Sikhism << SEE kihz uhm >> is a religion that originated in India. There are about 20 million Sikhs (followers of Sikhism) worldwide. The majority of Sikhs live in the northwest Indian state of Punjab. There are also sizable Sikh populations outside of India, particularly in Canada, Malaysia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and countries in East Africa. The word Sikh comes from the Sanskrit word shishya, which means disciple or learner.
Beliefs and practices.
Sikhism is a monotheistic faith—that is, Sikhs believe in one God, whose essence is called Naam << nahm >> , or the Divine Name. According to Sikhism, God is formless, all-powerful, without gender, and beyond human understanding.
Sikhs believe in the reincarnation (rebirth) of the soul into any one of 8.4 million life forms, including human beings. The goal of each living being is to achieve liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth, and reach union with God. The main obstacle to union with God is humai, a combination of ego (the conscious self) and selfishness, with which all people are born. To become free of humai, one must lead a life focused on God and meditate on God’s name. This kind of meditation, called Naam Simran, is a central teaching of Sikhism. Sikhs also must practice honesty, charity, and community service.
The holy book of Sikhism is the Guru Granth Sahib, also called the Adi Granth (First Book). It contains the teachings of the human Sikh gurus (spiritual teachers) and others and is considered the final guru. It serves as an eternal guide for Sikhs and as the basis of all worship. The Guru Granth Sahib is kept in a place of worship called a gurdwara, meaning doorway to the guru. The gurdwara, at the heart of any Sikh community, is a place to meditate, spend time with fellow believers, and listen to readings from the Guru Granth Sahib. It is also a place where Sikhs practice langar (free kitchen), which involves members of a Sikh community preparing vegetarian food for their congregation.
Sikhs believe strongly in family life. They reject asceticism (self-denial or self-punishment for religious reasons) and celibacy (unmarried life).
History.
Sikhism’s founder, Guru Nanak, was born in 1469 in a village called Talwandi, in Punjab (now Nankana Sahib, in Pakistan). According to tradition, when he was about 30 years old, he received a revelation from God while bathing in the River Bein. Nanak undertook long and difficult journeys to spread God’s word. He taught the oneness of God and the equality of all human beings. Upon his death, Nanak chose a successor, to whom he gave the title guru, to continue his work. In all, there were 10 human gurus, each having equal status. Most Sikhs believe Guru Nanak’s spirit passed from guru to guru. They often refer to the gurus as Nanak I, Nanak II, and so on.
In 1526, northern India was conquered by Muslims from what is now Afghanistan, who founded the Mughal Empire. The 10 human gurus lived under Mughal rule, a period of persecution for Sikhs. Mughal authorities killed the 5th guru in 1606 and the 9th guru in 1675. In 1699, in response to continued persecution, the 10th guru, Gobind Singh, created the Sikh military community known as the Khalsa, meaning fraternity of the pure. He instructed Sikhs to be baptized and dedicate their lives to spiritual progress, service, and fighting oppression. He introduced the symbols of Sikhism known as the five k’s—the kara (steel bangle), kirpan (a small sword), kes (uncut hair), kangha (comb), and kachh (short breeches). He instructed all men to add the name Singh, meaning lion, to their name and all women the name Kaur, meaning princess.
