Difference between revisions of "Sikhism" - New World Encyclopedia

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[[Image:Gtbss001.jpg|thumb|290px|right|The [[Golden Temple]] is a sacred shrine for Sikhs]]
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'''Sikhism''' ([[Punjabi]]: ਸਿੱਖੀ) is a religion based on the teachings of ten Gurus who lived primarily in 16th and 17th century [[India]]. It is one of the [[Major world religions|world's major religions]]. ''Sikhism'' comes from the word ''Sikh'', which in turn comes from its [[Sanskrit]] root ''śiṣya'' (शिष्य) which means "disciple" or "learner".
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[[Image:Sikh Gurus with Bhai Bala and Bhai Mardana.jpg|225px|thumb|right|A rare Tanjore style painting from the late nineteenth century depicting the ten gurus of '''Sikhism''' with Bhai Bala and Bhai Mardana]]
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'''Sikhism''' is a [[religion]] that began in sixteenth-century Northern India with the life and teachings of [[Guru Nanak]] and nine successive human gurus. Etymologically, the word ''Sikhism'' derives from the Sanskrit root ''śiṣya'' meaning "disciple" or "learner." Adherents of Sikhism are known as “Sikhs” (''students'' or ''disciples'') and number over 23 million across the world. Most Sikhs live in the state of Punjab in [[India]]. Today, Sikhism is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world.
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As a religion, [[philosophy]] and way of life, Sikhism is centered on the principle belief in one [[God]] ([[monotheism]]). For Sikhs, God is the same for all humankind regardless of one's religion. Sikhism encourages constant remembrance of God in one's life, honest living, equality among the sexes and classes, and sharing of the fruits of one's labors with others. The followers of Sikhism follow the teachings of the ten Sikh gurus, or enlightened leaders, as well as Sikhism's holy scripture—the ''[[Guru Granth Sahib|Gurū Granth Sāhib]]''—which includes the selected works of many authors from diverse socioeconomic and religious backgrounds. The text was decreed by [[Guru Gobind Singh]], the tenth guru, as the final guru of the Sikh community. Sikhism is distinctly associated with the history, society and culture of the Punjab. In Punjabi, the teachings of Sikhism are traditionally known as the ''Gurmat'' (literally ''the teachings of the gurus'') or the Sikh Dharma.  
  
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The core beliefs of Sikhism are:  
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== Philosophy ==
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* The belief in one [[pantheism|pantheistic]] [[God]].  The opening sentence of the Sikh scriptures is only two words long, and reflects the base belief of all who adhere to the teachings of the religion: ''[[Ek Onkar]]'' (One [[God]]).
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[[Image:Amritsar-golden-temple-00.JPG|thumb|250px|right|The [[Harimandir Sahib]], known popularly as the “Golden Temple,” is a sacred [[shrine]] for Sikhs]]
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The traditions and philosophy of Sikhism were established by ten specific ''Gurus'' (spiritual teachers) from 1469 to 1708. Each guru added to and reinforced the message taught by the previous, resulting in the creation of the Sikh religion and philosophy.
  
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* The teachings of [[The Sikh Gurus|the Ten Sikh Gurus]] (as well as other accepted Muslim and Hindu scholars) as enshrined in the [[Guru Granth Sahib]].
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Sikhism has roots in the religious traditions of northern India such as Sant Mat, Hindu Bhakti, and [[Sufism]].<ref name="parrinderp259">Geoffrey Parrinder, ''World Religions: From Ancient History to the Present'' (London: Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, 1971, ISBN 0871961296), 259.</ref> However, Nanak's teachings diverge significantly from [[Vaishnavism]] in their rejection of [[idolatry|idol worship]], the doctrine of divine incarnations, and a strict emphasis on inward devotion; Sikhism is professed to be a more difficult personal pursuit than ''[[Bhakti]]''.<ref name="p252">Parrinder, 252.</ref> The evolution of Nanak's thoughts on the basis of his own experiences and study have also given Sikhism a distinctly unique character.
  
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The [[Guru Granth Sahib]] is a sacred text considered by Sikhs to be their eleventh and final Guru. Sikhism was influenced by reform movements in [[Hinduism]] (e.g. [[Bhakti]], [[monism]], [[Vedic religion|Vedic]] metaphysics, [[guru]] ideal, and [[bhajan]]s) as well as [[Sufi|Sufi Islam]]. It departs from some of the social traditions and structure of [[Hinduism]] and [[Islam]] (such as the [[caste system]] and [[purdah]], respectively). Sikh [[philosophy]] is characterised by logic, comprehensiveness, and a "without frills" approach to both spiritual and material concerns. Its theology is marked by simplicity. In Sikh ethics there is no conflict between an individual’s duty to oneself and that towards society.
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Scholars have presented Sikhism as both a distinct faith and a syncretic religion which combines some elements of [[Hinduism]] and [[Islam]]. Sikhs maintain that their religion was directly revealed by God, and many of them consider the notion that Sikhism is a syncretic religion to be offensive.
  
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==History of Sikhism==
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=== God ===
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[[Image:Khanda.jpg|thumb|The [[Khanda]], one of the most important symbols of [[Sikhism]]|right]][[Guru Nanak Dev]] ([[1469]]-[[1538]]), the founder of Sikhism, was born in the village of [[Nankana Sahib | Talwandi]], now called [[Nankana Sahib]], near [[Lahore]] in present-day [[Pakistan]]. His father, Mehta Kalu was a Patwari- an accountant of land revenue in the government. Guru's mother was Mata Tripta and he had one older sister, Bibi Nanki. From the very childhood, Bibi Nanki saw in him the Light of God but she did not reveal this secret to anyone. She is known as the first disciple of Guru Nanak. Even as a boy, Nanak was fascinated by religion, and his desire to explore the mysteries of life eventually led him to leave home. He wandered all over India in the manner of Hindu saints. It was during this period that Nanak met [[Kabir]] ([[1441]]&ndash;[[1518]]), a saint revered by both Hindus and Muslims. He made four distinct major journeys, which are called [[Udasis]] spanning many thousands of miles.  
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In Sikhism, God (termed ''Wahegurū'') is formless, eternal, and unobserved: ''niraṅkār'', ''akāl'', and ''alakh''. Nanak interpreted Vāhigurū as a single, personal and transcendental creator. The beginning of the first composition of Sikh scripture is the figure "1," signifying the unity of God. To achieve salvation, the devotee must develop an intimate faith in and relationship with God.<ref name="p252"/> God is omnipresent and infinite, and is signified by the term ''ēk ōaṅkār''. Sikhs believe that prior to creation, all that existed was God and his infinite ''hukam'' (will).<ref>[http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=1035&punjabi=t#l44288 ''Gurū Granth Sāhib''], 1035: “For endless eons, there was only utter darkness. There was no earth or sky; there was only the infinite Command of His Hukam.” Retrieved September 26, 2020.</ref> When God willed, the entire cosmos was created. From these beginnings, God nurtured "enticement and attachment" to ''[[Maya|māyā]]'', or the human perception of reality.<ref>[http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=1036&punjabi=t#l44327 ''Gurū Granth Sāhib''], 1036: “When He so willed, He created the world. Without any supporting power, He sustained the universe. He created Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; He fostered enticement and attachment to Maya.” Retrieved September 26, 2020.</ref>
  
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In [[1538]], Guru Nanak chose [[Lehna]], his disciple as a successor to the Guruship rather than his son. [[Bhai]] Lehna was named [[Guru Angad]] and became the second guru of the Sikhs. He continued the work started by the Founder. [[Guru Amar Das]] became the third Sikh guru in [[1552]] at the age of 73.  Goindwal became an important centre for Sikhism during the Guruship of Guru Amar Das. He continued to preach the principle of equality for women, the prohibition of [[Sati (practice)|Sati]] and the practise of [[Langar]]. In [[1567]], [[Emperor Akbar]] sat with the ordinary and poor people of [[Punjab]] to have Langar. Guru Amar Das also trained 140 apostles of which 52 were women to manage the rapid expansion of the religion. Before he died in [[1574]] aged 95, he appointed his son-in-law, Jetha as the fourth Sikh Guru.
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While a full understanding of God is beyond human beings,<ref name="p252"/> Nanak described God as not wholly unknowable. God is omnipresent (''sarav viāpak'') in all creation and visible everywhere to the spiritually awakened. Nanak stressed that God must be seen from "the inward eye," or the "heart" of a human being: devotees must [[Meditation|meditate]] to progress towards enlightenment. Nanak emphasized revelation through meditation, as its rigorous application permits the existence of communication between God and human beings.<ref name="p252"/> God has no gender in Sikhism, though translations may incorrectly present a masculine God.
  
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Jetha became [[Guru Ram Das]] and vigorously undertook his duties as the new guru. He is responsible for the establishment of the city of Ramdaspur later to be named [[Amritsar]]. In [[1581]], [[Guru Arjan]]- youngest son of fourth guru - became the Fifth Guru of the Sikhs. In addition to being responsible for the construction of the [[Golden Temple]], he prepared the Sikh [[Sacred text]] and his personal addition of some 2,000 plus hymns in the [[Guru Granth Sahib]]. In [[1604]] he installed the [[Adi Granth]] for the first time as the [[Holy Book]] of the Sikhs. In [[1606]], for refusing to make changes to the [[Guru Granth Sahib]], he was tortured and killed by the [[Mughal]] rulers of the time.
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===Central Teachings===
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The central teachings of Sikhism are summarized below as follows:
  
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[[Guru Hargobind]], became the sixth guru of the Sikhs. He carried two swords &ndash; one for Spiritual reasons and one for temporal (worldly) reasons. From this point onward, the Sikhs became a military force and always had a trained fighting force to defend their independence. In [[1644]], [[Guru Har Rai]] became Guru followed by [[Guru Har Krishan]], the boy Guru in [[1661]]. [[Guru Teg Bahadur]] became Guru in [[1665]] and led the Sikhs until [[1675]], when he sacrificed his life to save the [[Kashmiri Hindu]]s who had come to him for help.
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* ''Ek Onkar'' — Affirmation of monotheism (the belief that there is only one God)
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* ''Nām simraṇ''—remembrance of the divine Name&mdash;Sikhs are encouraged to verbally repeat the name of God in their hearts and on their lips
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*''Kirat karō''—that a Sikh should balance work, worship, and charity, and should defend the rights of all creatures, and in particular, fellow human beings. This teaching encourages honest, hard work in society and rejects the practice of asceticism.
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*''Caṛdī kalā''—Affirmation of an ''optimistic'', view of life
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*''Vaṇḍ chakkō''—Sikh teachings also stress the concept of sharing—through the distribution of free [[food]] at Sikh [[gurdwara]]s (''[[Langar|laṅgar]]''), giving charitable donations, and working for the betterment of the community and others (''sēvā'')
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*Sikhism affirms the full equality of sexes, classes, and castes
  
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In [[1675]], Aurangzeb publicly executed the ninth [[Sikh]] Guru, [[Guru Tegh Bahadur]]. Sikh mythos says that Guru Tegh Bahadur sacrificed himself to save Hindus, after [[Kashmiri]] [[pandit]]s came to him for help when the Emperor condemned them for failing to convert to Islam.  This marked a turning point for Sikhism. His successor, [[Guru Gobind Singh]] further militarised his followers (see [[Khalsa]]). After Aurangzeb killed four of Gobind Singh's sons, Gobind Singh sent Aurangzeb the [[Zafarnama]] (''Notification of Victory'').
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=== Pursuing salvation ===
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[[Image:Sikh.man.at.the.Golden.Temple.jpg|250px|right|thumb|A Sikh man at the Harimandir Sahib]]
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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&mdash;a concept known as ''[[karma]]''.  
  
