SIKHISM

A. THE ORIGIN OF SIKHISM

Sikhism is the religion of an Indian group founded in Punjab in
the late 15th century A.D by Guru Nanak. Its members are known as Sikhs. The word Sikh is
derived from the Pali Sikh or Sanskrit sisya, meaning ‘disciple’. The Punjabi word sikhan
means ‘to learn’. A Sikh might, therefore, be described as a learner, or disciple. It is said that
the first Sikhs were personal disciples of their ten Gurus (religious teachers), beginning with
Guru Nanak and ending with Guru Govind Singh. The Gurudwara Act of 1925 defined a Sikh
as one who believers in the ten Gurus and the authority of the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh
Scriptures).

B THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE TEN GURUS FOR THE SPREAD OF SIKHISM

1) Guru Nanak - Guru Nanak (1469-1539 A.D) founded the Sikh faith by about 1500A.D by
preaching a synthesis of Hinduism and Islam.He died at the age of 70 in 1539 A.D.
His teachings
a)Guru Nanak wanted to bring and maintain unity and peace in the community of
Muslims and Hindus. Thus, he always pronounced that there was no Hindu and
Muslim, all are one and should work for unity, welfare, and development of the society.
b)He taught his disciples to worship one God who is Absolute and sovereign, whose
name is true creator, immortal, self-existent, great, and bountiful.
c)He taught the importance of following the teachings and footsteps of the ten Gurus.
2)Guru Angad (1505-1552A.D) popularized the Guru Mukhi Script, which has remained the
sacred script of Sikhism.
3)Guru AmarDas (1479-1574 A.D) He inveighed particularly again the Hindu custom of sati,
widow burning.
4)Ram Das (1534-1581A.D), the fourth Guru, founded the religious capital of Sikhism at
Amristar.
5) Guru Arjun(1563-1606A.D) completed the golden temple at Amristar. Secondly, his
crowning work was the compilation of the Hari mandir in 1604.Arjun is remembered as the
first Sikh martyr.
6)Guru Hari Gobind (1595-1644 A.D). Sikhism began to acquire a distinctly militant aspect
for the first time.
7)Guru Hari Rhai(1595-1644 A.D). was relatively uneventful
8)Guru Harikrishan (1656-1664) also died without any event.
9)Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-1675) fell victim to Muslim rulers
10)Guru Gobind (1666-1708) to complete the development of Sikhism by founding the
Khalism brotherhood.

THE FAITH AND DOCTRINES OF SIKHISM

1) The sacred scriptures of Sikhism- Adi Granth, (Punjabi: “First Book”) also called Granth or
Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of Sikhism, a religion of India. It is a collection of nearly
6,000 hymns of the Sikh Gurus (religious leaders) and various early and medieval saints of
different religions and castes.The Adi Granth is the central object of worship in
all gurdwaras.Along with their main Scripture there is also another work know as Dasam
Granth, it means the work of the 10 th Guru.
2)The conception of the Supreme Being on the conception of God in Sikhism-
Sikhism teaches strict monotheism. There is only one God. It also believes that
God is the one reality. God is the Omnipotent being, the sole cause of Creation,
Preservation, and Destruction
3) The concept of the world in Sikhism
The world, according to the Sikh religion, is the creation of God. The entire
world is the product of the divine will or divine order.
4)The concept of man in Sikhism
Man is given a very high postion in God's sight and even in human sight, they believed
human beings are the most privileged creature of God and human beings are not to be
worshipped.
5)The concept of the word and the Guru in Sikhism
According to Sikhism, God’s name is also the word and the Guru. God, Himself
is the supreme Guru. Ultimately, the ten Gurus are revealed because God (Guru) spoke
through them.
6)The concept of salvation in Sikhism.
Sikhism taught one way of getting Salvation that is knowing God or being absorbed into
God.
7)The concept of Evil and suffering life after Death and Ultimate destiny in Sikhism
According to Sikhism Attachment to the world is an illusion and it is this, which is the cause
of all suffering. Suffering is all due to ignorance and the wrong looking at the world.Cleaning,
the ultimate destiny of men, according to Sikhism is to be free from the clean of birth and
death and be reunited with God and that too by self-reliance.
8)The concept of Karma, Transmigration (samsara), Moksha, Free-Will, and Grace
The Sikhs, like Hindus, believe in the law of karma and also the concept of
transmigration of the soul According to them soul will never perishes.There is no free will for
an individual in Sikhism. Salvation (moksha) is attained by God’s grace and the destruction
of egoism.

