Sikhism, or Sikhi, is an Indian religion that began towards the end of the 15th century CE in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. Sikhism's history begins with Guru Nanak's life, times, and teachings (1469-1539). It is one of the world's newest major organized religions, with approximately 25–30 million adherents (known as Sikhs) as of the early twenty-first century. This article will explain to you the concepts related to Sikhism which will be helpful in Indian Art and Culture preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Sikhism - Origin

• Sikhism emerged at a time when India's two dominant religious traditions, Hinduism and Islam, were increasingly at odds.
• Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith, is often portrayed as a mediator between the two opposing traditions.
• In 1496, Guru Nanak attained enlightenment in Sultanpur.
• He traveled extensively after attaining enlightenment to teach the message of love and brotherhood.
• Under Guru Nanak's successors, the number of Guru Nanak's followers grew throughout the sixteenth century.
• They were from a variety of castes, but traders, agriculturists, artisans, and craftsmen were the most common. They were also obliged to contribute to the community of followers' general funds.
• The town of Ramdaspur (Amritsar) had grown up around the major Gurdwara known as Harmandir Sahib by the beginning of the seventeenth century (Golden Temple).
• The early seventeenth-century Sikh community was almost self-governing, and modern historians refer to it as a "state within a state."

Symbol of Sikhism

Sikhism - Significance

• Guru Nanak preached a message of compassion and understanding, criticizing Hindu and Muslim blind traditions.
• Guru Nanak's enlightened leadership of this new religion was passed down to nine Gurus in succession.
• Influences: The Bhakti movement and Vaishnava Hinduism affected the formation of Sikhism. Sikhism, on the other hand, was not merely a continuation of the Bhakti movement.
• Sikhism arose during the Mughal Empire's sway over the region.
• The Mughal rulers tortured and executed two Sikh gurus, Guru Arjan and Guru Tegh Bahadur after they refused to convert to Islam.
• The Khalsa was founded as an order for freedom of conscience and religion in response to the persecution of Sikhs during the Islamic era.
• Guru Gobind Singh, the last living Guru, founded the Khalsa order (meaning "The Pure") of soldier-saints. The Khalsa upholds the highest Sikh characteristics of devotion, commitment, and social awareness.
• The Khalsa are men and women who have been baptized in the Sikh faith and who adhere to the Sikh Code of Conduct and Conventions, as well as wearing the five K's - Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (a wooden comb), Kara (an iron bracelet), Kachera (cotton underwear), and Kirpan (an iron knife).
• Sikhism does not have priests, as Guru Gobind Singh eliminated them. They had become corrupt and egotistical, according to the Guru.
• The Guru Granth Sahib (granthi) has only custodians among Sikhs, and any Sikh is free to read it in the Gurdwara (a Sikh temple) or at home.
• The Gurudwara is open to people of all religions. At every Gurdwara, there is a free community kitchen that serves meals to people of all religions. It is called Langer.
• This institution was founded by Guru Nanak and defines the essential Sikh principles of service, humility, and equality.
• The "Sikh Rahit Maryada," a treatise outlining Sikh responsibilities, lists four rituals that qualify as rites of passage.
  • The first is a gurdwara-based birth and naming ceremony.
  • The Anand Karaj (joyful union), or marriage ceremony, is the second rite.
  • The Amrit sanskar, or ceremony for initiation into the Khalsa, is the third and most essential rite.
  • The funeral rite is the fourth rite.
• A Sikh's three responsibilities can be summed up in three words: pray, work, and give.
  • Nam Japna means "always remembering God."
  • Kirt Karna - Trying to make a decent living. A Sikh tries to live honestly because God is the truth. Sikhs shun gambling, begging, and working in the alcohol and cigarette sectors, among other things.
  • Vand Chhakna (Literally, sharing one's earnings with others) - Caring for others and donating to charity.
• Sikhs strive to avoid the five vices that cause people to become self-centered and create impediments in their life. Lust, covetousness, greed, as well as devotion to worldly possessions, rage, and pride, are examples.

Tenets of Sikhism

• Only one God exists (Ek Onkar "Ek" is One and "Onkar" is God). For all people of all religions, he is the same God.
• Before taking on the human form, the soul goes through a series of births and deaths. The purpose of our lives is to live exemplary lives to merge with God.
• Sikhs should remember God at all times and strive to live a noble and genuine life while balancing their spiritual and temporal responsibilities.
• The true way to salvation and union with God does not necessitate renunciation of the world or celibacy, but rather living a householder's life, earning an honest living, and avoiding worldly temptations and sins.
• Fasting, pilgrimage, superstitions, dead worship, idol worship, and other mindless rituals are all condemned in Sikhism.
• Sikhism teaches that people of all races, religions, and genders are equal in God's eyes. It teaches men and women to be completely equal.
• Women are welcome to attend any religious event, conduct any Sikh ceremony, or lead the assembly in prayer.

