Sikhism: The Basic

Sikhism is one of the major religions in India and recognizable in the world for their long beards and turbans that exude an aura of mystery. But what is Sikhism? And what are its teachings and principle?

Introduction

Sikhism traced its origins in 15th century in Punjab, India. Guru Nanak (1469 – 1539) organized the first Sikhs which in Punjab meant Learner or Disciple. They grew to become a Sikh Community known as the Panth which meant path. For the Sikhs, they also called their faith as Gurmat or the Way of the Guru as the teachings of Sikhism came from a series of 10 living Gurus and eternal Guru scripture.

Principles

Sikhism preached tolerance, hard work, and generosity. Most of Sikh beliefs took Hindu influences, but it believed in monotheism or the world having only one god or Ik Onkar. Sikhism further developed under the leadership of its 10 Gurus that made the religion survive and thrive.

Hindu influence existed in Sikhism. Guru Nanak came from a Hindu tradition called Sant. The Sants lived humbly and in poverty, and even most of its followers came from the less fortunate and illiterate. They promoted the composing of religious hymns as a means of worshiping the Hindu gods and goddesses. This practice of hymn singing formed the earliest form of worship by the Sikhs.

Sikhism, however, rejected polytheism in favor of monotheism believing in the existence of a single God represented by the symbol Ik Onkar. Ik Onkar or a single God also related to their belief of Nam or name in Persian. They believed God or his presence existed everywhere including one’s self. To be truly in the presence of god, a Sikh must break free from the cycles of reincarnation through the meditation of the nam. Until reaching the level of sach khand or Abode of Truth through meditation and following the teachings of Guru that a Sikh reach a perfect union with God.

Sikhism promoted honest and righteous living. It did not require celibacy, Gurus even have wives and children. They only promoted honest hard working and sharing of fruits of labor to other. They also promoted tolerance to other religions, thus they allow non-Sikhs to join in their services.

Miri/Piri defines the living of a Sikh. Piri meant the spiritual life while the Miri represents the physical. A Sikh must live both lives well to take a step towards the sach khand.

Leadership in Sikhism paralleled that of the Catholic Church with a single leader in its early decades. Sikhs believed a holy spirit enshrined in the body of the Guru, thus his words also had holy significance. After the death of a Guru, this spirit passed to his successor. Guru Nanak served as the first leader of Sikhism and passed down to 10 successors. In 1708, the 10th Guru, Gobind Singh, proclaimed the scripture Guru Granth Sahib as his successor. During Sikh services, any Sikh had the freedom to lead the reading of the Holy Scripture.

Services in Sikhism happened in gurdwara. A gurdwara had a copy of the Sikh Holy Scripture of Sikhism the Guru Granth Sahib or Adi Granth. Mostly, it also included a langar or a kitchen to feed the community. As Sikhism promoted generosity, most gurdawara, besides langar, also had other community buildings such as clinics or schools that they open for all.

Worship services of the Sikhs included hymn reading and feasting. As stated, any Sikh had the opportunity to read a hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib. The services ended with the eating of the sacramental food called the Karak Prasad.

Rites of passages also existed in Sikhism and stated in the Sikh Rahit Marayada. Sikhs had naming ceremony where the first letter of a hymn dictates the first letter of the name of a child. They also had a marriage ceremony where a couple, instead of a fire as for Hindu ritual, circles the Guru Granth Sahib.

The Amrit Sanskar, on the other, initiates a Sikh into the Khalsa or the pure. This when a Sikh adopt the name of Singh or Lion for men and Kaur or Lioness or Princess for women. After the Amrit Sanskar, a male Sikh must garb the famous 5K’s.

1. Kesh – the uncut hair protected by a dastaar or turban

2. Kangha – wooden comb

3. Kara – iron bangle

4. Kachera – an undergarment

5. Kirpan – short dagger

It also forbid a Sikh from committing the 4 H’s

1. Hajaamat – cutting of hair or any alterations in the body

2. Halaal – eating of food not approved under Sharia Law

3. Haraam – sex other than the spouse

4. Hukaa – using of tobacco or other intoxicants

Committing one of the 4H’s chastise a Sikh from the Khalsa and must once again be initiated through the Amrit Sanskar or be considered as a patit or an apostate.

Summing Up

Sikhism has 25 million followers across the globe with majority residing in Punjab. They share commonalities with Hinduism, a religion that dominated India, but also differed in many ways. They show respect and tolerance towards other religions, the same way they show generosity as well as hospitality. They promote charity, hard work, and discipline as well as strong sense of community. They have a rich tradition that promotes strengthening of bond between fellow Sikhs.

See also:

Guru Nanak

Bibliography:

“Introduction to Sikhism.” Sikhs.org. Accessed on April 13, 2020. URL: https://www.sikhs.org/summary.htm

“Who are Sikhs? What is Sikhism?” SikhNet. Accessed on April 13, 2020. URL: https://www.sikhnet.com/pages/who-are-sikhs-what-is-sikhism

Barooah, Jahnabi. “Sikhism: 5 Things to Know About The Sikh Religion.” Huffpost. Accessed on April 12, 2020. URL: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/5-things-you-should-know-about-sikhism_n_1744657

Khalsa, Sukhmandir. "What Are the Four Cardinal Commandments of Sikhism?" Learn Religions. Accessed on April 14, 2020. URL: https://www.learnreligions.com/cardinal-commandments-of-sikhism-2993487