Guru Nanak's meeting with Raja Janak, from a manuscript of the Janam Sakhi (Life Stories)

In the Janam Sakhi paintings,Guru Nanak is nearly always identifiable by a golden halo around his head symbolizing divine light. By the late 1500s,a halo was also used in several Indian painting traditions to identify kings. Here we see Guru Nanak (at left) in conversation with a mythological Hindu ruler. Both figures have haloes,yet the guru becomes recognizable as lord of the spiritual and material worlds through several clues: the rocks form a canopy over his head and draw attention towards his figure; his hand is raised in a gesture indicating speech or teaching;while Raja Janak extends his hands towards Nanak in a gesture of submission.