Sikhism

A way of life and philosophy 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. Sikhism preaches a message of devotion and remembrance of God at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind, social justice and denounces superstitions and blind rituals. Sikhism is open to all through the teachings of its 10 Gurus enshrined in the  Living Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Who and What is a Sikh?

The word ‘Sikh’ in the Punjabi language means ‘disciple’, Sikhs are the disciples of God who follow the writings and teachings of the Ten Sikh Gurus. The wisdom of these teachings in Sri Guru Granth Sahib are practical and universal in their appeal to all mankind.

“I observe neither Hindu fasting nor the ritual of the Muslim Ramadan month; Him I serve who at the last shall save. The Lord of universe of the Hindus, Gosain and Allah to me are one; From Hindus and Muslims have I broken free. I perform neither Kaaba pilgrimage nor at bathing spots worship; One sole Lord I serve, and no other. I perform neither the Hindu worship nor the Muslim prayer; To the Sole Formless Lord in my heart I bow. We neither are Hindus nor Muslims; Our body and life belong to the One Supreme Being who alone is both Ram and Allah for us.” (Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Granth Sahib, Raga Bhairon pg. 1136)

“Any human being who faithfully believes in: (i) One Immortal Being, (ii) Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh, (iii) The Guru Granth Sahib, (iv) The utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus and, (v) the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion is a Sikh.” (Rehat Maryada, Sikh Code of Conduct.

Sikh Gurus

Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539)

• First Guru of the Sikhs. Founder of Sikhism.
• Preached the equality of all humans. Guru Nanak said that all people are the children of one God.
• Traveled extensively throughout India and foreign lands to spread his message.
• There are 947 hymns from Guru Nanak Dev included in Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy book).
• Born in Talwandi, now known as Nankana Sahib.

Guru Angad Dev (1504-1552)

• Compiled the biography of Guru Nanak Dev, known as the Janam Sakhi.
• Introduced Gurmukhi script and encouraged people to learn Punjabi.
• There are 63 hymns from Guru Angad Dev included in Guru Granth Sahib.
• Started a school at Khadur Sahib to teach children through Gurmukhi alphabet.
• Compiled the hymns of Guru Nanak Dev and spread his teachings.

Guru Amar Das (1479-1574)

• Guru Amar Das further institutionalized the free communal kitchen called langar among the Sikhs.
• Guru Amar Das not only preached the equality of people but also tried to foster the idea of women’s equality. He tried to liberate women from the practices of purdah (wearing a veil) and preached strongly against the practice of sati (Hindu wife burning on her husband’s funeral pyre).
• There are 869 hymns from Guru Amar Das included in Guru Granth Sahib.

Guru Ram Das (1534-1581)

• Founded the city of Amritsar in 1574.
• The standard Sikh marriage ceremony known as the Anand Karaj is centered on the Lawan, a four stanza hymn composed by Guru Ram Das.
• Spread Sikhism in North India.
• Organized the structure of Sikh society.
• Guru Ram Das stressed the importance of kirtan (hymn singing), which remains an important part of Sikh worship.
• There are 638 hymns from Guru Ram Das included in Guru Granth Sahib.

Guru Arjan Dev (1563-1606)

• Compiled the Guru Granth Sahib in 1604.
• Built the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib).
• Started the practice of daswandh (tithe) – contributing one tenth of one’s earnings for community purposes.
• Author of Sukhmani Sahib bani – the Prayer for Peace.
• First Sikh Guru to be martyred. Guru Arjan Dev was imprisoned and martyred in 1606 by Emperor Jahangir for not amending the Adi Granth, the Sikh holy book to reflect his views. Guru Arjan Dev was made to sit on a scorching iron plate and had boiling sand poured over his body. Guru Arjan Dev tolerated this pain and sat there chanting hymns.
• There are 2312 hymns from Guru Arjan Dev included in Guru Granth Sahib.

