Sikhism

Sikhism, also called Sikhi, is an Indian religion and philosophy that began in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the late 1400s. It is one of the newest major religions and is followed by about 25 to 30 million people called Sikhs.

The religion grew from the teachings of Guru Nanak, the first guru, and the nine gurus who came after him. The tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh, chose the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal guru, closing the line of human gurus. Sikhs believe in one creator, the equality of all people, and helping others. They also value honest work and fighting for justice.

Sikhs believe in remembering God through meditation and music. Baptised Sikhs wear five special items of faith called the five Ks, which include keeping their hair uncut and wearing a turban. Sikhism developed during difficult times when people were being forced to change their religion, and it grew to protect freedom of belief for everyone.

Terminology

Sikhs are people who follow Sikhism, and they mean "students" or "disciples" of the guru. The word Sikhism comes from the Punjabi word Sikhi, which means "disciple" and relates to learning and growing.

Some Sikhs do not like the word "Sikhism" because they feel it was created by British colonists. They prefer the word Sikhi instead. Other names they use for their faith include gursikhi, gurmat, or dharam.

Philosophy and teachings

The Sikh religion started with the teachings of Guru Nanak and his successors. Sikhs believe that spiritual growth and doing good in everyday life are very important. Guru Nanak once said, "Truth is the highest virtue, but higher still is truthful living."

God

Sikhism believes in one God who is everywhere and in everything. This idea is shown by the phrase Ik Onkar, meaning "One Creator." Sikhs call God Waheguru, which means "wondrous teacher." God is seen as timeless, without shape, and beyond our understanding.

Worldly illusion

Life can sometimes feel confusing and distracting, which Sikhs call māyā. This can pull people away from focusing on God. Sikhs work to stay focused on what is truly important.

Timeless truth

Guru Nanak taught that the most important goal in life is to connect with the eternal truth. By remembering God's name and following the teachings of the gurus, Sikhs believe they can grow closer to this truth.

Liberation

Sikhs believe that true happiness comes from uniting with the eternal truth. They practice devotion, service to others, and remembering God's name to achieve this.

Power and devotion (Miri and Piri)

Sikhism teaches that both taking care of the world around us and focusing on spiritual growth are important. Guru Hargobind introduced the ideas of Miri (worldly duties) and Piri (spiritual guidance) to show that both are needed in life.

Singing and music

Sikhs sing special hymns called Gurbani from their holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib. This singing, called Shabad Kirtan, helps them feel peaceful and closer to God.

Remembrance of the Divine Name

Sikhs often repeat the name of God, Waheguru, to stay connected to the divine. This practice is called Naam Simran.

Service and action

By remembering God and serving others selflessly, Sikhs believe they can overcome ego and live a better life. Service can be physical work, helping with the mind, or sharing resources.

Justice and equality

Sikhism teaches that everyone should be treated fairly and with respect. Both men and women can lead and make important decisions in the Sikh community.

Ten Gurus and authority

Sikhism was built by ten gurus who passed on their teachings to each other. The last guru, Guru Gobind Singh, said that the Guru Granth Sahib would be the forever guru for Sikhs. Together, Sikhs work as a community to follow these teachings.

Scripture

There is one main holy book for Sikhs: the Guru Granth Sahib. It is also sometimes called the Ādi Granth. The Ādi Granth was created by Guru Arjan in 1604. The Guru Granth Sahib is the final version, expanded by Guru Gobind Singh.

The Guru Granth Sahib is the holy book of Sikhs and is considered the eternal spiritual guide. It started with poems by Guru Nanak and was passed to each succeeding guru. The final version was completed by Guru Gobind Singh in 1678. It includes poems by the Sikh gurus and teachings from many holy people of different faiths.

The book has over 6,000 poems set to ancient music. It is written in a special language called Sant Bhāṣā, related to Punjabi and Hindi. The main idea of the Guru Granth Sahib is a society based on fairness and justice, believing in one God without fear or hate.

The tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh, made the Guru Granth Sahib the eternal spiritual guide for Sikhs, ending the line of human gurus. It is kept in Sikh temples, where Sikhs show it great respect. The book is treated like a living guide, not just a collection of words.

Observances

See also: Sikh rites and Sikh culture

Observant Sikhs follow special practices and traditions to show their faith. They often say the divine name of God, Waheguru, and remember passages from the Guru Granth Sahib, especially the Japu hymns, each morning. Baptised Sikhs say five prayers in the morning and more in the evening and at night. Families often read from the holy book and visit the gurdwara, which means "the doorway to God." Gurdwaras are found all over India and in many other countries. These places welcome everyone, no matter their religion, background, or race.

In a gurdwara, people mainly sing from the holy book. Sikhs show respect by bowing before the holy book when they enter. They also say the ardās prayer, which remembers the community's history and asks for help for everyone.

The gurdwara is also where the langar happens. This is a free meal for everyone, always vegetarian. People sit together to eat, and volunteers from the Sikh community prepare and serve the food.

Sikh festivals/events

Guru Amar Das chose special days for Sikhs to celebrate together, like Vaisakhi. Vaisakhi is very important for Sikhs. Other festivals celebrate the lives of the gurus and Sikh heroes. These festivals used to follow the moon calendar called the Bikrami calendar. In 2003, the SGPC introduced the Nanakshahi calendar, but not all Sikhs agree with this change. Some important Sikh festivals are:

Nagar Kirtan crowd listening to Kirtan at Yuba City, California

• Band Chor Diwas is another important Sikh festival. After 2003, it is sometimes called Bandi Chhor Divas.
• Hola Mohalla began with Guru Gobind Singh. It starts the day after Holi, called Hola. Guru Gobind Singh added a three-day festival with martial arts. It happens in Anandpur Sahib, where Sikh soldiers practice mock battles, horse riding, running, archery, and other skills.