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Shortly before passing away Guru Gobind ordered that [[Guru Granth Sahib]], the Sikh Holy Scripture, would be the ultimate spiritual authority for the Sikhs and temporal authority would vest in the [[Khalsa Panth]] &ndash; The Sikh Nation. The first Sikh Holy Scripture was compiled and edited by the Fifth Guru, [[Guru Arjan]] in AD [[1604]], although some of the earlier gurus are also known to have documented their revelations. This is one of the few scriptures in the world that has been compiled by the founders of a faith during their own life time. The Guru Granth Sahib is particularly unique among sacred texts in that it is written in [[Gurmukhi]] script but contains many languages including [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Hindi-Urdu]], [[Sanskrit]], [[Bhojpuri]] and [[Persian language|Persian]]. Sikhs consider the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] the last, perpetual living guru.
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''[[Maya|Māyā]]''—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. However, Nanak emphasized māyā as not a reference to the unreality of the world, but of its values. In Sikhism, the influences of ego, anger, greed, attachment and lust—known as the ''Five Evils''—are 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.<ref>Parrinder, 253.</ref>
  
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==The Gurus of Sikhism==
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Nanak described God's revelation—the path to salvation—with terms such as ''nām'' (the divine ''Name'') and ''śabad'' (the divine Word) to emphasize the totality of the revelation. Nanak designated the word ''guru'' (meaning ''teacher'') as the voice of God and the source and guide for knowledge and salvation.<ref name="p254">Parrinder, 254.</ref> Salvation can be reached only through rigorous and disciplined devotion to God. Nanak distinctly emphasized 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.
  
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===The Ten Gurus of Sikhism===
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== History ==
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[[Image:Guru.Nanak.with.Hindu.holymen.jpg|250px|thumb|right|[[Guru Nanak Dev]], the founder of Sikhism, with Hindu holy men]]
  
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Sikhism was established by ten [[Guru]]s &mdash; teachers or masters &mdash; over the period [[1469]] to [[1708]]. These teachers were enlightened souls whose main purpose in life was the spiritual and moral well-being of the masses. Each master added to and reinforced the message taught by the previous, resulting to the creation of the religion of Sikhism. Guru Nanak was the first Guru and [[Guru Gobind Singh]] the final Guru in human form. When Guru Gobind Singh left this world, he made the Sri [[Guru Granth Sahib]] the ultimate and final Sikh Guru.
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[[Guru Nanak Dev]] (1469&ndash;1538), the founder of Sikhism, was born in the village of ''Rāi Bhōi dī Talvaṇḍī'', now called Nankana Sahib, near [[Lahore]] (in what is present-day [[Pakistan]]).<ref>Khushwant Singh, ''The Illustrated History of the Sikhs'' (New York: Oxford University Press, 2006, ISBN 0195677471), 12-13. Also, as according to the Purātan Janamsākhī (the birth stories of Nanak).</ref> His parents were Khatri [[Hinduism|Hindu]]s of the Bedi clan. As a boy, Nanak was fascinated by religion, and his desire to explore the mysteries of life eventually led him to leave home. It was during this period that Nanak was said to have met [[Kabir]] (1440&ndash;1518), a [[saint]] revered by people of different faiths.  
  
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{{List_of_Sikh_Gurus}}
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Sikh tradition states that at the age of thirty, Nanak went missing and was presumed to have drowned after going for one of his morning baths to a local stream called the ''Kali Bein''. Three days later he reappeared and would give the same answer to any question posed to him: "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim" (in Punjabi, "''nā kō hindū nā kō musalmān''"). It was from this moment that Nanak would begin to spread the teachings of what was then the beginning of Sikhism.<ref>Christopher Shackle and Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair, ''Teachings of the Sikh Gurus: Selections from the Sikh Scriptures'' (London: Routledge, 2005, ISBN 0415266041), xiii-xiv.</ref> Although the exact account of his itinerary is disputed, he is widely acknowledged to have made four major journeys, spanning thousands of kilometers. The first tour being east towards [[Bengal]] and Assam, the second south towards [[Ceylon]] via Tamil Nadu, the third north towards [[Kashmir]], [[Ladakh]] and [[Tibet]], and the final tour west towards [[Baghdad]] and [[Mecca]].<ref>Singh, 14.</ref>
  
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===The Sri Guru Granth Sahib===
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Nanak was married to Sulakhni, the daughter of Moolchand Chona, a rice trader from the town of [[Batala]]. They had two sons. The elder son, Sri Chand was an ascetic and he came to have a considerable following of his own, known as the Udasis. The younger son, Lakshmi Das, on the other hand was totally immersed in worldly life. To Nanak, who believed in the ideal of ''{{unicode|rāj maiṁ jōg}}'' (detachment in civic life), both his sons were unfit to carry on the guruship.
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[[Image:GuruGranthSahib-HarimandirSahib.jpg|thumb|right|A man reading the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] at the [[Harmandir Sahib]].]]
 
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{{main|Guru Granth Sahib}}
 
  
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The [[Guru Granth Sahib]] is the eleventh and final Guru of the Sikhs, is held in the highest regard by the Sikhs and is treated as the Eternal Guru, as instructed by Guru Gobind Singh.  
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===Growth of the Sikh community===
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In 1538, Nanak chose his disciple ''{{unicode|Lahiṇā}}'', a Khatri of the Trehan clan, as a successor to the guruship rather than either of his sons. {{unicode|Lahiṇā}} was named Guru Angad Dev and became the second guru of the Sikhs.<ref>Shackle and Mandair, xv.</ref> Nanak conferred his choice at the town of Kartarpur on the banks of the river Ravi, where Nanak had finally settled down after his travels. Though Sri Chand was not an ambitious man, the Udasis believed that the guruship should have gone to him, since he was a man of pious habits in addition to being Nanak's son. They refused to accept Angad's succession. On Nanak's advice, Angad shifted from Kartarpur to Khadur, where his wife Khivi and children were living, until he was able to bridge the divide between his followers and the Udasis. Angad continued the work started by Nanak and is widely credited for standardizing the Gurmukhī script as used in the sacred scripture of the Sikhs.
  
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It is perhaps the only scripture of its kind which not only contains the teachings of its own religious founders but also writings of people from other faiths. Besides the [[Bani]]s of the Gurus, it also contains the writings of saints like Kabir, Namdev, Ravidas, Sheikh Farid, Trilochan, Dhanna, Beni, Sheikh Bhikan, Jaidev, Surdas, Parmanad, Pipa and Ramanand.  
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[[Guru Amar Das]] became the third Sikh guru in 1552 at the age of 73. During his guruship, Goindval became an important centre for Sikhism. Guru Amar Das preached the principle of equality for women by prohibiting ''[[purdah]]'' (the requirement that women cover their bodies) and ''[[sati]]'' (widows sacrificing themselves at the funeral of their husband). Amar Das also encouraged the practice of {{unicode|[[langar|laṅgar]]}} and made all those who visited him attend laṅgar before they could speak to him.<ref>Kartar Singh Duggal, ''Philosophy and Faith of Sikhism'' (Himalayan Institute Press, 1988, ISBN 0893891096), 15.</ref> In 1567, [[Akbar the Great|Emperor Akbar]] sat with the ordinary and poor people of Punjab to have {{unicode|laṅgar}}. Amar Das also trained 146 apostles of which 52 were women, to manage the rapid expansion of the religion.<ref>Sandeep Singh Brar, [http://www.sikhs.org/guru3.htm The Sikhism Homepage: Guru Amar Das.] Retrieved Retrieved September 26, 2020.</ref> Before he died in 1574 at the age of 95, he appointed his son-in-law {{unicode|Jēṭhā}}, a Khatri of the Sodhi clan, as the fourth Sikh guru.
  
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The Granth forms the central part of the Sikh place of worship called a [[gurdwara]]. The Holy Scripture placed on the dominant platform in the main hall of the gurdwara during the day. It is placed with great respect and dignity upon a throne with beautiful and colourful fabric.
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''{{unicode|Jēṭhā}}'' became Guru Ram Das and vigorously undertook his duties as the new guru. He was responsible for the establishment of the city of Ramdaspur later to be named [[Amritsar]].  
  
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==Sikh religious philosophy==
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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. <ref name="p254"/>
  
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{{main|Sikh religious philosophy}}
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Amar Das's successor and son-in-law Ram Das founded the city of [[Amritsar]], which is home of the [[Harimandir Sahib]] and regarded widely as the holiest city for all Sikhs. When Ram Das's youngest son Arjun Dev succeeded him, the line of male gurus from the ''Sodhi Khatri'' family was established: all succeeding gurus were direct descendants of this line. Arjun Dev was responsible for compiling the Sikh scriptures. Arjun Dev was captured by [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] authorities who were suspicious and hostile to the religious order he was developing.<ref>Parrinder, 255.</ref> 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.
  
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The Sikh religious philosophy can be divided into the following five sections:
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[[Image:Guru Arjun Dev being pronounced fifth guru.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A mark of distinction is placed on the forehead of Guru Arjun Dev, pronouncing him the fifth guru; Guru Ram Das is seated on the right]]
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The Sikh gurus established a mechanism which allowed the Sikh religion to react as a community to changing circumstances. The sixth guru, Guru Har Gobind, was responsible for the creation of the [[Akal Takht]] (''throne of the timeless one'') which serves as the supreme decision-making centre of Sikhdom and sits opposite the Harimandir Sahib. The ''{{unicode|[[Sarbat Khalsa|Sarbat Ḵẖālsā]]}}'' (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|gurmatā]]'' (literally, ''guru's intention'') is an order passed by the {{unicode|Sarbat Ḵẖālsā}} in the presence of the Gurū Granth Sāhib. A gurmatā may only be passed on a subject that affects the fundamental principles of Sikh religion; it is binding upon all Sikhs. The term ''[[Hukamnama|hukamnāmā]]'' (literally, ''edict'' or ''royal order'') is often used interchangeably with the term gurmatā. However, a hukamnāmā formally refers to a hymn from the Gurū Granth Sāhib which is given as an order to Sikhs.
  
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===Primary beliefs and principles===
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In 1581, [[Guru Arjun Dev]]—youngest son of the fourth guru—became the fifth guru of the Sikhs. In addition to being responsible for building the [[Harimandir Sahib]] (often called the Golden Temple), he prepared the Sikh sacred text known as the [[Adi Granth|Ādi Granth]] (literally ''the first book'') and included the writings of the first five gurus. Thus the first Sikh scripture was compiled and edited by the fifth guru, Arjun Dev, in 1604. In 1606, for refusing to make changes to the Granth and for supporting an unsuccessful contender to the throne, he was tortured and killed by the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] ruler, [[Jahangir]].<ref>Shackle, xv-xvi.</ref>
  
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{{main|Sikhism primary beliefs and principles}}
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===Political advancement===
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[[Guru Har Gobind]] became the sixth guru of the Sikhs. He carried two swords—one for [[spirituality|spiritual]] and the other for temporal reasons (known as ''mīrī'' and ''pīrī'' in Sikhism).<ref>Cynthia Mahmood, ''A Sea of Orange'' (Philadelphia, PA: Xlibris, 2002, ISBN 140102856X), 16.</ref> Sikhs grew as an organized community and developed a trained fighting force to defend themselves. In 1644, [[Guru Har Rai]] became guru followed by [[Guru Har Krishan]], the boy guru, in 1661. No [[hymn]]s composed by these three gurus are included in the Sikh holy book.<ref>Shackle, xvi.</ref>
  
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Sikhism advocates the belief in one [[pantheism|pantheistic]] [[God]] ([[Ek Onkar]]) who is omnipresent and has infinite qualities.  Sikhs do not have a gender for God nor do they believe God takes a human form. All human beings are considered equal regardless of their religion, sex or race. All are sons and daughters of [[Waheguru]], the Almighty.
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[[Guru Teg Bahadur]] became guru in 1665 and led the Sikhs until 1675. Teg Bahadur was executed by [[Aurangzeb]] for helping to protect Hindus, after a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits came to him for help when the emperor condemned them to death for failing to convert to [[Islam]].<ref>Swami Rama, ''Celestial Song/Gobind Geet: The Dramatic Dialogue Between Guru Gobind Singh and Banda Singh Bahadur'' (Himalayan Institute Press, 1986, ISBN 0893891037), 7-8.</ref> He was succeeded by his son, Gobind Rai who was just nine years old at the time of his father's death. Gobind Rai further militarized his followers, and was baptized by the ''{{unicode|[[Pañj Piārē]]}}'' when he formed the [[Khalsa]] in 1699. From here on in he was known as Guru Gobind Singh.<ref>Singh, 37-38.</ref>
  
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Followers of Sikhism are encouraged to wake in the early morning hours, before the sun has risen, and meditate on God's name. They must work hard and honestly and never live off of others, but give to others from the fruits of one's own labour.  A Sikh's home should always be open to all.
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From the time of Nanak, when it was a loose collection of followers who focused entirely on the attainment of salvation and God, the Sikh community had significantly transformed. Even though the core Sikh religious philosophy was never affected, the followers now began to develop a political identity. Conflict with [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] authorities escalated during the lifetime of Teg Bahadur and Gobind Singh. The latter founded the Khalsa in 1699. The Khalsa is a disciplined community that combines its religious purpose and goals with political and military duties.<ref name="parrinderp259"/> After Aurangzeb killed four of his sons, Gobind Singh sent Aurangzeb the ''Zafarnāmā'' (''Notification/Epistle of Victory'').
  
