fifteenth/sixteenth century India

meeting of Hindu and Muslim thought, civilizations

Ninian Smart: "In a way, the history of the Siks illustrates from a general point that when religion A meets religion B it may turn out that a blend. AB occurs, which becomes by the force of circumstance a third force - in effect a new religion" (The World's Religions, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press,1989 p 387)

ORIGINS

Sikhs believe that their religion was REVEALED

Hindu tradition of holy man/Guru / Sufi tradition of Pir- some Muslims (eg Kabir, attracted Hindu as well as Muslim disciples)

Guru, Nanak, 1469 - 1539 (a Punjabi Ksatriya) Stories of precocious childhood; aged 7 months sat in posture of Yogi.

early interest in various religious options

enlightenment

aged 30, underwent spiritual experience (actually disappeared for 3 days while bathing, then reappeared)

God gave him amrit (nectar) and said,, "This is the cup of the adoration of God’s name. Drink it. I am with you. I bless you and raise you up. Whoever remembers you will enjoy my favour. Go, rejoice in my name and teach others to do so. I have bestowed the gift of my name upon you. Let this be your calling".

FIRST SERMON

"There is no Hindu, there is no Mussulman, so whose path shall I follow? I shall follow God’s path. God is neither Hindu nor Mussulman and the path which I shall follow is God’s"

true godliness transcends the labels we wear!

basic beliefs

with Hindus, Sikhs believe in Samsara (cycle of birth/re-birth), in Karma (action - determines personal destiny);

aim is moksa (liberation) BUT there is one path, not many

no images of God (God is nirguna - without attributes; does not manifest/has no avataras).

God is in the heart, not in murtis (images)

there is no class/caste, no need of priestly mediator (in common with Islam)

human pride, greed, self-centredness (haumai) trap us in samsara

This state of manmukh is to be replaced by gurmukh (god-consciouness - similar to Bhakti tradition)

through - Nam Simran /Japna (constant repetition of God’s Name - as in Bhakti and Sufi traditions).

through obeying God’s word (gurbani)

through selfless service of others (seva)

God is the Sat Guru (true Guru - communicates through the human Guru,, God’s spokesperson: Gu = darkness, ru = enlightenment).

ashrama is singular - householder (marriage, family, not asceticism)

by God’s nadir (grace) the liberated with live eternally in God’s presence.

Sikhs’ sum up their religion as: nam japna, kirt kani, vand chakna (remembering God’s name, earning an honest living, giving to charity).

"Not the ascetic way, But a life of truth and love amid the world’s temptations, is the secret of spiritual life. Put away thy pride. The essence of religion is humility, service, sympathy, Not the Yogi’s garb and ashes, Not long prayers. Not recitation and self-torturing. As fragrance dwells in a flower, and reflection in a mirror, So does God dwell in every soul. Seek Him therefore, in thyself"

The Basic Mantra

Ik Onkar (There is only One God)

Sat Nam (Truth is His Name)

Karta Purakh (the creator)

Nir Vair (without hate)

Akaal Moorat (Immortal)

Ajooni (beyond births and deaths)

Saibhang (self-illuminated, the Enlightener)

Gur Parsaad (realized through the kindness of God).

Nanak

travelled widely, wrote hymns, preached - used local language (not Sanskrit)

attracted SIKHS (literally - students)

20 years before death, appointed/anointed Lehna (renamed ANGAD) as successor (using symbols representing universe and the 5 elements).

taught gender equality (sister was Ist disciple)

hated injustice/ anti-caste: instituted langar (anchor) or common table

Sikhs must lose

Kirt - wrong notion about work eg as below you

kul - pride of birth/caste

karm - attaching importance to ritual detail

dharm - communal rather than universal outlook.

The Ten Gurus (Nanak +

Angad (1539 - 52)

Amar Das (1552 - 74)

Ram Das (1574 - 81)

Arjan (1581 - 1606)

Hargobind (1606 - 44)

Har Rai (1644 - 64)

Har Krishnan (1661 - 64)

Tegh Bahadur (1664- 75)

Gobind Singh (1675 - 1708)

their contributions - highlights

Angad - consolidated, wrote some hymns), collected Nanak’s, formalized Gurmukhi (script)

Amar Das - denounced sati, appointed some women as preachers (peerahs), organized followers in regions under sangratias (heads)

Ram Das - founded AMRITSAR (pool of Nectar) as Sikh center (need for focal point/sacred place?). Known as Sacha Padsha (True Sovereign)

Arjan - built Golden Temple (Harmandir) - 4 doors = open to all classes - built low (stepping downward = humility). Complied ADI GRANTH (first scripture - contains Hindu and Muslim compositions as well as the hymns of the Sikh Gurus.

became embroiled in Mughal politics - and was executed (first Sikh martyr).

Hargobind - began tradition of armed self-defence (following father’s advice, "to sit fully armed on the throne and maintain an army to the best of his ability". SIKHISM becomes PIRI and MIRI (two swords - spiritual and temporal realms/powers. Friend of Emperor Jenagir (1605 - 27) - as much Prince as Sadhu.

