The 'Janamsakhis' (birth stories) are traditional biographies of:

The "Janamsakhis" ("birth stories" or "life stories") are traditional biographies of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism.

About the Janamsakhis:

• They are collections of stories (sakhis) about the life, travels and teachings of Guru Nanak.
• They were written in Punjabi, in the Gurmukhi script, from the late 16th century onwards.
• They combine historical facts with legends and miracles, and are meant to inspire devotion.

Famous Janamsakhi traditions:

• The "Bhai Bala Janamsakhi": attributed to Bhai Bala, said to be a companion of Guru Nanak; it is the most popular, though its authenticity is doubted by scholars.
• The "Puratan Janamsakhi" ("Old Janamsakhi"): considered one of the oldest.
• The "Miharban Janamsakhi".
• The "Bhai Mani Singh Janamsakhi" (Gian Ratnavali).

Stories in the Janamsakhis:

• His birth in 1469 at Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib, in Pakistan).
• His childhood wisdom, and his refusal to wear the sacred thread.
• His experience at the river Bein (near Sultanpur Lodhi), where he disappeared for three days and returned saying "There is no Hindu, there is no Musalman".
• His travels (udasis) to many places in India and abroad, including Mecca, Baghdad and Sri Lanka, with his companion Mardana, a Muslim musician who played the rabab.
• His settlement at Kartarpur, on the banks of the Ravi, where he founded a community.

About Guru Nanak Dev:

• He taught the worship of one formless God, the remembrance of God's name (naam japna), honest work (kirat karna) and sharing with others (vand chhakna).
• He rejected caste distinctions, idol worship and empty rituals.
• He died in 1539 at Kartarpur.
• His birthday is celebrated as Guru Nanak Jayanti (Gurpurab) on Kartik Purnima.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Guru Gobind Singh, Kabir and Chaitanya have other biographical traditions.