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Sikhs believe in the concept of [[reincarnation]]. All creatures  are believed to have souls that pass to other bodies upon death until liberation is achieved.  Sikhs should defend, safeguard, and fight for the rights of all creatures, and in particular fellow human beings. They are encouraged to have a "[[Chardi Kala]]" or positive, optimistic and buoyant view of life.
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Shortly before his death, Gobind Singh ordered that the [[Guru Granth Sahib|Gurū Granth Sāhib]] (the Sikh Holy Scripture), would be the ultimate spiritual authority for the Sikhs and temporal authority would be vested in the Khalsa Panth (The Sikh Nation/Community).<ref name="granthfinalguru"/>
  
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The Sikh religion is not considered the only way to salvation - people of other religions may also achieve salvation. This concept is shared with other [[Dharmic religions]].
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The Sikh community's embrace of military and political organization made it a considerable regional force in medieval India and it continued to evolve after the demise of the gurus. [[Banda Bahadur]], a former ascetic, was charged by Gobind Singh with the duty of punishing those who had persecuted the Sikhs. After the guru's death, Banda Bahadur became the leader of the Sikh army and was responsible for several attacks on the [[Mughal Empire]]. He was executed by the emperor [[Jahandar Shah]] after refusing the offer of a pardon if he converted to Islam.<ref>Singh, 47-53.</ref>
  
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Upon baptism, Sikhs must wear the [[5Ks]], strictly recite the 5 [[Bani|prayers]]. Sikhs do not believe that any particular day is holier than any other and generally adopt the religous day of the country within which they reside.
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After the death of Banda Bahadur, a loose confederation of Sikh warrior bands known as ''misls'' formed. With the decline of the Mughal Empire, a Sikh empire arose in the Punjab under [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh]], with its capital in [[Lahore]] and limits reaching the [[Khyber Pass]] and the borders of [[China]]. The order, traditions and discipline developed over centuries culminated at the time of Ranjit Singh to give rise to the common religious and social identity that the term "Sikhism" describes.<ref name="parrinderp256">Parrinder, 256.</ref>
  
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It is every Sikh's duty to defeat these five vices: ego, anger, greed, attachment, and lust. Sikhs are encouraged to 'attack' these vices with contentment, charity, kindness, positive attitude and humility.
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After the death of Ranjit Singh, the Sikh kingdom fell into disorder and eventually collapsed with the Anglo-Sikh Wars, which brought the Punjab under [[British Raj|British rule]]. Sikhs supported and participated in the Indian National Congress, but also formed the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and the Shiromani Akali Dal to preserve Sikhs religious and political organization. With the partition of India in 1947, thousands of Sikhs were killed in [[violence]] and millions were forced to leave their ancestral homes in West Punjab.<ref>Gyanendra Pandey, ''Remembering Partition: Violence, Nationalism and History in India'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001, ISBN 0521002508), 33.</ref> Even though Sikhs enjoyed considerable prosperity in the 1970s, making Punjab the most prosperous state in the nation, a fringe group led by cleric Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale began demanding an independent state named Khalistan, led to clashes between militant groups and government forces, as well as communal violence.<ref>Donald L. Horowitz, ''The Deadly Ethnic Riot'' (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2003, ISBN 0520236424), 482-485.</ref>
  
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===Underlying values===
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[[Guru Gobind Singh]] was the final guru in human form. Before his death, Guru Gobind Singh decreed that the [[Gurū Granth Sāhib]] would be the final and perpetual guru of the Sikhs.<ref name="granthfinalguru">Gurinder Singh Mann, ''The Making of Sikh Scripture'' (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0195130243), 21.</ref>
  
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{{main|Sikhism underlying values}}
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== Scripture ==
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There are two primary sources of scripture for the Sikhs: the Gurū Granth Sāhib and the Dasam Granth. The Gurū Granth Sāhib may be referred to as the Ādi Granth—literally, ''The First Volume''—and the two terms are often used synonymously. Here, however, the Ādi Granth refers to the version of the scripture created by [[Guru Arjun Dev|Arjun Dev]] in 1604. The Gurū Granth Sāhib refers to the final version of the scripture created by [[Guru Gobind Singh|Gobind Singh]].
  
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The Sikhs must believe in the following values:
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=== Adi Granth ===
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It is believed that the Ādi Granth was compiled primarily by Bhai Gurdas under the supervision of Guru Arjun Dev between the years 1603 and 1604.<ref>Ernest Trumpp, ''The Ādi Granth or the Holy Scriptures of the Sikhs'' (Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, 2004, ISBN 8121502446) (original 1877), 1xxxi.</ref> It is written in the Gurmukhī script, which is a descendant of the {{unicode|Laṇḍā}} script used in the Punjab at that time.<ref>George Abraham Grierson, ''The Linguistic Survey of India'' (Motilal Banarsidass, 1967, ISBN 8185395276) (original 1927), 624.</ref> The Gurmukhī script was standardized by Arjun Dev for use in the Sikh scriptures and is thought to have been influenced by the {{unicode|Śāradā}} and Devanāgarī scripts. An authoritative scripture was created to protect the integrity of [[hymn]]s and teachings of the Sikh gurus and selected ''bhagats''. At the time, Arjun Dev tried to prevent undue influence from the followers of Prithi Chand, the guru's older brother and rival.<ref>Gurinder Singh Mann, ''The Making of Sikh Scripture'' (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0195130243), 19.</ref>
  
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#'''Equality:''' All humans are equal before God.
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The original version of the Ādi Granth is known as the ''{{unicode|kartārpur bīṛ}}'' and is currently held by the Sodhi family of Kartarpur.
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#'''God's spirit:''' All creatures have God's spirits and must be properly respected.
 
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#'''Personal right:''' Every person has a right to life but this right is restricted.
 
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#'''Actions count:''' Salvation is obtained by one's actions, including good deeds, remembrance of God, etc.
 
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#'''Living a family life:''' Must live as a family unit to provide and nurture children.
 
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#'''Sharing:''' It is encouraged to share and give to charity 10 percent of one's net earnings.
 
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#'''Accept God's will:''' Develop your personality so that you recognize happy events and miserable events as one.
 
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#'''The four fruits of life:''' Truth, contentment, contemplation and Naam, (in the name of God).
 
  
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===Prohibited behavior===
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=== Guru Granth Sahib ===
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[[Image:Sri_Guru_Granth_Sahib_Nishan.jpg|250px|thumb|Gurū Granth Sāhib folio with Mūl Mantra]]
  
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{{main|Sikhism prohibited behavior}}
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The final version of the Gurū Granth Sāhib was compiled by Guru Gobind Singh. It consists of the original Ādi Granth with the addition of Guru Teg Bahadur's hymns. It was decreed by Gobind Singh that the Granth was to be considered the eternal, living guru of all Sikhs:
  
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#'''Non-logical behavior:''' Superstitions and rituals are not meaningful to Sikhs (pilgrimages, fasting, bathing in rivers, circumcision, worship of graves, idols or pictures, compulsory wearing of the veil for women, etc.).
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:[[Punjabi]]: {{lang|pa|ਸੱਬ ਸਿੱਖਣ ਕੋ ਹੁਕਮ ਹੈ ਗੁਰੂ ਮਾਨਯੋ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ।}}
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#'''Material obsession:''' ("Maya") Accumulation of materials has no meaning in Sikhism. Wealth such as gold, portfolio, stocks, commodities, and properties will all be left here on Earth when you depart. Do not get attached to them.
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:Transliteration: {{unicode|Sabb sikkhaṇ kō hukam hai gurū mānyō granth.}}
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#'''Sacrifice of creatures:''' ([[Sati (practice)|Sati]]). Widows throwing themselves in the funeral pyre of their husbands, lamb and calf slaughter to celebrate holy occasions, etc. are forbidden.
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:English: All Sikhs are commanded to take the Granth as Guru.
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#'''Non-family oriented living:''' A Sikh is not allowed to live as a recluse, beggar, yogi, monk, nun, or celibate.
 
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#'''Worthless talk:''' Bragging, gossip, lying, etc. are not permitted.
 
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#'''Intoxication:''' Alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and consumption of other intoxicants is not permitted.
 
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#'''Priestly class:''' Sikhs do not have to depend on a priest for performing any religious functions. They are not supposed to follow a class/caste system where the priestly class reigns highest. Everyone is equal.
 
  
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===Technique and methods===
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It contains compositions by the first five gurus, Guru Teg Bahadur and just one ''śalōk'' (''couplet'') from Guru Gobind Singh.<ref>Sandeep Singh Brar, [http://www.sikhs.org/granth2.htm The Sikhism Homepage: Sri Guru Granth Sahib - Authors & Contributors] Retrieved September 26, 2020..</ref> It also contains the traditions and teachings of ''sants'' (''[[saint]]s'') such as [[Kabir]], [[Namdev]], [[Ravidas]] and [[Sheikh Farid]] along with several others.<ref name="parrinderp256"/>
  
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{{main|Sikhism technique and methods}}
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The bulk of the scripture is classified into ''rāgs'', with each rāg subdivided according to length and author. There are 31 main rāgs within the Gurū Granth Sāhib. In addition to the rāgs, there are clear references to the folk music of Punjab. The main language used in the scripture is known as ''Sant Bhāṣā'', a language related to both Punjabi and Hindi and used extensively across medieval northern India by proponents of popular devotional religion.<ref name="parrinderp259"/> The text further comprises over five thousand ''śabads'', or hymns, which are poetically constructed and set to classical form of [[music]] rendition, can be set to predetermined musical ''tāl'', or rhythmic beats.
  
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#''' [[Naam Japo]]:''' - Free service ([[Sewa]]), meditation and prayer ([[Simran]]), sacred music ([[Kirtan]]).
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The Granth begins with the ''Mūl Mantra'', an iconic verse created by Nanak:
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#''' [[Kirat Karni]]:''' - Honest earnings, labor, etc. while remembering the Lord.
 
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#''' [[Wand kay Shako]]:''' - Share with others in need, free food ([[langar]]), donate 10% of income [[Daasvand]], etc.
 
  
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===Other observations===
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:{{lang-pa|ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥}}
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:ISO 15919 transliteration: ''{{unicode|Ika ōaṅkāra sati nāmu karatā purakhu nirabha'u niravairu akāla mūrati ajūnī saibhaṅ gura prasādi.}}''
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:Simplified transliteration: {{unicode|Ik ōaṅkār sat nām kartā purkh nirbha'u nirvair akāl mūrat ajūnī saibhaṅ gur prasād.}}
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:English: There is One God, He is the supreme truth, He, the Creator, is without fear and without hate. He, the omnipresent, pervades the universe. He is not born, nor does he die again to be reborn. By His grace shalt thou worship Him.
  
