Introduction to Gur Sikhee

WaheGuru Ji Ka Khalsa WaheGuru Ji Ki Fateh

 

Sikhee is barely 500 hundreds years old but with over 20 million Sikhs around the world, is the fifth largest world religion. The Sikhi faith was founded by Guru Nanak Dev Jee the first Guru in the 15th century in the Punjab (the land of 5 rivers). Following partition in 1947, Punjab is now divided between Pakistan and the northern Indian state of Punjab.

 

The word Guru is composed of Gu meaning darkness and Ru meaning Light. In GurSikhee (Sikhism) therefore 'Guru' is the "Light that dispels all darkness" and Guru Nanak Dev Jee was the Embodiment of Divine Light.

 

Sikhee is based on compassion; service; equality between males, females and all religions and encourages an honest, truthful living with a rejection of idol worship, the caste system, ritualism and superstitions.

In Sikhee, heaven and hell are states of mind represented by joy and sorrow, bliss and agony or light and darkness.

 

Sikhee is a distinct religion and shouldn't be viewed as linked to either Islam or Hinduism. Guru Nanak Dev Jee said "I am neither a Hindu nor a Muslim, I am a human being".

 

Guru Nanak Dev Jee spread a simple message of Ek Onkar, we are all one, created by the one Creator of all Creation. He said that there is one God and the name of God is Sat Nam (Eternal Truth). To show it's importance, Ek Onkar  is the first line at the head of all gurbani and forms the first line of the Mool Mantar which begins the Guru Granth Sahib Jee.

 

Guru Nanak Dev Jee's followers were the Sikhs (the Seekers of Truth - Truth being Sat Naam) and came from different communities and castes. Guru Nanak Dev Ji taught the Sikhs to bow only before God and that in order to experience God within themselves they should:

 

Naam Jap Meditate on the Divine Name with love and devotion. Be in tune with the Infinite through meditation on the Divine qualities so that the believer becomes filled with His Name and inculcate such virtues into their own character . And throughout the day, to continually remember God's name.   "maerae man thaj ni(n)dhaa houmai aha(n)kaar || O my mind, give up slander, egotism and arrogance. har jeeo sadhaa dhhiaae thoo guramukh eaeka(n)kaar ||1|| rehaao || Become Gurmukh, and meditate forever on the Dear Lord, the One and Only Creator. ||1||Pause|| guramukhaa kae mukh oujalae gur sabadhee beechaar || The faces of the Gurmukhs are radiant and bright; they reflect on the Word of the Guru's Shabad. halath palath sukh paaeidhae jap jap ridhai muraar || They obtain peace in this world and the next, chanting and meditating within their hearts on the Lord. ghar hee vich mehal paaeiaa gur sabadhee veechaar ||2|| Within the home of their own inner being, they obtain the Mansion of the Lord's Presence, reflecting on the Guru's Shabad. ||2||"                   [Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee Page 29]   Read more here-> "REALIZATION OF THE SHABAD OR NAAM"

Vand Shaknaa Give or share with others (sustenance,time and effort, expertise, etc)  in the society who are less fortunate. It is essentially giving or sharing in selfless love and the spirit of self-sacrifice.   "Jaou laou bhaaou abhaaou ihu maanai taou laou milan dooraaee. Aan aapanaa. Aan aapanaa karat beechaaraa taou laou beech bikhaaee As long as this (mind) believes in likes and dislikes, it is difficult for him to meet the Lord. As long as he entertains the notion of "I, me, mine" and "You" (or others), he will distance himself from the Lord (because until then this mind will act as the veil of Maya between the person and the Lord)"                                   [Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee Page 609]   Read more here-> "VAND SHAKNAA"

Kirat Karnee To practice the right way of living which includes honest or truthful way of labour and work side by side with the search of the Truth. "sachahu ourai sabh ko oupar sach aachaar ||5|| Truth is higher than everything; but higher still is truthful living"                                                                        [Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee Page 62]   "naanak agai so milai j khattae ghaalae dhaee ||1|| O Nanak, in the world hereafter, that alone is received, which one gives to the needy from his own earnings and labour                          [Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee Page 472]

By following this path, a Sikh can achieve liberation by becoming Gurmukh (God centred) instead of being manmukh (self centred) whilst alive.

