Feet Toward Kaaba - God is Everywhere

Dadi: "Guddu, where do you think God lives?"

Guddu: "In the temple, Dadi? In heaven?"

Dadi: "*smiles gently* That's what many people think. But let me tell you a story about Guru Nanak, who taught the world something different."

Guddu: "Guru Nanak! The founder of the Sikh religion?"

Dadi: "Yes, beta. Guru Nanak loved to travel and meet people of all faiths. Once, with his friend Mardana, he traveled by ship all the way to Mecca - the holiest city for Muslims."

Guddu: "Mecca? That's really far away!"

Dadi: "Very far. And at the center of Mecca is a very special building called the Kaaba. Muslims from all over the world pray facing the Kaaba. It's the most sacred place in their religion."

Guddu: "Did Guru Nanak go to see it?"

Dadi: "He did. But the journey was long and he was very tired. He lay down to sleep in the mosque. And here's where something interesting happened."

Guddu: "What?"

Dadi: "When he lay down, his feet happened to point toward the Kaaba. Now, in those days - and even today - it was considered very disrespectful to point your feet toward something holy."

Guddu: "Oh! Like how we shouldn't point our feet at books or at elders?"

Dadi: "Exactly like that. A priest named Rukandin saw this and became very angry. He stormed over to the sleeping Guru and shouted, "Don't you know this is the house of God? Why are your feet pointing toward the Kaaba, you fool!""

Guddu: "Was Guru Nanak scared?"

Dadi: "*chuckles* Not at all. He woke up calmly and said something very wise. "Brother, please turn my legs to the side where there is no God.""

Guddu: "Where there's... no God? But isn't God everywhere?"

Dadi: "Ahhh, you're already understanding the lesson! But the priest didn't understand yet. He grabbed the Guru's feet and turned them the other way."

Guddu: "Did that fix the problem?"

Dadi: "*leans forward mysteriously* Something magical happened. Wherever the priest turned Guru Nanak's feet, the Kaaba seemed to move in that same direction. He turned the feet this way - the Kaaba was there. He turned them that way - the Kaaba was still there!"

Guddu: "Wow! Was it real magic?"

Dadi: "It was a divine lesson, beta. The priest was so confused. He kept turning the Guru's feet, but no matter which direction they pointed, the sacred building seemed to be there."

Guddu: "What did Guru Nanak say?"

Dadi: "He smiled and said, "Do you see now? God does not live in only one building or one direction. God lives everywhere - in every stone, every tree, every person, every direction you can point.""

Guddu: "So we can't point our feet away from God because God is in all directions!"

Dadi: "*beams* Exactly, my clever boy! The priest finally understood. His anger melted away. Guru Nanak and Mardana then sang beautiful hymns, and crowds gathered to listen. People started calling him "Baba Nanak" - wise elder Nanak."

Guddu: "Dadi, so when we go to the temple, God is not just there?"

Dadi: "God is there, and also in your school, in our kitchen, in the park, in your heart. The temple helps us focus and pray, but God isn't locked inside it."

Guddu: "Like how Mommy is my mommy whether we're at home or at the market?"

Dadi: "*laughs delightedly* Perfect example! Your mommy doesn't stop being your mommy when you leave the house. And God doesn't stop being God outside of temples and mosques."

Guddu: "I like that, Dadi. It means God is always with me."

Dadi: "Always, beta. When you're happy, when you're sad, when you're at school, when you're sleeping. There's no place you can go where God isn't already there."

Guddu: "Even when I'm in trouble?"

Dadi: "*hugs him* Especially then, my little one. Especially then. That's the most important time to remember - you're never alone."

Guddu: "Thank you for the story, Dadi. I'll think about it next time I'm at the temple - and everywhere else too!"

Dadi: "That's exactly what Guru Nanak would want."