Sikhism

Sikhs reject the assertion that it’s a reform movement of Hinduism and Islam.

Instead, Sikhs believe it came from the divine inspiration of Guru Nanak and the

nine gurus who succeeded him.

Origins and Development

Founded by Guru Nanak

Punjab, India

Late 15th century

Sikh: “Follower”

19 million Sikhs worldwide

Punjab; Northwestern India

2 million in the United States and parts of what used to be British colonies

The Punjab Region

Estimated Sikh Population

Origins and Developments Continued….

Young Religion

Monotheistic; Waheguru (great teacher)

Scholars have indicated they think Sikhism evolved as a Hindu reform movement, or as a mixture of Hinduism and Islam

Sikhs reject this notion; divine inspiration of Guru Nanak

Guru NanakBorn a Hindu in Punjab in 1469

Worked for a local Muslim politician

Impressed everyone with his wisdom and knowledge

Part of a group that would sit by a river and pray and discuss religion

Absent from this routine for three days; didn’t speak for a day upon his return

When he did, he said, “There is neither Hindu or Muslim so whose path should I follow? I shall follow God’s path. God is neither Hindu nor Muslim and the path I follow is God’s.”

Guru Nanak Continued…After his revelation (late 20s), left his wife and two sons to search for wisdom

After about 20 years, he acquired farmland and settled in central Punjab

Founded the town of Kartarpur and became the Guru Nanak

The Path of Guru Nanak

Traveled and taught in far outlying areas of the Punjab region

Set up communities of followers

Spoke out against inequities (Hindu caste system)

Stressed all people were equal

Mardan, Nanak’s childhood friend accompanied him

They would sing hymns to the local populace while getting the message out

Wore mixture of Hindu and Muslim garb; “on tour”

Appealed to both Hindu and Moslem audiences

His hymns were written down to become the core of the Sikh sacred text, the Adi Granth (original book)

The Travels of Guru Nanak

The Path of Guru Nanak Continued…

Nanak established the Sikh community at Kartarpur upon his return

He settled with his wife and sons

Most people thought he would appoint one of his sons as the successor

But, because of insistence on equality, he chose Lehna, a man who had become an ardent disciple

Nanak blessed Lehna and gave him a new name, Angad, and anointed him with the saffron mark on his forehead

When Nanak gathered his followers together for prayers, he invited Angad to occupy the seat of the guru

The Path of Guru Nanak Continued…

The myth of Guru Nanak’s death says he asked for flowers to be placed on either side of him; Hindus on the right and Muslims on the left

He then asked his disciples to pray, covered himself with a sheet and died the next morning September 22, 1539

Central BeliefsTo understand how the Sikhs developed, it helps to know the 10 gurus

Guru=Great Teacher

Pieces of Sikh history can be related to a particular guru, each having a religious or political influence on the religion

The period from the first guru to the last was, roughly speaking, from mid-1500s to the late 1600s

The GurusGuru Nanak (1469-1539)

founded the Sikh religion

Guru Angad (1504-1552)

Originally a Hindu. Devised a script that was used for writing Sikh scriptures

Guru Amar Das (1479-1574)

Collected the hymns of Nanak and added his own

Developed langar: The communal meal, devised a social kitchen to remove caste distinctions and establish social harmony

Langar

Gurus Continued…

Guru Ram Das (1534-1581) Son in law of Guru Amar DasFounded Amristar, a Sikh holy city, in which he initiated pilgrimagesBegan construction of the Golden templeContributed to Guru Granth Sahib; wrote the Sikh wedding hymn

Guru Arjan (1563-1606)Youngest son of Guru Ram DasCompiled the Adi Granth (the most important part of the Guru

Granth Sahib)Completed the building of the Golden TempleMade the Sikhs popular; Muslims began to see them as a growing menace Emperor of Muslim Mughals had him tortured and killed

The Golden Temple

Gurus Continued… Guru Hargobind (1595-1644)

Son of Guru Arjan

Instilled a sense of Sikh militancy

Tried to organized Sikhs and Hindus against the Mughals

Perfected the dress code introduced by his father; tradition of wearing two swords (one signifying political authority and the other religious authority)

Guru Har Rai (1630-1661)

Reprisal of the Mughal conflict held his son hostage

Opened hospitals; medicine and treatment was free

Guru Har Krishan (1656-1664)

“Boy Guru”

