Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Third Uddasi: A Mother's Love and the True Purpose of Human Life
In this sakhi, Guru Nanak Dev Ji's mother, Mata Tripta Ji, held the arm of Guru Nanak Ji as he was about to leave for his third Udd-Assi. She tried to stop Guru Ji, saying, "Son, you are married now. You should stay home. If you go, you will not return for 12 years."
Guru Nanak Ji used to travel in all directions—north, south, east, and west—for 12 years each time, undertaking four such journeys in total to unite people . During these travels, Guru Ji raised his voice for God and worked to connect people with the divine. Wandering far and wide, Guru Ji realized that it was not possible to unite all people with God alone. Thus, Guru Ji took on 10 forms as Sikh Gurus to accomplish this mission of reuniting the departed souls with God. Guru Ji manifested 10 jyot forms, understanding that the world could not be transformed within the span of a single life devoted to this purpose.
Later, Guru Ji replied to Mata Ji, "Do you want me to stay with you?"
Mata Ji answered, "Yes."
Guru Nanak Ji smiled calmly and asked Mata Tripta Ji a question: "Mother, can you tell me where I was before I came into your womb?"
Mata Ji replied, "You were with Almighty God!"
Guru Ji said, "Maa, could you tell me where you were before you took birth from your mother's womb?"
Mata Ji replied, "I was also residing at the feet of God."
Guru Nanak Ji asked, "Maa, have you ever tried talking to God, from where you have come?"
Mata Ji replied, "Son, no, I have never tried talking to or connecting with God."
Guru Ji responded, "I have conversed with God. God told me, 'I gave you birth to reconnect the departed souls back to me and to carry out the work I have assigned to you. Go and spread my praise and tell people about me—where I am and how to return to me. Who else will tell the departed souls about me?'"
Guru Ji then asked, "Mata Ji, am I doing something wrong?"
Mata Ji remained silent.
Guru Ji asked again, "Mata, shall I stop, or shall I go?"
Mata Ji replied, "Son, you may go. I will not stop you; you are right."
Mata Ji then understood Guru Nanak Ji's reason for living a life under the command of Almighty God. She peacefully agreed to the Udd-Assi period of 12 years, repeated four times during Guru Nanak Ji's lifetime.
As humans, we tend to focus on three main concepts and live our lives around them:
1. How to marry our children;
2. How to take care of the children of our children;
3. How to settle our children.
Beyond these motives, we rarely aim for anything else. Humanity has not been told that, after marriage, children, and their settlement, there is something more for which we humans were born.
God created humans in human form not to live the same way animals do. These attachments and expectations mimic the lives of animals, as they do not have the ability to think like humans.
We humans are not meant to live life as animals do. We need to seek the purpose for which God has sent us to this earth. Guru Nanak Ji said to Mata Ji, "You are not connected to God right now, but the day you establish that connection, you will follow the same instructions of reuniting the departed souls with God."
Often, we feel left out, restless, and lack energy in life. This inner sadness stems from not knowing the true reason behind our existence: our separation from God.