Introduction to Gur Sikhee

WaheGuru Ji Ka Khalsa WaheGuru Ji Ki Fateh

 

Sikhee (or GurSikhee) 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 (seek or learn from the Guru SGGSJ) therefore 'Guru' is the "Light that dispels all darkness" and Guru Nanak Dev Jee was the Embodiment of Divine Light.

 

That person is a companion, a friend, and a beloved of mine, who engages in Vichaar of God's Name, in the company of the Sat — Truth (sggs p-108). The Gurmukh inquires into the essence of Reality (sggs 119). The Divine Light has dawned, and darkness has been dispelled. By practicing Vichaar, I have obtained the Jewel of the Divine Name (sggs p-1349). Through the Shabad-Vichaar, the Name abides within the mind (sggs 158). One is not liberated by merely seeing; he must practice Shabad-Vichaar (sggs p-594).

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. Guru Jee 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.

Sikhee, based on the principle doctrines of the SGGSJ, is strictly monotheistic, believing in nothing but the One and Only Supreme Being, Absolute yet all pervading, the Eternal, the Creator, the Cause of causes, inimical, without hate, both Immanent in Creation and beyond. Guru Arjan has elaborated the qualities of a unique religion in Raag Gaurree when he wrote:

Of all religions, the best religion   is to chant the Name of the Lord and maintain pure conduct.   Of all religious rituals, the most sublime ritual   is to erase the filth of the dirty mind in the Company of the Holy.   Of all efforts, the best effort   is to chant the Name of the Lord in the heart, forever.   Of all speech, the most ambrosial speech   is to hear the Lord's Praise and chant it with the tongue.   Of all places, the most sublime place,   O Nanak, is that heart in which the Name of the Lord abides. ||8||3|| SGGS p-266

 

Guru Nanak Dev Jee's followers are the Sikhs (the Seekers of Truth - Truth being Sat Naam) and come from different communities and backgrounds.

By following the path as layed down in the Universal Teaching of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee, the Source of divine wisdom pertaining to the quest of the ultimate Truth as such speaks only of the One Truth, truthful living, Selflessness, Righteousness, Spirituality, Authenticity, Love, Nishkam Sevaa (service), compassion, Devotion, Wisdom, Detachment, Humility, Contentment, Mercy, a sense of Higher Purpose in life, and so on, a Sikh can achieve liberation by becoming Gurmukh (God centred) instead of being manmukh (self centred) whilst alive - here - now.

 

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).

 

5K's - 'Uniform' of a Sikh. (some choose to only don part of this uniform)  Sikhs wear an external uniform to unify and bind them to the beliefs of the religion and to remind them of their commitment to Sikh teachings at all times. These articles of faith distinguish a Sikh and have deep spiritual significance. They signify an individual’s commitment to the Sikh faith and to the highest ideals of love and service of humanity. Unlike some other faiths where only the clergy are in uniform, all initiated Sikhs are required to wear external articles of faith. The Sikh Code of Conduct, called the Rehat Maryada, outlines the requirements for practicing the Sikh way of life, including wearing the articles of faith.

 

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.

 is the traditional martial art of the Sikhs.

NOTE:

A. Gurmukh and Manmukh - "the Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) divides all human beings into two categories — ਗੁਰਮੁਖ (Gurmukhs) and ਮਨਮੁਖ (Manmukhs). To say it otherwise, as repeatedly indicated in the SGGS, there are only two different groups of people living together on earth: the Gurmukhs (the Spiritual Beings, the followers of the Truth and the truthful living, ...) and the Manmukhs  (the materialists, self-willed, the deniers of the Truth and the truthful living ... ). " [excerpt taken from  Gurmukh and Manmukh]

B. The Khalsa (meaning 'pure' - basically a 'Gurmukh') 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]

A Khalsa knight is also refered to as a "Saint" and a "Soldier".

C. 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]

D. GurSikhee means learning or seeking from the Guru. Guru Being Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee (SGGSJ). GurSikh means the Sikhs of the Guru.

E. SGGSJ = Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee.

              Online: SriGranth.org

Further read:

1. SIKHISM A UNIVERSAL UNIQUE RELIGION by Dr Avtar Singh Dhaliwal

2. Online Gurbani.org , Sikhs.org , SikhiWiki.org .

3. Article : Harmandar 

This page was last modified on Thursday, March 03, 2011 01:23:59 PM