Bebe Nanaki: The First Sikh
On International Women’s Day, the world comes together to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. In the Sikh tradition, this celebration is not just an annual event but a foundational value embedded in the very beginnings of the faith. Central to this legacy is Bebe Nanaki, the elder sister of Guru Nanak, who is recognised as the first Sikh. Her life stands as a testament to the revolutionary equality that would become a core principle of Sikhism.
From an early age, Nanaki saw something exceptional in her brother—a profound spiritual awareness and philosophical perspective that even their father failed to notice. This deep intuition was transformative. As recorded in the Sikh Encyclopedia, Nanaki “was the first to recognise his spiritual eminence and to become his devotee.” By doing so, she established herself as the very first Gursikh—the first follower of Guru Nanak, who would go on to found a new spiritual path.
To appreciate the significance of Bebe Nanaki’s role and Sikhism’s teachings on women, it is important to consider the historical context. According to the Sikh Encyclopedia, women in fifteenth-century India were subjected to extreme subordination. Sanatani/Hindu religious texts labelled them as “intrinsically impure and unfit” for spiritual instruction. Practices such as purdah (veiling), female infanticide, child marriage, and sati (widow immolation) reflected a society that treated women as burdens.
Guru Nanak entered this world with a radically different message. His spiritual experiences led him to proclaim “the gospel of equality.” The Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhism’s holy scripture, is filled with verses that affirm the dignity and worth of women.
One of the most cited passages is from Asa ki Var, sung during morning prayers:
“Of woman are we born, of woman conceived; to woman engaged, to woman married. Women are befriended, by woman is the civilization continued. When woman dies, woman is sought for. It is by woman that the entire social order is maintained. Then why call her evil of whom are great men born?”
This passage challenges the patriarchal assumptions of the time, highlighting that at every stage of life, men are dependent on women. The message is clear: “From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all.”
Scriptural Foundations: Dismantling Patriarchal Structures
The Guru Granth Sahib goes beyond general statements of equality and directly addresses practices that oppressed women:
- Against the veil (ghoonghat): Guru Amar Das opposed the veiling of women, and the scripture condemns the practice. Bhagat Kabir declares: “Stay, stay, O daughter-in-law—do not cover your face with a veil. In the end, this shall not bring you even half a shell.”
- Against Sati practice: Guru Amar Das rejected the custom of widow burning, offering a new perspective: “Satis are not those that burn themselves on the husband’s funeral pyre; satis are they, O Nanak, who die of the pangs of separation (from the supreme God).” Sikhism allowed widows to remarry as a measure against this practice.
- Against Sutak (pollution beliefs): Guru Nanak dismissed the superstition that women become impure through childbirth, stating: “pollution is not in childbirth” but in moral failings like greed and falsehood. He called such superstitions baseless.
- Against Dowry: Guru Ram Das condemned dowry as “false egotism and a worthless display,” instead urging the pursuit of spiritual wealth.
- Against asceticism’s denigration of women: Guru Nanak encouraged the householder’s life, viewing husband and wife as equal partners, rather than seeing women as distractions from spirituality.
Institutionalising Equality: The Gurus’ Revolutionary Actions
The Sikh Gurus did not just preach equality—they enacted it through transformative practices:
- Equal participation in worship and community: The Gurus made no distinction between genders in initiation, instruction, or participation in sangat (holy fellowship) and pangat (eating together). Women could lead congregations, perform kirtan, and engage fully in religious life.
- Women in leadership: Guru Amar Das appointed women as supervisors of Sikh communities, giving them religious authority in a period when women were often excluded from spiritual roles.
- The langar (community kitchen): Langar embodied the principle of equality by seating everyone together, regardless of caste, gender, or social status—a practice that continues in every gurdwara worldwide.
- The Khalsa initiation: In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh’s creation of the Khalsa gave women the surname Kaur (princess) and men Singh (lion), with both receiving identical initiation. This conferred dignity and equality upon all Sikhs.
Women in Sikh History: Living Testaments to Equality
The ideals set out in Sikh scripture became reality through the lives of countless women in Sikh history. Bebe Nanaki stands at the beginning of this tradition—as a symbol of faith, maternal care, and spiritual intuition.
Other notable women include:
- Mata Khivi: Wife of Guru Angad, remembered for her dedicated service in the langar.
- Mai Bhago: Led Sikh soldiers in battle against Mughal forces, demonstrating martial courage.
- Mata Gujri: Showed steadfast faith during her grandsons’ martyrdom.
- Rani Sada Kaur: Guided the Sikh Empire through important transitions.
During the intense persecution of the eighteenth century, Sikh women showed remarkable resilience. The daily Sikh prayer (ardas) honours the sacrifices of women who suffered in jails, witnessed the loss of their children, but never wavered in their faith.
Even in warfare, Sikhs upheld the highest standards for the treatment of women. In 1763, when Sikh forces captured women related to an enemy general, they ensured their safe return, earning recognition for regarding all women as mothers.
The Contemporary Relevance: Challenges and Continuity
The Sikh vision of women’s equality was ahead of its time and remains progressive even today. However, there remains a gap between principle and practice. Scholars note that “gender equality has been difficult to achieve in practice due to heavy social, cultural, and caste-related pressure.” Women are still underrepresented in some Sikh institutions and leadership roles; for instance, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has historically had less than twenty percent female membership.
Nonetheless, movements for genuine equality continue. The Kaur Project, for example, creates opportunities for Sikh women to participate fully in religious life, including leading prayers and serving in key rituals. In diaspora communities, women are increasingly reclaiming their rightful roles in Sikh religious practice.
The ultimate authority remains the scripture, which states: “Recognise the Lord’s light within all, and do not consider social class or status.” Sikhism teaches that this divine light shines equally in women and men.
Bebe Nanaki’s Enduring Legacy
On International Women’s Day, the life of Bebe Nanaki provides enduring inspiration. She was more than just Guru Nanak’s sister; she was the first to recognise his spiritual light, the first Sikh, and a model of devotion, wisdom, and love.
Her story serves as a reminder that women have always been central to spiritual change, even when their contributions go unrecorded. The tradition she helped begin enshrined women’s equality as a spiritual truth that cannot be compromised.
When Guru Nanak asked, “Then why call her evil, of whom are great men born?” he was not making a rhetorical point but expressing a vision where women’s dignity is inseparable from spiritual reality—a vision his sister embodied from the start.
Bebe Nanaki was the first fruit of Sikhism’s revolutionary ideal of equality. The scriptures and institutions that followed enshrined that equality as an eternal principle. Today, as Sikh women continue to strive for and achieve equality, they pay tribute to the one who began it all.
References
- Wikipedia, “Bebe Nanaki”
- Wikipedia, “Women in Sikhism”
- Save My Exams, “The Oneness of Humanity”
- The Sikh Encyclopedia, “Nanaki, Bebe”
- SikhNet, “Women who enriched Sikh history ~ Part II”
- The Sikh Encyclopedia, “Women in Sikhism”
- The Free Dictionary, “Women in the Guru Granth Sahib”
- SikhiWiki, “Bibi Nanaki”
- Wikipedia, “Women in Sikhism: Difference between revisions”
- AI generated image
