Guru Nanak at Haridwar (Water to the West)

During his travels (Udasis), Guru Nanak Dev Ji visited the holy city of Haridwar on the banks of the river Ganges. He saw hundreds of pilgrims standing in the river, throwing water towards the East (the rising sun).

When the Guru asked what they were doing, a priest explained, 'We are offering water to our ancestors in the heavenly realms so they will not be thirsty.'

Hearing this, Guru Nanak turned his back to the sun and began vigorously throwing water towards the West. The pilgrims stopped and laughed, asking, 'O holy man! Why are you throwing water to the West?'

The Guru replied, 'I am a farmer from Punjab, which is in the West. My fields are parched. I am sending water to irrigate my crops.'

The priests laughed louder. 'How can your water reach hundreds of miles away to Punjab?' they mocked.

Guru Nanak smiled gently and replied, 'If my water cannot reach a few hundred miles on this very earth, how will your water reach your ancestors millions of miles away in heaven?' The crowd fell silent, realizing the futility of blind rituals without logic or true devotion.