Mardana (1459 - 1534)

Mardana was born in 1459 in the village of Talwandi, which is now Nankana, Pakistan. His father Badra and mother Lakkho were Muslims bards of the Mirasai lineage, a clan of minstrels. The Mirasis were keepers of oral tradition who performed verbal genealogy. Whenever a ceremonial event took place such as a wedding, childbirth, or funeral, the Mirasi were called to recite the lineage in an ode celebrating a family's heritage. Lakkho had given birth to six children of her own who had not survived, so when she gave birth to her seventh child, as testimony to her own family heritage, she named him Marjana, "one who dies".

Marjana was about ten years old when Guru Nanak Dev was born to Hindu parents who lived in the village of Talwandi. As a child Nanak loved to listen to Marjana sing and gave him an instrument with strings fashioned of reeds to accompany him. Marjana sang the spiritual compositions of ancient poets such as Kabir, Trilochan, Ravi Das, Dhanna and Bern. The child Nanak so loved these that he later included them in the scripture he compiled as an adult, which eventually became the Guru Granth Sahib. When Marjana explained the circumstances of his name to the boy, Nanak began to call him Marda-na, "one who wouldn't die".

The spiritually minded Nanak Dev disappointed his father when he attempted to set him up in business. Nanak, his wife, and sons to live with his sister Nanaki and her husband in Sultanpur where Nanak was given work. Mardana soon ventured to look for employment as well. Nanak's father suggested he go to Sultanpur and bring back news of how Nanak fared. Mardana and Nanak began meeting at the riverside for early morning meditation before work. The two sat beside the river at dawn singing in praise of the divine. The town's people expressed astonishment at such a close friendship between sons of Hindu and Muslim families.

One morning Mardana and Nanak Dev met at the river for morning ablutions, Nanak waded out and disappeared beneath the surface. When he did not show up for work people began to inquire as to his whereabouts. Mardana explained that Nanak had gone to bathe while performing morning prayers and had not yet resurfaced from his morning bath. Much speculation arose. Every one but Mardana and Nanaki believed that Nanak had drowned. After three days Nanak emerged from the river alive and exclaimed, "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim." Mardana and Nanaki declared Nanak to be their guru.

Mardana and Guru Nanak sang together in praise of one God for all humanity. People began to recognize Nanak as their guru and follow his teachings of a creator who is one with all of creation. Guru Nanak made arrangements with his sister Nanaki to look after his family and invited Mardana to embark with him on a missionary journey as his traveling companion. Mardana had a wife, two sons and one daughter. The girl was of marriageable age and would need to be wedded before he could depart. A follower of Guru Nanak, by name of Baghirath, made all the necessary arrangements for the ceremony and provided everything needed.

Mardana never returned to Talwandi to give news to Guru Nanak's father of his son. Instead he pledged himself to the service of Guru Nanak and ministry of one God. Bibi Nanaki encouraged Mardana to accompany her brother on his journey and provided Mardana with a rebab, a stringed musical instrument. Mardana set forth with Guru Nanak on a series of journeys which would take the two wandering minstrels on visits to several continents over a period of 25 years. Two compositions written by the bard Mardana, totaling 13 lines of verse, are included in the Sikh scripture which is now known as the Guru Granth Sahib.

Faithful to the End:

Mardana spent the remainder of his life dedicated to Guru Nanak's mission spreading the message of Sikhism. He faithfully followed where ever Guru Nanak led often facing uncertainty and privation with fortitude sustained by steadfast conviction. Mardana is believed to have breathed his last in Kartarpur where he declined burial in a marked tomb and his body was disposed of by Guru Nanak in the River Ravi.

Important Dates and Corresponding Events:

Dates correspond to the Nanakshahi or Sikhism calendar.

• Birth: Talwandi (Nankana, Pakistan) - 1459. Mardana is born to father Badra and mother Lakkho of the Mirasi Clan of Muslims.
• Marriage: Talwandi. Mardan is married. He and his wife have two sons, one by name of Shahzada, and a daughter.
• Travels: 1499 - 1524. Mardana accompanies Guru Nanak on his journeys. They tour and preach in parts of India, Sri Lanka, Tibet, China and Persia.
• Death: Kartarpur - 1534.