Sikhism

Sikhism is a religion born to break away from the caste system, idol worship and fundamentalism that governed every ritual of life. It is an ideology that believes that all humans are born equal. It also gives equal rights to women in every sphere of life. Sikh women have the liberty to read the scriptures in the gurudwaras and conduct religious events. Sikhism tells its followers to lead a true and honest life and keep to the path of spiritualism while experiencing the various worldly responsibilities and not renounce the world. Here we have explained the various topics related to Sikhism, in a detailed, yet simple & easy to understand way.

• About Sikhism
  
• Meaning of the word "Sikhism"
  
• Philosophy and teachings of Sikhism
  
• The Ten Sikh Gurus and Sikh Religious Authority
  
• History and Practises of Sikhism
  
• Sikh Scripture - Guru Granth Sahib & Dasam Granth
  
• The Five Holy Takhts (or Gurdwaras)
  
• Harmandir Sahib (The Golden temple)

About Sikhism

Sikhism is a progressive religion based on the teachings of Guru Nanak and the ten successive Sikh Gurus.It was founded in the fifteenth century, in Punjab. It is supposed to be the fifth largest organized religion in the world and has a following of over 20 million people worldwide. Sikhism preaches a message of devotion and remembrance of God at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind and is against superstitions and blind rituals. 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. This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the Gurmat (literally the counsel of the gurus) or the Sikh Dharma.

Guru Nanak Dev

Sikhism is open to all people, through the teachings of its Ten Gurus enshrined in the Sikh Holy Granth (or book) and as the final living Guru, Shri Guru Granth Sahib.

Meaning of the word "Sikhism"

Sikhism originated from the word Sikh, which in turn comes from the Sanskrit root Sisya meaning "disciple" or "learner", or Siksha meaning "instruction". The principal belief of Sikhism is faith in waheguru represented using the sacred symbol of Ik-Oankar the Universal God.

Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God. A key distinctive feature of Sikhism is a non-anthropomorphic concept of God, to the extent that one can interpret God as the Universe itself.

The followers of Sikhism are ordained to follow the teachings of the ten Sikh gurus, or enlightened leaders, as well as the holy scripture entitled the Guru Granth Sahib, which, along with the writings of six of the ten Sikh Gurus, includes selected works of many devotees from diverse socio-economic and religious backgrounds. The text was decreed by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru, as the final guru of the Khalsa Panth. Sikhism's traditions and teachings are distinctively associated with the history, society and culture of the Punjab. Adherents of Sikhism are known as Sikhs (students or disciples).

Philosophy and teachings of Sikhism

The origins of Sikhism lie in the teachings of Guru Nanak and his successors. Guru Nanak disapproved of many religious beliefs and practices of his time. The essence of Sikh teaching is summed up by Nanak in these words: "Realisation of Truth is higher than all else. Higher still is truthful living". Sikhism believes in equality of all humans and rejects discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, and sex. Sikhism also does not attach any importance to asceticism as a means to attain salvation, but stresses on the need of leading life as a householder. Sikhism is a monotheistic religion. In Sikhism, God termed Vahiguru or Waheguru is shapeless, timeless, and sightless.

The beginning of the first composition of Sikh scripture is the figure "1" signifying the universality of God. It states that God is omnipresent and infinite, and is signified by the term Ik onkar. Sikhs believe that before creation, all that existed was God and his hukam (will or order). When God willed, the entire cosmos was created. From these beginnings, God nurtured "enticement and attachment" to maya, or the human perception of reality. While a full understanding of God is beyond human beings, Guru Nanak described God as not wholly unknowable. God is omnipresent in all creation and visible everywhere to the spiritually awakened. Guru Nanak stressed that God must be seen from "the inward eye", or the "heart", of a human being: devotees must meditate to progress towards enlightenment.

