Sikhism
A Religion of the World
Sikhism beliefs
In northern India, Punjab region is home to the religion Sikhism, founded in the 15th century. Sikhism is a religion of devotion to, and remembrance of God. Sikhs believe in truthful living, equality of mankind, and are blind to superstition, and blind rituals. When the Indian subcontinent was partitioned into India and Pakistan, many Sikhs fled Muslim-dominated Pakistan, and emigrated to Punjab. With ninety percent of the Sikh population living there, they have become highly militant, and had even started conflicts with the Hindu majority of India. However, their separation didn't succeed, in spite of violence and tension between the two parties, since the early 1980s.
Punjab
The Punjab region of India, is the land region that Sikhs believe to be their homeland, and ninety percent live there. When the Sikhs emigrated from Pakistan to Punjab, after being partitioned with India, they have since turned Punjab into the breadbasket of
Guru and the purpose of Sikhism
The word Sikh means discipline. Adherents of the religion, believe themselves to be disciples of Guru Nanak the founder, and his nine successors (in Sikhism, "guru" means teacher.) He founded roots of the movement that he found in the Hindu cult of devotion to Vishnu, and in the practices of Sufis, which are the Muslim mystics. Nanak's teachings state that there only one god, who is creator of the world, and completely unknown to those who cannot perceive him. That kind of awareness can only come to those who reject the loyalty, and values to the world. Nanak created a path of salvation, simply devoted to discipline of meditation. The set goal was to release free of the cycle of birth and death. It even has a reference to Nanak's doctrine of reincarnation, which is the soul being born many times in the world before finally being released, to find unity with God.
Persecution and the Khalsa
The Sikhs were prompted to take up arms, after being persecuted by the Mughal authorities of India. On April 13th, 1699, Gobind Rai, found a way to organize the warriors by forming a brotherhood called the Khalsa, which means "pure." For Sikhs to inducted into the group, they must go through baptismal rite. Males are given the name Singh, which means "lion," and females are given the name Kaur, which means "lioness." They must vow to avoid tabacco, liquor, and drugs, and devote themselves to their prayers. Each Sikh male is distinguished by uncut hair and beards, a comb to hold the hair in place, a dagger, a steel bracelet, and a pair of breeches worn no further down than the knee. Today, members of Khalsa are known as the more militant Sikhs.
The Sikh flag is a symbol that represents the freedom of the Khalsa. The Sikh insignia is a double-edged sword, which symbolizes the creative power of God. The left edge of the sword represents freedom and authority, and the left edge represents divine justice. The left sword represents Piri, which is spiritual sovereignty, and the right sword is the symbol of Miri, which means political sovereignty.
Did you know?
Places of worship, pilgrimages, observation of festivals, and scriptures have been added to the teachings of Nanak.
Gobind Rai, Nanak's ninth guru and successor, lost all of his son's in his lifetime, and declared his guru succession at an end.
Works Cited
"Sikhism." Compton's by Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 29 Apr. 2013.
<http://school.eb.com/comptons/article-9277061
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 29 Apr. 2013.
<http://school.eb.com/comptons/article-9277061
"The Sikh Insignia - Khanda." Search Sikhism, 2004 http://www.searchsikhism.com/symbols.html
"Sikhism Religion of the Sikh People." Sikhs, 2011
http://www.sikhs.org/topics.htm