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{{main|Sikhism other observations}}
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All text within the Granth is known as ''gurbānī''. Gurbānī, according to Nanak, was revealed by God directly, and the authors wrote it down for the followers. The status accorded to the scripture is defined by the evolving interpretation of the concept of ''gurū''. 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. Gobind Singh declared an end of the line of human gurus, and now the Gurū Granth Sāhib serves as the eternal guru for the Sikhs, with its interpretation vested with the Sikh community.<ref name="parrinderp259"/>
  
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#'''Not son of God:''' The Gurus were not in the Christian sense &#8220;Sons of God&#8221;. Sikhism says all humans are the children of God and by deduction, God is mother/father.
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=== Dasam Granth ===
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#'''All are welcome:''' Members of all religions may visit Sikh temples ([[Gurdwara]]s), but must observe certain rules: cover the head, remove shoes, no smoking or drinking intoxicants inside, and visitors must not be under the influence of any drugs, especially alcohol.
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[[Image:Dasam.Granth.Frontispiece.BL.Manuscript.1825-1850.jpg|250px|thumb|right|A frontispiece to the [[Dasam Granth]]]]
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#'''Multi-level approach:''' Sikhism recognises the concept of a multi-level approach to achieving one's target as a disciple of the faith. For example, "Sahajdhari" (slow adopters) are Sikhs who have not donned the full 5Ks but are still Sikhs nevertheless.
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The Dasam Granth (formally ''dasvēṁ pātśāh kī granth'' or ''The Book of the Tenth Master'') is an eighteenth-century collection of miscellaneous works generally attributed to [[Guru Gobind Singh]]. The teachings of Gobind Singh were not included in Gurū Granth Sāhib, the holy book of the Sikhs, and instead were collected in the Dasam Granth. Unlike the Gurū Granth Sāhib, the Dasam Granth was never declared to hold guruship. The authenticity of some portions of the Granth has been questioned and the appropriateness of the Granth's content still causes much debate.
  
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'''Note''': The [[Punjabi language]] does not have a gender for God. Unfortunately, when translating, the proper meaning cannot be correctly conveyed without using Him/His/He/Brotherhood, S/He etc., but this distorts the meaning by giving the impression that God is masculine, which is not the message in the original script. The reader must correct for this every time these words are used.
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The entire Granth is written in the Gurmukhī script, although most of the language is actually Braj and not Punjabi. Sikh tradition states that Mani Singh collected the writings of Gobind Singh after his death to create the Granth.<ref>W. H. McLeod, ''Studying the Sikhs: Issues for North America'' (Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1993, ISBN 0791414256), 60-61.</ref>
  
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==Sikhs today==
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===Janamsakhis===
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The Janamsākhīs (literally ''birth stories''), are writings which profess to be biographies of Guru Nanak Dev. 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—Janamsākhīs and they are not held in the same regard as other sources of scriptural knowledge.
  
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Today, Sikhs can be found all over India and elsewhere in the world. Sikh men as well as some Sikh women can be identified by their practice of always wearing a [[turban]] to cover their long hair. The turban is quite different from the ones worn by the Muslim clergy and should not be confused with them. The surname or more usually the middle name [[Singh]]<sup>1</sup> (meaning lion) is very common for males, and [[Kaur]] (meaning princess) for women. Of course, not all people named Singh or Kaur are necessarily Sikhs, the Sikhs adopted the name Singh in 1699 during the Birth of the Khalsa. The name Singh is closely linked to the martial antiquities of North India dating back to at least the Eighth Century CE.
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==Observances and ceremonies==
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[[File:1867 photo showing a Sikh granthi reading the Guru Granth Sahib scripture in Amritsar, British India.jpg|250px|thumb|right|A Sikh granthi reading the Guru Granth Sahib scripture]]
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Observant Sikhs adhere to long-standing practices and traditions to strengthen and express their faith. The daily recitation from memory of specific passages from the Gurū Granth Sāhib, especially the ''Japu'' (or ''Japjī'', literally ''chant'') hymns is recommended immediately after rising and bathing. Family customs include both reading passages from the scripture and attending the [[gurdwara]] (also ''gurduārā'', meaning ''the doorway to God''). There are many gurdwaras prominently constructed and maintained across India, as well as in almost every nation where Sikhs reside. Gurdwaras are open to all, regardless of religion, background, caste or race.
  
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==The Five Ks==
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Worship in a gurdwara consists chiefly of singing of passages from the scripture. Sikhs will commonly enter the temple, touch the ground before the holy scripture with their foreheads, and make an offering. The recitation of the eighteenth century ''ardās'' is also customary for attending Sikhs. The ardās recalls past sufferings and glories of the community, invoking divine grace for all humanity.<ref name="p260">Parrinder, 260.</ref>
  
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{{main|The Five Ks}}
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The most sacred shrine is the Harimandir Sahib in Amritsar, famously known as the “Golden Temple.” Groups of Sikhs regularly visit and congregate at the Harimandir Sahib. On specific occasions, groups of Sikhs are permitted to undertake a pilgrimage to Sikh shrines in the province of Punjab in Pakistan, especially at Nankana Sahib and the ''samādhī'' (place of cremation) of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Lahore.
  
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Practicing [[Sikhs]] are bound to wear five items, known as The Five Ks, at all times. It is done either out of respect for the tenth Sikh Guru, [[Guru Gobind Singh]], or out of sense of duty or from understanding of their function and purpose and relevance in daily life. It is important to note that The Five Ks are not merely present for symbolic purposes. The tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, ordered these Five Ks to be worn so that a Sikh could actively use them to make a difference to their own spirituality and to others' spirituality.
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Festivals in Sikhism mostly center on the lives of the gurus and Sikh [[martyr]]s. The SGPC, the Sikh organization in charge of upkeep of the gurdwaras, organizes celebrations based on the new Nanakshahi calendar. This calendar is highly controversial among Sikhs and is not universally accepted. Several festivals (Hola Mohalla, [[Diwali]] and [[Guru Nanak]]'s birthday) continue to be celebrated using the Hindu calendar. Sikh festivals include the following:
  
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The 5 items are: [[Kesh]] (uncut hair), [[Kanga]] (small comb), [[Kara]] (circular bracelet), [[Kirpan]] (small sword) and [[Kacha]] (shorts).
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* [[Gurpurab]]s are celebrations or commemorations based on the lives of the Sikh gurus. They tend to be either birthdays or celebrations of Sikh martyrdom.
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* [[Vaisakhi]] normally occurs on April 13 and marks the beginning of the new spring year and the end of the harvest. Sikhs celebrate it because on Vaisakhi in 1699, the tenth guru, Gobind Singh, established the [[Khalsa]] baptismal tradition.
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* [[Diwali]] (also known as ''bandī chōḍ divas'') celebrates Guru Hargobind's release from the Gwalior Jail on October 26, 1619.
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* Hola Mohalla occurs the day after [[Holi]] and is when the Khalsa Panth gather at Anandpur and display their fighting skills.
  
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==Sikhs around the world==
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===Ceremonies and customs===
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Nanak taught that rituals, religious ceremonies or empty worship is of little use and Sikhs are discouraged from fasting or going on pilgrimages.<ref>[http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=75&english=t&id=3063#l3063 ''Gurū Granth Sāhib'', 75:] “Pilgrimages, fasts, purification and self-discipline are of no use, nor are rituals, religious ceremonies or empty worship.” Retrieved September 26, 2020.</ref> However, during the period of the later gurus, and due to increased institutionalization of the religion, some ceremonies and rites did arise. Sikhism is not a proselytizing religion and most Sikhs do not make active attempts to gain converts. However, converts to Sikhism are welcomed, although there is no formal conversion ceremony.
  
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A Sikh known as [[Yogi Bhajan]] brought the Sikh way of life to many young people in the Western hemisphere. In addition to Indian-born Sikhs, there are now thousands of individuals of Western origin who were not born as Sikhs, but have embraced the Sikh way of life and live and teach all over the world.  
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Upon a child's birth, the Gurū Granth Sāhib is opened at a random point and the child is named using the first letter on the top left-hand corner of the left page. All boys are given the middle name or surname Singh, and all girls are given the middle name or surname Kaur.<ref>Clinton Herbert Loehlin, ''The Sikhs and Their Scriptures'', 2nd ed. (Lucknow Publishing House, 1964) (original 1958), 42.</ref> Sikhs are joined in wedlock through the ''[[Anand Karaj|anand kāraj]]'' ceremony. Sikhs [[marriage|marry]] when they are sufficient age (child marriage is [[taboo]]), and without regard for the future spouse's caste or descent. The marriage ceremony is performed in the company of the Gurū Granth Sāhib; around which the couple circles four times. After the ceremony is complete, the husband and wife are considered "a single soul in two bodies."<ref>[https://www.allaboutsikhs.com/sikh-way-of-life/sikh-ceremonies/anand-sanskar-sikh-matrimonial-ceremony-and-conventions/ Anand Sanskar : (Sikh Matrimonial Ceremony and Conventions)] Retrieved September 26, 2020.</ref>
  
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In the late [[1970s]] and [[1980s]] a limited political separatist movement arose in India with the mission to create a separate Sikh state, called [[Khalistan]], in the Punjab area of India and [[Pakistan]].
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According to Sikh religious rites, neither husband nor wife are permitted to [[divorce]]. A Sikh couple that wishes to divorce may be able to do so in a civil court&mdash;but this is not condoned. Upon death, the body of a Sikh is usually [[cremation|cremated]]. If this is not possible, any means of disposing the body may be employed. The ''kīrtan sōhilā'' and ''ardās'' prayers are performed during the funeral ceremony (known as ''[[Antam Sanskar|antim sanskār]]'').<ref>[https://www.allaboutsikhs.com/sikh-way-of-life/sikh-ceremonies/funeral-ceremonies-antam-sanskar/ Funeral Ceremonies (Antam Sanskar)] Retrieved September 26, 2020.</ref>
  
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Currently, there are about 23 million Sikhs in the world, making it the fifth largest world religion.  Approximately 19 million Sikhs live in India with the majority living in the state of Punjab ('greater Punjab' extends across the India-Pakistan border but few Sikhs remained in Pakistan due to persecution during the split of India in [[1947]]).  Large populations of Sikhs can be found in the [[United Kingdom]], [[Canada]], and [[United States|USA]]. They also comprise a significant minority in [[Malaysia]] and [[Singapore]], where they are sometimes made fun of for their distinctive appearance, but are respected for their drive and high education standards, as they dominate the legal profession.
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===Baptism and the Khalsa===
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[[Image:Kakaars x3.JPG|thumb|right|250px|A ''{{unicode|kaṛā}}'', ''{{unicode|kaṅghā}}'' and ''kirpān'']]
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''[[Khalsa]]'' (meaning "pure") is the name given by Gobind Singh to all Sikhs who have been baptized or initiated by taking ''ammrit'' in a ceremony called ''ammrit sañcār''. The first time that this ceremony took place was on [[Vaisakhi]] in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib in India. It was on that occasion that Gobind Singh baptized the [[Panj Pyare|Pañj Piārē]] who in turn baptized Gobind Singh himself.
  
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Following the [[Indian general election, 2004]], Dr [[Manmohan Singh]] has become the first Sikh [[Prime Minister of India]]. He is also the first non-Hindu Prime Minister of India.
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Baptized Sikhs are bound to wear the “Five Ks” (in Punjabi known as ''pañj kakkē'' or ''pañj kakār''), or articles of faith, at all times. The tenth guru, Gobind Singh, ordered these Five Ks to be worn so that a Sikh could actively use them to make a difference to their own and to others' spirituality. The five items are: ''Kēs'' (uncut hair), ''Kaṅghā'' (small comb), ''Kaṛā'' (circular heavy metal bracelet), ''Kirpān'' (ceremonial short sword), and ''[[kaccha|kacchā]]'' (special undergarment). The Five Ks have both practical and symbolic purposes.<ref>David Simmonds, ''Believers All: A Book of Six World Religions'' (Nelson Thornes, 1992, ISBN 0174370571), 120-121.</ref>
  
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Sikhs comprise 10% of the Indian Armed Forces. In 2005, the first Sikh General of the Indian Army was designated. Also they have a major presence in the Transport Industry in India.
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== Sikhism Today ==
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Worldwide, Sikhs number more than 23 million, but more than 90 percent of Sikhs still live in the [[India]]n state of Punjab, where they form close to 65 percent of the population. Large communities of Sikhs live in the neighboring states and indeed large communities of Sikhs can be found across India. However, Sikhs comprise only about two percent of India's entire population. Migration beginning from the nineteenth century led to the creation of significant diasporic communities of Sikhs outside India in [[Canada]], the [[United Kingdom]], the [[Middle East]], [[East Africa]], Southeast Asia and more recently, the [[United States]], Western Europe, [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]].
  
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==Observations==
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Smaller populations of Sikhs are found in [[Mauritius]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Nepal]], [[Fiji]] and other countries.
  
