Sikhism
In the early 21st century there were nearly 25 million Sikhs worldwide, the great majority of them living in the Indian state of Punjab. Sikhism began in the Indian Region of Punjab in 1469. Their faith is referred to as “Gurmat” or “The Way of the Guru”. This religion was established by Guru Nanak and subsequently led by a succession of nine other Gurus. Guru Granth Sahib was the one in charge of writing the holy book, “The Granth as the Guru”. Sikhs in Punjabi means “learner” and the ones that joined the Sikh community or Path, were the people that sought spiritual guidance. People usually confuse this religion with Hinduism, but the Sikhs claim that their religion has always been separate from Hinduism.
Some important Gurus
- Guru Amar Das
- Guru Arjan
- Guru Hargobind
- Guru Ram Da
The Sikh Rahit Maryada, the manual that specifies the duties of the Sikhs talks about four rituals that function as rites of passage.
- The birth and naming ceremony is done in a gurdwara where the mother raises and bathes the child after giving birth. Randomly, a hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib is selected, and depending on this, the name is chosen based on the first letter of the hymn. “Singh is added to the names of males and Kaur to females.”
- The second rite is the Anand Karaj/marriage ceremony. The bride and groom have to go around the Guru Granth Sahib to the singing of Guru Ram Das ́s Suhi Chant 2.
- The third rite (considered the most important) is the Amrit Zanskar, the ceremony for an invitation to the Khalsa. It is conducted by six initiated Sikhs from which five are the ones who actually do the rite while the sixth sits in attendance on the Guru Granth Sahib. The ritual consists of pouring water into a large iron bowl and adding soluble sweets. This “nectar” is stirred with a double-edged sword by one of the five Sikhs. After the recitation of the word of the Gurus and the Ardas, the applicants for initiation drink five handfuls of Amrit offered to them. Each time the Sikh
- The fourth rite is the funeral ceremony which consists of the recital of the Ardas, community prayer, and two daily prayers, the Japji and Kirtan Sohila.
Important Celebrations:
Diwali: Diwali: Hindu celebration practiced for 5 days usually in late October and November were “small earthenware lamps filled with oil are lit and placed in rows along parapets of temples and houses and set adrift on rivers and streams.” (Britannica) The 4th day marks the beginning of the new year according to the Vikrama calendar. It is usually a time for people to visit, exchange gifts, clean and decorate houses, feating, setting off fireworks displays, and wearing new clothes.
Hola Mohalla: Meaning “mock fight” in this festival processions are organized in army column forms with war drums and standard-bearers, moving from one gurdwara to another.
Baisakhi: It is the Sikhs' New Year celebration in which they bathe in rivers and go to temples to offer puja (worship). Harvest from farmers.
Maghi Festival: Sikhs visit Gurdwaras and listen to kirtans to commemorate the martyrdom of the forty immortals → followers of Guru Gobind Singh who deserted him and fought against the big Mughal army forces, martyred in Muktsar.
Guru Nanak Jayanti: The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak who founded Sikhism.
These are some of the most important celebrations to the Sikh community, and one of the most important temples is the Golden Temple. The Golden Temple at Amritsar is the central shrine of Sikhism and the most important place of pilgrimage. When entering people receive a small portion of Khara parshad (holy food symbolizing equality and brotherhood) and coins. After this, they sit and listen to the singing of passages from the scriptures. The water surrounding the temple is considered holy and pilgrims often bathe. Ardas is also an important part of the Sikhs. The first part consists of a declaration of the virtues of all the Gurus; the middle part of the Ardas is a list of the trials and triumphs of the Khalsa, which are recited in a cluster by a prayer leader. And the last part is a brief salutation to the divine name. The congregation responds to each cluster with a “Vahiguru,” which originally meant “Praise to the Guru” but is now accepted as the most common word for God. The conclusion of the service is followed by the distribution of Karah prasad, a sacramental food that consists of equal parts of coarsely refined wheat flour, clarified butter, and raw sugar.
Those are some of the most important aspects of the Sikh religion that should be known.
