GENESIS OF RELIGIONS: SIKHISM

THE ORIGIN OF SIKHISM

Sikhism is the religion of an Indian group founded in Punjab in the late 15th century A.D. by Guru Nanak. Its members are known as Sikhs. The word Sikh is derived from the Pali Sikh or Sanskrit sisya, meaning ‘disciple’. The Punjabi word sikhan means ‘to learn’. A Sikh might, therefore, be described as a learner or disciple. It is said that the first Sikhs were personal disciples of their ten Gurus (religious teachers), beginning with Guru Nanak and ending with Guru Govind Singh. The Gurudwara Act of 1925 defined a Sikh as one who believes in the ten Gurus and the authority of the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh Scriptures).

Sikhism stands as the very latest among the eleven living religions. Sikhism is to be found exclusively in the province of Punjab. Yet in less than 200 years after its foundation, it has extended itself clearly across the north of India and southward to Ceylon. However, 95% of all Sikhs in the world are concentrated in northwest India, in the same region where their religion originated. Sikhism arose as a conscious attempt to harmonise the two most powerful rival religions in India. This latest development among the world’s living religions represents a certain fusion of Islam and Hinduism. This combination was accomplished by the personal influence of the great ironic reformer Guru Nanak.

B. THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE TEN GURUS TO THE SPREAD OF SIKHISM

Guru Nanak (1469–1539 A.D.) founded the Sikh faith in about 1500 A.D. by preaching a synthesis of Hinduism and Islam. He made an extensive tour, possibly from Ceylon in the south to Tibet in the north, as far east as Assam, and as far west as Mecca. He took the important step of appointing a successor to the Guruship just before his death.

Teachings of Guru Nanak

· Guru Nanak wanted to bring and maintain unity and peace in the communities of Muslims and Hindus. Thus he always pronounced that there was no Hindu and Muslim; all are one and should work for unity, welfare, and the development of society.

· He taught his disciples to worship one God who is Absolute and sovereign, whose name is the true creator, immortal, self-existent, great, and bountiful.

· Guru Nanak taught that salvation is possible by knowing God or by being absorbed into God.

· He taught the importance of following the teachings and footsteps of the ten Gurus.

The Scriptures

The sacred scripture of Sikhism is known as the Granth Sahib or Lord’s Book, and it was contributed by Guru Nanak himself. He always taught his disciples that God is unity, living, and therefore, his disciples must be allied by the word of God. Guru Nanak died at the age of 70 in 1539 A.D. After his death, his disciple by the name of Angad took over the reign and continued his mission. The second Guru Angad (1505–1552 A.D.) popularised the Guru Mukhi Script, which has remained the sacred script of Sikhism ever since. The third Guru, Amar Das (1479–1574 A.D.), took up the office at the venerable age of seventy-three and thoroughly organised the Sikh temple. He inveighed particularly against the Hindu custom of sati, or widow burning. Ram Das (1534–1581 A.D.), the fourth Guru, founded the religious capital of Sikhism at Amristar, the famous Sikh centre built on the land presented to Ram Das’s wife by the Mughal emperor, Akbar. The fifth Guru, Arjun (1563–1606 A.D.), completed the golden temple at Amritsar. Secondly, his crowning work was the compilation of the Hari Mandir in 1604. The Adi Granth gave the new faith an authentic book of sacred teaching. Thirdly, Arjun is remembered as the first Sikh martyr.

After Guru Arjun, Sikhism began to acquire a distinctly militant aspect for the first time. This was during the time of the Sixth Guru Hari Gobind (1595–1644 A.D.). The seventh Guru Hari Rai (1630–1661) was relatively uneventful. The eight Guru Harikrishan (1656–1664) also died without any event. Guru Arjun and the ninth Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621–1675) fell victim to Muslim rulers, and it was the work of the tenth Guru Gobind (1666–1708) to complete the development of Sikhism by founding the Khalism brotherhood. Guru Gobind Singh was responsible for bringing into existence the Sikh brotherhood known as the Khalsa, the community of the Puri.

Those who joined the Khalsa adopted the common name, Singh, meaning Lion, and took their badge of identification—the five K’s or the five marks of the Khalsa.

1. The kesh, or long uncut hair, has always been associated with saintliness and spiritual enlightenment in India.
2. The Kangha, the comb for keeping the hair tidy and clean
3. The kachs, or kachas, were short trousers that were much more practical in battle than the traditional dhoti.
4. The Khara or Kara is the steel bracelet or bangle, symbolising unity with God and with one’s fellow Sikhs.
5. The kirpan, the sword or dagger, was used in the war. Guru Gobind Singh’s second great innovation was his declaration that no human Guru should succeed him after his death.

C. THE FAITH AND DOCTRINES OF SIKHISM

1. The sacred scriptures of Sikhism

“The original Granth”, Adi Granth, was compiled in 1804, by the fifth Guru, from material that had come down from Nanak and intervening teachers. Most orthodox Sikhs recognise as authoritative another work entitled “Dasam Granth” or “The Granth of the Tenth Guru”. Absolute authority is ascribed to the Granth by Sikhs.

2. The conception of the Supreme Being on the conception of God in Sikhism

Sikhism teaches strict monotheism. There is only one God. It also believes that God is the only reality.

3. The concept of the world in Sikhism

According to Sikh religion, the world is the creation of God. The entire world is the product of the divine will or divine order.

4. The concept of man in Sikhism

Man in his true nature, is given very high position in Sikhism. He seems to be the most privileged creature of God.

5. The concept of the word and the Guru in Sikhism

According Sikhism, God’s name is also the word and the Guru. God Himself is the supreme Guru. Ultimately, the ten Gurus are revealed because God (Guru) spoke through them.

6. The concept of salvation in Sikhism.

The Sikh religion teaches that salvation consists in knowing God or obtaining God, or in being absorbed into God.

7. The concept of Evil and suffering life after Death and Ultimate destiny in Sikhism

Attachment to the world is an illusion and it is this, which is the cause of all suffering. Suffering is all due to ignorance and the wrong look at the world. Like, Hinduism, it firmly believes in the doctrine of karma and rebirth. Cleaning, the ultimate destiny of men, according to Sikhism is to be free from the clean of birth and death and be reunited with God and that too by self-reliance.

8. The concept of Karma, Transmigration (samsara), Moksha, Free-Will and Grace

The Sikhs, like Hindus, believe in the law of karma and also the concept of transmigration of soul. It is said that the soul, being immortal, does not die nor is it reborn. Only the psychic self goes through the transference of ‘impressions’, gathering in a particular life to a new body corresponding to its inherent character, good or bad, till the final moksha (salvation) or release in God and permanent identification with him is attained. There is no free will for an individual in Sikhism. Salvation (moksha) is attained by God’s grace and the destruction of egoism.