 

There have been 10 human Gurus in the Sikh religion, each making a distinguished contribution to the development of the religion. Whilst Sikhs hold the Gurus in high regard they are not worshipped; Sikhs only worship one God "Ek Onkar".

Guru Nanak Dev Jee (the first Guru) started the 'Khalsa' Panth, which was finalised by Guru Gobind Singh (the 10th and last human Guru).

 

 

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Guru Gobind Singh Jee passed the GuruShip to the Guru Granth Sahib Jee, the Holy Scriptures. Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the 11th Guru and the final Guru of the Sikhs and serves as the source of spiritual and moral guidance.

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee - the Eternal Guru of the Sikhs comprises compositions of six Sikh Gurus as well as bhaktas, 11 bhats and 4 Sikhs devoted to the Gurus (this latter category of contributions were all men of God originally belonging to different religions, regions, castes and class).

The divine contents of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee is not the ownership of any particular community, religion, caste or class.  There is no priestly class hierarchy. Granthi's are employed simply as custodians of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee.

Darbar Sahib also known as Harmandir Sahib (known to the west as the 'Golden' Temple) at Amritsar in the Indian State of Punjab is the inspirational and historical centre of Sikhism. But it isn't required that a Sikh should undertake a pilgrimage to or worship at Harmandir Sahib. All places, where the Guru Granth Sahib Ji is installed are considered equally holy.

Akal Takhat*** originally known as Akal Bunga. The Akal Takhat sits across from the Harmandir Sahib at a slight angle to show the humility a political authority should have towards a spiritual authority.

Gatka is the traditional martial art of the Sikhs.

NOTE:

* Gurmukh and Manmukh

**The Khalsa Knighthood arose to fight the Muslim Inquisition in Indian in 1699. The Khalsa Knighthood of the Sikhs is and was a very unusual group because both men and women belong, and because the Khalsa Knighthood is “defense only”. A Khalsa Knight is under vow to never attack anyone. They must never fight out of fear or anger or revenge. They can only defend the oppressed from oppressors.
In Sikh history, a history that Sikhs remember, Sikhs have fought in battles to defend the rights of Hindus and also Muslims to practice their religions in peace. [Courtesy: Kamala Rose Kaur]

***Akal Takhat had no authority from Guru Sahiban. In fact there was no Akal Takhat in Guru Sahiban’s time. The Sixth Guru Sahib started sitting on a platform opposite Sri Harmander Sahib and declared that as his Takhat or seat of power to challenge Mogul empire and from there he held his court, recieve Sangat and declare his plans. No other Guru Sahiban ever visited that place. For a long time, it was called Akal Bunga – not Akal Takhat.
There is no historical evidence of its being callled Akal Takhat, initially. Earliest reference is of Maharaja Ranjit Singh arranging an appearance before Sarabat Khalsa held at Akal Bunga, where he was given a token Tankha, for violation of Sikh code of conduct by marrying his court dancer. After Sri Guru Hargobind jee, it was under control of Moguls, until Khalsa attacked and took control. Later, the place was under control of Mahnats, until SGPC was established after Nakana Sahib Saka, when many Sikhs were brutely murdered there, as they went to protest against Mahant’s bad deeds. Sikhs got control only around 1925, after passing of Gurdwara Act, which authorised Sikhs to form SGPC by electing the management committee by voting. It is only after that some actitivities started to create a central authority to rule on Sikh affairs, as Sikhs were fragmanted in various organisations. [Courtesy: Manmohan Singh baveja Ji of Australia]

This page was last modified on Friday, June 11, 2010 04:07:49 PM