Guru Nanak

• Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith, was born in 1469 in Talwandi (near Lahore, Pakistan), today is known as Nankana Sahib , and belonged to the Bedi gotra.
• Guru Nanak was educated in Sanskrit and Persian from an early age.
• He was regarded as one of the most revered saints of the Bhakti movement.
• The first Guru was Guru Nanak (1469–1539).
• Before establishing a center in Kartarpur, he traveled extensively (Dera Baba Nanak on the river Ravi).
• His followers were given access to regular worship, which included the singing of his hymns.
• His followers ate together in the single kitchen (langar), regardless of their previous beliefs, caste, or gender.
• Dharamshala is the hallowed area created by Guru Nanak in this way. Gurdwara is the name given to it currently.
• Guru Nanak's three major teachings are:
  • Contemplation of One God - Nam-Japna;
  • Earning One's Living - Kirat Karna;
  • Vand chhakna - Sharing One's Earnings with Others.
• Guru Nanak established the Sangat and Pangat institutions to put his equality teachings into practice, emphasizing that everyone should sit in a congregation and eat from the communal kitchen in one line, without difference of high and low, rich and poor.
• Guru Nanak used kirtans, bhajans, and ragas to preach.
• Guru Nanak named one of his disciples as his successor before his death in 1539.
• His name was Lehna, but he became known as Guru Angad, indicating that he was a close associate of Guru Nanak.

Guru Nanak

Ten Sikh Gurus

• There were ten Sikh Gurus in total.
• Guru Nanak was succeeded by nine Gurus who not only carried on his teachings and aspirations but also made substantial contributions to the development of many Sikh organizations.

11th Sikh Guru

• Although there is no living human successor to Guru Nanak, the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh sacred text, is regarded as the 11th Sikh Guru and immortal.
• Aside from the songs of the Sikh Gurus, the Guru Granth Sahib also contains the works of Muslim and Hindu saints, some of whom are from the Hindu society's so-called lower castes.
• As a result, the Sikh Holy Book can be seen as a singular example of the Sikh faith's ecumenical character.

Sikh Literature

• Adi Granth - As Sikhs believe the Adi Granth to be the home of the eternal Guru, it is referred to as the Guru Granth Sahib by all Sikhs.
• Dasam Granth - As of concerns about its authorship and creation, the Dasam Granth is divisive in the Panth.

Institutions of the Sikhs

• Sikhism's followers visit sacred sites to receive the blessings of Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikhs' holy book and eternal Guru.

Takhts

• The Takhts, which means 'the seat of divine authority,' are the Sikhs' sites of prayer.
• Only five Takhts exist.
• 'Takhts,' it is supposed, are areas where the Gurus made various social and political arrangements.
• Guru Hargobind Singh founded the Akal Takht Sahib.
• Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib is the birthplace of the Khalsa Panth.
• Takht Sri Damdama Sahib - This is the location where Guru Gobind Singh wrote the entire version of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Gurudwaras

• The word gurudwara means 'doorway to the teacher.'
• There are countless Gurudwaras in India, but only five Takhts.
• Thousands of people, mostly Sikhs, attend Gurudwaras to remember the Gurus. As a result, Gurudwaras are important pilgrimage destinations.

Amritsar, Punjab's Golden Temple

• Because of the gilded dome that adorns the Gurudwara's crown, it is known as the Golden Temple.
• For the Sikhs, it is the holiest.
• Guru Ram Dass, the fourth Sikh Guru, built the town in 1577 on land given to him by Akbar.
• The temple was completed by Arjun Dev, the fifth Guru.
• The temple became known as the Swarna Mandir after Maharaja Ranjit Singh covered the upper half of it with copper and then pure gold leaf.

Delhi's Bangla Sahib

• It is one of India's most impressive and interesting structures, and it is inextricably related to Sikhism's history.

Conclusion

Sikhs see their religion as the result of five significant events. Guru Nanak's message of emancipation via meditation on the divine name was the first of these teachings. Guru Hargobind's arming of the Sikhs was the second. The third was Guru Gobind Singh's foundation of the Khalsa, which had its own set of rules that all initiates had to follow. The fourth occurrence, the transfer of the mystical Guru from its ten human bearers to the Guru Granth Sahib, occurred at his death. The final event occurred in the early twentieth century when the Tat Khalsa undertook a major overhaul of Sikhism.