Har Rai and Har Krishnan - embroiled with Mughals, who now wanted to "control" the Guru. (kept Har Rai’s son as a "rival")

Emperor Akbar ( 1556 - 1605) was interested in all religions and worked to unify his realm - stressed common ground.

successors began process of Islamization, which resulted in CONFLICT with Hindus and Sikhs.

Tegh Bahadur - faced forcible conversion, heavy taxes - arrested by Emperor, executed when refused to convert - regarded by Sikhs as dying in defence of religious liberty (defending Hindus as well as Sikhs),

Gobind Singh - Vaisakhi 1699, established KHALSA = community of the pure (Amrit ceremony/ initiated) instituted 5 k’s; AND installed Granth as GURU (revised - adding g father’s poems but none of his own)- and Khalsa as its guardian/interpreter.

AMRIT CEREMONY

Guru Gobind Singh entered tent

asked four volunteers who would give him their heads

one, two, three, four, five did so. Each time, the Guru emerged alone with blood stained sword.

Then he emerged with the 5 (Panj Piare) and gave them Nectar, stirred with two-edged sword.

thousands followed

Code of Discipline proclaimed.

initiated men became SINGH (lions), women KAUR (princesses)

men and women of all castes took Amrit

Amrit = full membership of Khalsa

"backsliders" can be re-initiated

kesh (uncut hair) = natural style

kangha - comb - cleanliness/purity

kara - bandle =link with Khalsa (unbroken circle)

kaccha - knee length white breeches = strict moral code

kirpan - short sword = readiness to defend Sikh cause.

Gurdwara

house of the GURU (where the Scripture is housed)

replaced earlier DHARSALAS (hostels, prayer. hymn venue)

Gurdwaras must have langars

Book is central/on cushions, under a canopy (takht =- throne) all approach and bow.

at night, is wrapped up and put to bed in highest room in Gurdwara.

constantly read by Ganthi - opened randomly (chauri - waved over to protect from insects).

kirtans (hymns) sung (often accompanied by music)

kara pashad is distributed (first to the 5, and then to the couple) Granthi).

towards end, set hymns are sung and the ceremony concludes with the Ardas

name-giving - Guru Granth randomly opened, first letter of first word on left-hand page used to choose name.

duty

celebrated during mornings

begins with morning hymn

bride/groom sit facing Guru Granth

stand for blessing

explanation will be given - two souls unite.

assent is publicly witnessed

bride’s father garlands Guru Granth, bride and groom and ties her to him (joins their scarfs).

Note similarity with portrayal of Hindu gods - under canopy or tree, sitting on GADDI, with consort or companion waving a wand or peacock fan.

Guru Nanak similarly pictured

The Lavan (wedding hymn composed by Ram Das) is read, verse by verse (liberation is possible without passing through the four ashramas)

after each verse, couple walk around Guru Granth, groom leading, re-seat, listen, then circumambulate ....

repeated four times (last circle flowers are thrown).

1710 - imperial edict to kill all Sikhs

strengthened resolve to survive

Ranjit Singh led rebellion in PUNJAB, 1799 ruled as Maharajah.

kingdom survived until; British annexation (1749).

many Sikhs "re-verted" to Hinduism - Arya Sanaj was influential (or were Sikh Hindus)

caste and gender distinctions "crept in"

reform movements tried to return to pure Sikhism

eg Nirankari - Baba Dayal (1783 - 1854) - enlightened at 18/ purged Hindu practices eg statues/images in Gurdwaras/regard all Sikhs as pure (whether Amritdhari, or not)/ he instituted the naming and marriage ceremonies/ followers revere Guru Granth, first, then their own Guru as guide and interpreter of the Guru Granth and of the teachings of the ten. HQ at Chandigarh.

Namdhari - Guru Ram Sing (1816 - 84) stressed nam simran

rejected many practices - purdah, infant marriages, dowries.

encouraged vegetarianism

Sikh self - help; boycotted British - joined independence movement

have a living Guru (deputy of Ram Singh)

Singh Sabha

founded to resist Christian and Hindu mission

set out to re-gain control of Gurdwaras (many now in non-Sikh hands - achieved Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925

early loyalty to British replaced by opposition - money donated by American Gurdwaras

1847 - Punjab divided; movement for Khalistan begins.

Ravi Das (1414 - 1526) chamar (leather worker) poet (41 hymns in Guru Granth

late 1800’s, chamars became Sikh but were not socially accepted

set up own Gurdwaras; revere Guru Granth and the 10m but also Ravi Das; shrine at Varanasi (birthplace).

still strong in Punjab (18 million)

diaspora - taken Sikhs throughout the world

20 million total

strong community in North America

Canada - Sikh studies supported

general - rediscovery of "roots" eg gender, caste issues.

Some Sikhs campaign for an independent Punjab (Khalistan). In June, 1984 the Indian Army took control of the Golden Temple (Operation Bluestar) where members of the separatist group, the Akali Dal. See my review of Darshan Singh Taha's The Sikh Diaspora: The Search for Statehood Go to this review

© 2002 Clinton Bennett