Why the town of Sultanpur Lodhi has attained a prominent place in the Sikh Religion?

Sultanpur Lodhi which is a sleepy town in Punjab’s Kapurthala district is at the centre stage of the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev, founder of the Sikh religion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the main anniversary programme to be held at the town.

Links to Sikhism

• It is believed that it was here in Sultanpur Lodhi, Guru Nanak Dev the founder of Sikhism attained enlightenment.
• It was here in the town of Sultanpur Lodhi Guru Nanak came into intimate contact with Islam.
• The Janam Sakhis (birth stories or biographies of Guru Nanak Dev) written towards the end of the 16th century say that Guru Nanak Dev was a changed man after he took a dip in the rivulet Kali Bein which flowed through the middle of the town, and disappeared for three days.
• It is said that after the Guru resurfaced after three days, he uttered the seminal words, “Na koi Hindu, Na koi Mussalman (People are neither Hindu nor Muslim)’’.

Guru Nanak Dev in Sultanpur Lodhi

Guru Nanak Dev was born in 1469 at Rai-Bhoi-Di Talwandi in Sheikhupura district (now in Pakistan). He moved to Sultanpur Lodhi between late 1480 and 1490 at the invitation of his elder sister Nanaki and her husband Jai Ram.

There are conflicting accounts of the duration of his stay at Sultanpur Lodhi. While some say he was there for 10 years between the ages of 18 and 27, few claim he was there from the ages of 16 to 30. Most scholars agree that he lived in the town for around a decade until 1500.

History of the Town

The town was founded by Sultan Khan Lodhi, a general of Mohammad Ghaznavi in the 11th century. It was the central point in the trade route between Delhi and Lahore. Sikander Lodhi, assigned the construction of Sultanpur to Daulat Khan in the 15th century. Babarnama which is the autobiography of Mughal emperor Babur mentions Daulat Khan Lodhi as the founder of the town.