Sikhism: A World Religion

A progressive religion well ahead of its time when it was founded over 500 years ago, The Sikh religion today has a following of over 20 million people worldwide and is ranked as the world’s 5th largest religion. Sikhism preaches a message of devotion and remembrance of God at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind and denounces superstitions and blind rituals. Sikhism is open to all through the teachings of its 10 Gurus enshrined in the Sikh Holy Book and Living Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.  The founder of the Sikh religion was Guru Nanak who was born in 1469. He preached a message of love and understanding and criticized the blind rituals of the Hindus and Muslims. Guru Nanak passed on his enlightened leadership of this new religion to nine successive Gurus. The final living Guru, Guru Gobind Singh died in 1708. Sikhism does not have priests, which were abolished by Guru Gobind Singh. The Guru felt that they had become corrupt and full of ego. Sikhs only have custodians of the Guru Granth Sahib (granthi), and any Sikh is free to read the Guru Granth Sahib in the Gurdwara (a Sikh temple) or in their home. All people of all religions are welcome to the Gurdwara. A free community kitchen can be found at every Gurdwara which serves meals to all people of all faiths. Guru Nanak first started this institution which outlines the basic Sikh principles of service, humility and equality. The most significant historical religious center for the Sikhs is Harmiandir Sahib (The Golden Temple) at Amritsar in the state of Punjab in northern India. It is the inspirational and historical center of Sikhism but is not a mandatory place of pilgrimage or worship. All places where Sri Guru Granth Sahib are installed are considered equally holy for Sikhs.

The Khanda: Symbol of Sikhism

     With about 23 million followers today, Sikhism is the world's 5th largest religion. Sikhism comes from the Punjabi word sikh which means strong and able disciple. This monotheistic religion was founded around 1500 C.E. by a man named Guru Nanak (1469-1539). Guru Nanak was the first of ten gurus in Sikhism history. When he was 28, Nanak went out to bathe in the river and meditate. History says that Guru Nanak did not return until three days later. They say he came back filled with the spirit of God, and he said "There is no Hindu and no Muslim." Sikhism was then born. Guru Nanak went on four epic journeys (north to Tibet, south to Sri Lanka, east to Bengal and west to Mecca and Baghdad) to preach to people. The religion aimed at controlling five vices. These vices are as follows: greed, anger, false pride, lust, and an attachment to material goods. In this religion, community was emphasized, and the gurdwara (Sikh temple) is the center of communal life. Sikhs believe that when a person dies, their choices, good or bad, determines the family, race, and character of the person when they are reborn into a new life. This meant that the selfish and cruel will suffer in their next life, and those who were compassionate and honest will be rewarded good character and a great life. They believed that reincarnation continued until karma was resolved and unity with the god Sat Nam was achieved. Sat Nam is the infinite being who is the source of all things. The sacred text of the Sikhs is the Adi Granth, or Granth Sahib. The book consists of 3 principal sections. The first is Japji, which recites Guru Nanak's teachings. Second is Ragas, which literally means "tunes." The last section consists of 26 books that elaborate on the Ragas. In a Sikh's life, there are 4 ceremonial events that are recognized. The first is when an infant is named shortly after birth. Then there is the child's initiation, which is when he or she becomes a full member of the Sikh community. Marriage is the next event. It symbolizes eternal union with Sat Nam. The last event is a person's death. The person is cremated, and his/her relatives hold a ceremony at home or at a temple, where a reading of the Granth Sahib is held. Practices include wearing a turban, praying, and the Five K's. The Five K's were items always worn by Sikhs and they are as follows: Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (comb), Kiripan (steel dagger), Kara (steel bracelet), and Kachh (undergarment). A sikh hoped to live a life that balanced work, worship, and charity.

The Sikh Religion

• Major religion of India & the 5^th largest in the world
• Founded by Guru Nanak (1469-1539)
• Among the youngest of faiths (500 years ago)
• Not a blend or a reproduction or a reproduction of earlier religion but it is a new revelation altogether
• To attain salvation, Sikhism rejects all fasts, rites, and rituals
• Rejects the claims of Yoga, mortification of the body, self-torture, penances and renunciation
• Does not believe in the worship of gods and goddesses, stones, statues, idols, pictures, tombs of crematoriums, etc.
• Only one god, the formless, to be Glorified
• Religion has been influenced by the Hindu bhakti movement
• Promoted both the idea that God comprises one reality alone as well as the practice of devotional singing and prayer.

