GURU NANAK DEV JI founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak (born April 15?, 1469, Rai Bhoi di Talvandi [now Nankana Sahib, Pakistan], near Lahore, India—died 1539?, Kartarpur, Punjab, India [now in Pakistan]) was an Indian spiritual teacher who is revered as the founder and the first Guru of Sikhism , a monotheistic religion that combines Hindu and Muslim influences. His teachings, expressed through devotional hymns commonly known as shabads , many of which still survive, stress liberation ( mukti ) from rebirth through meditation ( simran ) and chanting of the divine name. He is credited with the creation of the Mool Mantar (“root mantra ”), which is an important component of Sikhism. It is the opening text of the Adi Granth , also known as Sri Guru Granth Sahib , which contains the compositions and bani s (sayings) of all 10 Sikh Gurus . BE...