Sikhism
Sikh Origins:
No consensus exists on the origins of this religion. Historians and specialists in Eastern religions generally believe that Sikhism is a syncretistic religion, related to the Bhakti movement within Hinduism and the Sufi branch of Islam, to which many independent beliefs and practices were added. Many Sikhs disagree; they believe that their religion is a direct revealed from God - a religion that was not derived from either Hinduism or Islam.
Sikh History:
The name of the religion means learner. Its founder was Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, (1469-1538) who was born in the Punjab area of what is now Pakistan. At Sultanpur, he received a vision to preach the way to enlightenment and God. He is responsible for the saying "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim" which has since become one of the pillars of Sikhism. Guru Nanak and Panth (his followers) later built the first Sikh temple at Katarpur. A succession of nine Gurus (regarded as reincarnations of Guru Nanak) led the movement during the period from Guru Nanak's death until 1708. At that time, the functions of the Guru passed to the Panth and to the holy text, considered the 11th Guru. In 1801, the Sikh state of Punjab was founded in Northern India by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Sikhs number about 22.5 million worldwide. Most live in the Punjab.
Sikh Beliefs:
Beliefs include: The goal of Sikhs is to build a close, loving relationship with God. Sikhs believe in a single, Formless God, with many names, who can be known through meditation. This concept is similar to Islam whose followers believe in a single God who has 99 names. They do not deny the existence of the countless Hindu deities. They consider God as having made many lesser gods and to be superior to them. Only the one God can be worshipped; lesser gods are not worshipped. They believe in samsara (the repetitive cycle of birth, life and death), karma (the accumulated sum of one's good and bad deeds, and reincarnation the belief of a rebirth following death. Sikhs have rejected the caste system of the Hindu religion. They believe that everyone has equal status in the eyes of God. This is a very important principle that permeates all Sikh belief and behavior.
Sikh scholars and theologians started in 1931 to prepare the Reht Maryada -- the Sikh code of conduct and conventions. It is "the only version authorized by the Akal Takht, the seat of supreme temporal authority for Sikhs. It's implementation has successfully achieved a high level of uniformity in the religious and social practices of Sikhism" throughout the world. It contains 27 articles. Article 1 defines who is a Sikh:
"Any human being who faithfully believes in (i) One Immortal Being, (ii) Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh, (iii) The Guru Granth Sahib, (iv) The utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus and (v) the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion, is a Sikh."
Sikh Practices:
The Five K's are clothing practices followed by stricter Sikhs, called Khalsa saints:
Kesa (long hair, which is never cut), Kangah (comb), Kacha (short pants), Kara (metal bracelet), and Kirpan (a ceremonial dagger).
Some Sikh web sites:
Sikhs.org
Sikh.net
Sikhnet.com
Sikhism
Sikh Origins:
No consensus exists on the origins of this religion. Historians and specialists in Eastern religions generally believe that Sikhism is a syncretistic religion, related to the Bhakti movement within Hinduism and the Sufi branch of Islam, to which many independent beliefs and practices were added. Many Sikhs disagree; they believe that their religion is a direct revealed from God - a religion that was not derived from either Hinduism or Islam.
Sikh History:
The name of the religion means learner. Its founder was Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, (1469-1538) who was born in the Punjab area of what is now Pakistan. At Sultanpur, he received a vision to preach the way to enlightenment and God. He is responsible for the saying "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim" which has since become one of the pillars of Sikhism. Guru Nanak and Panth (his followers) later built the first Sikh temple at Katarpur. A succession of nine Gurus (regarded as reincarnations of Guru Nanak) led the movement during the period from Guru Nanak's death until 1708. At that time, the functions of the Guru passed to the Panth and to the holy text, considered the 11th Guru. In 1801, the Sikh state of Punjab was founded in Northern India by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Sikhs number about 22.5 million worldwide. Most live in the Punjab.
Sikh Beliefs:
Beliefs include: The goal of Sikhs is to build a close, loving relationship with God. Sikhs believe in a single, Formless God, with many names, who can be known through meditation. This concept is similar to Islam whose followers believe in a single God who has 99 names. They do not deny the existence of the countless Hindu deities. They consider God as having made many lesser gods and to be superior to them. Only the one God can be worshipped; lesser gods are not worshipped. They believe in samsara (the repetitive cycle of birth, life and death), karma (the accumulated sum of one's good and bad deeds, and reincarnation the belief of a rebirth following death. Sikhs have rejected the caste system of the Hindu religion. They believe that everyone has equal status in the eyes of God. This is a very important principle that permeates all Sikh belief and behavior.
Sikh scholars and theologians started in 1931 to prepare the Reht Maryada -- the Sikh code of conduct and conventions. It is "the only version authorized by the Akal Takht, the seat of supreme temporal authority for Sikhs. It's implementation has successfully achieved a high level of uniformity in the religious and social practices of Sikhism" throughout the world. It contains 27 articles. Article 1 defines who is a Sikh:
"Any human being who faithfully believes in (i) One Immortal Being, (ii) Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh, (iii) The Guru Granth Sahib, (iv) The utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus and (v) the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion, is a Sikh."
Sikh Practices:
The Five K's are clothing practices followed by stricter Sikhs, called Khalsa saints:
Kesa (long hair, which is never cut), Kangah (comb), Kacha (short pants), Kara (metal bracelet), and Kirpan (a ceremonial dagger).
Some Sikh web sites:
Sikhs.org
Sikh.net
Sikhnet.com
Sikhism