I was reading Niranjan's post on religion and it occured to me that very few people know what the importance of the Sikh religion is.
So, satsriakal ji,greetings, and welcome to my world.
Influenced by the devotional emphasis of bhakti Hinduism and Sufi Islam, Sikhism stresses the unity, truth, and creativity of a personal God and urges union with him through meditation on his title, the Name (Nam), and surrender to his will.
It also advocates active service rather than the ideal of ascetic withdrawal. Loyalty and justice are admired, smoking and intoxicants forbidden. Sikhism also rejects the caste system, priesthood, image worship, and pilgrimage, although it retains the doctrines of transmigration and karma.
The ultimate spiritual authority is the Adi Granth, consisting of hymns by the ten Sikh gurus (Hindi for “teachers”) and Hindu and Muslim devotional poetry in several languages. All Sikhs may read the Adi Granth, which is the focus of devotion at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Sikh religious center.
Sikhs are expected to join the Khalsa (Punjabi for “pure”), a religious and military order. Initiates are “baptized” by drinking sweetened water stirred with a sword
Members of the Khalsa are instructed to observe the five k’s: They must wear four symbols of the Sikh faith—soldiers’ shorts (kaccha), an iron bangle (kara), a steel sword (kirpan), and a comb (khanga)—and they must not cut their hair (kes).
Nanak, the saintly first guru, wandered over India seeking converts. He was succeeded by nine gurus, the office staying within the family line of the fourth guru, Ram Das. Ram Das was also the founder of the Golden Temple. The fifth, Arjan Dev, compiled the Adi Granth, the holy book, in 1604. As the Sikhs became a distinct religious community, they took up arms against persecution by Hindus and by Muslim rulers of the Mughal Empire. Opposing Mughal tyranny, the tenth guru, Gobind Singh, formed the Khalsa in 1699. During the decline of the Mughals, the Sikhs, led by the warrior Ranjit Singh, created a powerful state in the Punjab about 1800 that eventually threatened British-controlled India. After internal dissension and two wars the Punjab was annexed by the British in 1849.
During a period of Sikh persecution, Gobind Singh asked those who were willing to die for their faith to join him. He named the first five willing to risk their lives the panj pyares, or "faithful ones," and proclaimed them the first members of the Khalsa.
This Khalsa, at that time, was an army of brave men who stood up to the tortures of Arungzeb on the Hindus and Muslims. The whole barh baje concept has an actual history. Arungzeb used to 'collect' hindu and muslim women and have them transported elswhere for his own work and pleasure. "Barah Baje" was the signal used by the members of the Khalsa to warn the others that the train carrying these women was about to leave, and that they were to now move forward and do their duty, in saving them.
History itself tells the tale about these brave men. Each of our gurus were tortured at the hands of the Mughal Empire. From being made to sit in a vessel containing hot water on a burning flame, being be-headed to raising a brick wall around Guru Gobind Singhji's children, when alive.
For Nanak, the principal obstacle to achieving sahaj was the influence of haumai, or self-centeredness. As a result of haumai, the human soul inevitably loses itself in the temporary pleasures of existence (maya).
Nanak held that the most effective remedy for the effects of haumai was spiritual introspection, especially the regular practice of nam simran, or repetition of the divine name. As a result of an all-consuming commitment to truth, and with the assistance and guidance of the Guru, one could become steadily more aware of the cosmic shabad (sound), of which all existence—and hence also the devotee—was simply a form. Meditation on these truths would gradually permit devotees to become aware of the anahad shabad, (unstruck music) within themselves, and by progressively working against the otherwise undisciplined self, enable the devotee to advance further toward the ultimate goal of sahaj.
Gobind Singh (1666–1708), Indian religious leader, the tenth and last guru (teacher) of Sikhism, and founder of the Sikh brotherhood known as the Khalsa. On Gobind Singh’s death, the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, replaced the line of human gurus as the teacher and guide of the Sikhs.
So, in layman's language, here is one religion that came into existence so as to remove all differences amongst people. And to this day, I can proudly say, that we've succeeded. So, much so, that each gurudwara,temple, provides free restrooms for poor travellers. The concept of langar, serving food, is still un- corrupted and followed. By un-corrupted, I mean, the whole point of feeding the poor, is still lived up to. There is no discrimination along the lines of who is and who isn't allowed in the gurudwara's. In fact the only rules that we have to follow are the 5 k's. That's it. Sikhs learn from the writings of their Holy book, that was written by learned men, who provided the much needed faith we needed in the existence of God.
Oh! There's beauty in every religion and how they look at God. Jesus resurrected from the cross, Rama killed Ravana... I respect it. I hate the part where the discrimination starts. The part where the untouchables, that's what they really are even today, not enter temples ( or whereever) makes me angry. And that's why all I can really say is... 'proud to be a sikh!!
Whow~ .. thats a lot of thought :)
ur alive!!!!!
:D
does the comment mean its a good thought or a bad thought??
did u go thru the other posts i put up??
NICE POST
I PROUD TO BE A SIKH TOO....
IM GOING TO THE GURUDWARA RIGHT AWAY!!
nice...but refer to me as something other than "niranjan"
:D
too annoying...how bt "tafka" the artist formerly known as....
thanks. nice post, succinctly written and now i know a little more about sikhism.