sikhism sikhs reject the assertion that it’s a reform movement of hinduism and islam. instead,...
TRANSCRIPT
Sikhism
Sikhs reject the assertion that it’s a reform movement of Hinduism and Islam.
Instead, Sikhs believe it came from the divine inspiration of Guru Nanak and the
nine gurus who succeeded him.
Origins and Development
Founded by Guru Nanak
Punjab, India
Late 15th century
Sikh: “Follower”
19 million Sikhs worldwide
Punjab; Northwestern India
2 million in the United States and parts of what used to be British colonies
The Punjab Region
Estimated Sikh Population
Origins and Developments Continued….
Young Religion
Monotheistic; Waheguru (great teacher)
Scholars have indicated they think Sikhism evolved as a Hindu reform movement, or as a mixture of Hinduism and Islam
Sikhs reject this notion; divine inspiration of Guru Nanak
Guru NanakBorn a Hindu in Punjab in 1469
Worked for a local Muslim politician
Impressed everyone with his wisdom and knowledge
Part of a group that would sit by a river and pray and discuss religion
Absent from this routine for three days; didn’t speak for a day upon his return
When he did, he said, “There is neither Hindu or Muslim so whose path should I follow? I shall follow God’s path. God is neither Hindu nor Muslim and the path I follow is God’s.”
Guru Nanak Continued…After his revelation (late 20s), left his wife and two sons to search for wisdom
After about 20 years, he acquired farmland and settled in central Punjab
Founded the town of Kartarpur and became the Guru Nanak
The Path of Guru Nanak
Traveled and taught in far outlying areas of the Punjab region
Set up communities of followers
Spoke out against inequities (Hindu caste system)
Stressed all people were equal
Mardan, Nanak’s childhood friend accompanied him
They would sing hymns to the local populace while getting the message out
Wore mixture of Hindu and Muslim garb; “on tour”
Appealed to both Hindu and Moslem audiences
His hymns were written down to become the core of the Sikh sacred text, the Adi Granth (original book)
The Travels of Guru Nanak
The Path of Guru Nanak Continued…
Nanak established the Sikh community at Kartarpur upon his return
He settled with his wife and sons
Most people thought he would appoint one of his sons as the successor
But, because of insistence on equality, he chose Lehna, a man who had become an ardent disciple
Nanak blessed Lehna and gave him a new name, Angad, and anointed him with the saffron mark on his forehead
When Nanak gathered his followers together for prayers, he invited Angad to occupy the seat of the guru
The Path of Guru Nanak Continued…
The myth of Guru Nanak’s death says he asked for flowers to be placed on either side of him; Hindus on the right and Muslims on the left
He then asked his disciples to pray, covered himself with a sheet and died the next morning September 22, 1539
Central BeliefsTo understand how the Sikhs developed, it helps to know the 10 gurus
Guru=Great Teacher
Pieces of Sikh history can be related to a particular guru, each having a religious or political influence on the religion
The period from the first guru to the last was, roughly speaking, from mid-1500s to the late 1600s
The GurusGuru Nanak (1469-1539)
founded the Sikh religion
Guru Angad (1504-1552)
Originally a Hindu. Devised a script that was used for writing Sikh scriptures
Guru Amar Das (1479-1574)
Collected the hymns of Nanak and added his own
Developed langar: The communal meal, devised a social kitchen to remove caste distinctions and establish social harmony
Langar
Gurus Continued…
Guru Ram Das (1534-1581) Son in law of Guru Amar DasFounded Amristar, a Sikh holy city, in which he initiated pilgrimagesBegan construction of the Golden templeContributed to Guru Granth Sahib; wrote the Sikh wedding hymn
Guru Arjan (1563-1606)Youngest son of Guru Ram DasCompiled the Adi Granth (the most important part of the Guru
Granth Sahib)Completed the building of the Golden TempleMade the Sikhs popular; Muslims began to see them as a growing menace Emperor of Muslim Mughals had him tortured and killed
The Golden Temple
Gurus Continued… Guru Hargobind (1595-1644)
Son of Guru Arjan
Instilled a sense of Sikh militancy
Tried to organized Sikhs and Hindus against the Mughals
Perfected the dress code introduced by his father; tradition of wearing two swords (one signifying political authority and the other religious authority)
Guru Har Rai (1630-1661)
Reprisal of the Mughal conflict held his son hostage
Opened hospitals; medicine and treatment was free
Guru Har Krishan (1656-1664)
“Boy Guru”
Succeeded his father (Guru Har Rai) at age 5
Contracted smallpox and died
Gurus Continued…
Guru Tegh Bahadur
Second son of Guru Hargobind
“Brave sword” given to him because of his resistance to an oppressive emperor
Gained a reputation for feeding the hungry
Wrote many hymns
Predicted the downfall of the Mughals
Beheaded after refusing to accept Islam
Gurus Guru Gobind Singh Most famous after Nanak Organized Sikhs to oppose tyranny of Mughals Established military defense group Khalsa
Chosen raceSoldier-saintsGive up lives, defend the weak, uphold faith
Gave all Sikhs “singh” (lion for men) “kaur” (princess for women); rid caste system
Declared the authority of the Guru Granth Sahib for Sikh governing; treated like human being
The Warrior AttitudeThe Sikhs developed a warrior attitude because of the violence against them by the Mughals.
