Sikhism
From Wikireligion
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*[http://www.sikhs.org/topics.htm Sikhs.org] | *[http://www.sikhs.org/topics.htm Sikhs.org] | ||
Revision as of 18:00, 29 May 2007
Sikhism is a religion. The followers are called "Sikhs". and their holy book is the Guru Granth Sahib. It has 20 million followers, that makes it the fifth largest religion in the world. It is most popular in Asia.
Sikhism started in 1469. It was founded by Guru Nanak Dev, the first of the "Ten Gurus". It took on a distinct identity in 1699, celebrated by Vaisakhi. This is when Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru, started the baptism with Khande di Pahul, and the sikhs were to required to keep the 5 K's. This is also called the birth of the Khalsa.
Like Christianity, Islam, and Judaism they believe in one God who is the creator of everything.
Contents |
Beliefs
Some basic beliefs
- There is only one God. He is the creator of everything, can destroy it, and keeps the universe running.
- God cannot become a human being.
- The goal of life is to shed the illusion of Maya. This is attainable by meditating on the divine name, in the company of the sadh sangat.
- The Guru Granth Sahib is the one and only living Guru.
- Women are equal to men.
- Working diligently and honestly
- Sharings one's fruits.
- Helping one's community
God
God, or Waheguru lasts forever, can't be seen, and has no body. He created the universe, can destroy it, and keeps it running. He is infite. He is the one and only god in Sikhism. Sikh's worship him, and meditate on his name. They believe everything is a part of god.
Salvation
Members are all trying to reach salvation, meaning they are trying to break the process of rebirth and become one with god. The thing that is keeping people from reaching union is bad karma. Bad karma is caused by pride, anger, greed, attachment and lust. Followers try to stay away from these things.
The ten gurus and religious authority
The term guru comes from the Sanskrit gurū, which means teacher, guide, or mentor. The traditions and philosophy of Sikhism were established by ten specific gurus from 1469 to 1708. Each guru added to and reinforced the message taught by the previous, and this resulted in the creation of the Sikh religion.
| # | Name | Date of Birth | Guruship on | Date of Death | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nanak Dev | April 15 1469 | August 20 1507 | September 22 1539 | 69 |
| 2 | Angad Dev | March 31 1504 | September 7 1539 | March 29 1552 | 48 |
| 3 | Amar Das | May 5 1479 | March 26 1552 | September 1 1574 | 95 |
| 4 | Ram Das | September 24 1534 | September 1 1574 | September 1 1581 | 46 |
| 5 | Arjun Dev | April 15 1563 | September 1 1581 | May 30 1606 | 43 |
| 6 | Har Gobind | June 19 1595 | May 25 1606 | February 28 1644 | 48 |
| 7 | Har Rai | January 16 1630 | March 3 1644 | October 6 1661 | 31 |
| 8 | Har Krishan | July 7 1656 | October 6 1661 | March 30 1664 | 7 |
| 9 | Teg Bahadur | April 1 1621 | March 20 1665 | November 11 1675 | 54 |
| 10 | Gobind Singh | December 22 1666 | November 11 1675 | October 7 1708 | 41 |
And the eternal Guru is the Guru Granth Sahib, which is a book.
5 K's
The 5 K's are the things Sikhs wear at all times. They are:
- Keeping their hair and beard uncut. This is considered the most important of the 5 K's. This is called Kesh
- Having a wooden comb in their hair. This is called Kangha.
- Having a iron bracelet. This is for protection and physical reminder that a Sikh is bound to the Guru. This is called Kara.
- They wear cotton underwear that does not always have to be used as underwear. This is called Katchera.
- And a sword. This is worn to defend one's faith and protect the weak. This is called Kirpan.
Holy Books
Guru Granth Sahib
The Guru Granth Sahib is Punjabi for book; Sahib is Hindi meaning master, from Arabic, meaning companion, friend, owner, or master. It is the holy book of the Sikh and Ravidasi religions. Sikhs consider it to be more than just a holy book. The Sikhs treat this book as a living Guru. The holy book has 1430 pages and has what is said to be the words siad by the Sikh Gurus and other Saints from other religions including Hinduism, and Islam.
Adi Granth
The Adi Granth is an early compilation of the Sikhism holy books by Guru Arjan, the fifth Sikh Guru. Often, the term is used to refer to the Guru Granth Sahib, but the Guru Granth Sahib is an expansion of the Adi Granth which was written in 1604.
