Sikhism - Lecture notes 3 PDF

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SIKHISM India is the birthplace of polytheistic and atheistic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, respectively. Between the 13th and 15th centuries AD. In India, some monotheistic (belief in one God) movements or trends arose, which were well received by the Indian people. During this...

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SIKHISM • India is the birthplace of polytheistic and atheistic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, respectively. • Between the 13th and 15th centuries AD. In India, some monotheistic (belief in one God) movements or trends arose, which were well received by the Indian people. • During this time period, several religious instructors or preachers emerged, such as Kabir, Nanak, and Ramananda, among whom only Nanak was successful in creating a new religious order or faith. • Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded by Guru Nanak Dev in Punjab in the 15th century. Nanak (1469-1539) – The First Guru and the Founder of Sikhism • Talwandi is where he was born (now Nanakana of Punjab in Pakistan). • At the age of five, he grew interested in divine matters. • He spent the majority of his time travelling, particularly in West Asia and Russia. • According to legend, he had a vision at the age of 30 in which he preached his new monotheistic doctrine. • He taught a casteless, universal, ethical, anti-ritualistic, monotheistic, and highly spiritual religion that was casteless, universal, ethical, anti-ritualistic, monotheistic, and highly spiritual religion. Nanak highlighted the importance of purity of character and conduct as the first condition for reaching God, as well as the need for direction from a Guru. • He named Bhai Lehna as his successor Guru and renamed him Angad; he died on September 22, 1539, at the age of 70, in Kartarpur.

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• After Nanak's death, his followers began to refer to themselves as "Sikhs," and a new religious movement known as "Sikhism" arose. • Nanak was followed by 9 Sikh Gurus who carried out his task after his death. II. Guru Angad: The second Guru – his started the Gurumukhi script (a script written in Punjabi language and used in all Sikh scriptures). III. Guru Amardas: The third Guru – he began the institution of Langar (common kitchen) to abolish the caste system – it emphasizes on equality of all without any discrimination. IV. Guru Ramdas: The fourth Guru – he started the construction of Har Mandir (Golden Temple) at Amritsar (its site given by Akbar). He also composed many hymns and poems in praise of the divine name which were sung by the Sikh Panth. V. Guru Arjun: The fifth Guru – he compiled the Adi Granth (one of the chief source of Sikh tradition and the first form of Guru Granth Sahib) and also completed the construction of Har Mandir at Amritsar. He was executed by Mughal Emperor Jahangir for political reasons. VI. Guru Hargobind: The sixth Guru – The execution of Guru Arjun led to the first phase of militancy among the Sikhs under Hargobind, who was also imprisoned by Jahangir for 10 years – he also introduced the institution of Akal Takht, which serves as the Supreme decision making centre of Sikhs. VII. Guru Harrai: The seventh Guru – his period was quite uneventful. VIII. Guru Har Kishan: The Eighth Guru – he died of small pox at the tender age of 8. IX. Guru Tegh Bahadur: The Ninth Guru, was executed by Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb. X. Guru Gobind Singh: The Tenth and last Guru – established the Khalsa and organized the Sikhs into a military sect. He also compiled the Guru Granth Sahib (the primary source of Sikh principle). All his sons were killed Page | 2

by a Mughal army – at his death he declared that the line of living Gurus came to an end and the „Granth Sahib‟ will act as the everlasting Guru for the Sikh comunity. Thus he introduced the Guru Panth which became the leader of Sikhs under the guidance of Guru Granth Sahib. The greatest contribution of Gobind Singh is the establishment of Khalsa itself trough which he gave a definite shape to Sikh Panth. Khalsa • It literally means "God's army." • It was created and the Sikhs organised as a military group under Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, to defend themselves from persecution by outsiders, particularly the Mughals. Its purpose, according to him, was to protect and safeguard all God's people, regardless of religion, colour, race, or creed. • During the mediaeval period, especially the 17th and 18th centuries, the Sikhs underwent significant political growth thanks to the Khalsa. During this time, it grew so powerful that for the first time in history, it led to the formation of a Sikh Empire. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a well-known and accomplished Sikh King from the Punjab region of this empire. This empire grew so large that its borders stretched across practically all of North West India, including Gujarat and parts of Pakistan. • Over time, Khalsa came to be known as the collective name for all Sikhs. Panth • The word Panth is derived from the Sanskrit words 'patha' or 'pantham,' which literally mean a route, passage, or path, and figuratively a way of life, religious creed, or cult. The term panth refers to both the Sikh faith and the Sikh people as a whole in Sikh terminology. It symbolises the unseen bond that binds all Sikhs. The word panth was used as a suffix to names of preceptors of several religions during the mediaeval period. Gorakh Panth, Kabir Panth, and so on. Sikhism was once referred to as the Nanak panth. Page | 3

• However, in recent years, the term "Panth" has come to represent the entire Sikh system. It symbolised the Sikhs' jot (spirit) as well as their jugut (institution). • When Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) changed Sanghat (the Sikhs' common union) into Khalsa, it took on a new form. • Over time, the terms Panth and Khalsa were interchanged, and the Khalsa Panth was born. Main Principles and Features of Sikhism • Monotheism, or the belief in one indestructible, formless God, is the central principle of Sikhism, and Sikhs encourage salvation via personal meditation on God's name and message. • Sikhs have two main beliefs: faith and justice. • When a Sikh reaches adulthood, he is initiated into the religion in a process known as "Pahul." He is also authorised to use the honorific title "Singh," which means "Lion," after his name. The five Kakka (five Ks) are another distinguishing feature of the orthodox Singhs. Kesa (top knot), Kachha (short drawers), Kara (Iron Bangle), Kanga (Comb), and Kirpan were the names given to them (sword). It is regarded to be a Sikh's identity. • Hair cutting, alcoholism, animal sacrifice, priestly class, material fixation, and useless conversation were all prohibited for Sikhs. • Living as a home holder is encouraged by Sikh teachings. • This Sikh centre was relocated from Kartarpur to Goindval by Guru Amardas. Guru Ramdas established Amritsar as a centre, which Guru Arjun completed. This is currently the most prominent Sikh centre. • There are 25.8 million Sikhs in the globe, accounting for 0.39 percent of the total population. Seventy-five percent of them live in Punjab. Others came from other corners of the globe. Page | 4

Adi Granth and Guru Granth Sahib: Between 1603 and 1604 the Adi Granth compiled bhai Gurdas under the guidance of Guru Arjun Dev. Gurumukhi script was used to write it. It is Granth Sahib's first form. Guru Gobind Singh, the ninth Guru, authored the final version of Guru Granth Sahib in 1678. It includes the original Adi Granth, as well as hymns by Guru Tegh Bahadur and one stanza by Guru Gobind Singh. It also includes lessons from saints such as Kabir, Namdev, Sheikh Farid, and others. The Sikhs see it as their eleventh and last spiritual authority.

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