Ceremonies and customs

Sikhs visit important holy places like Harmandir Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, and others. Many go to the Hola Mohalla each year during Holi in Anandpur Sahib. Some Sikhs visit a special pool called a sarovar and take water home for loved ones.

When a baby is born, the Guru Granth Sahib is opened, and the baby’s name starts with the first letter on the page. All boys are named Singh, and all girls are named Kaur.

Sikh weddings have a special ceremony called anand kāraj, held in front of the Guru Granth Sahib. This became official in 1909.

When a Sikh passes away, the body is usually burned. Prayers are said at the funeral.

Initiation and the Khalsa

Khalsa is the name for Sikhs who join a special ceremony called ammrit sañcār (nectar ceremony). In this ceremony, sweetened water is stirred with a sword while prayers are sung, and the person drinks it. Not all Sikhs join this ceremony, but many still follow Sikh teachings.

The first ceremony was on Vaisakhi, March 30, 1699, in Anandpur Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh gave the name Singh to boys and Kaur to girls.

Baptised Sikhs wear five special items called the five Ks: uncut hair kēs, a small wooden comb kaṅghā, a steel bracelet kaṛā, a small sword kirpān, and special underwear kacchera. These items have both practical and meaningful meanings.

History

Main article: History of Sikhism

Sikhism began around the 15th century. Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, was born in a village that is now called Nankana Sahib in what is today Pakistan. His parents were Punjabi Khatri Hindus. As a boy, Nanak was very interested in religion and spent time with holy people. He made friends with Mardana, a Muslim, and they would sing songs together. One day, Nanak went missing while bathing in a river and returned three days later. He then began teaching ideas that became the beliefs of Sikhism. In 1526, Nanak started a small community, and his followers were called Sikhs.

There are different ideas about Nanak's teachings. Some believe his teachings were a special message from a higher power, while others think he was a wise spiritual leader. Nanak and his successors were called gurus, and they taught important lessons about life and faith.

Historical influences

Sikhism grew from traditions in India, including the Bhakti movement. It developed during the time of the Mughal Empire. Two Sikh gurus, Guru Arjan and Guru Tegh Bahadur, were treated badly by Mughal rulers for not converting to Islam. This led to the creation of the Khalsa, a group that stood up for freedom of belief.

Growth of Sikhism

After starting, Sikhism grew as more people joined from both Hindu and Muslim backgrounds in the Punjab area. Each guru chose a successor, and the teachings continued. Important traditions like sharing free meals for everyone started during this time.

Political advancement

After one guru was treated badly, his son became the new leader and began building a community that was both religious and political. He started protecting Sikh people and created a special group of armed followers. Later leaders continued to build this mix of spiritual and political strength.

Sikh confederacy and the rise of the Khalsa

Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa in 1699, a group that combined spiritual goals with political and military duties. After his death, leaders like Banda Singh Bahadur led efforts to protect Sikh rights.

The Sikh Empire grew large, with its capital in Lahore. After the leader Ranjit Singh passed away, the empire faced problems, and eventually, the British took control. The Singh Sabha movement later helped revive Sikh traditions and identity.

Partition of India

When India became independent from British rule in 1947, the country was divided into India and Pakistan. This division caused a lot of sadness and movement for Sikhs, as many had to leave their homes and move to India. There were difficult times and much loss during this period.

Khalistan

In the 1980s, some Sikhs wanted an independent state called Khalistan. There were tensions and conflicts, including a military operation in 1984 to remove armed groups from a important Sikh temple. This led to sad events and further tensions between Sikhs and others.

Sikh people

Main article: Sikhs

Sikhism has about 25 to 30 million followers around the world. Most Sikhs live in India, especially in the state of Punjab, where they make up more than half of the population. There are also sizable Sikh communities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Sikhism began in what is now Pakistan, and many Sikhs lived there before 1947. During that year, when India and Pakistan were separated, many Sikhs moved to India. Today, only a small number of Sikhs remain in Pakistan.

Sikh sects

Main article: Sects of Sikhism

Sikh sects are different groups within Sikhism. Some believe in a different leader, or interpret the teachings in their own way. Important sects include Udasi, Nirmala, Nanakpanthi, Khalsa, Sahajdhari, Namdhari Kuka, Nirankari, and Sarvaria. These groups have different beliefs and practices from the main Khalsa Sikhs.

Sikh castes

In Punjab, where many Sikhs live, some still follow old caste systems, even though Sikhism teaches that all people are equal. Many Sikhs belong to the Jat caste, but there are also other groups like Khatri, Arora, Saini, Ramgarhia, and others. Some Sikhs are from lower castes and have worked to improve their lives.

Sikh diaspora

Many Sikhs have moved to other countries. Large communities exist in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. In Canada, many Sikhs live in cities like Brampton, Surrey, Calgary, and Abbotsford. Sikhs also live in East Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, where their ancestors moved to work long ago.

Prohibitions in Sikhism

Further information: Prohibitions in Sikhism and Diet in Sikhism

Sikhism has some important rules that its followers, called Sikhs, should follow. One big rule is about hair: Sikhs are not allowed to cut or change their hair in any way, like cutting, trimming, shaving, or dyeing it.

Another important rule is about food. Sikhs should not eat meat that has been prepared in certain ways, like meat from animals that were killed quickly without bleeding out fully, which some other religions allow. Some Sikhs choose to only eat vegetables, but others may eat meat that was prepared in a way that lets the animal bleed out fully.

Sikhs also cannot mix with someone who is not their spouse, use tobacco, or take any substances that can cloud the mind, like alcohol or certain drugs. There are also rules about not stealing, not gambling, and not wearing items that belong to other religions.