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The founder of Sikhism, [[Guru Nanak]], was born in [[1469]] to a [[Punjabi Khatri|Khatri]] family in central [[Punjab]] (in what is present day [[Pakistan]]). After four epic journeys (north to [[Tibet]], south to [[Sri Lanka]], east to [[Bengal]] and west to [[Mecca]] and [[Baghdad]]) Guru Nanak preached to Hindus, Muslims and others, and in the process attracted a following of Sikhs or disciples. Religion, he taught, was a way to unite people, but in practice he found that it set men against one another. He particularly regretted the antagonism between Hindus and Muslims as well as certain ritualistic practices that distracted people from focusing on [[God]]. He wanted to go beyond what was being practised by either religion and hence a well-known saying of [[Guru Nanak]] is, "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim."  [[Guru Gobind Singh]] reinforced these words by saying, "Regard the whole human race as equal".  
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As with most world religions, there are groups of Sikhs (such as the Namdharis, Ravidasis and Udasis) who do not adhere to the mainstream principles followed by most Sikhs. Some of these groups may not consider themselves a part of Sikhism, although similarities in beliefs and principles firmly render them a part of the Sikh religious domain. Groups such as the Nirankaris have a history of bad relations with mainstream Sikhism, and are considered pariahs by some Sikhs. Others, such as the Nihangs, tend to have little difference in belief and practice, and are considered Sikhs proper by mainstream Sikhism.
  
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[[Guru Nanak]] was opposed to the caste system. His followers referred to him as the guru (teacher). Before his death he designated a new Guru to be his successor and to lead the Sikh community. This procedure was continued, and the tenth and last Guru, Guru Gobind (AD [[1666]]&#8211;[[1708]]) initiated the Sikh ceremony in AD [[1699]] ; and thus gave a distinctive identity to the Sikhs. The five baptised Sikhs were named Panj Pyare (Five Beloved Ones), who in turn baptised the Guru at his request. 
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==Notes==
 +
<references/>
  
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Guru Nanak's doctrinal position is clear, despite the appearance that it is a blend of insights originating from two very different faiths. Sikhism's coherence is attributable to its single central concept &ndash; the sovereignty of the One [[God]], the Creator. Guru Nanak called God the "True Name" because he wanted to avoid any limiting terms for God. He taught that the True Name, although manifest in many ways, many places and known by many names, is eternally One, the Sovereign and omnipotent God (the Truth of Love).
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==References==
  
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Guru Nanak's ascribed to the concept of ''[[Maya (illusion)|maya]]'', regarding material objects and realities as expressions of the creator's eternal truth, which tended to erect "a wall of falsehood" around those who live totally in the mundane world of material desires. This materialism prevents them from seeing the ultimate reality, as God created matter as a veil, so that only spiritual minds, free of desire, can penetrate it by the grace of the Guru (Gurprasad).  
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* Duggal, Kartar Singh. ''Philosophy and Faith of Sikhism''. Himalayan Institute Press, 1988. ISBN 0893891096
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* Grierson, George Abraham. ''The Linguistic Survey of India''. Motilal Banarsidass, 1967 (original 1927). ISBN 8185395276
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The world is immediately real in the sense that it is made manifest to the senses as maya, but is ultimately unreal in the sense that God alone is ultimate reality. Retaining the Hindu doctrine of the [[reincarnation|transmigration of souls]], together with its corollary, the law of ''[[karma]]'', Guru Nanak advised his followers to end the cycle of [[reincarnation]] by living a disciplined life &ndash; that is, by moderating egoism and sensuous delights, to live in a balanced worldly manner, and by accepting ultimate reality. Thus, by the grace of Guru (Gurprasad) the cycle of re-incarnation can be broken, and the Sikh can remain in the abode of the Love of God.
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* Horowitz, Donald L. ''The Deadly Ethnic Riot''. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2003. ISBN 0520236424
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* Loehlin, Clinton Herbert. ''The Sikhs and Their Scriptures'', 2nd ed. Lucknow Publishing House, 1964 (original 1958).
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A Sikh should balance work, worship and charity - and meditate by repeating God's name, ''Nam japna'' (to enhance spiritual development). Salvation, Guru Nanak said, does not mean entering paradise after a last judgment, but a union and absorption into God, the true name.  Sikhs believe in neither heaven nor hell. They strive for the grace of the Guru during the human journey of the soul.
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* Mahmood, Cynthia. ''A Sea of Orange''. Philadelphia, PA: Xlibris, 2002. ISBN 140102856X
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* Mann, Gurinder Singh. ''The Making of Sikh Scripture''. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0195130243
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Political pressure from surrounding Muslim nations forced the Sikhs to defend themselves and by the [[19th century|mid-nineteenth century]], the [[Punjab]] area straddling modern-day [[India]] and [[Pakistan]], [[Afghanistan]] and [[Kashmir]] was ruled by them. The Sikh's [[Khalsa Army]] defeated the invading [[United Kingdom|British]] army and signed treaties with [[China]].
+
* McLeod, W. H. ''Studying the Sikhs: Issues for North America''. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1993. ISBN 0791414256
−
 
+
* Pandey, Gyanendra. ''Remembering Partition: Violence, Nationalism and History in India''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001. ISBN 0521002508
−
===All welcomed===
+
* Parrinder, Geoffrey. ''World Religions: From Ancient History to the Present''. London: Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, 1971. ISBN 0871961296
−
 
+
* Rama, Swami. ''Celestial Song/Gobind Geet: The Dramatic Dialogue Between Guru Gobind Singh and Banda Singh Bahadur''. Himalayan Institute Press, 1986. ISBN 0893891037
−
Members of all religions may visit Sikh temples (gurdwaras = the Guru's door) but are asked to observe the following rules out of respect for sikh sensibilities:
+
* Shackle, Christopher and Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair. ''Teachings of the Sikh Gurus: Selections from the Sikh Scriptures''. London: Routledge, 2005. ISBN 0415266041
−
* To cover one's head (there will be bandana-like [[rumaal]]s available there)
+
* Simmonds, David. ''Believers All: A Book of Six World Religions''. Nelson Thornes, 1992. ISBN 0174370571
−
* To take off one's shoes
+
* Singh, Khushwant. ''The Illustrated History of the Sikhs''. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN 0195677471
−
* To not smoke or indulge in the consumption of alcoholic or tobacco-related materials (even in the vicinity of the gurdwara)
+
* Trumpp, Ernest. ''The Ādi Granth or the Holy Scriptures of the Sikhs''. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, 2004 (original 1877). ISBN 8121502446
−
* Not to bring or possess any alcoholic or tobacco-related items, or be under their effects when entering the gurdwara.
 
−
 
 
−
==Multi-level approach==
 
−
 
 
−
{{main|Sikh religious philosophy}}
 
−
 
 
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Sikhism recognises the concept of a multi-level approach to achieving your target as a disciple of the faith. For example, [[Sahajdhari]] (slow adopters) are Sikhs who have not donned the full [[The Five Ks|Five Ks]] but are still Sikhs nonetheless.
 
−
 
 
−
==The Khalsa==
 
−
''Main article: [[Khalsa]]''
 
−
 
 
−
A baptised Sikh becomes a member of the [[Khalsa]] or the "Pure Ones". When a Sikh joins the Khalsa, he/she is supposed to have devoted their life to the Guru, and is expected not to desist from sacrificing anything and everything in a struggle for a just and righteous cause.
 
−
 
 
−
The word "Khalsa" has two literal meanings. It comes from [[Persian_language|Persian]]. One literal meaning is "Pure" and the other meaning is "belonging to the king".  When the word "Khalsa" is used for a Sikh, it implies belonging to the King, where the King is God himself. To become a Khalsa, a Sikh must surrender themselves completely to the supreme King or God and obey God's will without question or delay.  
 
−
 
 
−
==Followers of Sikhism==
 
−
[[Image:Turbanned man.jpg|thumb|A Sikh man wearing a turban]]
 
−
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. The word Sikh is derived from the [[Sanskrit]] word ''shishya'' which means disciple or student. In the [[Punjabi_language|Punjabi]] language the word Sikh also means humble follower. So a Sikh is a disciple of the [[Ten Gurus]] and a follower of the teachings in Sikhism's holy scriptures who they regard as a living guru, the [[Guru Granth Sahib]].
 
−
 
 
−
==Sikhs and Punjabis==
 
−
 
 
−
Since Sikhism originated in the region of [[Punjab]], most Sikhs trace their roots to that region (though in recent times, with the spread both of Sikhism and Sikhs, one might encounter Sikhs belonging to other geographical locations across the world). With the revisions of the state boundaries in 1966, 65% of the population in Punjab is now made up of Sikhs, whereas Sikhs comprise only 2% of the population in [[India]] as a whole. Consequently, and also because the [[Granth| Guru Granth Sahib]] is written in [[Gurmukhi]], a script of the Punjabi language, most Sikhs are able to speak, read or write the language, or are at least familiar with it.
 
−
 
 
−
==Sikh names==
 
−
''Main article: [[Sikh names]]''
 
−
 
 
−
A Sikh man almost always bears the [[surname]] of '''Singh''', which means 'lion', and a Sikh woman can be identified with a second name of '''Kaur''', which means 'princess' ('Kaur' being an exclusively Sikh name). Additionally, except only a very few cases, the same first names as used for men are used for women. In other words, though one may not be able to tell the sex of a Sikh person from his/her first name, the second name of Singh or Kaur makes the distinction completely clear. Unisex first names are a salient example of the complete equality between men and women.
 
−
 
 
−
== See also ==
 
−
 
 
−
''An index of the most important pages on Sikhism, can be found at the [[Sikh pages]].
 
−
 
 
−
*[[Amrit]]  [[Amritsar]]
 
−
*[[Bhagat]] [[Sikh Bhagats]] [[Bhagat Farid]] [[Bhagat Kabir]] ....
 
−
*[[Bani]]  [[Gurbani]] [[Japji Sahib]]
 
−
*[[Chardi Kala]]  [[Chaupai]]
 
−
*[[Dasam Granth]]
 
−
*[[Golden Temple]]  [[Gurdwara]]  [[Gurdwaras in Pakistan]]
 
−
*[[Guru Granth Sahib]]
 
−
*[[Interfaith]]
 
−
*[[Khalsa]]  [[Kirat Karni]]  [[Naam]]
 
−
*[[List of Sikhs]]
 
−
*[[Punjabi language]]  [[History of the Punjab]]
 
−
*[[Sardar]]
 
−
*[[Sikh]]  [[Sikhs]]
 
−
*[[Sikh 5 ks]]  [[Sikhs Five Ks]]  [[Simran]]
 
−
*[[Sikh religious philosophy]] [[Sikhism other observations]]
 
−
*[[Sikhism primary beliefs and principles]]  [[Sikhism prohibited behaviour]]
 
−
*[[Sikhism technique and methods]]  [[Sikhism underlying values]]
 
−
*[[Takhat]]
 
−
*[[Ten Sikh Gurus]]  [[Sikh Guru]] [[Guru Nanak]] ... [[Guru Gobind Singh]]
 
−
*[[Waheguru]]  [[Wand kay Shako]]
 
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
−
'''External Sikhism Info pages'''
+
All links retrieved January 29, 2023.
−
*[http://www.sabadvartara.org Definitions of Sadh Sant Sateguru Naam Japna, Amritsar, Sarover, Ishnan,and other key topics]
 
−
*[http://www.gurugranthsahib.com Shri Guru Granth Sahib] - Complete Audio, Kirtan Videos
 
−
*[http://www.khalsacommunityschool.com Learn Sikhism in mainstream School at Ontario, Canada] - Learn Sikhism as part of K12 curriculum
 
−
*[http://www.waheguroo.com www.waheguroo.com] - massive Sikh portal to access information or anything Sikhi related
 
−
*[http://www.sikhitothemax.com/ SikhitotheMax.com] - The True Guru online!
 
−
*[http://www.sikh-history.com/ Sikh-History.com] - An invaluable source of sikh history and discussion forum
 
−
*[http://www.bcsikhyouth.com Sikhism] - the Sikh youth of BC
 
−
*[http://www.sikhiwiki.org SikhiWiki.org] - Encyclopedia of the Sikhs
 
−
*[http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/ SikhPhilosophy.Net] - Redefining Sikh, Sikhi & Sikhism. Learn about Sikh Religion & History.
 
