One of the youngest religions of the world, Sikhism was founded in the 16th century by Nanak, a native of the Punjab. Though his parents were Hindus, he was in constant association with Muslims and felt that there must be a True Name for God differing from Allah, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, etc. Guru Nanak 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.

One day while he was in the forest he had a vision of “the one God whose name is True” and began to preach on the theme that if men followed the True Name, they would cease to be divided into Hindus and Muslims but be one as Sikhs (Disciples). He dressed in a garb combining Hindu and Muslim elements and proclaimed a monotheism that owed something to both Hinduism and Islam.

He subscribed to the Hindu doctrine of maya, accepted reincarnation and the Law of Karma, and at the same time taught that the one sovereign and omnipotent True Name predestinated all creatures, a clearly Muslim reaching. He did away with the Hindu taboo against eating meat by saying that God has ordained that man is to be served by the lower creation.

Idolatry was condemned and all rites and ceremonies were distrusted, preferring the instead the simple repetition of the True Name.

His quietism and pacifism were followed by the first four gurus who succeeded him as leaders of the Sikhs; but the fifth head, Guru Arjan in the 16th century, finding that the liberal emperor Akbar’s successor, Jahangir, was determined to constrain the Sikhs by force, advised his son Har Govind to arm his followers. Guru Har Govind did so. His son, on his accession, named himself Guru Govind Singh ("Govind the Lion"). To change the spirit of Sikhs, he added to the hymns of the Granth (the Sikhs scriptures) a collection of militant chants. For his male followers he provided a Baptism of the Sword, a war cry, and an honorific title, “The Lions of the Punjab”.

During his lifetime Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa order (meaning ‘The Pure’), soldier-saints. The Khalsa uphold the highest Sikh virtues of commitment, dedication and a social conscious. The Khalsa are men and women who have undergone the Sikh baptism ceremony and who strictly follow the Sikh Code of Conduct and Conventions and wear the prescribed physical articles of the faith. One of the more noticeable being the uncut hair (required to be covered with a turban for men) and the Kirpan (ceremonial sword).

Before his death in 1708 Guru Gobind Singh declared that the Sikhs no longer needed a living and appointed his spiritual successor as Sri Guru Granth Sahib, his physical successor as the Khalsa. Guru Gobind Singh felt that all the wisdom needed by Sikhs for spiritual guidance in their daily lives could be found in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Eternal Guru of the Sikhs. Sri Guru Granth Sahib is unique in the world of religious scriptures because not only is it accorded the status of being the spiritual head of the Sikh religion, but besides the poetry of the Gurus, it also contains the writings of saints of other faiths whose thoughts were consistent with those of the Sikh Gurus.

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 outline 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.

Philosophy and Beliefs
? There is only One God. He is the same God for all people of all religions.

? The soul goes through cycles of births and deaths before it reaches the human form. The goal of our life is to lead an exemplary existence so that one may merge with God. Sikhs should remember God at all times and practice living a virtuous and truthful life while maintaining a balance between their spiritual obligations and temporal obligations.

? The true path to achieving salvation and merging with God does not require renunciation of the world or celibacy, but living the life of a householder, earning a honest living and avoiding worldly temptations and sins.

? Sikhism condemns blind rituals such as fasting, visiting places of pilgrimage, superstitions, worship of the dead, idol worship etc.

? Sikhism preaches that people of different races, religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes of God. It teaches the full equality of men and women. Women can participate in any religious function or perform any Sikh ceremony or lead the congregation in prayer.

Tag: The World’s Religions - Sikhism