 The Ten Gurus 

Guru Nanak Dev Ji:

Apr 15, 1469 - Sep 22, 1539: 70 years 

Guru Nanak is the founder of Sikhism. Nanak was born in Punjab,which is now Pakistan. He was born into a Hindu family and at age six was sent to be schooled in Hinduism and mathematics. He also studied Muslim literature and learned Persian and Arabic. At sixteen he spent much of his time meditating and having religious discussions with elders in his village. His parents had him married atsixteen to a woman named Sulakhni Ji, they  had two sons, Sri Chand in 1494 and Lakshmi Chand three years later. One morning Guru Nanak went to have a bath in the River Bain, after going under the water the Guru did not resurface. Although villagers searched for him there was no sign of where theGuru was. Three days after the Guru disappeared he was found in the same spot he had disappeared. After he returned he quit his job and gave hisbelongings to the poor. The first time he spoke after his disappearance he said "There is no Hindu, no Muslim". Guru Nanak was thirty years old when this occurred. The Guru made journeys through Shri Lanka, Medina, Mecca, Baghdad, and many other surrounding civilizations, spreading these new beliefs on his way. After a journey to Shri Lanka he settled Kartharpur on the western banks of the Ravi River, where he settled before he died. Guru Nanak died in September 1539 and was succeeded by nine other Guru’s.

Guru Angad Dev Ji (1539-1552)

·         Creating the Gurmukhi Script (type of writing).

·        

·         Compiled the hymns of Guru Nanak Dev and

spread his teachings

·         Started a school at Khadur Sahib to teach

children through Gurmukhi alphabet

Guru Amar Das (1479-1574)

·         Promoted community kitchens

Preached equality of all people, including women

·         Preached strongly against the practice of sati

(Hindu wife burning on her husband's funeral pyre).

Guru Ram Das (1534-1581)

·         Founded the city of Amritsar in 1574

·         Spread Sikhism in North India

·         Organized the structure of Sikh society

Guru Arjan Dev (1563-1606)

·         Compiled the Guru Granth Sahib in 1604

·         Built the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib)

·         First Sikh Guru to be martyred

Guru Hargobind (1595-1644)

·         Introduced martial arts and weapons for defense

·         Fought four battles with the Mogul rulers which

were forcing people to become Muslims.

Guru Har Rai (1630-1661)

·         Continued the military traditions started by Guru

Hargobind

·         Increased strength and popularity of Sikhism

Guru Harkrishan (1656-1664)

·         Became Guru at the age of five

·         Guru Harkrishan died of smallpox at the age of

 eight

Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-1675)

·         Built the city of Anandpur Sahib

·         Guru Tegh Bahadur was martyred by Emperor

 Aurangzeb because he would not become a Muslim.

Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708)

·         Instructed the Sikhs to keep the five K’s

·         Compiled the 1428 page Dasam Granth Sahib

·         Instructed Sikh males to use the last name of Singh

(lion) and Sikh females to use the last name Kaur

(princess)

Guru Granth Sahib

·         Holy book of the Sikhs

·         Contains a total of 5867 hymns in 1430 pages

·         The Granth Sahib is kept in all Gurdwaras and in many Sikh houses

Quick Facts

Name  

-From Punjabi sikh, "learner" or "disciple"

Date Founded  

-c. 1500 in India

Founder  

-Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1538)

Number of Followers  

-23 million

Main Location  

-Punjab region of India

Original Language  

-Punjabi

Sacred Text 

-Adi Granth (Sri Guru Granth Sahib)

Spiritual Leaders  

-Granthi, Giani

House of Worship  

-Temple, gurdwara

Theism  

-monotheism

Ultimate Reality  

-God (Ik Onkar, Nam)

Purpose of Life  

-Overcome the self, align life with will of God, and become a "saint soldier," fighting for good

Afterlife  

-Reincarnation until resolve karma and merge with God.

Major Holidays   

-Vaisakhi Day

-Birthday of Guru Nanak

-Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh

Five Cardinal Vices   

1. lust

2. anger

3. greed

4. worldly attachment

5. pride

 

The Fives

 

Five Vices: A Sikh needs to overcome five

vices of Lust, Anger, Greed, Emotional

Attachment and Ego.