−
*[http://www.sikhism.com Sikhism.com] - A great overview of the Sikh faith
 
−
*[http://www.sikhmissionarysociety.org Sikh Missionary Society U.K.] - Dedicated to promoting the Sikh Religion, Culture and History. Contains Vast eBook Library.
 
−
*[http://www.religionfacts.com/sikhism/index.htm Sikhism] - ReligionFacts.com profile
 
−
*[http://www.babanandsinghsahib.org/ Eternal Glory of Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj]
 
−
*[http://altreligion.about.com/od/sikhsymbols/index.htm Sikh Religious Symbols] - An illustrated Glossary
 
−
*[http://www.srigurugranthsahib.org/ Sikhism Thy Name Is Love And Sacrifice]
 
−
*[http://www.info-sikh.com/ Info-sikh a wealth of information on Sikhism]
 
−
*[http://www.sikhnet.com/ SikhNet]
 
−
*[http://www.sikhvideos.org/ Sikh Videos Gurbani Kirtan]
 
−
*[http://www.proudtobesikh.com/khalsa/DefaultHome.aspx ProudtobeSikh.com]
 
−
*[http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Main&S=y SGGS Translation by SriGranth.org]
 
−
*[http://www.sikhifm.com/ Sikhifm.com]
 
−
*[http://www.sikhpoint.com/default.php SikhPoint.com]
 
−
*[http://allaboutsikhs.com/home.php AllAboutSikhs.com]
 
−
*[http://www.sgpc.net/ Sgpc.net]
 
−
*[http://www.sikh.net Sikh.net]
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
===Kirtan links===
 
−
 
 
−
'''Text links'''
 
−
*[http://www.gurugranthsahib.com Shri Guru Granth Sahib Complete Audio, Kirtan Videos]
 
−
*[http://www.keertan.net www.keertan.net] - The best Keertan site on the web, Classic and Modern styles
 
−
*[http://www.svaudio.org Audio server containing information by topic of key gurbani concepts through kirtan]
 
−
*[http://www.sikhnet.com/Gurbani Gurbani from Sikhnet.com]
 
−
*[http://www.sikhifm.com/playlistonline.htm Sikhifm.com]
 
−
*[http://www.akj.org/skins/default/multimedia.php Akj.org]
 
−
*[http://www.gurbani.org/kirtan.htm Gurbani.org]
 
−
*[http://www.sikhvideos.org/by-titles.htm SikhVideos.org]
 
−
*[http://www.ikirtan.com/ iKirtan.com]
 
−
*[http://www.gurdwaraindia.com/shabad.htm gurdwaraIndia.com]
 
−
*[http://www.sikh.net/Hukam/ Live Kirtan from Harmandir Sahib by Sikh.net]
 
−
*[http://www.proudtobesikh.com/khalsa/SharedFiles/linktracker.aspx?name=PTBSClassicalShabadKirtanII Kirtan @ ProudtobeSikh.com]
 
−
*[http://networks.ecse.rpi.edu/~hema/kirtan.html Bhai Harjinder Singh]
 
−
*[http://www.sikhwomen.com/sikhism/culture_arts/kathainenglish.htm SikhWomen.com]
 
−
*[http://www.india4world.com/Indian-religion/religion-sikhism/kirtan.shtml Information from India4World.com]
 
−
*[http://www.gssagurdwara.org/kirtan.html Bhai Amrik Singh Zakhmi]
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
'''Audio links'''
 
−
 
 
−
1. [[Japji Sahib]]
 
−
*[http://www.gurugranthsahib.com  Complete Nitnem in Audio]
 
−
*[[Media:JapjiSahib.mp3|JapjiSahib.mp3 - Download 1.826M or Play 15.34 min]]
 
−
*[http://www.punjabonline.com/sikhism/japtr_fr.html  Written text of Japji Sahib]
 
−
*[http://www.sikhnet.com/Sikhnet/Music.nsf/0/3d08ba69786458498725695b007bc843?OpenDocument Audio of Japji Sahib]
 
−
 
−
2. [[Jaap Sahib]]
 
−
*[[Media:JaapSahib.mp3|JaapSahib.mp3 - Download 1.028M or Play 17.32 min]]
 
−
*[http://www.gobindsadan.org/jaapsahib/english/index.shtml English Translation of Jaap Sahib]
 
−
 
 
−
3. [[Anand Sahib]]
 
−
*[http://allaboutsikhs.com/prayers/anand/and-01.htm Link to Anand Sahib]
 
−
*[[Media:AnandSahib.mp3|AnandSahib.mp3 - Download 1.951M or Play 13.18 min]]
 
−
 
 
−
4. [[Rehras Sahib]]
 
−
*[[Media:Rehras.mp3|RehrasSahib.mp3 - Download 1.977M & Play 16.51 min]]
 
−
 
 
−
5. [[Kirtan Sohila]]
 
−
*[[Media:KirtanSohila.mp3|KirtanSohila.mp3 - Download 1.283M & Play 3.38min]]
 
−
*[http://sikhs.org/transl6.htm English Translation of Kirtan Sohila]
 
−
 
−
6. [[Tav-Prasad Savaiye]]
 
−
*[http://sikhs.org/transl3.htm Tav-Prasad Savaiye - English Translation]
 
  
−
7. [[Chaupai]]
+
* [http://www.sikhs.org/ The Sikhism Home Page] - General resource site introducing the main concepts of Sikhism
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*[[Media:Kabiobach_Bainti_Chaupai.mp3|Kabiobach Bainti Chaupai.mp3 - Download 1.55 Mbyte or Play 4 min 24 seconds]]
+
* [http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/ All About Sikhs] - Sikhism resource site
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*[http://www.sikhnet.com/sikhnet/music.nsf/0/5e48e364c9cb9a2187256aa80066625b?Open Audio by Sikhnet.com]
+
* [http://www.srigranth.org/ Sri Granth] - Guru Granth Sahib search engine with additional scriptural resources
 +
* [http://www.sikhiwiki.org SikhiWiki] - Collaborative Sikh encyclopedia
 +
* [http://www.sikhnet.com/ SikhNet] - Popular Sikh community website
 +
* [http://www.gurbani.org/ Reflections On Gurbani] – Well-researched articles on various themes mentioned in the SGGS
  
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Latest revision as of 22:00, 29 January 2023

A rare Tanjore style painting from the late nineteenth century depicting the ten gurus of Sikhism with Bhai Bala and Bhai Mardana

Sikhism is a religion that began in sixteenth-century Northern India with the life and teachings of Guru Nanak and nine successive human gurus. Etymologically, the word Sikhism derives from the Sanskrit root śiṣya meaning "disciple" or "learner." Adherents of Sikhism are known as “Sikhs” (students or disciples) and number over 23 million across the world. Most Sikhs live in the state of Punjab in India. Today, Sikhism is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world.

As a religion, philosophy and way of life, Sikhism is centered on the principle belief in one God (monotheism). For Sikhs, God is the same for all humankind regardless of one's religion. Sikhism encourages constant remembrance of God in one's life, honest living, equality among the sexes and classes, and sharing of the fruits of one's labors with others. The followers of Sikhism follow the teachings of the ten Sikh gurus, or enlightened leaders, as well as Sikhism's holy scripture—the Gurū Granth Sāhib—which includes the selected works of many authors from diverse socioeconomic and religious backgrounds. The text was decreed by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru, as the final guru of the Sikh community. Sikhism is distinctly associated with the history, society and culture of the Punjab. In Punjabi, the teachings of Sikhism are traditionally known as the Gurmat (literally the teachings of the gurus) or the Sikh Dharma.

Philosophy

The Harimandir Sahib, known popularly as the “Golden Temple,” is a sacred shrine for Sikhs

The traditions and philosophy of Sikhism were established by ten specific Gurus (spiritual teachers) from 1469 to 1708. Each guru added to and reinforced the message taught by the previous, resulting in the creation of the Sikh religion and philosophy.

Sikhism has roots in the religious traditions of northern India such as Sant Mat, Hindu Bhakti, and Sufism.[1] However, Nanak's teachings diverge significantly from Vaishnavism in their rejection of idol worship, the doctrine of divine incarnations, and a strict emphasis on inward devotion; Sikhism is professed to be a more difficult personal pursuit than Bhakti.[2] The evolution of Nanak's thoughts on the basis of his own experiences and study have also given Sikhism a distinctly unique character.

Scholars have presented Sikhism as both a distinct faith and a syncretic religion which combines some elements of Hinduism and Islam. Sikhs maintain that their religion was directly revealed by God, and many of them consider the notion that Sikhism is a syncretic religion to be offensive.

God

In Sikhism, God (termed Wahegurū) is formless, eternal, and unobserved: niraṅkār, akāl, and alakh. Nanak interpreted Vāhigurū as a single, personal and transcendental creator. The beginning of the first composition of Sikh scripture is the figure "1," signifying the unity of God. To achieve salvation, the devotee must develop an intimate faith in and relationship with God.[2] God is omnipresent and infinite, and is signified by the term ēk ōaṅkār. Sikhs believe that prior to creation, all that existed was God and his infinite hukam (will).[3] When God willed, the entire cosmos was created. From these beginnings, God nurtured "enticement and attachment" to māyā, or the human perception of reality.[4]

While a full understanding of God is beyond human beings,[2] Nanak described God as not wholly unknowable. God is omnipresent (sarav viāpak) in all creation and visible everywhere to the spiritually awakened. 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. Nanak emphasized revelation through meditation, as its rigorous application permits the existence of communication between God and human beings.[2] God has no gender in Sikhism, though translations may incorrectly present a masculine God.

Central Teachings

The central teachings of Sikhism are summarized below as follows:

  • Ek Onkar — Affirmation of monotheism (the belief that there is only one God)
  • Nām simraṇ—remembrance of the divine Name—Sikhs are encouraged to verbally repeat the name of God in their hearts and on their lips
  • Kirat karō—that a Sikh should balance work, worship, and charity, and should defend the rights of all creatures, and in particular, fellow human beings. This teaching encourages honest, hard work in society and rejects the practice of asceticism.
  • Caṛdī kalā—Affirmation of an optimistic, view of life
  • Vaṇḍ chakkō—Sikh teachings also stress the concept of sharing—through the distribution of free food at Sikh gurdwaras (laṅgar), giving charitable donations, and working for the betterment of the community and others (sēvā)
  • Sikhism affirms the full equality of sexes, classes, and castes

Pursuing salvation

A Sikh man at the Harimandir Sahib

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 karma.

Māyā—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. However, Nanak emphasized māyā as not a reference to the unreality of the world, but of its values. In Sikhism, the influences of ego, anger, greed, attachment and lust—known as the Five Evils—are 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.[5]

Nanak described God's revelation—the path to salvation—with terms such as nām (the divine Name) and śabad (the divine Word) to emphasize the totality of the revelation. Nanak designated the word guru (meaning teacher) as the voice of God and the source and guide for knowledge and salvation.[6] Salvation can be reached only through rigorous and disciplined devotion to God. Nanak distinctly emphasized 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.

History

Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, with Hindu holy men

Guru Nanak Dev (1469–1538), the founder of Sikhism, was born in the village of Rāi Bhōi dī Talvaṇḍī, now called Nankana Sahib, near Lahore (in what is present-day Pakistan).[7] His parents were Khatri Hindus of the Bedi clan. As a boy, Nanak was fascinated by religion, and his desire to explore the mysteries of life eventually led him to leave home. It was during this period that Nanak was said to have met Kabir (1440–1518), a saint revered by people of different faiths.

Sikh tradition states that at the age of thirty, Nanak went missing and was presumed to have drowned after going for one of his morning baths to a local stream called the Kali Bein. Three days later he reappeared and would give the same answer to any question posed to him: "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim" (in Punjabi, "nā kō hindū nā kō musalmān"). It was from this moment that Nanak would begin to spread the teachings of what was then the beginning of Sikhism.[8] Although the exact account of his itinerary is disputed, he is widely acknowledged to have made four major journeys, spanning thousands of kilometers. The first tour being east towards Bengal and Assam, the second south towards Ceylon via Tamil Nadu, the third north towards Kashmir, Ladakh and Tibet, and the final tour west towards Baghdad and Mecca.[9]

Nanak was married to Sulakhni, the daughter of Moolchand Chona, a rice trader from the town of Batala. They had two sons. The elder son, Sri Chand was an ascetic and he came to have a considerable following of his own, known as the Udasis. The younger son, Lakshmi Das, on the other hand was totally immersed in worldly life. To Nanak, who believed in the ideal of rāj maiṁ jōg (detachment in civic life), both his sons were unfit to carry on the guruship.

