One of the most beautiful religions to observe in India (‘the land of religions’) is Sikhism. The followers of Sikhism are termed Sikhs. The temples of the Sikhs are known as ‘Gurudwaras’. The gurudwaras are present all over the world. The main site of their congregation is Amritsar in India. The gurudwara in Amritsar is known as ‘Sri Harmandir Sahib’. Most commonly it is known as the Golden Temple. Their traditional form of greeting is by joining the palms of both the hands and saying ‘Sat Sri Akal’ (Truth is God). It is the fifth largest practiced religion in the world.
The word ‘Sikh’ originates from the Sanskrit word ‘shishya’ meaning disciple. So if there is a disciple, there has to be a teacher, who is referred to as ‘The Guru’ .The foundations of the religion were laid down by Guru Nanak Dev Ji (the first Guru) in the year 1469, and was carried over centuries by the other nine gurus : Guru Agnad Sahib (1539–1552), Guru Amardaas Sahib (1552-1574), Guru Ramdaas Sahib (1574-1581), Guru Arjan Sahib (1581-1606), Guru Hargobind Sahib (1606–1644), Guru Har Rai Sahib (1644-1661), Guru Harkishan Sahib (1661-1664), Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib (1664-1675), Guru Gobind Singh Sahib (1675-1708). The tenth Guru, i.e., Guru Gobind Singh Sahib decreed the holy scripture ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ as the next guru for all times to come. The Guru Granth Sahib contains the teachings of all the Gurus.
The Sikhs are required to observe the five ‘K’s’, which are:
Kacha: An undergarment representing hygiene and being ever ready to fight when faith calls. It is also supposed to remind one not to indulge in adulterous relationships;
Kesh: Uncut hair in consonance with God’s creation. The hair is normally covered by men and women alike;
Kanga: A wooden comb, to keep the hair clean and neat;
Kirpan: A weapon, representing courage to fight against injustice;
Kara: A steel bangle to remind one of indulging in restrained actions.
These were ordered to be worn by the tenth guru; Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.
The beauty of this religion is its simplicity and rationalism. The basic tenets of this religion are as follows:
- Universality of God (Ek Onkar);
- Service to mankind (Sewa);
- Chanting of God's name (Simran);
- Equality of caste, color, religion. It is represented by the custom of the Community Meal (Langar)
- Denounce unnecessary customs and idol worship;
- Salvation (Moksha) can be achieved by being a family person (Grahasth). Renunciation is not the key to salvation;
- Live ethically and morally;
- Sharing of wealth with the have not’s.
Sikh festivals include Bandi Chor Divas, Baisakhi and Gurpurabs’. The days of Gurpurab mark important days in the history of Sikhism. They are either the birthdays or the days when the Gurus attained martyrdom. These auspicious days are celebrated by visiting the gurudwaras and attending ‘kirtan’ (holy prayers).
The Sikhs are not only known for their beautiful religion, but also for their bravery and valor. They are considered to be fearless and gallant soldiers. From fighting the Mughals and resisting the British, to being active in the Indian Army today, they have always represented courage. They are simple and hardworking. They are known for their entrepreneurship.
Additional information about the Sikh religion can be got from the official site of Shrimoni Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee.