Lehal Library

34 The Punjab and the Birth of Sikhism Another incident took place when Nanak was on his way to Mecca: He was staying in a mosque and fell asleep with his feet towards the Ka'ba-an act considered of grave disrespect to the house of God. When the mullah came to say his prayers, he shook Nanak rudely and said: 'O seIVant of God, thou hast thy feet towards Ka'ba, the house of God; why hast thou done such a thing?' Nanak replied: 'Then tum my feet towards some direction where there is no God nor the Ka'ba. ' 23 Nanak spent his last years at Kartarpw·, where large crowds flocked to hear him preach. He made them obseive a strict routine, which set the pattern of daily life for his followers, who by then had come to be known as his Sikhs (presumably derived ultimately from the Sanskrit si~a. disciple, or si~ii. insLruct ion-Pali, sikkhii), i.e., disciples. People were roused a watd1 befo1·e daybreak. 111ey bathed in cold water and foregathered in the temple, where they recited the morning prayer and sang hymns. The sen.ice was over a watch and a quarter after sunrise. People were then free to attend to their worldly affairs. l11ey foregathered again in the evening for congregational prayers and hymn-singing. After the evening service they coined together at the temple. Another shon prayer was said, and they went to their homes for the night. The same routine was followed by communities of Sikhs in other towns. Nanak's hymns were copied and sent to them. Eve11' centre had a leader to insuuct newcomers. Among the disciples who attached themselves to the Guru at Rart:arprn- was one Lehna, a Khatri of the Trehan sub-caste, who impressed Nanak by his devotion and qualities of leadership. The Guru's elder son, Sri Chand, had become an ascetic and Nanak disapproved of asceticism. The younger son, Lakhmi Das, turned the other way and showed no interest in spirimal matters. Consequently, Nanak chose Lehna to carry on his mission, giving him the name Angad (of my own limb). Guru Nanak died on 22 September 1539 in the early hours of the morning, the time of the day he loved most and described 2'!> .fai1t1111Mikhi, pp. 116-17. This incident took place duriug the founh of the GW'U's long voyages.