Growth of the Sikh community

In 1538, Nanak chose his disciple Lahiṇā, a Khatri of the Trehan clan, as a successor to the guruship rather than either of his sons. Lahiṇā was named Guru Angad Dev and became the second guru of the Sikhs.[10] Nanak conferred his choice at the town of Kartarpur on the banks of the river Ravi, where Nanak had finally settled down after his travels. Though Sri Chand was not an ambitious man, the Udasis believed that the guruship should have gone to him, since he was a man of pious habits in addition to being Nanak's son. They refused to accept Angad's succession. On Nanak's advice, Angad shifted from Kartarpur to Khadur, where his wife Khivi and children were living, until he was able to bridge the divide between his followers and the Udasis. Angad continued the work started by Nanak and is widely credited for standardizing the Gurmukhī script as used in the sacred scripture of the Sikhs.

Guru Amar Das became the third Sikh guru in 1552 at the age of 73. During his guruship, Goindval became an important centre for Sikhism. Guru Amar Das preached the principle of equality for women by prohibiting purdah (the requirement that women cover their bodies) and sati (widows sacrificing themselves at the funeral of their husband). Amar Das also encouraged the practice of laṅgar and made all those who visited him attend laṅgar before they could speak to him.[11] In 1567, Emperor Akbar sat with the ordinary and poor people of Punjab to have laṅgar. Amar Das also trained 146 apostles of which 52 were women, to manage the rapid expansion of the religion.[12] Before he died in 1574 at the age of 95, he appointed his son-in-law Jēṭhā, a Khatri of the Sodhi clan, as the fourth Sikh guru.

Jēṭhā became Guru Ram Das and vigorously undertook his duties as the new guru. He was responsible for the establishment of the city of Ramdaspur later to be named Amritsar.

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. [6]

Amar Das's successor and son-in-law Ram Das founded the city of Amritsar, which is home of the Harimandir Sahib and regarded widely as the holiest city for all Sikhs. When Ram Das's youngest son Arjun Dev succeeded him, the line of male gurus from the Sodhi Khatri family was established: all succeeding gurus were direct descendants of this line. Arjun Dev was responsible for compiling the Sikh scriptures. Arjun Dev was captured by Mughal authorities who were suspicious and hostile to the religious order he was developing.[13] 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.

A mark of distinction is placed on the forehead of Guru Arjun Dev, pronouncing him the fifth guru; Guru Ram Das is seated on the right

The Sikh gurus established a mechanism which allowed the Sikh religion to react as a community to changing circumstances. The sixth guru, Guru Har Gobind, was responsible for the creation of the Akal Takht (throne of the timeless one) which serves as the supreme decision-making centre of Sikhdom and sits opposite the Harimandir Sahib. The Sarbat Ḵẖālsā (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 gurmatā (literally, guru's intention) is an order passed by the Sarbat Ḵẖālsā in the presence of the Gurū Granth Sāhib. A gurmatā may only be passed on a subject that affects the fundamental principles of Sikh religion; it is binding upon all Sikhs. The term hukamnāmā (literally, edict or royal order) is often used interchangeably with the term gurmatā. However, a hukamnāmā formally refers to a hymn from the Gurū Granth Sāhib which is given as an order to Sikhs.

In 1581, Guru Arjun Dev—youngest son of the fourth guru—became the fifth guru of the Sikhs. In addition to being responsible for building the Harimandir Sahib (often called the Golden Temple), he prepared the Sikh sacred text known as the Ādi Granth (literally the first book) and included the writings of the first five gurus. Thus the first Sikh scripture was compiled and edited by the fifth guru, Arjun Dev, in 1604. In 1606, for refusing to make changes to the Granth and for supporting an unsuccessful contender to the throne, he was tortured and killed by the Mughal ruler, Jahangir.[14]

Political advancement

Guru Har Gobind became the sixth guru of the Sikhs. He carried two swords—one for spiritual and the other for temporal reasons (known as mīrī and pīrī in Sikhism).[15] Sikhs grew as an organized community and developed a trained fighting force to defend themselves. In 1644, Guru Har Rai became guru followed by Guru Har Krishan, the boy guru, in 1661. No hymns composed by these three gurus are included in the Sikh holy book.[16]

Guru Teg Bahadur became guru in 1665 and led the Sikhs until 1675. Teg Bahadur was executed by Aurangzeb for helping to protect Hindus, after a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits came to him for help when the emperor condemned them to death for failing to convert to Islam.[17] He was succeeded by his son, Gobind Rai who was just nine years old at the time of his father's death. Gobind Rai further militarized his followers, and was baptized by the Pañj Piārē when he formed the Khalsa in 1699. From here on in he was known as Guru Gobind Singh.[18]

From the time of Nanak, when it was a loose collection of followers who focused entirely on the attainment of salvation and God, the Sikh community had significantly transformed. Even though the core Sikh religious philosophy was never affected, the followers now began to develop a political identity. Conflict with Mughal authorities escalated during the lifetime of Teg Bahadur and Gobind Singh. The latter founded the Khalsa in 1699. The Khalsa is a disciplined community that combines its religious purpose and goals with political and military duties.[1] After Aurangzeb killed four of his sons, Gobind Singh sent Aurangzeb the Zafarnāmā (Notification/Epistle of Victory).

Shortly before his death, Gobind Singh ordered that the Gurū Granth Sāhib (the Sikh Holy Scripture), would be the ultimate spiritual authority for the Sikhs and temporal authority would be vested in the Khalsa Panth (The Sikh Nation/Community).[19]

The Sikh community's embrace of military and political organization made it a considerable regional force in medieval India and it continued to evolve after the demise of the gurus. Banda Bahadur, a former ascetic, was charged by Gobind Singh with the duty of punishing those who had persecuted the Sikhs. After the guru's death, Banda Bahadur became the leader of the Sikh army and was responsible for several attacks on the Mughal Empire. He was executed by the emperor Jahandar Shah after refusing the offer of a pardon if he converted to Islam.[20]

After the death of Banda Bahadur, a loose confederation of Sikh warrior bands known as misls formed. With the decline of the Mughal Empire, a Sikh empire arose in the Punjab under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, with its capital in Lahore and limits reaching the Khyber Pass and the borders of China. The order, traditions and discipline developed over centuries culminated at the time of Ranjit Singh to give rise to the common religious and social identity that the term "Sikhism" describes.[21]

After the death of Ranjit Singh, the Sikh kingdom fell into disorder and eventually collapsed with the Anglo-Sikh Wars, which brought the Punjab under British rule. Sikhs supported and participated in the Indian National Congress, but also formed the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and the Shiromani Akali Dal to preserve Sikhs religious and political organization. With the partition of India in 1947, thousands of Sikhs were killed in violence and millions were forced to leave their ancestral homes in West Punjab.[22] Even though Sikhs enjoyed considerable prosperity in the 1970s, making Punjab the most prosperous state in the nation, a fringe group led by cleric Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale began demanding an independent state named Khalistan, led to clashes between militant groups and government forces, as well as communal violence.[23]

Guru Gobind Singh was the final guru in human form. Before his death, Guru Gobind Singh decreed that the Gurū Granth Sāhib would be the final and perpetual guru of the Sikhs.[19]

Scripture

There are two primary sources of scripture for the Sikhs: the Gurū Granth Sāhib and the Dasam Granth. The Gurū Granth Sāhib may be referred to as the Ādi Granth—literally, The First Volume—and the two terms are often used synonymously. Here, however, the Ādi Granth refers to the version of the scripture created by Arjun Dev in 1604. The Gurū Granth Sāhib refers to the final version of the scripture created by Gobind Singh.

Adi Granth

It is believed that the Ādi Granth was compiled primarily by Bhai Gurdas under the supervision of Guru Arjun Dev between the years 1603 and 1604.[24] It is written in the Gurmukhī script, which is a descendant of the Laṇḍā script used in the Punjab at that time.[25] The Gurmukhī script was standardized by Arjun Dev for use in the Sikh scriptures and is thought to have been influenced by the Śāradā and Devanāgarī scripts. An authoritative scripture was created to protect the integrity of hymns and teachings of the Sikh gurus and selected bhagats. At the time, Arjun Dev tried to prevent undue influence from the followers of Prithi Chand, the guru's older brother and rival.[26]

The original version of the Ādi Granth is known as the kartārpur bīṛ and is currently held by the Sodhi family of Kartarpur.

Guru Granth Sahib

Gurū Granth Sāhib folio with Mūl Mantra

The final version of the Gurū Granth Sāhib was compiled by Guru Gobind Singh. It consists of the original Ādi Granth with the addition of Guru Teg Bahadur's hymns. It was decreed by Gobind Singh that the Granth was to be considered the eternal, living guru of all Sikhs:

Punjabi: ਸੱਬ ਸਿੱਖਣ ਕੋ ਹੁਕਮ ਹੈ ਗੁਰੂ ਮਾਨਯੋ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ।
Transliteration: Sabb sikkhaṇ kō hukam hai gurū mānyō granth.
English: All Sikhs are commanded to take the Granth as Guru.

It contains compositions by the first five gurus, Guru Teg Bahadur and just one śalōk (couplet) from Guru Gobind Singh.[27] It also contains the traditions and teachings of sants (saints) such as Kabir, Namdev, Ravidas and Sheikh Farid along with several others.[21]

The bulk of the scripture is classified into rāgs, with each rāg subdivided according to length and author. There are 31 main rāgs within the Gurū Granth Sāhib. In addition to the rāgs, there are clear references to the folk music of Punjab. The main language used in the scripture is known as Sant Bhāṣā, a language related to both Punjabi and Hindi and used extensively across medieval northern India by proponents of popular devotional religion.[1] The text further comprises over five thousand śabads, or hymns, which are poetically constructed and set to classical form of music rendition, can be set to predetermined musical tāl, or rhythmic beats.

The Granth begins with the Mūl Mantra, an iconic verse created by Nanak:

Punjabi: ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
ISO 15919 transliteration: Ika ōaṅkāra sati nāmu karatā purakhu nirabha'u niravairu akāla mūrati ajūnī saibhaṅ gura prasādi.
Simplified transliteration: Ik ōaṅkār sat nām kartā purkh nirbha'u nirvair akāl mūrat ajūnī saibhaṅ gur prasād.
English: There is One God, He is the supreme truth, He, the Creator, is without fear and without hate. He, the omnipresent, pervades the universe. He is not born, nor does he die again to be reborn. By His grace shalt thou worship Him.

All text within the Granth is known as gurbānī. Gurbānī, according to Nanak, was revealed by God directly, and the authors wrote it down for the followers. The status accorded to the scripture is defined by the evolving interpretation of the concept of gurū. 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. Gobind Singh declared an end of the line of human gurus, and now the Gurū Granth Sāhib serves as the eternal guru for the Sikhs, with its interpretation vested with the Sikh community.[1]

Dasam Granth

A frontispiece to the Dasam Granth

The Dasam Granth (formally dasvēṁ pātśāh kī granth or The Book of the Tenth Master) is an eighteenth-century collection of miscellaneous works generally attributed to Guru Gobind Singh. The teachings of Gobind Singh were not included in Gurū Granth Sāhib, the holy book of the Sikhs, and instead were collected in the Dasam Granth. Unlike the Gurū Granth Sāhib, the Dasam Granth was never declared to hold guruship. The authenticity of some portions of the Granth has been questioned and the appropriateness of the Granth's content still causes much debate.

The entire Granth is written in the Gurmukhī script, although most of the language is actually Braj and not Punjabi. Sikh tradition states that Mani Singh collected the writings of Gobind Singh after his death to create the Granth.[28]

Janamsakhis

The Janamsākhīs (literally birth stories), are writings which profess to be biographies of Guru Nanak Dev. 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—Janamsākhīs and they are not held in the same regard as other sources of scriptural knowledge.

