brief history of a religion

1. Jonathan Cooper

2. No consensus exists on the origins of this religion.
• Historians and specialists in Eastern religions generally
believe that Sikhism is a syncretistic religion, originally
related to the Bhakti movement within Hinduism and the
Sufi branch of Islam, to which many independent beliefs
and practices were added.
• Some Sikhs believe that their religion is a re-purification
of Hinduism; they view Sikhism as part of the Hindu
religious tradition.
• Many Sikhs disagree; they believe that their religion is a
direct revelation from God - a religion that was not
derived from either Hinduism or Islam.

3. The founder of Sikhism
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. He
taught a strict monotheism, the
brotherhood of humanity. He
rejected idol worship, and the
Hindu concept of caste. Guru
Nanak and Panth (his followers)
later built the first Sikh temple at
Katarpur.

4. • Guru Nanak Dev started gaining followers around 1515, which came
at a time of spiritual, social, and political necessity, India was in the
mist of a nation crisis where there was no security of life and
property. The people of India were victimize by the following:
• No one knew who the true God was and how to meet Him.
• Bathing at holy pilgrimages was believed to wash away one’s sins.
• Ritualism and animal sacrifice was considered a way to please gods,
goddesses and deities.
• Women were treated inferior to men.
• Low caste people (untouchables) were treated very badly.
• There was a huge gap between rich and poor.
• People had a great amount of selfish desires.
• People in India were continuous victims of invasions by Islamic
extremist from Afghanistan.

5. • A succession of nine Gurus (regarded as reincarnations
of Guru Nanak) led the movement during the period from
Guru Nanak's death until 1708.
• Through the 16th and 18th century, Mogul emperors
attempted to convert Sikhs to Islam, but were
unsuccessful.
• In 1801, the Sikh state of Punjab was founded in
Northern India by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
• An invasion by Great Britain triggered the Sikh Wars
(1845-1849). The British successfully gained control over
all of India. After independence in 1947, occupied India
was partitioned on religious grounds into a mostly Muslim
Pakistan and mostly Hindu India. A mass migration of
Sikhs and Hindus from Pakistan to India and a reverse
migration of Muslims resulted, with immense loss of life.
Some Sikhs have been seeking an independent

6. • The holy granth, the Shri Guru Granth, was initially
compiled by the fifth guru, Shri Arjan Dev Ji.
Subsequently, it was updated to include the writings of
the sixth to ninth gurus. The tenth guru, Gobind Singh Ji
assembled his writings separately into a number of
books, including "Dasam Granth"
• The holy granth consists of hymns and writings by the
first nine Gurus, along with religious text from different
Muslim and Hindu saints like: Kabir Ji, Baba Sheik Farid
Ji, Bhagat Namdev, etc.
• The Shri Guru Granth itself is considered the 11th and
final Guru, and the Sikh's holiest religious text. It was
made so by Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

7. At least two English translations are available online:
• "The Khalsa Consensus Translation of the Guru Granth
Sahib is regarded by some Sikh scholars as being
among the finest and most accurate English translation
currently available." It is available online at
http://www.sikhs.org/english/frame.html
• Srigranth.org allows people to search the Sikh scriptures
in English, Punjabi, Hindi and in transliteration.

8. • The goal of every Sikh 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. His
concept is similar to Islam whose followers believe in a
single God who has 99 names. The Mool Mantar, the first
hymn composed, is recited daily by many Sikhs. It
contains a description of many of the attributes of God.
• “There is only one God; His Name is Truth; He is the
Creator; He is without fear; He is without hate; He is
beyond time (immortal); He is beyond birth and death; He
is self-existent.”

9. • Sikhs believe in samsara, the repetitive cycle of birth, life
and death, and karma ,the accumulated sum of one's
good and bad deeds, and reincarnation the belief of a
rebirth following death. Beliefs very similar to Hinduism.
• However, they 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 beliefs, behaviors, and
rituals.
• Sikhs pray multiple times a day, and are prohibited from
worshipping idols, images, and icons, and are forbidden
from smoking and drinking.

10. • Sikhism is one of the important
religions in India and there are
many festivals celebrated by
Sikh/Punjabi community. Most
of the Sikh festivals are events
to commensurate the birth and
teachings of 10 gurus of Sikhs
and their teachings.
• Most festivals consist of
fireworks, distribution of sweets
and feasts. Music is considered
to be the strongest medium to
connect with the Supreme in
Sikhism; hearty dances and
martial arts display treat the
eyes of viewers during the
festivals.

11. • A major festival of this
religion is Hola Mohalla,
which can be compared to an
Olympic event. It is
celebrated in March and lasts
for a week.
• Sikhs camp out and enjoy
public display of their bravery
and prowess. These displays
are further followed by
musical kirtans. Vegetarian
meals are only served and
on the concluding day of this
festival, a military like long
procession is taken out.

12. • The Khanda is the main Sikh symbol and has been
interpreted symbolically in many ways. one is:
"The Sikh emblem, Khanda, contains a ring of steel
representing the Unity of God, a two edged sword
symbolizing God's concern for truth and justice, and two
crossed swords curved around the outside to signify God's
spiritual power."

13. • Even though Sikhism is one of the youngest religions,
only 500 years, it is the 5th largest religion of the world.
• Today, it is practiced by between 23 million and 26 million
people and about 75% live in India. About 400,000 live in
the U.S., 360,000 in the U.K., and 278,000 in Canada.
• For women, they were once seen as a man’s property,
but now have equality in worship, society, and even on
the battlefield. They have freedom of speech and are
allowed to participated in any and all religious activities.