Sikhism is the youngest of the world fifth great monotheistic religions. In 1801, the Sikh state was founded in Northern India by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The word ‘sikh’ the Punjabi language means ‘disciple’ or ‘learner’. Sikhs are the disciple of god who follow the writings and teachings of the ten Sikh guju’s (teacher). The wisdom of these teachings in SRI GUJU GRANTH SHAIB is practical and Universal in their appeal to all mankind.

Sikhism was founded by Shri Guju Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1538) who was born in the Punjab area of what now is Pakistan. Guru Nanak began his mission after a mysterious three-day disappearance at the river bein near Sultanpur. When he re-emerged, he announced that god was beyond outward religious distinctions and that what matter was to everyone to be a truly devout follower of his or her own faith. He is responsible for the saying “There is no Hindu; there is no Muslim” which has become one of the pillars of Sikhism. (Hopfe-189) He spent the rest of his life teaching, writing hymns which his muslim companion set to music, and traveling as far as Srilanka, Baghdad and Mecca to discuss religion with Muslims and Hindus. He preached a message of love and understanding and criticized the blind rituals of the Hindus and Muslims. (Borak 53-55) Guru Nanak passed on his enlightened leadership of this new religion to nine successive Gurus.

The final living Guru was Guru Gobing Singh who died in 1708. During his lifetime Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsaorder, 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 convention. Khalsa Sikhs show their commitment by wearing five religious symbols, known as the “Five Ks”:

1.KESH, or uncut hair;

2.KANGA, or comb;

3.KACCHA, a short baggy undergarment;

4.KARA, a steel bangle;

5.KIRPAN, a short sword. (”The Sikhism”)

The Guru Granth Sahib and the Panth Guru Gobind singh decided that there would be no further human guru after his death. He declared that the Guruship would be shared between the Sikh Holy scriptures, called “The Guru Granth Sahib”. And the community of Sikhs is called the Panth. Sri Guru Granth Sahib consists of hymns and writings of the first ten Gurus, along with religious text from different Muslims and Hindus saints like: Kabir Ji, Baba Sheik, Farid Ji, BhagatRav Dass Ji, etc. The Sri Guru Granth Singh is considered the 11th and final Guru and the Sikh’s holiest religious text. It was made so by Sri Guru Gobind Singh. During the times of the Gurus, Sikh places of worship were referred to as Dharmasalas. (”Sikhism”) They were places were Sikh could gather to here the Guru speaks or sings hymns. As the Sikh population continued to grow, Guru Hargobind introduced the word “Gurudwara”, meaning the gateway through which the guru could be reached. (Hopfe-198)

There are three functions, which are carried out, in all public Gurudwara. One is kirtan, which is the singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib. Second one is Katha, which is the reading of the Guru Granth Sahib and explanations. And the third main function is carried out at every Gurudwara is the langar, free community kitchen for all visitors of all religions. In Gurudwara, the Guru Granth Sahib is put on a special platform under a canopy. Worshippers bow or prostrate themselves before it as they enter the temple, and leave offering next to it. The most significant historical religious center for the Sikhs is Harmindir Sahib (The golden temple) at Amritsar in the state of Punjab in northern India. All places where Sri Guru Granth sahib installed are considered holy for Sikhs.

The essence of being a Sikh is that one lives one’s life according to the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, devotes time to meditating on god and the scriptures, and does things to benefit other people. Sikhism emphasis’s social and gender equality, and stresses the importance of behaving altruistically.

Sikh beliefs included:

GOAL: The goal of Sikhs is to build a close, loving relationship with god.

DIETY: Sikhs believe in a single, formless god, with many names, who can be known through meditation. This concept is similar to Islam whose followers believe in a single god who has 99 names. They do not deny the existence of countless Hindu deities. They consider god as having made many lesser gods and to be superior to them.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE?

According to the Guru’s teachings, during the present span of life, one’s goal is to seek God, to attain realization and to merge with the almighty God in death. As all waters sooner or later go back to the ocean where they came from, so does life go back to the Supreme Reality (God) from where it originated. If this chance is lost, one would fall into the cycle of transmigration (cycle of births and deaths).

God is everywhere and most importantly within all of us. However, the human Ego separates us from this reality and it hides the truth. Unless this veil of ego is broken, we cannot meet God through self realization.When Naam (The word of God) enshrines the mind, one’s soul becomes realized, it becomes blessed. This is how the mind comes out of the clutches of egoism and then starts merging with the Supreme Reality, The Eternity, The Endless, The Formless.Only God and God’s Grace can save our sinful soul. Let’s therefore seek God’s Grace by Praise and prayer through the Divine Word.

WORSHIP: Only the one god can be worshiped; lesser gods are not worshiped.

REINCARNATION: They believe in samsara (the repetitive cycle of birth, life and death), karma (the accumulated sum of one’s good and bad deeds), and reincarnation (the belief of a rebirth following death). These beliefs are similar to Hinduism. (”The Sikhism”)

CASTE SYSTEM: Sikhs have rejected the caste system of the Hindu religion. They believe that everyone has equal status in the eyes of god. This is a very important principle that permeates all Sikh belief and behavior.

The most important thing in Sikhism is the internal religious state of the individual. Sikhs avoid superstitious behaviour, and pilgrimages, statues, buildings, and “blind” rituals.Sikhs think religion should be practiced by living in the world and coping with life’s everyday problems. They don’t approve of retreating from the world to be a monk or a hermit. Sikhism does not have priests, but most gurudwaras will have a granthi. A granthi is a learned sikh who is skilled in readings the scriptures, however, a granthi has no special status. Sikhism does not actively look for converts, but it is thoroughly welcoming to those who do want to convert.

The “symbol” (Khanda) shows in the center upright double-edge sword to remind them they should be saint-soldiers. The two outside swords are for spiritual power and temporal authority. The round circle is a symbol of the oneness of God, and the unity of humanity, with the rejection of caste, racial, and gender divisions.

The Sikh holy book (Guru Granth Sahib) is the perpetual guru, there is no place in Sikhism for a living guru today. Sikhism rejects all distinctions of caste, creed, race or sex. God cannot take human form. He neither has father or mother, nor sons or brothers.

The goal of human life is to break the cycle of birth’s and deaths and merge with god. This can be accomplished by following the teachings of the guru, meditation on the holy name and performance of acts of service and charity.

The five cardinal vices are; kam (lust), Krodh(anger), Lobh(greed), Moh (worldly attachments), and Ahankar (pride). If one can overcome these, then they will achieve salvation. (”Sikhism”)

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. Sikhism preaches a message of devotion and remembrance of God at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind and denounces superstitions and blind rituals.

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