Sikhism

• Guru Nanak Devji (contemporary of Babur) created a separate sect
  • Birthplace: Nankana Sahib (Pakistan). Gurudwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur, Pakistan: Guru Nanak Dev spent the last 18 years of his life. Hence Kartarpur corridor connect Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Punjab with Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Narowal district.
  • He advocated the 'Nirguna' form of bhakti. He rejected sacrifices, ritual baths, image worship, austerities and the scriptures of both Hindus and Muslims. Sikhs believe in one God. They believe they should remember God in everything they do. This is called simran. The Sikhs call their faith Gurmat. They turned to Farming. Sikhism was egalitarian in character and liberal and progressive for its age. It was secular as Guru's army had Muslim soldiers as well.
  • He advocated the 'Nirguna' form of bhakti. He rejected sacrifices, ritual baths, image worship, austerities and the scriptures of both Hindus and Muslims.
  • He set up rules for congregational worship (Sangat) involving collective recitation.
  • He appointed one of his disciples, Guru Angad, to succeed him as the preceptor (guru).
  • Then Guru Amar Das, Guru Ram Das succeeded.
  • Guru Ram Das founded Amritsar in 1577 on the land granted by Akbar. He started the construction of Golden Temple/Swarna mandir at Amritsar.
• Guru Arjan Singh (contemporary of Jahangir)
  • He completed the establishment of Amritsar as the Capital of Sikh world.
  • He compiled Baba Guru Nanak’s hymns along with those of his 4 successors and also other religious poets, like Baba Farid, Ravidas (aka Raidas) and Kabir, in Adi Granth Sahib in 1604. These hymns, called 'Gurbani', are composed in many languages.
  • Jahangir imprisoned Guru Arjan Singh Jahangir as he helped rebel prince Khusrau.
  • He led to the completion of construction of Golden temple.
  • He was acclaimed as Shaheeden-de-Sartaj.
  • He was executed by Jahangir on charges of helping prince Khusrau.
• Guru Hargobind Singh
  • He encouraged militarization of community.
  • He tried to build up an army. When Jahangir came to know, he imprisoned Guru Hargovind Singh also.
  • He led to the transformation of the Sikh Community into a Military community. He is known as “Soldier Saint”.
  • He led to the establishment of Akal Takht and fortified the Amritsar City.
  • He waged wars against Jahangir and Shah Jahan.
• Aurangzeb
  • Dara Shikoh (after battle with Aurangzeb) got support from Sikh Guru Harirai.
  • He named his son Guru Tej Bahadur as the successor who was executed by Aurangzeb. He founded Anandpur Sahib.
• Guru Gobind Singh
  • He transferred itself to the sacred scripture of Sikhism, Guru Granth Sahib aka the Adi Granth (First Volume), which thereafter was regarded as the sole Guru.
  • He asked the Sikhs to take up arms and established the Khalsa order (Soldier saints). Sikhism does not have priests, which were abolished by him.
  • He founded a warrior community known as Khalsa in 1699.
  • He introduced a new rite ”Pahul”.
  • He joined Bahadur Shah’s as a noble.
  • He was the last Sikh Guru in human form and he passed the Guruship of Sikhs to the Guru Granth Sahib.
• Sikh administration
  • Before Ranjit Singh, Sikhs were distribute horizontally in the form of Misls and whenever a misl conquered a new territory, it was divided among its members - from top to bottom and of course unequally.
  • Ranjit Singh continued much of the Mughal administration system (including the nomenclature) and the jagir system (as much as 40% LR went to jagirs).
  • He did not infringe upon power of local khaps and chiefs and even at Center he maintained a delicate balance between Punjabi nobles and non Punjabi nobles.
  • Land revenue was major source of income.

Sikhism summary

• The word 'Sikh' in the Punjabi language means 'disciple'. Sikhs are the disciples of God who follow the writings and teachings of the Ten Sikh Gurus.
• Sikhs believe in one God. They believe they should remember God in everything they do. This is called simran.
• There are over 25 million Sikhs worldwide, the great majority of them living in the Indian state of Punjab.
• The Sikhs call their faith Gurmat (Punjabi: “the Way of the Guru”). According to Sikh tradition, Sikhism was established by Guru Nanak (1469–1539) and subsequently led by a succession of nine other Gurus.
• All 10 human Gurus, Sikhs believe, were inhabited by a single spirit. Upon the death of the 10th, Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708), the spirit of the eternal Guru transferred itself to the sacred scripture of Sikhism, Guru Granth Sahib (The Granth as the Guru), also known as the Adi Granth (First Volume), which thereafter was regarded as the sole Guru.
• Sikhism was well established by the time of Guru Arjan, the fifth Guru. Guru Arjan completed the establishment of Amritsar as the capital of the Sikh world and compiled the first authorised book of Sikh scripture, the Adi Granth.

Sikh Philosophy and Beliefs

• There is only One God (Ek Onkar "Ek" is One and "Onkar" is God). He is the same God for all people of all religions.
• The soul goes through cycles of births and deaths before it reaches the human form. The goal of our life is to lead an exemplary existence so that one may merge with God.
• Sikhs should remember God at all times and practice living a virtuous and truthful life while maintaining a balance between their spiritual obligations and temporal obligations.
• The true path to achieving salvation and merging with God does not require renunciation of the world or celibacy, but living the life of a householder, earning an honest living and avoiding worldly temptations and sins.
• Sikhism condemns blind rituals such as fasting, visiting places of pilgrimage, superstitions, worship of the dead, idol worship etc.
• Sikhism preaches that people of different races, religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes of God. It teaches the full equality of men and women. Women can participate in any religious function or perform any Sikh ceremony or lead the congregation in prayer.