UPSC Preparation
Sikhism
The word Sikh is derived from the Sanskrit word Shishya, meaning disciple or learner. The Sikh
religion originated with the advent of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh Religion. It was developed
through the successive Gurus who appeared in the form of the same divine light and reached its climax
with the creation of Khalsa by the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
History of Sikhism
Sikhism was born at a time when there was a growing conflict amongst the two dominating
religious traditions of Hinduism and Islam in India.
Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith, is generally depicted as a reconciler of the two
conflicting traditions.
Guru Nanak got his enlightenment in Sultanpur in 1496.
After enlightenment, he travelled extensively to spread the message of love and brotherhood.
The number of Guru Nanak’s followers increased through the sixteenth century under his
successors.
They belonged to a number of castes, but traders, agriculturists, artisans and craftsmen
predominated. They were also expected to contribute to the general funds of the community of
followers.
By the beginning of the seventeenth century, the town of Ramdaspur (Amritsar) had developed
around the central Gurdwara called Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple). It was virtually self-
governing, and modern historians refer to the early seventeenth century Sikh community as ‘a
state within the state’.
About Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith, was born in Talwandi (near Lahore in Pakistan), now
known as Nankana Sahib in Pakistan and belonged to Bedi gotra in 1469.
Guru Nanak received his early education in Sanskrit and Persian.
He was one of the greatest saints of the Bhakti movement.
Guru Nanak (1469–1539) was the first Guru.
He travelled widely before establishing a centre at Kartarpur (Dera Baba Nanak on the river
Ravi).
Regular worship that consisted of the singing of his own hymns was established there for his
followers.
Irrespective of their former creed, caste or gender, his followers ate together in the common
kitchen (langar).
The sacred space thus created by Guru Nanak, known as dharmsal. It is now known as
Gurdwara.
The three important percepts of Guru Nanak are:
o Contemplation of One God (nam- japna);
o Earning one’s livelihood (kirat karna) and
o Sharing one’s earnings with others (vand chhakna).
To practise his teachings of equality, Guru Nanak started the twin institutions of Sangat and
Pangat, emphasizing that all sit in a congregation and while partaking food from the community
kitchen should sit in one line without distinction of high and low or rich and poor.
Guru Nanak preached through kirtans, bhajans and ragas.
Before his death in 1539, Guru Nanak appointed one of his followers as his successor.
His name was Lehna, but he came to be known as Guru Angad, signifying that he was a part of
Guru Nanak himself.
To know:
Nankana Sahib is the popular name for the birthplace of Guru Nanak. It was renamed
Nankana after the Guru.
It was renamed Nankana after the Guru.
Teachings of Sikh Religion
The teachings of Sikh Religion are as follows:
God - Sikhism believes in the monotheistic concept of One God, who is Transcendent and
Immanent; Impersonal and Personal; Nirguna and Sarguna.
Soul - There is an identical relation between God and soul, which is mentioned as ‘the Lord
abides in the soul and the soul in the Lord.’ The aim of man’s life is to rediscover the real nature
of the self which is in no way different from God, but indulgence in mundane aspirations
reinforce his ego and strengthens this false notion of separateness.
Divine Will - In the Sikh religion, the concept of Divine Will (hukam) as an imperative has a
specific metaphysical significance. Divine Will is all-pervasive and immanent and manifests itself
in different ways which are incomprehensible to the human mind. Not only the creation but also
the sustenance of the universe is in accordance with the Divine Will.
Divine Grace - It is often referred to in the scripture as kirpa, karam, Prasad, mehar, daya or
bakhsis. One cannot understand God through cleverness, but He can be realized through
Grace.
Salvation - The immortality of the soul is also conceived in the sense of realization of the
eternity of values in the temporal world. Karma and rebirth are closely related to the moral life
of man.
The Ten Sikh Gurus
There were a total of ten Sikh Gurus. Guru Nanak was followed by nine successive Gurus who not only
continued his precepts and ideals but made significant contributions in evolving different institutions for
the Sikh community.
Name of the Guru Description About the Sikh Gurus
Guru Nanak (1469 - 1539) He is the first Sikh Guru.
He is the founder of Sikhism.
Guru Angad Dev (1504 - 1552) He is the second Sikh Guru.
Guru Angad compiled the compositions of Guru
Nanak, to which he added his own in a new script
known as Gurmukhi.
Gurmukhi became the sole medium for the sacred
writings of the Sikhs.
Guru Granth, the holy book of Sikhs, is written in
Gurmukhi script.
Guru Amar Dass (1479 - 1574) He is the third Sikh Guru.
He strengthened the Sikh movement by starting the
institutions of Manjis and Piris.
Guru Ram Dass (1534 - 1581) He is the fourth Sikh Guru.