Observances and ceremonies

A Sikh granthi reading the Guru Granth Sahib scripture

Observant Sikhs adhere to long-standing practices and traditions to strengthen and express their faith. The daily recitation from memory of specific passages from the Gurū Granth Sāhib, especially the Japu (or Japjī, literally chant) hymns is recommended immediately after rising and bathing. Family customs include both reading passages from the scripture and attending the gurdwara (also gurduārā, meaning the doorway to God). There are many gurdwaras prominently constructed and maintained across India, as well as in almost every nation where Sikhs reside. Gurdwaras are open to all, regardless of religion, background, caste or race.

Worship in a gurdwara consists chiefly of singing of passages from the scripture. Sikhs will commonly enter the temple, touch the ground before the holy scripture with their foreheads, and make an offering. The recitation of the eighteenth century ardās is also customary for attending Sikhs. The ardās recalls past sufferings and glories of the community, invoking divine grace for all humanity.[29]

The most sacred shrine is the Harimandir Sahib in Amritsar, famously known as the “Golden Temple.” Groups of Sikhs regularly visit and congregate at the Harimandir Sahib. On specific occasions, groups of Sikhs are permitted to undertake a pilgrimage to Sikh shrines in the province of Punjab in Pakistan, especially at Nankana Sahib and the samādhī (place of cremation) of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Lahore.

Festivals in Sikhism mostly center on the lives of the gurus and Sikh martyrs. The SGPC, the Sikh organization in charge of upkeep of the gurdwaras, organizes celebrations based on the new Nanakshahi calendar. This calendar is highly controversial among Sikhs and is not universally accepted. Several festivals (Hola Mohalla, Diwali and Guru Nanak's birthday) continue to be celebrated using the Hindu calendar. Sikh festivals include the following:

  • Gurpurabs are celebrations or commemorations based on the lives of the Sikh gurus. They tend to be either birthdays or celebrations of Sikh martyrdom.
  • Vaisakhi normally occurs on April 13 and marks the beginning of the new spring year and the end of the harvest. Sikhs celebrate it because on Vaisakhi in 1699, the tenth guru, Gobind Singh, established the Khalsa baptismal tradition.
  • Diwali (also known as bandī chōḍ divas) celebrates Guru Hargobind's release from the Gwalior Jail on October 26, 1619.
  • Hola Mohalla occurs the day after Holi and is when the Khalsa Panth gather at Anandpur and display their fighting skills.

Ceremonies and customs

Nanak taught that rituals, religious ceremonies or empty worship is of little use and Sikhs are discouraged from fasting or going on pilgrimages.[30] However, during the period of the later gurus, and due to increased institutionalization of the religion, some ceremonies and rites did arise. Sikhism is not a proselytizing religion and most Sikhs do not make active attempts to gain converts. However, converts to Sikhism are welcomed, although there is no formal conversion ceremony.

Upon a child's birth, the Gurū Granth Sāhib is opened at a random point and the child is named using the first letter on the top left-hand corner of the left page. All boys are given the middle name or surname Singh, and all girls are given the middle name or surname Kaur.[31] Sikhs are joined in wedlock through the anand kāraj ceremony. Sikhs marry when they are sufficient age (child marriage is taboo), and without regard for the future spouse's caste or descent. The marriage ceremony is performed in the company of the Gurū Granth Sāhib; around which the couple circles four times. After the ceremony is complete, the husband and wife are considered "a single soul in two bodies."[32]

According to Sikh religious rites, neither husband nor wife are permitted to divorce. A Sikh couple that wishes to divorce may be able to do so in a civil court—but this is not condoned. Upon death, the body of a Sikh is usually cremated. If this is not possible, any means of disposing the body may be employed. The kīrtan sōhilā and ardās prayers are performed during the funeral ceremony (known as antim sanskār).[33]

Baptism and the Khalsa

A kaṛā, kaṅghā and kirpān

Khalsa (meaning "pure") is the name given by Gobind Singh to all Sikhs who have been baptized or initiated by taking ammrit in a ceremony called ammrit sañcār. The first time that this ceremony took place was on Vaisakhi in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib in India. It was on that occasion that Gobind Singh baptized the Pañj Piārē who in turn baptized Gobind Singh himself.

Baptized Sikhs are bound to wear the “Five Ks” (in Punjabi known as pañj kakkē or pañj kakār), or articles of faith, at all times. The tenth guru, Gobind Singh, ordered these Five Ks to be worn so that a Sikh could actively use them to make a difference to their own and to others' spirituality. The five items are: Kēs (uncut hair), Kaṅghā (small comb), Kaṛā (circular heavy metal bracelet), Kirpān (ceremonial short sword), and kacchā (special undergarment). The Five Ks have both practical and symbolic purposes.[34]

Sikhism Today

Worldwide, Sikhs number more than 23 million, but more than 90 percent of Sikhs still live in the Indian state of Punjab, where they form close to 65 percent of the population. Large communities of Sikhs live in the neighboring states and indeed large communities of Sikhs can be found across India. However, Sikhs comprise only about two percent of India's entire population. Migration beginning from the nineteenth century led to the creation of significant diasporic communities of Sikhs outside India in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, East Africa, Southeast Asia and more recently, the United States, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Smaller populations of Sikhs are found in Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Fiji and other countries.

As with most world religions, there are groups of Sikhs (such as the Namdharis, Ravidasis and Udasis) who do not adhere to the mainstream principles followed by most Sikhs. Some of these groups may not consider themselves a part of Sikhism, although similarities in beliefs and principles firmly render them a part of the Sikh religious domain. Groups such as the Nirankaris have a history of bad relations with mainstream Sikhism, and are considered pariahs by some Sikhs. Others, such as the Nihangs, tend to have little difference in belief and practice, and are considered Sikhs proper by mainstream Sikhism.

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Geoffrey Parrinder, World Religions: From Ancient History to the Present (London: Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, 1971, ISBN 0871961296), 259.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Parrinder, 252.
  3. ↑ Gurū Granth Sāhib, 1035: “For endless eons, there was only utter darkness. There was no earth or sky; there was only the infinite Command of His Hukam.” Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  4. ↑ Gurū Granth Sāhib, 1036: “When He so willed, He created the world. Without any supporting power, He sustained the universe. He created Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; He fostered enticement and attachment to Maya.” Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  5. ↑ Parrinder, 253.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Parrinder, 254.
  7. ↑ Khushwant Singh, The Illustrated History of the Sikhs (New York: Oxford University Press, 2006, ISBN 0195677471), 12-13. Also, as according to the Purātan Janamsākhī (the birth stories of Nanak).
  8. ↑ Christopher Shackle and Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair, Teachings of the Sikh Gurus: Selections from the Sikh Scriptures (London: Routledge, 2005, ISBN 0415266041), xiii-xiv.
  9. ↑ Singh, 14.
  10. ↑ Shackle and Mandair, xv.
  11. ↑ Kartar Singh Duggal, Philosophy and Faith of Sikhism (Himalayan Institute Press, 1988, ISBN 0893891096), 15.
  12. ↑ Sandeep Singh Brar, The Sikhism Homepage: Guru Amar Das. Retrieved Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  13. ↑ Parrinder, 255.
  14. ↑ Shackle, xv-xvi.
  15. ↑ Cynthia Mahmood, A Sea of Orange (Philadelphia, PA: Xlibris, 2002, ISBN 140102856X), 16.
  16. ↑ Shackle, xvi.
  17. ↑ Swami Rama, Celestial Song/Gobind Geet: The Dramatic Dialogue Between Guru Gobind Singh and Banda Singh Bahadur (Himalayan Institute Press, 1986, ISBN 0893891037), 7-8.
  18. ↑ Singh, 37-38.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Gurinder Singh Mann, The Making of Sikh Scripture (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0195130243), 21.
  20. ↑ Singh, 47-53.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Parrinder, 256.
  22. ↑ Gyanendra Pandey, Remembering Partition: Violence, Nationalism and History in India (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001, ISBN 0521002508), 33.
  23. ↑ Donald L. Horowitz, The Deadly Ethnic Riot (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2003, ISBN 0520236424), 482-485.
  24. ↑ Ernest Trumpp, The Ādi Granth or the Holy Scriptures of the Sikhs (Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, 2004, ISBN 8121502446) (original 1877), 1xxxi.
  25. ↑ George Abraham Grierson, The Linguistic Survey of India (Motilal Banarsidass, 1967, ISBN 8185395276) (original 1927), 624.
  26. ↑ Gurinder Singh Mann, The Making of Sikh Scripture (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0195130243), 19.
  27. ↑ Sandeep Singh Brar, The Sikhism Homepage: Sri Guru Granth Sahib - Authors & Contributors Retrieved September 26, 2020..
  28. ↑ W. H. McLeod, Studying the Sikhs: Issues for North America (Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1993, ISBN 0791414256), 60-61.
  29. ↑ Parrinder, 260.
  30. ↑ Gurū Granth Sāhib, 75: “Pilgrimages, fasts, purification and self-discipline are of no use, nor are rituals, religious ceremonies or empty worship.” Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  31. ↑ Clinton Herbert Loehlin, The Sikhs and Their Scriptures, 2nd ed. (Lucknow Publishing House, 1964) (original 1958), 42.
  32. ↑ Anand Sanskar : (Sikh Matrimonial Ceremony and Conventions) Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  33. ↑ Funeral Ceremonies (Antam Sanskar) Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  34. ↑ David Simmonds, Believers All: A Book of Six World Religions (Nelson Thornes, 1992, ISBN 0174370571), 120-121.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Duggal, Kartar Singh. Philosophy and Faith of Sikhism. Himalayan Institute Press, 1988. ISBN 0893891096
  • Grierson, George Abraham. The Linguistic Survey of India. Motilal Banarsidass, 1967 (original 1927). ISBN 8185395276
  • Horowitz, Donald L. The Deadly Ethnic Riot. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2003. ISBN 0520236424
  • Loehlin, Clinton Herbert. The Sikhs and Their Scriptures, 2nd ed. Lucknow Publishing House, 1964 (original 1958).
  • Mahmood, Cynthia. A Sea of Orange. Philadelphia, PA: Xlibris, 2002. ISBN 140102856X
  • Mann, Gurinder Singh. The Making of Sikh Scripture. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0195130243
  • McLeod, W. H. Studying the Sikhs: Issues for North America. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1993. ISBN 0791414256
  • Pandey, Gyanendra. Remembering Partition: Violence, Nationalism and History in India. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001. ISBN 0521002508
  • Parrinder, Geoffrey. World Religions: From Ancient History to the Present. London: Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, 1971. ISBN 0871961296
  • Rama, Swami. Celestial Song/Gobind Geet: The Dramatic Dialogue Between Guru Gobind Singh and Banda Singh Bahadur. Himalayan Institute Press, 1986. ISBN 0893891037
  • Shackle, Christopher and Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair. Teachings of the Sikh Gurus: Selections from the Sikh Scriptures. London: Routledge, 2005. ISBN 0415266041
  • Simmonds, David. Believers All: A Book of Six World Religions. Nelson Thornes, 1992. ISBN 0174370571
  • Singh, Khushwant. The Illustrated History of the Sikhs. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN 0195677471
  • Trumpp, Ernest. The Ādi Granth or the Holy Scriptures of the Sikhs. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, 2004 (original 1877). ISBN 8121502446

External links

All links retrieved January 29, 2023.

Khanda.png  Topics in Sikhism   Khanda.png
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 Teg Bahadur | Guru Gobind Singh | Sikh Bhagats
Philosophy: Beliefs and principles | Underlying values | Prohibitions | Technique and methods | Other observations
Practices: Ardās | Amrit | Chaṛdī Kalā | Dasvand | Five Ks | Kirat Karō | Kirtan | Langar | Nām Japō | Simran | Three Pillars | Vaṇḍ Chakkō
Scripture: Guru Granth Sahib | Dasam Granth | Sarab Loh Granth | Bani | Chaupai | Jaap Sahib | Japji Sahib | Mool Mantar | Rehras | Sukhmani | Tav-Prasad Savaiye
More: Ek Onkar | Gurdwara | History | Khalsa | Khanda | Literature | Music | Names | Places | Politics | Satguru | Sikhs | Waheguru

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