Question

Why did Guru Nanak Dev ji refuse to wear Janeu (sacred thread) during the sacred thread ceremony?
A. He demanded a thread made of virtues rather than thread of cotton
B. He demanded a thread made of flowers rather than thread made of cotton
C. He demanded a thread made of gold rather than thread of cotton
D. He demanded a thread made of copper rather than thread of cotton

Answer 1

Hint:Guru Nanak Dev ji was against the hypocrisy of the people who demonstrated themselves as the scholar of the holy books but were discriminatory in their behaviour towards the lower section of society.

Complete answer:
Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji was the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh gurus. There is one incident that occured in the life of Guru Nanak Dev ji while he was nine years old. His parents wanted to do his Janeu (sacred thread) sanskar which is a religious practice among hindus. But he refused to wear Janeu (sacred thread) during sacred thread ceremony due to following reasons:
He said many people were wearing the Janeu but simultaneously their actions were not in interest of the society. He said that there many people wearing Janeu stimulate themselves to be pious but at the same time you discriminate against the people in the name of caste.
It falsely provides the Brahmin a position of spiritual guide- which he might really not deserve. It is a custom created by the brahmin to practice a ritual which only he can perform.
It brings no qualities or virtues to the wearer. It is also a sign of discrimination as low castes people are not permitted to wear the Janeu.

Hence the correct answer is option A.

Note:Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji in his sermons has praised the traditional Hindu knowledge (such as Vedas) but questioned its wrong interpretation. He said that he will prefer to wear a sacred thread whose cotton is empathy, satisfaction is thread and truth is twist.