Guru Nanak 550 Years Series: Avid traveller, archivist and adventurer Gurpreet Singh Anand shares a little-known Ode to Guru Nanak Sahib by renowned Hindu philosopher Sri Ananda Acharya upon visiting the memorial of the visit at Bahlol, Baghdad.

Sri Ananda Acharya (1881-1945) was a great Hindu philosopher who during his travels one day reached outside Baghdad where someone mentioned to him about Guru Nanak visit and the memorial of his visit to the shrine of Bahlol.

Sri Ananda Acharya upon seeing a commemorative stone on Guru Nanak Sahib’s visit to Baghdad in 1511, composed an Ode to Baba Nanak.  The revered Acharya visited the place in 1919 that marked one of the well-known followers of Baba Nanak who along with his son, after discourse With Guru Nanak became his follower.  The eminent sage after visiting the tomb of Bahlol, then and there composed a poem that is published in his book, “Snow-Birds.”

Far back then, Baghdad was a great centre of learning and Guru Nanak visited such places in his various Udassis -spiritual journeys.

Bhai Gurdas Ji records Guru Nanak’s visit to Baghdad in his Vaars in detail.  Guru Nanak’s companion Bhai Mardana, who was accompanying the First Master, replied to Pir-i-Dastgir’s question of what faith was Baba Nanak thus:

ਪੁਛਿਆ ਫਿਰਿ ਕੈ ਦਸਤਗੀਰ ਕਉਣ ਫਕੀਰ ਕਿਸ ਕਾ ਘਰਿਹਾਨਾ।
ਨਾਨਕ ਕਲਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਆਇਆ ਰਬੁ ਫਕੀਰੁ ਇਕੋ ਪਹਿਚਾਨਾ।
ਧਰਤਿ ਆਕਾਸ ਚਹੂ ਦਿਸ ਜਾਨਾ । 35

Pir Dastegir asked him, which category of faquir you belong to and what is your parentage? (Mardana told) He is Nanak, who has come into kaliyug, and, recognises God and His faquirs as one. He is known in all the directions besides earth and sky.

A stone slab marked the spot in Turkish language reads, “Behold! How a wish has been fulfilled by Holy and High Providence. That the building of Baba Nanak has been newly built with the help of seven autat (great valis). That the happy murad of God (Baba Nanak) has started a fountain of grace issuing new water in the land. 917 Hijri ” (1511 A.D.)

The legend goes that the Queen of Baghdad had no child. By the blessings of Guru Nanak, a son was born to the Queen and she offered a chola (robe) to Guru Nanak prepared by herself, having the hymns of Quran on it. That chola is still lying in Gurdwara Chola Sahib at Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur district, Punjab.

Chroniclers record that this place was discovered by a Sikh soldier during World War I and soon after Sri Ananda Acharya immortalised it in his poem.