Five Traits: A Sikh need to develop and

harness positive human qualities which leads

the soul closer to God. These five qualities are:

Truth, Compassion, Contentment, Humble, and Love.

Five Verses: Reading 5 verses from Sikh scriptures

Everyday keeps one in focus towards God.

Five Ks: Wearing 5 Ks (Five Articles of Faith) Uncut

Hair, Comb, Bracelet, Sacred Knife and Sacred Shorts

keeps one focused in life. 

 

Beliefs

 

Sikhism is a monotheistic faith, meaning they believe there is only one god. It is considered to be one of the worlds simplest religions. The religion says that the earth has existed for billions of years. It seems to have a mix of Hindu and Islamic beliefs. Like Muslims they are monotheistic and like Hindus, Sikhs believe in reincarnation, karma and nirvana. Unlike some other religions of its time followers are not required to make pilgrimages, fast, or perform rituals. You are required to love as the highest being and live an honest life. The Sikh god loves all, is considered the highest of all by believers, is not subject to time, form, space, birth or death. Sikhs live by rules of the five vices, five traits, five verses, and the five K’s. They also believe that alcohol and drugs make it harder to connect with god. Sikhs are supposed to eat a vegetarian diet although it is debated whether that is an actual rule of the religion.  The historical Sikh religious center is Harmiandir Sahib (The Golden Temple) at Amritsar in the state of Punjab. During Guru Hargobind’s life Mogul rulers unsuccessfully tried to convert

Sikhs to Muslims. 

 

 

Women



Women in Sikhism were seen as equals to men unlike in other religions during the time period it surfaced. Guru Nanak was strong in the preaching that women were as worthy as men in society. Women were encouraged to participate in worship and in battles. Women were allowed freedom of speech and rights to religious texts like the men. They were not forced to wear veils like some other religions.

 

 

The Granth

 

The religious texts of the Sikhs, it is considered to be the eleventh Guru as it is a collection of their teachings beginning with the fifth Guru on. Women have rights to read the Granth. It surfaced in Punjab during the fifteenth century. People who read the Granth are expected to show respect while reading. One way of doing this is by covering your hair. If you are reading in a gurdwara a turban or cloth to cover your hair may be provided.

 

The Gurdwara

 

The name Gurdwara came about by combining Guru and Dwara. Literally translated, Gurdwara means the door or house of God, it is a place to worship like a mosque or temple. In Sikhism one day of the week is not better than another to attend a gurdwara. The use of gurdwaras began during the time of the Gurus. The gurdwaras are open to anyone and all are treated as equals.  The Sikh religion does not use priests but instead custodians of the Granth. Along with being a place of worship they are also supposed to serve as a support to the poor of the community, most gurdwaras are equipped with community kitchens. 

 

Caste System and Social Equality

• In an age when class distinction was very rigid and when the bonds of caste system in India had strictly divided the people, Guru Nanak taught equality and brotherhood 
• The Guru rose above rites and rituals, creeds and conventions, and all national-cults and all race-cults, to a vision of the deeds of love 
• He preached a religion of love, sacrifice and service 
• Complete equality among men was declared by the Sikh Gurus to be the fundamental moral principle requ8red to regulate the social relations and communication 
• The Guru points out that there is no fundamental difference among men of different castes in terms of physical constitution 
• “How are you a Brahman and I am a low caste? Is it that I have blood in my veins and you have milk?”-Guru Kabir 

 

Baptism

How do we go to the Guru?

• In Sikhism the one and only way to go to the Guru is through baptism 
• A Sikh has to take Pauhal or Amrit, from the Five Beloved Ones (Panj Pyare), then he becomes of the Guru or Guruwala.  Without baptism a Sikh remains without Guru or Nigura 
• In order to seek the Guru’s Grace, we have to go to the Guru and that is only done through baptism. 
• A Sikh has to cross this ocean to meet his Beloved God 
• In order to get through the dangerous and formidable sea, one needs a strong ship and that ship is only the Guru, the Divine Light. 
• In order to get into the Guru’s ship, a Sikh needs a passport, and that passport is baptism.