SIKH BELIEFS
1)God
• There is only one God
• God is without form or gender
• Everyone has direct access to God
• Everyone is equal before God
• A good life is lived as part of a community, by living honestly and caring for others
• Empty religious rituals and superstitions have no value
2)Living in God and community
Sikhs focus their lives around their relationship with God and being a part of the Sikh
community.
3)God and the cycle of life
The quality of each particular life depends on the law of Karma. Karma sets the quality of a
life according to how well or badly a person behaved in their previous life. The only way out
of this cycle, which all faiths regard as painful, is to achieve total knowledge of and union
with God.
4)The God of grace
Sikh spirituality is centered around this need to understand and experience God, and
eventually become one with God. To do this a person must switch the focus of their attention
from themselves to God. They get this state, which is called Mukti (liberation), through the
grace of God.
5)Getting close to God
Sikhs believe that God is inside every person, no matter how wicked they appear, and so
everyone is capable of change.
6)Living a good life in this world
Sikhism doesn’t ask people to turn away from ordinary life to get closer to God. It demands
that they use ordinary life as a way to get closer to God.A Sikh serves God by serving (Seva)
other people every day. By devoting their lives to service they get rid of their ego and pride.

The three duties

1)Nam Japna:
Giving to charity and caring
for others Keeping God in mind at all times.
2)Kirt Karna
Earning an honest living.
3)Vand Chhakna:
Giving to charity and caring for others

The five vices

Sikhs try to avoid the five vices that make people self-centered and build barriers against
God in their lives.
• Lust
• Covetousness and greed
• Attachment to things of this world
• Anger
• Pride

RELIGIOUS PRACTICES OF SIKHISM

I. Sikh Practices
a) Worship in the Gurudwara
As Sikh gurudwara includes the house of worship proper and its associated langer,
or communal refectory. The Adi Granth must be present at the gurudwara, and all
attending must enter with heads covered and feet bare. Sikhs show their reverence by
bowing their foreheads to the floor before the sacred scripture.
b) The Rejection of Caste
The Adi Granth contains a forthright condemnation of caste, and consequently, there is
no toleration of caste in its presence (normally in a gurdwara). The Gurus denounced caste
as holding no importance whatsoever for access to liberation.

II. Rites
a) Name giving: - The first is a birth and naming ceremony, held in a gurdwara
when the mother can rise and bathe after giving birth
b) Marriage:
c)Funeral
d)Initiation-
III. Five Symbolic Wearing
1) Kesh- long and uncut hair and a turban to protect the hair on the head.
2) Kanga- small comb to be used twice daily to keep the hair in clean and
healthy condition.
3) The kachs or kachas - short trousers, which were much more practical in
battle than the traditional dhoti.
4) Kara- a steel slave bangle on the dominant arm to remind the Sikh to
always remember the Guru before undertaking any action.
5) Kirpan- a short, often dagger-sized sword to remind the Sikh that he is to
defend against
IV. Festivals (Baisakhi and Hola Mohalla)
Sikhism observes eight major festivals, as well as several others of lesser
importance. Four of the main festivals are gurpurabs, or events
commemorating important incidents in the lives of the Gurus.The remaining
four are the installation of the Guru Granth Sahib, the New Year festival of
Baisakhi, Diwali, and Hola Mahalla.

SECTS IN SIKHISM
Two sects, the Nirankaris, and the Nam-Dharis, or Kuka Sikhs, emerged in
northwestern Punjab during the latter part of Ranjit Singh’s reign.
The third sect, the Akhand Kirtani Jatha, emerged during the early 20th
century.
Other groups
the Kes-Dhari, is composed of Sikhs who wear the Kesh, uncut hair,
required as one of the Five Ks, and includes all those whom the popular view
regards as Sikhs
The Sahaj-Dharis is one of two groups of Sikhs that do not wear uncut hair