Sikhism

From NonSpiritual

Jump to: navigation, search
NameSikhism
FounderGuru Nanak
Started in1500 AD
Current LeaderNone
Spiritual TraditionBhakti Yoga, Sufi
PracticesChanting, Prayer
HeadquartersAmritsar, India
WebsiteNone
No. of Followers19 million[1]
Active inWorldwide

Contents

Introduction

A major world religion founded by Guru Nanak circa 1500 AD, it has elements of devotional Hinduism and the Sufi traditions from Islam. Generally having the same theology as monotheistic Hindu sects, the major features of Sikhism are as follows:

  • Monotheistic, believer in a single God. The God of Sikhs is called, variously, Waheguru, Sache Patshah or Akal Purakh.
  • Belief in the soul and reincarnation
  • Strong stress on the guidance of a Guru.
  • Belief that grace of a Guru is enough to deliver one from the cycle of birth and death.

There were ten official Gurus in Sikhism, even though the teachings of many mystics are included in their holy book, the Adi Granth. Guru Nanak and the later Gurus were all born in a Hindu families. Till the tenth Guru proclaimed a new identity for his followers, Sikhism could be considered a sect of Hinduism. After the tenth Guru passed away, and also during the early 20th century, Sikhs started differentiating themselves more and more from Hindus.

The Ten Gurus

  1. Nanak Bedi, reverentially called Guru Nanak Dev
  2. Lehna, one of the followers of Guru Nanak, reverentially called Guru Angad
  3. Amar Das Bhalla, a paternal uncle of the son-in-law of the second Guru, reverentially called Guru Amar Das
  4. Ram Das Sodhi, the son-in-law of the third Guru, reverentially called Guru Ram Das
  5. Arjan Sodhi, the youngest son of the fourth Guru, reverentially called Guru Arjun
  6. Hargobind Sodhi, a son of the fifth Guru, reverentially called Guru Hargobind
  7. Har Rai Sodhi, a grandson of the sixth Guru, reverentially called Guru Har Rai
  8. Harkrishen Sodhi, a son of the sixth Guru, reverentially called Guru Harkrishen
  9. Tegh Bahadur Sodhi, a son of the sixth Guru, reverentially called Guru Tegh Bahadur
  10. Gobind Rai Sodhi, a son of the ninth Guru, reverentially called Guru Gobind Singh

Identifying Features

  • A special naming scheme for its adherents. Males have the middle name, or suffix, Singh. Females have the middle name, or suffix, Kaur. Surnames are discouraged, and a true Sikh is supposed to use Singh or Kaur as one's surname.
  • Baptised Sikhs wear five distinguishing symbols:
    1. Kesh (Unshorn hair)
    2. Kada (A steel bangle)
    3. Kangha (A comb)
    4. Kachhaa (Loose cotton underwear)
    5. Kirpan (A dagger)

Mainstream Sikhs are categorized by their adherence to these five symbols:


History

Scriptures and Teachings

Community

Practices

The spiritual practices are generally devotional, e.g.,

  • Singing of Hymns (called Shabad Kirtan)
  • Regular chanting of scriptures at specified hours of the day
  • Pilgrimages to major Sikh temples (Sikh temples are called Gurudwaras, the home of the Guru)
  • Voluntary Baptism

The community practices are generally oriented towards communal harmony and economic equality:

  • Sikh temples are open to all, irrespective of their social or religious status.
  • Free community meals for all irrespective of gender, caste, race or religious affiliation.
  • A tradition of service towards the religious institutions (called Kar Seva)
  • Donations. The Sikh code of conduct prescribes 10% of one's income as donation towards religious or social-service organizations.