Guru Hargobind (1595-1644)

• Transformed the Sikhs by introducing martial arts and weapons for the defense of the masses.
• Guru Hargobind put on two swords – one signifying miri (secular power) and other piri (spiritual power).
• Built the Akal Takht in 1608 at Amritsar in Punjab.
• He was imprisoned in the fort of Gwaliar for one year. When he was released he insisted that his 52 fellow prisoners, who were Rajput kings, should also be set free. To mark this occasion the Sikhs celebrate Diwali (bandi chod divas).
• Fought four battles with the Mughal rulers which were forcing people to become Muslims.

Guru Har Rai (1630-1661)

• Continued the military traditions started by his grandfather, Guru Hargobind.
• The Guru made his son, Guru Harkrishan, the next Guru at the age of only five years.
• Defended the integrity of the Guru Granth Sahib by refusing to modify it’s words.
• Made Sikhism strong and popular.

Guru Harkrishan (1656-1664)

• Became Guru at the age of five.
• Guru Harkrishan cured the sick during a smallpox epidemic in Delhi.
• Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in New Delhi was constructed in the Guru’s memory. This is where the Guru stayed during his visit to Delhi.
• Guru Harkrishan died of smallpox at the age of eight.
• Before Guru Harkrishan died, he nominated his granduncle, Guru Tegh Bahadur, as the next Guru of the Sikhs.

Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-1675)

• Build the city of Anandpur Sahib.
• Sacrificed his life upholding the “right to freedom of religion”. Guru Tegh Bahadur was responsible for saving Kashmiri Hindu pandits who being persecuted by the Mughals, but had to lay down his own life to protect their freedom of religion.
• Guru Tegh Bahadur was martyred by Emperor Aurangzeb because he would not become a Muslim. Gurdwara Sis Ganj in Chandani Chowk, New Delhi is located where he was martyred.
• Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in New Delhi is located where the Guru’s body was cremated.

Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708)

• In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh baptized the Sikhs and created the Khalsa (the “Pure”). The Khalsa consists of Sikhs who have been baptized and dedicate themselves to living by the high standards of the Sikh Gurus at all times.
• Instructed the Sikhs to keep the five K’s.
• Compiled the 1428 page Dasam Granth Sahib.
• Author of several banis (hymns) which Sikhs recite daily: Jaap Sahib and Chaupai.
• Wrote his autobiography, the Bichitra Natak.
• Instructed Sikh males to use the last name of Singh (lion) and Sikh females to use the last name Kaur (princess).
• All four of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons were martyred by the Mughals.
• He instructed the Sikhs to follow Granth Sahib as the                                    Guru after him.

Guru Granth Sahib

• The Guru Granth Sahib is the holy book of the Sikhs.
• It is the eternal spiritual guide of the Sikhs.
• Compiled by Guru Arjan Dev, it has writings of the Sikh Gurus and other saints.
• The Granth Sahib is kept in all Gurdwaras and in many Sikh houses.
• It contains a total of 5867 hymns in 1430 pages.
  From SikhismGuide.org

History of the Sikh Religion:

Guru Nanak (1469-1539), the founder of the Sikh religion, was born in village Talwandi (now called Nankana Sahib), located near Lahore in Pakistan.  The Sikh religion was developed over a period of two centuries, from the birth of Guru Nanak in 1469 to the death of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh guru, in 1708.  Each guru took an active part in meeting worldly duties while leading an exemplary spiritual life.

Guru Gobind Singh gave a distinctive identity to the Sikhs as the Khalsa (the Pure Ones) by starting the Sikh baptism ceremony on Baisakhi day – April 13, 1699.  This distinct identity is represented by the following five symbols, popularly known as five K’s:
• Kes (uncut hair)
• Kangha (a small wooden comb)
• Kara (a steel bracelet)
• Kachhehra (pair of shorts) and
• Kirpan (a small ceremonial sword).
Guru Gobind Singh led many battles against injustice and to preserve Sikhism.  Before his death in 1708, Guru Gobind Singh declared that there would be no moreliving gurus.  He also ordered that henceforth “Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scriptures, shall be the Guru of the Sikhs, and advised them to seek guidance (spiritual and temporal) from these scriptures.”

Within 100 years of the creation of the Khalsa, the Sikhs, under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, established a dominant kingdom in North Western India.  The Sikh empire lasted for half a century and was annexed by the British in 1849.