Janamsakhis

The Janamsakhis (Punjabi: ਜਨਮਸਾਖੀ, IAST: Janam-sākhī, lit. birth stories), are legendary biographies of Guru Nanak – the founder of Sikhism.

A page from a Janamsakhi manuscript with the story about Guru Nanak at a school.

Quotes

• Mardana! this Ayodhya city belongs to Sri Ramachandra Ji. So let us go for his darshan [visit with God].
  • Guru Nanak (1469 – 1539) (attributed) as quoted by Bhai Man Singh's Pothi Janam Sakhi (late 18th century), In: Harsh Narain The Ayodhya Temple Mosque Dispute: Focus on Muslim Sources, pp 14-15, 1993, New Delhi, Penman Publications. ISBN 8185504164
  • Another version of this account according to B.B.W.J. Sakhi (1883): Bhai Bala! this city belongs to Sri Ramachandra Ji. Here Sri Ramachandra Ji took incarnation and performed (human) deeds. Therefore, walk with caution. Quoted in: Harsh Narain The Ayodhya Temple Mosque Dispute: Focus on Muslim Sources

Bhai Bala's Janamsakhi

• I have seen the light of Muhammad (with my mind's eye). I have seen the prophet and the messenger of God, in other words, I have understood his message or imbibed his spirit. After contemplating the glory of God, my ego was completely eliminated.
  • 'Guru Granth Sahib: A Model For Interfaith Understanding,' by and quote translated by Dr. Kazi Nurul Islam, professor and founding chair of Department of World Religions and Culture at Dhaka University.
  • Quoting Bhai Bala (There has been considerable discussion as regards to Bhai Bala's existence) Guru Nanak from the Janamsakhi of Bhai Bala

About the Bhai Bala Janamsakhi

• It claimed to be an eye-witness account which it was not. Bhai Balas name does not appear in any of the other Janamsakhis.
  • Kirpal Singh. Janamsakhi Tradition – An Analytical Study. 2004. Edited by Prithipal Singh Kapur. p.10

• Compared to the Vilayatwali text, its language is of much later period.
  • Kirpal Singh. Janamsakhi Tradition – An Analytical Study p.39

• The later tradition which pretends to have knowledge of all the details of life of Nanak was therefore compelled to put forth as Voucher for its sundry tales and stories, Bhai Bala, who is said to have been the constant companion of Nanak, from his youth days up, whereas our old Janamsakhi does not even once name Bhai Bala. If Bhai Bala had been a constant companion of Nanak and a sort of mentor to him, as he appears now in the current Janamsakhi, it would be quite incomprehensive why never a single allusion should have been made of him in old tradition. “
  • Earnest Trump, The Adi Granth, London, 1877. Preface p.(v).

• There are two sakhis preceding this, a close study of which along with the aforesaid five brings out clearly the real motive of the author for writing this Janamsakhi. The motive evidently was to degrade Guru Nanak in comparison with Baba Hindal. Apparently, the author is a follower of Baba Hindal.
  • Kirpal Singh. Janamsakhi Tradition – An Analytical Study p.43