Available Workshops and Retreats

Controversies and Criticism

  • Sikhism is today steeped in ritualism
    • The central scriptural text, the Adi Granth is accorded the status of a living Guru and the status is not just metaphorical. It is almost literal. The book is placed on cushions, shielded from hot and cold weather, sent to "sleeping quarters" at night, its reading without ceremony considered sacrilege, etc.
    • A great deal of emphasis is put on reading the holy text non-stop (called the Akhand Path) over 3 days. Most ceremonies in Sikh households involve this Akhand Path. An Akhand Path is usually done by paid readers. In some cases, already completed readings are bought for a free to accumulate blessings.
    • No living saint is respected because Sikhs consider the holy book to be the last teacher.
  • Sikhism has departed from its central teachings
    • Many Sikh temples are considered places of pilgrimage, which is forbidden by Sikh scriptures.
    • There is a rich clergy which has established an iron control over the temples and related institutions. See SGPC for more details.
    • Reading of hymns has become a mostly professional activity.
    • Sikhs like to assert their separate identity, whereas the starting point of Guru Nanak's teachings was a rejection of religious identity.
  • Symbolic significance has become important
    • The Five Ks, and especially unshorn hair, are considered the mark of a true Sikh.
    • Covering one's head is considered inviolable in a temple setting.
  • Status of Women and the under-privileged
    • Women are not allowed to perform singing of hymns in many temples.
    • For a long time, widow remarriage was not allowed in Sikhism.
    • Untouchables and other under-privileged classes are sidelines. These classes have responded by creating their own Sikh temples and institutions.
  • The Guru-ship in history
    • After the 4th Guru, the Guru-ship remained in a single family.
    • No woman was ever considered for Guru-ship.
    • After the 5th Guru, the Sikh religion became militant in character and remains so to this day.
  • Unclear spiritual teachings
    • In the absence of a living teacher, it is unclear what spiritual disciplines a seeker should undertake to evolve spiritually. Most hymns in the Sikh scriptures advocate surrender and service of the Guru. This surrender and service is therefore performed for the benefit of the physical (book) form of the Adi Granth.
    • Sikh scriptures also advocate chanting and remembrance, but the utterances to be chanted or the object to be remembered is not made clear.
    • Since the Sikh scriptures contain the teachings of various saints from the Hindu and Muslim traditions, the scripture as a whole is a wide-ranging text without a central message. It contains many ambiguities and contradictions.

Sects

Mainstream Sikhism considers the Adi Granth its living Guru, and has the ten Gurus and its headquarters in Amritsar. There are many other sects and branches which depart from mainstream Sikhism in their allegiance to the Adi Granth and to the ten Gurus.

Many obscure sects, including some of the following, are listed on Sikhwiki.

The prominent sects in Sikhism are:

Nirankaris

Nirankaris worship gurus other than the ten Gurus, and have a living human being as their Guru. They also disapprove of the militant tendencies in Sikhism[2].

Radhasoamis

Radhasoamis worship saints other than the ten Gurus, accept the teachings of only the first five Gurus of Sikhs, and have a living human being as their Guru. They also disapprove of the militant tendencies in Sikhism[3]

Namdharis or Kukas

Namdharis are another sect which worships a living Guru.

Udasi Sikhs

Udasi Sikhs consider themselves followers of Sri Chand, a son of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak.

Nihang Sikhs

Nihang Sikhs carry archaic weapons and fashion themselves as soldiers.

Mazhabi Sikhs

In recent times, underprivileged sections of society (or who were formerly untouchables) have formed a distinct sect in Sikhism, called the Mazhabi Sikhs and have their separate temples in most of Punjab. They may also be known as Dalit Sikhs. They also follow some traditions from the Balmiki faith[4].

Several other smaller sects exist in Sikhism which consist of former or current untouchables:

3HO

More properly categorized as a spiritual group with Sikh leanings, 3HO describes itself as a spiritual community teaching a form of Kundalini Yoga. It does not require belief in Sikhism, however many followers of Harbhajan Singh Yogi choose to follow a Sikh way of life.

Dera Sacha Sauda

Dera Sacha Sauda is a spiritual group in Northern India with many traditions taken from Sikhism, and generally catering to the weaker economic classes. The Dera (or establishment) has its own living spiritual teacher. The phrase Sacha Sauda means a truthful and transparent dealing, and is taken from a janam-sakhi (biographical tale) of Guru Nanak.

Websites

Publications

Further Reading and Links

Audio and Video

Articles

Blog Posts

Books

Check here for a list of books on Sikhism and its sects.

Notes

  1. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religions
  2. ↑ (page 125) History of the Sikhs, Vol II, by Khushwant Singh
  3. ↑ (page 127) History of the Sikhs, Vol II, by Khushwant Singh
  4. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazhabi
Retrieved from "http://nonspiritual.net/Sikhism"
Personal tools