In the dusty lanes of 15th-century Punjab, amid the murmurs of caste and the silence of subjugation, a boy named Nanak began asking questions that few dared to utter.
Why were some called pure and others untouchable?
Why were men deemed divine and women impure?
Why did rituals overshadow compassion?
These were not questions of rebellion – they were questions of realization.
By the time Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1539) emerged as a spiritual luminary, he had already begun reshaping the moral geometry of his time. His message was simple but seismic: All are equal before the Divine.
And within that universal equality lay one of his most revolutionary truths – the elevation of women.
The Verse That Shattered Patriarchy
In the sacred hymn Asa di Var, Guru Nanak proclaimed words that would echo through centuries:
“So kyo manda aakhiye, jit jamme raajan?”
“How can she be called inferior, from whom kings are born?”
In one stroke, he dismantled generations of patriarchal prejudice. Women – often silenced by social and religious codes – were placed at the center of divine creation.
He declared that woman is not to be condemned but revered, for she is both life-giver and the reflection of the Infinite.
These words were not a poetic flourish – they were a theological revolution. At a time when religious texts excluded women from spiritual discourse, Guru Nanak’s verse became a manifesto for gender dignity.
A Revolution in Practice
Guru Nanak was not a philosopher of abstraction; he was a man of living truth. He did not merely preach equality – he practiced it.
He rejected the taboos that labeled women as impure due to menstruation or childbirth, calling such ideas ignorance of divine creation. He emphasized that both men and women carried the same divine light – Jyot.
He said:
“From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived;
to woman he is engaged and married.
Why call her bad? From her, kings are born.”
In his eyes, woman was not to be worshipped as goddess or reduced to servitude – she was coequal in the spiritual journey. The path to divine realization was open to all, regardless of gender.
Voices of Strength
Guru Nanak’s message empowered the women closest to him – and they, in turn, became beacons for generations.
Bebe Nanaki
His elder sister, Bebe Nanaki, was the first to recognize his divine calling. Her faith, support, and intuitive understanding of her brother’s spiritual light made her the first Sikh in history. She symbolizes intuitive devotion and feminine wisdom – the balance between love and discernment.
Mata Khivi – The Nurturing Reformer
The wife of Guru Angad Dev Ji, Mata Khivi, institutionalized one of Sikhism’s greatest contributions to humanity – the Langar, or community kitchen. Under her care, the Langar became a living embodiment of equality: men and women, rich and poor, sat together to share food without discrimination.
Her compassion and management were so revered that she is mentioned by name in the Guru Granth Sahib, an honor shared by very few women in religious scriptures.
Mai Bhago – The Warrior Saint
Centuries later, Guru Nanak’s message would inspire women like Mai Bhago, the fearless warrior who led forty deserters back into battle in the time of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Her courage became the living proof that spiritual strength and physical valor were not male monopolies.
From nurturing souls to leading armies – Sikh women embodied the full spectrum of strength envisioned by Guru Nanak.
The Spiritual Feminism of Sikhism
What makes Guru Nanak’s vision unique is that his feminism was rooted in spirituality, not politics.
He did not demand social change as an act of rebellion – he unveiled spiritual truth as the natural foundation for social justice. If the soul is without gender, then discrimination against women is not merely unjust – it is untrue.
The Guru Granth Sahib, the living scripture of the Sikhs, reflects this balance beautifully. It uses both masculine and feminine imagery for the Divine. God is sometimes Pita (Father), sometimes Mata (Mother), and often neither, transcending all form and gender.
This oneness of being – Ik Onkar – is the spiritual essence of equality.
Institutional Equality: Sikh
Practices That Empower Women
Guru Nanak ensured that his vision did not remain confined to words. He institutionalized it within the Sikh community structure:
– Sangat (Congregation): Men and women sit together with no segregation, reinforcing spiritual unity.
– Pangat (Community Meal): Everyone, regardless of caste or gender, eats side by side.
– Kirtan and Seva: Women can perform hymns, read from the Guru Granth Sahib, lead prayers, and perform any religious duty – complete equality in spiritual service.
– Leadership: Sikh women have historically led Gurdwaras, schools, and humanitarian missions, carrying forward the Guru’s legacy in the modern age.
This wasn’t just progressive – it was centuries ahead of its time.
Modern Reflections: Women of the Guru’s Light
Today, Guru Nanak’s teachings continue to inspire Sikh women around the world – from the gurdwaras of Amritsar to the community kitchens of London, Vancouver, and Nairobi.
– In Education: Sikh women head universities, schools, and interfaith organizations, promoting literacy and equality.
– In Humanitarian Work: Groups like Khalsa Aid see women at the forefront of global relief, serving refugees, disaster victims, and the homeless.
– In Spiritual Leadership: Women now perform Kirtan at the Golden Temple and lead online Sangats, bringing the Guru’s wisdom to new generations.
Beyond Gender: The Eternal Message
Guru Nanak’s feminism was never confined to one gender; it was an invitation to transcend all binaries – male and female, high and low, rich and poor.
In his vision of Ik Onkar, all creation is part of one divine light. To discriminate against woman is to deny that divine unity.
He saw that true liberation comes not from asserting dominance, but from realizing oneness.
Thus, Guru Nanak’s message was not only feminist – it was humanist, universal, and timeless.
Legacy and Relevance Today
In an age when gender equality is still being debated and legislated, Guru Nanak’s message feels both ancient and astonishingly modern. He didn’t need to coin slogans or lead protests – he redefined consciousness itself.
For him, the measure of civilization was not power or conquest, but how a society treated its women.
His voice, echoing through the Guru Granth Sahib, still calls humanity to remember that spirituality is meaningless without equality.
“There is One God in all; there is no high or low.
Whoever realizes this truth, finds peace.”
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