Succeeded his father (Guru Har Rai) at age 5

Contracted smallpox and died

Gurus Continued…

Guru Tegh Bahadur

Second son of Guru Hargobind

“Brave sword” given to him because of his resistance to an oppressive emperor

Gained a reputation for feeding the hungry

Wrote many hymns

Predicted the downfall of the Mughals

Beheaded after refusing to accept Islam

Gurus Guru Gobind Singh Most famous after Nanak Organized Sikhs to oppose tyranny of Mughals Established military defense group Khalsa

Chosen raceSoldier-saintsGive up lives, defend the weak, uphold faith

Gave all Sikhs “singh” (lion for men) “kaur” (princess for women); rid caste system

Declared the authority of the Guru Granth Sahib for Sikh governing; treated like human being

The Warrior AttitudeThe Sikhs developed a warrior attitude because of the violence against them by the Mughals.

This attitude was reinforced when the Khlasa was founded

The five tenets, known as the “Ks” were instituted

Kesh: Uncut hair

Kanhga: Comb

Kirpan: Sword

Kara: Steel bracelet

Kachch: Short Pants for use in battle

The Five Ks

The Five Ks

Central BeliefsBased on the disciple of purification and overcoming the five vices: greed, anger, false pride, lust and attachments to material goods

At end of person’s life, the good and bad conduct are and the results determine the family, race and character of the person when reborn

No direct belief of heaven and hell, but those who were selfish and cruel in the current life will suffer in their next existence and vice versa for compassion and honesty

Soul develops as it passes through incarnations until it becomes united with the infinite one.

Opposed to austere asceticism; saintliness is achieved as active members of society

Prohibits idolatry, caste system, wine and tobacco

Importance placed on a good, moral life that includes loyalty, gratitude, philanthropy, justice, truth and honesty

Central Beliefs

Holy Writings and Worship

The Adi Granth or Guru Granth Sahib is the only canonical work

6,000 hymns composed by the first five gurus: Nanak, Angad, Amar Das, Ram Das and Arjan

Occupies the focal point in all Sikh Temples

The Gurdwara (doorway to the Guru) contains a cot under a canopy on which a copy of the

Adi Granth is placed on cushions and covered by elaborate decorations

Holy Writings and WorshipAll who enter the gurdwara must cover their heads, take off their shoes and wash their feet

Services may take place at any time

Worshipers will bow in front of the Adi Granth, prayers will be said, chanting of hymns and a communal meal (langar)

In their homes, Sikhs will set aside a room to hold a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib (also called a gurdwara)

Many Sikhs will recite versus during their daily activities

The Guru Granth Sahib

The Guru Granth Sahib

Rituals and CustomsThe Naming Ceremony

After the birth, the parents take the child to the gurdwara

Hymns are sung that express gratitude for the birth of the baby

The Adi Granth is opened at random and the child is given his/her name beginning with the letter of the first letter of the first word on the left page Parents take some time to think about it, then they choose what they want the name to be

More hymns are sung

Rituals and CustomsSikh Wedding Ceremonies

Can be an arrangement between families; can reject the person

Seen as the joining of two families

Bride wears red and gold, head is covered with a red scarf, hands and feet are decorated with henna, wears lots of gold jewelry.

Groom wears a colored turban and scarf, and carries a long sword

Father of bride will pass one end of the groom’s scarf to the bride to signify passing of responsibility for care of his daughter

Wedding hymn is sung and the couple walk around the Guru Granth Sahib four times, bowing as they finish each circle

Families follow around the holy book

Rituals and Customs

Rituals and CustomsDeath

Could be a new beginning because of their belief in reincarnation

Not necessary to mourn excessively

Hymns may be read from the Guru Granth Sahib

Prayers said for peace of the soul

Period of mourning lasts ten days

Relatives visit and pay their condolences

Body is washed an dressed

Cremated and ashes scattered in river or sea

Festivals and CeremoniesMany ceremonies are held to celebrate the birth and death of the ten gurus

Two to commemorate the deaths of martyrs

Festival for the anniversary of the Baisakhi, the date the Khlasa was founded

All festivals are marked by a continuous forty eight hour reading of the Guru Granth Sahib

Festivals and Ceremonies

Diversification into Modern SocietyHistory over the past 500 years has been tumultuous and

bloody

Violent fighting between the Sikhs and Hindus because of British propagations

The subcontinent was partitioned into India and Pakistan in 1947

The Sikh population was divided equally on both sides of the boundary line

In 1984, Indian troops attacked the Golden Temple

It was believed that the angry reaction of Sikhs led to the assassination of the Indian Prime Minister by Sikh members of her bodyguard

This reaction led to riots and the massacre of many Sikhs

Diversification into Modern Society