INTRODUCTION
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion. The word Sikh
means ‘disciple’ and they are the disciples of God who follow the
writings and teachings of the 10 Sikh Gurus. A Sikh is a:
’Any human being who faithfully believes in:
(i)
One Immortal Being,
(ii)
Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh,
(iii) The Guru Granth Sahib,
(iv) The utterances and teachings
of the ten Gurus and
(v)
the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru,
and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion
is
a
Sikh.’
(vi)
Reht Maryada – Sikh Code of Conduct.
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The religion was founded in the Punjab area of India
and the holiest site is the Golden Temple (Harmiandir Sahib) in Amritsar
– though it is not a place of pilgrimage. Today there are approximately
6 million followers in the Punjab within a total 20 million followers
around the world (in the UK there are approximately 350,000 – 500,000).
Some Sikhs have advocated the creation of a Sikh state in the Punjab
called ‘Khalsastan’. Sikhism is open to all and preaches a message of
devotion and remembrance of God at all times, truthful living, equality
and social justice.
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Sikhism is the youngest of the world religions and
was founded in the Punjab area of India in the fifteenth century by Guru
Nanak. Guru Nanak was born in 1469. He preached a message of love and
understanding. His was a simple message of ‘Ek Ong Kar’ – we are all
one, created by the one creator of all creation. The time in which the
Gurus lived was a turbulent period with difficulties faced with both the
Hindus and the Muslims, but the message was of one God who encompassed
all, as outlined by Guru Arjan:
‘I observe neither hindu fasting
nor the ritual of the Muslim
Ramadan
month; Him I serve who at the last shall save.The Lord of Universe of the Hindus, Gosain and Allah to me
are
one; From Hindus and Muslims I have broken free. I perform
neither Kaaba pilgrimage nor at bathing spots worship; One
Sole Lord I serve, and no other. I perform neither the
Hindu worship nor
the Muslim prayer; To the Sole formless Lord
in my heart I bow. We neither are Hindus nor Muslims;
Our body and life belong to the One Supreme being who
alone is both Ram and Allah for us.’
Guru Nanak passed on his leadership to nine
successive Gurus. The last was Guru Gobind Singh who established the
Khalsa (see also Baptism) and died in 1708.
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The holy book of the Sikhs is called the Sri Guru
Granth Sahib and is written in Punjabi in a script called Gurumukha
(meaning from the mouth of the Guru).
The book was compiled by Guru Arjan and placed in the Golden Temple
in 1604. The Holy Book contains 1,430 pages and 3,384 hymns. Before Guru
Gobind Singh died he declared that Sikhs no longer needed a living guru
but that all the wisdom they needed could be found in the Holy book, the
Guru Granth Sahib. The Guru Granth Sahib is unique in that it is accorded
the status of being the spiritual head of the Sikh religion.
The first two sentences of the Granth are those
which are said by Sikhs every day on wakening:
‘There is but one God, whose name is True, Creator,
devoid of fear and enmity, immortal, unborn, self-existent, great and
bountiful. The True One is, was, and also shall be.’
In the Gurudwara the Granth is placed on a small
seat on a high platform under a canopy. A chawri is waved over it at the
time of the service as a sign of its spiritual importance. The Dasam
Granth is also an important book which incorporates the work of a number
of poets and the writings of Guru Gobind Singh.
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A Sikh believes
· There is only one God and he is the same God for all
religions.
· The soul goes through a cycle of birth and death
before reaching its human form. The goal of life is to
merge with God and
to maintain a balance between
spiritual and temporal obligations.
· The true path to God does not mean a renunciation of
the world but through living the life of a householder,
earning an honest
living and avoiding temptation and
sin.
· Sikhism condemns rituals such as fasting,
pilgrimages
· All people of all races and sex are equal in the
eyes of
God. There is total equality between man and woman
and women can
participate in any religious function
and lead the congregation in prayer.
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Scriptures forbid the eating of meat killed in the
Muslim tradition (Halal) and the consumption of tobacco, alcohol or other
intoxicants.
Sikhs live according to the Rahit Nama (code of
Discipline) which is believed to interpret the Gurbani and to be based
upon the teachings of Guru Gobind Singh.
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GOD
Guru Nanak taught a devotional
monotheism, referring to God as Sat Nam - ‘The True Name.’ Other names
used for God include Ram, Gobind, Hari, Waheguru (‘Wonderful Lord’).
He rejected Ahimsa, though he accepted the principle of reincarnation and
the law of Karma. He eliminated ceremonialism and ritual. Guru Nanak also
believed in the Hindu doctrine of Maya or illusion.
For the Guru salvation consisted in becoming one
with God. Salvation was not going to Paradise (Islam) after the last
judgement but absorption in Nirvana – becoming one with God, the True
Name.
There are five cardinal vices
which a Sikh looks to overcome in order to achieve salvation, they are:
Sikhs have identified 5 stages
on the journey to God:
1. Dharam Khand (realisation of spiritual duty)
2. Gian Khand (Divine Knowledge)
3. Saram Khand
(wisdom and effort)
4. Karam
Khand (Divine grace).
5.
Sach Khand (Truth).
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The main method of worship is meditation (Nam
Japna).
In the Gurdwara (Temple – which means ‘gate of the guru’) the main
object of worship is a copy of the sacred Granth and is raised up on a
small altar in order that it will be higher than everyone else who sits on
the floor in front of the Granth.
Congregational worship
(sadh sangat) involves
prayers (‘Banis’, most Sikhs will have a copy of the prayerbook –
‘Nitnam’), hymns (Gurbani), a sermon and a communal meal (langar).
There are no priests and the meetings may be led by any member of the
community. Langar is undertaken at the Gurdwara - community meal.
There are varies recitations required at different
times of the day:
Morning Recitation
1. Japji
- Guru Nanak
2. Jaap
- Guru Gobind Singh
3. Swayay - Guru Gobind
Singh
4. Baintee Choupai – Guru
Gobind
Singh
Evening Prayer
1.
Rehras Sahib
Bedtime Prayer
1.
Kirtan Sohila
The Mool Mantra
The Essence of Guru Nanak’s Message, the Mool
Mantra encapsulates the heart of Sikhism.
The Guru Granith Sahib is the supreme spiritual
authority for the Sikhs, though there are also written codes of ethics and
protocol, such as the Rehit Mariydas which Sikhs are expected to obey.
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Sikhs when they die are generally cremated and
mourners come to the Gurudwara and offer prayers. A Saptah (seven day
recitation) or Dusehra (ten day recitation) of the Granth is started at
the deceased’s house. On the last day the ‘Sadd Ramkali’ is read
which tells of the third Guru’s death and the transitory nature of life
and the acceptance of God’s will. The period of mourning normally lasts
for 10 days. No memorials are erected and it is forbidden to commemorate
anniversaries of the death. The ashes are scattered on a river or in the
sea.
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Sikhs do not have priests. They were abolished by
Guru Gobind Singh who felt they had become corrupt and full of ego. In
some Gurdwaras a person known as a Granthi is employed to read the
scriptures, conduct worship and perform such ceremonies as weddings but
they are not considered as a priest – any Sikh can undertake the same
tasks at any time. A Sikh can read the Guru Granth Sahib in a Gurdwara
(Sikh Temple) or at home.
There are three main branches of Sikhism:
· Udasis – An order of ascetics and holy men, they
are often active as missionaries.
· Sahajdharis – Who are clean shaven and do not
follow the Khalsa tradition.
· The Khalsa
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