Sikhism

SikhismisthereligionoftheSikhs,thefollowersofGuruNanak.Sikh,translatedliterally,meansdisciple.ItisthePunjabiformofthewordshishya.SikhismaroseatatimewhenthemasseswereonthelookoutforareligionthatwouldbringthemclosertoGod.TheHindureligionhadgrowntoocomplexandformalandtheMuslimrulersweretootyrannical.GuruNanakwasthefounderofSikhism.HewasborninasmalltowninTalwanditoaneducatedfamily.NanakwasanintelligentboyandlearntArabic,Persian,andSanskritinadditiontotheothersubjects.Sinceanearlyagehehadaquestioningtemperament,andstoodbyhisbeliefs.Whenhewasbutaboy,herefusedtowearthesacredthreadatthethreadceremony,(acustomamongHindus)ashefeltthatonemustremainpiousintheheadandheartwithoutindulginginexternalactsofpiety.Similarly,whenhesawBrahminsofferingoblationsinthewatertotheirancestors,hefacedtheotherdirectionandstartedsprinklingwater.Whenaskedwhathewasdoing,Nanaksaidthathewasofferingwatertohisfields.Hearguedthatifthewatercouldreachtheirancestorsinanotherworld,surelytheycouldreachpaddyfields,whichwererelativelysoclose!AnotherdayNanakwassittingwithhisfeetfacingthemosque.WhentheMuslimsaskedhimtoturnhisfeetelsewhere,hearguedthatnomatterwhichdirectionhewouldfacehisfeet,theywouldfaceGod,asGodwaseverywhere.  TheNineGurusSoonpeoplebegantorecogniseNanakasamanofGod.Nanakwasaverylearnedman,whotravelledalloverthecountryspreadinghisteachings.AfterGuruNanak,therewereninegurus.ThesewereGuruAngad,GuruAmarDas,GuruRamDas,GuruArjan,GuruHarGovind,GuruHariRai,GuruHarKishan,GuruTeghBahadurandGuruGobindSingh,inthatorder. Ofthese,GuruGobindSinghwasthemostimportantafterNanak,asheformalisedtheSikhreligion.HehadtoconverttheSikhreligionintoanactiveoneasitwassufferingatthehandsoftheMughalrulers.Hegaveitamilitantform,ashebelievedtheSikhsmustuseforce,ifnecessary,toprotecttheircountryandDharma. FiveSymbolicWearsTheGuruinstructedhisfollowerstoputonfivesymbolicwears:Keshathatislonghairthatmustnotbecut,whichisawayofpledgingtheirdedicationtotheirholycommitment,justlikeancientsages.Kangha,acombtokeeptheirlonghairneatandtidy,Kada,asteelbraceletwornontherighthandtoremindonenottodowrong,Kaccha,underwear,forchastity,andfinallytheKirpan,dagger,thatmustbecarriedforprotection. TeachingsofSikhismGuruNanak(aswellasalltheGurusafterhim)denouncedtheideaofapersonalGodaswellasanykindofidolworship.Therewasalsonoritualism,whichatthattimewascominginthewayoftheprogressofHinduism.Nanakdidnotadvocateasceticism.Hehimselfwasahouseholder.Oneshouldbeamanoftheworld,yetnotbetooattachedtoit.TheGuruGranthSahibistheholybookoftheSikhsinwhichwhateverwaswrittenbytheGurusandotherholymen,likeKabir,Namdeo,SurdasandFarid,existinpoetryform.ThebookiskeptasaguideforallSikhsintheirtempleorGurudwaraastheydonotbelieveinidolworship.Sikhismdenouncesidolworship,untouchability,thecastesystem,taboosagainstwomen,andworshippingGod. PlacesofWorshipTheSikhsvisittheGurudwaraforworship.TherearefourfamousGurudwarasinIndiathemostfamousbeingtheoneinAmritsarknownasHarmandir.TheothersareinBiharatPatna,inPunjabatAnandpurandNandedinMaharashtra.

Sikhism is the religion of the Sikhs, the followers of Guru Nanak. Sikh, translated literally, means disciple. It is the Punjabi form of the word 'shishya'. Sikhism arose at a time when the masses were on the lookout for a religion that would bring them closer to God. The Hindu religion had grown too complex and formal and the Muslim rulers were too tyrannical.

Guru Nanak was the founder of Sikhism. He was born in a small town in Talwandi to an educated family. Nanak was an intelligent boy and learnt Arabic, Persian, and Sanskrit in addition to the other subjects. Since an early age he had a questioning temperament, and stood by his beliefs. When he was but a boy, he refused to wear the sacred thread at the thread ceremony, (a custom among Hindus) as he felt that one must remain pious in the head and heart without indulging in external acts of piety. Similarly, when he saw Brahmins offering oblations in the water to their ancestors, he faced the other direction and started sprinkling water. When asked what he was doing, Nanak said that he was offering water to his fields. He argued that if the water could reach their ancestors in another world, surely they could reach paddy fields, which were relatively so close! Another day Nanak was sitting with his feet facing the mosque. When the Muslims asked him to turn his feet elsewhere, he argued that no matter which direction he would face his feet, they would face God, as God was everywhere. 
 

The Nine Gurus

Soon people began to recognise Nanak as a man of God. Nanak was a very learned man, who travelled all over the country spreading his teachings. After Guru Nanak, there were nine gurus. These were Guru Angad, Guru Amar Das, Guru Ram Das, Guru Arjan, Guru Har Govind, Guru Hari Rai, Guru Har Kishan, Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh, in that order. 

Of these, Guru Gobind Singh was the most important after Nanak, as he formalised the Sikh religion. He had to convert the Sikh religion into an active one as it was suffering at the hands of the Mughal rulers. He gave it a militant form, as he believed the Sikhs must use force, if necessary, to protect their country and Dharma.
 

Five Symbolic Wears

The Guru instructed his followers to put on five symbolic wears: Kesha that is long hair that must not be cut, which is a way of pledging their dedication to their holy commitment, just like ancient sages. Kangha, a comb to keep their long hair neat and tidy, Kada, a steel bracelet worn on the right hand to remind one not to do wrong, Kaccha, underwear, for chastity, and finally the Kirpan, dagger, that must be carried for protection.
 

Teachings of Sikhism

Guru Nanak (as well as all the Gurus after him) denounced the idea of a personal God as well as any kind of idol worship. There was also no ritualism, which at that time was coming in the way of the progress of Hinduism. Nanak did not advocate asceticism. He himself was a householder. One should be a man of the world, yet not be too attached to it. The GuruGranth Sahib is the holy book of the Sikhs in which whatever was written by the Gurus and other holy men, like Kabir, Namdeo, Surdas and Farid, exist in poetry form. The book is kept as a guide for all Sikhs in their temple or Gurudwara as they do not believe in idol worship. Sikhism denounces idol worship, untouchability, the caste system, taboos against women, and worshipping God.
 

Places of Worship

The Sikhs visit the Gurudwara for worship. There are four famous Gurudwaras in India the most famous being the one in Amritsar known as Harmandir. The others are in Bihar at Patna, in Punjab at Anandpur and Nanded in Maharashtra.