He laid the foundation of the holy city of Amritsar,
which later developed as the spiritual capital of the
Sikh faith.
Guru Arjun Dev (1563 - 1606) He is the fifth Sikh Guru.
He was the son and successor of Guru Ram Dass.
He built the Harmandar, which is popularly known as
the Golden Temple, and compiled and installed the
Holy Book, the Guru Granth, therein.
Guru Hargobind (1595 - 1644) He is the sixth Sikh Guru.
He built Akal Takhat, the Throne of the Immortal, and
declared it as the centre of Sikh temporal authority.
Guru Har Rai (1630 - 1661) He is the seventh Sikh Guru.
He continued the mission of his predecessors.
Guru Har Kishan (1656 - 1664) He is the eighth Sikh Guru.
He cured the victims of small-pox in Delhi and is
remembered in the daily Sikh prayer as the one whose
very sight dispels all miseries.
Guru Teg Bahadur (1621 - 1675) He is the ninth Sikh Guru.
Guru Govind Singh (1666 - 1708) He is the tenth and last Sikh Guru.
The last Guru organised the Sikhs into a disciplined,
military order of Sikh-saints called Khalsa (the pure).
He established the five symbols
of Sikhism:
o Kangha (comb),
o Kesh (long hair),
o Kada (iron bracelet),
o Kachcha (underwear) and
o Kirpan (sword or dagger).
11th Sikh Guru
Nine gurus followed Guru Nanak and there is no living human successor, but the Guru Granth
Sahib, the Sikh holy book, is considered the 11th Sikh Guru and eternal.
Apart from the hymns of the Sikh Gurus, the Guru Granth Sahib also contains the composition
of the Muslim and Hindu saints, some of them belonging to the so-called lower caste of the
Hindu society.
Therefore, the Sikh Holy Book can be considered as a unique example of ecumenical spirit of
the Sikh faith.
Sikh Institutions
The disciples of Sikhism come to the sacred places to take the blessings of Guru Granth Sahib, the
holy book and eternal Guru of Sikhs.
The most sacred Sikh Shrines and Heritage are listed and briefed below:
Takhts
The worship places of Sikhs are known as the Takhts which literally means ‘the seat of the
divine power’.
There are only five Takhts.
It is said that ‘Takhts’ are places where various social and political settlements were done by the
Gurus.
The Five Takhts Description
Akal Takht Sahib It is founded by Guru Hargobind Singh.
Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib It is a place where Khalsa panth originated.
Takht Sri Damdama Sahib It is a place where the complete version of Guru Granth Sahib
was written by Guru Gobind Singh.
Takht Sri Hazur Sahib It is a place where Guru Gobind Singh last breathed. It is located
on the bank of River Godavari in the ‘Sanctified City’ of Nanded
in Maharashtra.
Takht Sri Patna Sahib It is situated on the banks of the River Ganga.
Gurdwaras
Gurudwara stands for ‘the doorway to the master’.
In India, there are several Gurudwaras but only five Takhts.
Lakhs of people, particularly the Sikhs, visit the Gurudwaras to commemorate the Gurus.
Therefore, Gurudwaras hold significance from pilgrimage point of view.
Two popular Gurudwaras in India are:
o Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab
It is called the Golden Temple owing to the gilded dome that adorns the crown of
the Gurudwara.
It is the most sacred for the Sikhs.
The town was founded by Guru Ram Dass, the fourth Sikhs Guru in 1577 on the
land gifted by Akbar.
The fifth Guru Arjun Dev completed the temple.
When Maharaja Ranjit Singh covered the upper half of the temple, first with
copper and then with pure gold leaf, it came to be known as the Swarna Mandir.
o Bangla Sahib in Delhi
It is one of the most impressive and fascinating edifices in India and is intricately
linked with the history of Sikhism.
The other Sikh shrines in India include:
o Gurudwara Paonta Sahib, Himachal Pradesh
o Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, New Delhi
o Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, Delhi
o Hemkund Sahib, Uttarakhand
FAQ about Sikhism
What are the 5K’s that Sikh men are required to possess?
The 5K’s that Sikh men are required to possess are Kangha (comb), Kesh (long hair), Kada (iron
bracelet), Kachcha (underwear) and Kirpan (sword or dagger).
Who is a Guru in Sikhism?
A Guru is a Divine Preceptor. The word Guru literally means one who removes darkness and is an
enlightener.
What is Langar and its significance?
Langar is nothing but a Free community kitchen. It is a unique Sikh institution that has been established
to represent the basic postulates of Sikhism that is earning with honest labour and sharing with others.
This institution of community kitchen has social implications in providing equality to all and sundry
without any discrimination of caste, creed, religion and denomination.