raj, the same idea which was brought into practice. They all experienced the Divine. Nanak signifies that continuation, authenticity, and personalization in the hymns, in the Banis, in the Sabads of the Guru Granth Sahib.