Guru Nanak Dev emphasized the revelation through meditation, as its rigorous application permits the existence of communication between God and human beings. God has no sex in Sikhism, though translations may incorrectly present a male God. Guru Nanak's teachings are founded not on a final destination of heaven or hell, but on a spiritual union with God which results in salvation. The chief obstacles to the attainment of salvation are social conflicts and an attachment to worldly pursuits, which commit men and women to an endless cycle of birth - a concept known as reincarnation. Maya defined as illusion or "unreality" is one of the core deviations from the pursuit of God and salvation: people are distracted from devotion by worldly attractions which give only illusive satisfaction. In Sikhism, the influences of ego, anger, greed, attachment, and lust known as the Five Evils are believed to be particularly pernicious. The fate of people vulnerable to the Five Evils is separation from God, and the situation may be remedied only after intensive and relentless devotion. Nanak described God's revelation-the path to salvation-with terms such as Naam (the divine Name) and Shabad (the divine Word) to emphasise the totality of the revelation. Guru Nanak designated the word Guru (meaning teacher) as the voice of God and the source and guide for knowledge and salvation. Salvation can be reached only through rigorous and disciplined devotion to God. Guru Nanak distinctly emphasised the irrelevance of outwardly observations such as rites, pilgrimages, or asceticism. He stressed that devotion must take place through the heart, with the spirit and the soul.

A key practice to be pursued is Naam Simran (remembrance of the divine name). Nanak described the result of the disciplined application of Naam Simran as a "growing towards and into God" through a gradual process of five stages. The last of these is Sachkhand (The Realm of Truth) - the final union of the spirit with God. Guru Nanak stressed Kirat Karo that a Sikh should balance work, worship, and charity, and should defend the rights of all creatures, and in particular, fellow human beings. They are encouraged to have a Chardi Kala or optimistic, view of life. Sikh teachings also stress the concept of sharing Vand Chakko - through the distribution of free food at Sikh gurdwaras (or Langar), giving charitable donations, and working for the good of the community and others (Seva).

The Ten Sikh Gurus and Sikh Religious Authority

The term Guru comes from the Sanskrit Guru meaning teacher, guide, or mentor. The traditions and philosophy of Sikhism were established by ten specific gurus from 1499 to 1708. Each guru added to and reinforced the message taught by the previous, resulting in the creation of the Sikh religion. Nanak was the first guru and appointed a disciple as successor. Gobind Singh was the final guru in human form. Before his death, Gobind Singh decreed that the Guru Granth Sahib would be the final and perpetual guru of the Sikhs. The Sikhs believe that the spirit of Nanak was passed from one guru to the next, " just as the light of one lamp, which lights another and does not diminish ", and is also mentioned in their holy book.

Images of The Ten Sikh Gurus

Guru Nanak Dev   Guru Angad Dev   Guru Amar Das   Guru Ram Das   Guru Arjan Dev   Guru Har Gobind Guru Har Rai Guru Har Krishan Guru Tegh Bahadur Guru Gobind Singh

After Guru Nanak's passing, the most important phase in the development of Sikhism came with the third successor, Guru Amar Das. Guru Nanak's teachings emphasised the pursuit of salvation; Amar Das began building a cohesive community of followers with initiatives such as sanctioning distinctive ceremonies for birth, marriage, and death. Amar Das also established the Manji (comparable to a diocese) system of clerical supervision.

Guru Amar Das's successor and son-in-law Guru Ram Das founded the city of Amritsar, which is home of the Harimandir Sahib (The Golden Temple) and regarded widely as the holiest city for all Sikhs. When Ram Das's youngest son Arjan succeeded him, the line of male gurus from the Sodhi Khatri family was established: all succeeding gurus were direct descendants of this line. Guru Arjan Dev was responsible for compiling the Sikh scriptures. Guru Arjan Sahib was captured by Mughal authorities who were suspicious and hostile to the religious order he was developing. His persecution and death inspired his successors to promote a military and political organization of Sikh communities to defend themselves against the attacks of Mughal forces. The Sikh gurus established a mechanism which allowed the Sikh religion to react as a community to changing circumstances.

The sixth guru, Hargobind, was responsible for the creation of the concept of Akal Takht (throne of the timeless one), which serves as the supreme decision-making centre of Sikhdom and sits opposite the Darbar Sahib. The Sarbat Khalsa (a representative portion of the Khalsa Panth) historically gathers at the Akal Takht on special festivals such as Vaisakhi or Diwali and when there is a need to discuss matters that affect the entire Sikh nation. A Gurmata (literally, guru's intention) is an order passed by the Sarbat Khalsa in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. A gurmata may only be passed on a subject that affects the fundamental principles of Sikh religion; it is binding upon all Sikhs. The term Hukamnama (literally, edict or royal order) is often used interchangeably with the term Gurmata. However, a Hukamnama formally refers to a hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib which is given as an order to Sikhs.

