Vali Qandhara with Sharaf Pathan, from a manuscript of the Janam Sakhi (Life Stories)

The Janam Sakhi (Life Stories) literature describes Guru Nanak's meetings and discussions with many spiritual leaders of India's various religious philosophies, including Hindus, Muslims, and yogis. The Bala Janam Sakhi (to which tradition the paintings here belong) includes a story about the guru's conversations with two Muslim Sufi teachers, Vali Qandhari and Shah Sharaf. This painting is unusual as it does not include Guru Nanak, as is typical for the stories, and instead shows only the two Sufis seated on a terrace.