The Guru, knowing that his time to depart was approaching, had to appoint his successor.
On September 2, 1539 (2 Asu, 1596 Asu vadi 5) Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji placed five Paise (Indian currency) before Bhai Lehna and bowed to him in token of his succession to the Guruship. He placed the umbrella of Spiritual Sovereignty over Bhai Lehna`s head. Thus, he created another Nanak and called him Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji.
Guruship was passed on to Guru Angad, people realized that Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji was soon to depart bodily from the world (As a Divine Light and Spirit, the Guru is always present). The Sikhs, the Hindus and the Muslims came from all over to have holy glimpse of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
After the proclamation of Guru Angad, the sons asked their father, what provision he had made for them. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji replied, "O my sons, God is the Cherisher of His creatures; you shall obtain food and clothing in abundance, and if you repeat God`s name you shall be saved at last."
Guru`s Muslim devotees wanted to bury him after his death. His Hindu followers desired to cremate his body. When the Guru was asked for his decision, he replied, "Let the Hindus place flowers on my right and the Muslims on my left. Those whose flowers are found fresh in the morning, may have the disposal rights of my body."
The Guru drew a sheet over him. When the sheet was removed next morning, body was not found underneath, but the flowers on both sides were afresh. The light blended with Light and the spirit went back and merged with the Master Spirit. It confirms that the Guru was not a body but it was the Divine Light.
The Hindus and the Muslims removed their respective flowers and cut the sheet into two. The former cremated the sheet and the latter buried it. It happened at Kartarpur on September 22, 1539. He was about seventy and a half years of age.
The Sikhs built a Gurdwara and the Muslims a tomb in his honor on the bank of river Ravi. Both had since been washed away by the river, perhaps by a superact, so as to avoid idolatrous worship of the Guru`s last resting place.