Guru Nanak (1469–1538), the founder of Sikhism, was born in the village of Rai Bhoidi Talwandi now called Nankana Sahib (in present-day Pakistan). 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. 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 carry the Kirpan (ceremonial sword). The Khanda is one of most important symbols of Sikhism. This is emphasized by the fact that many Sikh flags, including the Nishan Sahib have the Khanda on them. It is a collection of four weapons commonly used by Sikhs at the time of Guru Gobind Singh. In the centre of the insignia is the two-edged sword which symbolises the Creative Power of God which controls the destiny of the whole universe. It is the Sovereign Power over life and death. One edge of the Sword symbolises divine justice, which chastises and punishes the wicked oppressors; the other edge symbolises Freedom, and Authority governed by moral and spiritual values. On the outside of the two-edged sword, we can see two swords: On the left is the Sword of Spiritual Sovereignty (Piri); On the right is the Sword of Political Sovereignty (Miri) There must always be a balance between the two, and this balance is emphasised by a circle inside. This circle is what is called a Chakra or Chakkar. The Chakra is a symbol of all embracing Divine Manifestation, including everything and wanting nothing, without beginning or end, neither first nor last, timeless, Absolute. It is the symbol of oneness, of Unicity of Justice, Humanity and the Immortality. Almost all Sikh warriors used to wear it in the eighteenth century, and Nihangs of today still do. The Chakra / Chakkar which was worn by the great martyr Baba Deep Singh is still preserved in the sanctum sanctorium of the Akal Takht. On it is inscribed the Mool Mantar and that is what it symbolises.

The Sikh Khanda

Sikhs performing the Bhangra during Vaisakhi

Historically, this is a very relevant day for Sikhs. It was on this day in 1699 that the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh had invited all his followers to the Vaisakhi fair near Anandpur. And it was here that Guru Gobind anointed the Panj-Pyara, as soldiers who would dedicate their lives to the service of others and pursuit of justice for all.

People dressed up in colourful clothes during Vaisakhi

The Five K's Of A Sikh

1. Kesh : Kesh means hair. A Sikh should treat his hair as a gift from God himself. It is His trust. To keep this God-given form intact is the first and foremost duty of a Sikh. The hair is a symbol of faith, and keeping long hair confirms a Sikh's belief in the acceptance of God's Will, and teaches him Humility and Acceptance. 2. Kanga : Kanga means comb. Sikhs use a small wodden comb because it can be worn easily in the hair all the time. Apart from its practical utility, a comb is clearly a symbol of cleanliness. Just as a comb helps to remove the tangles and cleans the hair, similarly a Sikh is reminded to get rid of any impurities of thought by repeating 'Naam' (God's name) in his mind. A Sikh Karra 3. Karra : Karra literally means a link or bondage. It is a special steel bracelet which is worn on the right hand wrist like a wedding ring which signifies a bond between the two people. The Karra is the Guru's own symbolic ring to all his Sikhs signifying their unbreakable link or bond with the Guru as well as among themselves, belonging to the brotherhood of Khalsa. Also the circle is a symbol of restraint and in practice a constant reminder to the Sikh of ideal behavior in the event of weakness. 4. Kaccha : Kaccha is a pair of shorts. This is special, slightly longer type of underwear and is symbolic of continence and a high moral character. Like breeches, Kaccha can be worn on their own without causing embarrassment. Thus it is quite useful in hot weather, swimming and sports activities. 5. Kirpan : Kirpan is a sword. Kirpan comes from the word 'Kirpa' and 'Aan'. Kirpa means an act of kindness, a favour; and aan means honour, respect, self-respect. It is an instrument which adds to self-respect and self-defence. Thus for Sikhs, Kirpan is the symbol of power and freedom of spirit. All baptised Sikhs should wear a short form of Kirpan (approx. 6" to 9" long) on their body. Kirpan

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 (Langar) to all people of all faiths. Be it night or day, the doors of a Gurdwara are open to anyone who needs shelter and a meal. 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.

Langar At the Golden Temple

Sikh Scripture - Guru Granth Sahib & Dasam Granth

There are two primary sources of scripture for the Sikhs: the Guru Granth Sahib and the Dasam Granth. The Guru Granth Sahib may be referred to as the Adi Granth (literally The First Volume) and the two terms are often used synonymously. Here, however, the Adi Granth refers to the version of the scripture created by Arjan Dev in 1604. The Guru Granth Sahib refers to the final version of the scripture created by Gobind Singh.

