Gurdwara Sri Patti Sahib, Nankana Sahib

As a young child Guru Nanak Sahib Ji first studied Punjabi with Pandit Gopal, then Sanskrit with Pandit Brij Lal and at 13 years of age he mastered Persian studying with Maulvi Kutab Ud Din. Hence Patti Sahib is also known as Gurdwara Maulvi Patti Sahib. Gurdwara Patti Sahib also called Gurdwara Maulvi Patti Likhi (‘Patti’ means a wooden board on which children learn to write alphabets with a pen made of a soft stem. The board could be washed after the lesson and would be given another coating of soft light clay and is re-used) is located at the site where young Guru Nanak learned the various different languages mainly Persian and Arabic which were then used in the Punjab, each with its own distinct alphabet.

The divine wisdom and spiritual enlightment evident in the young Nanak became well known in his village when at the age of seven he astonished his teacher Pandit Gopal with his eloquence in explaining deeper truths about man and God and even composed an ancrostic on the Punjabi alphabet giving a divinely inspired interpretation to each letter. Guru Nanak always spoke and sang of one God and his love for God and being rich in music and melody he cast an irresistible spell on all those who listened to him.

    • Guru Nanak At SchoolGuru Nanak At School

      At the age of five, Guru Nanak was sent to school, which was run by teacher, Pandit Gopal Das, at his village.

    • The Study Of Divine KnowledgeThe Study Of Divine Knowledge

      Guru Nanak appears to have continued to attend school for some time. One day he was observed to remain silent, and not apply himself to his books. The village tutor asked him why he wasn’t reading.

    • Guru Nanak's EducationGuru Nanak’s Education

      Deeply impressed by the profound and convincing thoughts of Guru Nanak, Gopal met Mehta Kalu and advised him to send his son to a learned scholar.

Guru Nanak while criticising the then prevalent methods of education, which of course meant no education for some, (particularly women and the lower castes) enlightened his teachers to the actual purpose of learning which gave a new meaning to each and every word. The Maulvis and the Pandits were quite ignorant of his new, revolutionary mode of teaching. This sacred Gurdwara lies midway between Gurdwara Janam Asthan and Gurdwara Bal Lila along the road leading from Janam Asthan to the railway station in Nankana Sahib.