This attitude was reinforced when the Khlasa was founded
The five tenets, known as the “Ks” were instituted
Kesh: Uncut hair
Kanhga: Comb
Kirpan: Sword
Kara: Steel bracelet
Kachch: Short Pants for use in battle
The Five Ks
The Five Ks
Central BeliefsBased on the disciple of purification and overcoming the five vices: greed, anger, false pride, lust and attachments to material goods
At end of person’s life, the good and bad conduct are and the results determine the family, race and character of the person when reborn
No direct belief of heaven and hell, but those who were selfish and cruel in the current life will suffer in their next existence and vice versa for compassion and honesty
Soul develops as it passes through incarnations until it becomes united with the infinite one.
Opposed to austere asceticism; saintliness is achieved as active members of society
Prohibits idolatry, caste system, wine and tobacco
Importance placed on a good, moral life that includes loyalty, gratitude, philanthropy, justice, truth and honesty
Central Beliefs
Holy Writings and Worship
The Adi Granth or Guru Granth Sahib is the only canonical work
6,000 hymns composed by the first five gurus: Nanak, Angad, Amar Das, Ram Das and Arjan
Occupies the focal point in all Sikh Temples
The Gurdwara (doorway to the Guru) contains a cot under a canopy on which a copy of the
Adi Granth is placed on cushions and covered by elaborate decorations
Holy Writings and WorshipAll who enter the gurdwara must cover their heads, take off their shoes and wash their feet
Services may take place at any time
Worshipers will bow in front of the Adi Granth, prayers will be said, chanting of hymns and a communal meal (langar)
In their homes, Sikhs will set aside a room to hold a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib (also called a gurdwara)
Many Sikhs will recite versus during their daily activities
The Guru Granth Sahib
The Guru Granth Sahib
Rituals and CustomsThe Naming Ceremony
After the birth, the parents take the child to the gurdwara
Hymns are sung that express gratitude for the birth of the baby
The Adi Granth is opened at random and the child is given his/her name beginning with the letter of the first letter of the first word on the left page Parents take some time to think about it, then they choose what they want the name to be
More hymns are sung
Rituals and CustomsSikh Wedding Ceremonies
Can be an arrangement between families; can reject the person
Seen as the joining of two families
Bride wears red and gold, head is covered with a red scarf, hands and feet are decorated with henna, wears lots of gold jewelry.
Groom wears a colored turban and scarf, and carries a long sword
Father of bride will pass one end of the groom’s scarf to the bride to signify passing of responsibility for care of his daughter
Wedding hymn is sung and the couple walk around the Guru Granth Sahib four times, bowing as they finish each circle
Families follow around the holy book
Rituals and Customs
Rituals and CustomsDeath
Could be a new beginning because of their belief in reincarnation
Not necessary to mourn excessively
Hymns may be read from the Guru Granth Sahib
Prayers said for peace of the soul
Period of mourning lasts ten days
Relatives visit and pay their condolences
Body is washed an dressed
Cremated and ashes scattered in river or sea
Festivals and CeremoniesMany ceremonies are held to celebrate the birth and death of the ten gurus
Two to commemorate the deaths of martyrs
Festival for the anniversary of the Baisakhi, the date the Khlasa was founded
All festivals are marked by a continuous forty eight hour reading of the Guru Granth Sahib
Festivals and Ceremonies
Diversification into Modern SocietyHistory over the past 500 years has been tumultuous and
bloody
Violent fighting between the Sikhs and Hindus because of British propagations
The subcontinent was partitioned into India and Pakistan in 1947
The Sikh population was divided equally on both sides of the boundary line
In 1984, Indian troops attacked the Golden Temple
It was believed that the angry reaction of Sikhs led to the assassination of the Indian Prime Minister by Sikh members of her bodyguard
This reaction led to riots and the massacre of many Sikhs
Diversification into Modern Society