Adi Granth : The Adi Granth was compiled primarily by Bhai Gurdas under the supervision of Arjan Dev between the years 1603 and 1604. It is written in the Gurmukhi script, which is a descendant of the Landa script used in the Punjab at that time. The Gurmukhi script was standardised by Arjan Dev for use in the Sikh scriptures and is thought to have been influenced by the Sarada and Devanagari scripts. An authoritative scripture was created to protect the integrity of hymns and teachings of the Sikh gurus and selected bhagats. At the time, Arjan Sahib tried to prevent undue influence from the followers of Prithi Chand, the guru's older brother and rival. The original version of the Adi Granth is known as the kartarpur bir and is claimed to be held by the Sodhi family of Kartarpur. (In fact the original volume was burned by Ahmad Shah Durrani's army in 1757 when they burned the whole town of Kartarpur).

Guru Granth Sahib: The Guru Granth Sahib is considered the Supreme Spiritual Authority and head of the Sikh religion, rather than any living person. The final version of the Guru Granth Sahib was compiled by Guru Gobind Singh in 1678. It consists of the original Adi Granth with the addition of Teg Bahadur's hymns. It was decreed by Gobind Singh that the Granth was to be considered the eternal guru of all Sikhs. "Sabb sikkhan. ko- hukam hai guru- ma-nyo- granth." English: All Sikhs are commanded to take the Granth as Guru. It contains compositions by the first five gurus, Teg Bahadur and just one Salok (couplet) from Guru Gobind Singh. It also contains the traditions and teachings of sants (saints) such as Kabir, Namdev, Ravidas, and Sheikh Farid along with several others. The bulk of the scripture is classified into rags, with each rag subdivided according to length and author. There are 31 main rags within the Guru Granth Sahib. In addition to the rags, there are clear references to the folk music of Punjab. The main language used in the scripture is known as Sant Bhasa, a language related to both Punjabi and Hindi. The text further comprises over 5000 shabads, or hymns, which are poetically constructed and set to classical form of music rendition, can be set to predetermined musical tal, or rhythmic beats.

Ek Oankar

The Granth begins with the Mul Mantra, an iconic verse created by Guru Nanak: "Ik o-an.ka-r sat na-m karta- purkh nirbha'u nirvair aka-l mu-rat aju-ni- saibhan. gur prasa-d". English: One Universal Creator God, The Name Is Truth, Creative Being Personified, No Fear, No Hatred, Image Of The Timeless One, Beyond Birth, Self Existent, By Guru's Grace.

All text within the Granth is known as Gurbani. Gurbani according to Nanak, was revealed by God directly, and the authors wrote it down for the followers. In the Sant tradition of Nanak, the guru was literally the word of God. The Sikh community soon transferred the role to a line of men who gave authoritative and practical expression to religious teachings and traditions, in addition to taking socio-political leadership of Sikh adherents. Guru Gobind Singh declared an end of the line of human gurus, and now the Guru Granth Sahib serves as the eternal guru, with its interpretation vested with the community.

Guru Granth Sahib

Dasam Granth : The Dasam Granth (formally Dasvem patsah ki granth or The Book of the Tenth Master) is an eighteenth-century collection of poems by Gobind Singh. It was compiled in the shape of a book (granth) by Bhai Mani Singh some 13 to 26 years after Guru Gobind Singh Si left this world for his heavenly abode. From 1895 to 1897, different scholars and theologians assembled at the Akal Takht, Amritsar, to study the 32 printed Dasam Granths and prepare the authoritative version. They met at the Akal Takhat at Amritsar, and held formal discussions in a series of meetings between 13 June 1895 and 16 February 1896. A preliminary report entitled Report Sodhak (revision) Committee Dasam Patshah de Granth Sahib Di was sent to Sikh scholars and institutions, inviting their opinion.

Sri Dasam Granth Sahib

A second document, Report Dasam Granth di Sudhai Di was brought out on 11 February 1898. Basing its conclusions on a study of the old handwritten copies of the Dasam Granth preserved at Sri Takht Sahib at Patna and in other Sikh gurudwaras, this report affirmed that the Holy Volume was compiled at Anandpur Sahib in 1698 . Further re-examinations and reviews took place in 1931, under the aegis of the Darbar Sahib Committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee. They, too, vindicated the earlier conclusion (agreeing that it was indeed the work of the Guru) and its findings have since been published.

Janamsakhis : The Janamsakhis (literally birth stories), are writings which profess to be biographies of Guru Nanak. Although not scripture in the strictest sense, they provide an interesting look at Nanak's life and the early start of Sikhism. There are several often contradictory and sometimes unreliable Janamsakhis and they are not held in the same regard as other sources of scriptural knowledge.

The Five Holy Takhts (or Gurdwaras)

The Five Gurdwaras known as the Five Takhts (Thrones) have a very special significance for the Sikh community. They are considered the seats of Sikh religious authority. Many important decisions concerning the religious and social life of the Sikh community were made here.

Sri Akal Takht : Akal Takht literally means Eternal Throne. It is part of the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. The Akal Takht is situated on the other end of the causeway connected to the Harmandir Sahib. It's foundation was laid by Guru Hargobind. It was here that he was ceremonially installed as Guru in 1606. The building of the Akal Takht opposite the Golden Temple has a special meaning. While the Golden Temple stands for spiritual guidance the Akal Takht symbolizes the dispensing of justice and temporal activity. During the day the Guru Granth Sahib is kept in the Golden Temple, while at night it is kept in the Akal Takht. Traditionally all Sikh warriors sought blessings here before going to battle.

Sri Akal Takht

Sri Damdama Sahib

Sri Damdama Sahib: Damdama Sahib is situated in the village of Talwandi Sabo near Bhatinda. This is where Guru Gobind Singh stayed for nearly a year and compiled the final edition of the Guru Granth Sahib known as the Damdama Sahib Bir in 1705.

Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib : Keshgarh Sahib is situated at Anandpur. It is considered the birthplace of the Khalsa. The Khalsa order was founded here by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. Some of the weapons of Guru Gobind Singh are displayed here. The most precious of these is the actual Khanda (double edged sword) used by Guru Gobind Singh to prepare the Amrit (nectar) used in the first Khalsa initiation ceremony.

Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib

Takht Sri Hazur Sahib

Takht Sri Hazur Sahib : Hazur Sahib is on the banks of Godavari in Maharashtra. This is where Guru Gobind Singh left this world. The inner room of the temple is called Angitha Sahib and is built over the place where Guru Gobind Singh was cremated in 1708.

Takht Sri Patna Sahib : Patna Sahib is situated in Patna the capital of Bihar. It was here that Guru Gobind Singh was born in 1666 and spent his early years before moving to Anandpur. Besides being the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, Patna was also honoured by visits from Guru Nanak as well as Guru Tegh Bahadur.

Takht Sri Patna Sahib

Harmandir Sahib (The Golden Temple)

The Harimandir Sahib (meaning Temple of God), known popularly as the Golden Temple or Darbar Sahib (Divine Court), is a sacred shrine for Sikhs. It is situated in the city of Amritsar in Punjab. The Golden Temple is a living symbol of the spiritual and historical traditions of the Sikhs. It is a source of inspiration for all Sikhs and their chief place of pilgrimage. The temple with it's glistening gold covered exterior stands in the middle of a square tank. A causeway traverses the pool to reach the Temple which rests on a platform in the middle of The Pool of Nectar. The Harimandir Sahib has entrances and doors on all four sides. Click here to see a panorama (360° view) of The Golden temple.

Sri Harmandir Sahib

Guru Amar Das the Third Sikh Guru asked Ram Das (who would go on to become the Fourth Sikh Guru) to build a central place of congregation for the Sikhs. Guru Ram Das started excavation work in 1577 during his lifetime. Guru Arjun Dev the Fifth Sikh Guru completed excavation of the Tank known as Amritsar (The Pool of Nectar) in 1588. Guru Arjun Dev then started construction of the Temple building itself which, was finally completed in 1601.

The first edition of the Holy Book of the Sikh's The Guru Granth Sahib was installed there in 1604 with Baba Buddha as the first Granthi (caretaker of the book). The last Sikh Guru to live in Amritsar was the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind. In 1664. Guru Tegh Bahadur the Ninth Sikh Guru visited The Golden Temple but was refused entry by the corrupt temple caretakers, The Masands.

The Golden Temple has always been a point of controversy for Sikhs throughout it's history. Around 1740 Massa Ranghar, the ruler of Amritsar desecrated the Temple by using it as a dancing hall. He was killed by Mahtab Singh. In 1761 Ahmed Shah Abdali blew up the Temple and filled in the Sacred Tank with refuse. The great Sikh martyr Baba Deep Singh laid down his life in revenge. The construction of the Golden Temple as it appears today was begun in 1764 when Jassa Singh Ahluwalia laid the foundation stone. Many of the doors and domes were covered with copper sheets overlaid with gold during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

The most significant historical religious center for the Sikhs is The Golden Temple. 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.