1/10/2013
SIKHISM
Sikh: from Sanskrit Shishya
“disciple”
z
Sikhism is the youngest of the great
world faiths. There are 20 million
Sikhs in the world, most living in the
state of Punjab, India.
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BELIEFS:
One god.
z No rituals or idol worship.
z Equality, democracy.
z The essence of Sikhism is that people
should earn their living through honest
means and hard work.
z
You can only love and serve God if you
love and serve others.
z Emphasis: equality of all people
z Guru Nanak: “There is no Hindu, no
Muslim, only one human being who is a
disciple of God”
z God is without physical qualities or
images, but present in all things.
z
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Gurdwaras:
z Places
of worship—open to all, and
everyone is welcome to eat in the
Langar (community kitchen).
z Gurdwara is a punjabi word meaning
"gateway to the Guru"
Scripture:
Guru Granth Sahib
is equivalent to the
Bible
z Sikhism does not
have a missionary
tradition, but
converts are
welcome.
z
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Khalsa:
The world-wide community of Sikhs
z The pure ones
z Singh “lion” surname for men.
z Kaur “princess” surname for women.
z
Golden Temple
z
in Amritsar,
Punjab (India)
is a place of
pilgrimage for
Sikhs
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Founder: Guru Nanak 1469
z
There were
10 Gurus.
Guru Gobind
Singh was the
last of the 10
gurus. He
decided that
there would
be no more.
z
Granth Sahib is the book of scripture that
is equivalent to the Bible for Catholics (but
it is much larger).
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The Khalsa
z
The Khalsa is the community of Sikhs (all
Sikhs around the world)
o Guru Gobind Singh decreed that where Sikhs
could not find answers in the Guru Granth
Sahib, they should decide issues as a
community, based on the principles of their
scripture
The Beginnings
Sikhism began in the Punjab (Northern
India and Part of Northern Pakistan) in
1469
(Guru Nanak)
z
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Guru Nanak
z
Began teaching the
faith that was
different than either
Hinduism or Islam,
which were the
common religions of
the Punjab at the time
(1469 CE)
The 5 K’s
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The 5 K’s
Kangha= comb
9 used to keep the hair tidy
Kesh = uncut hair
9 Turbans are used to keep the hair
clean
Kirpan = short sword
9 Ceremonial dagger never used as a
weapon of intimidation
Kaccha = short pants
Kara = steel bracelet
9 Symbol of strength
The 5 K’s were given by Guru Gobind
Singh (they apply only to men):
z
Kesh: Hair. “As far as possible, the
course of history should not be disturbed,
so no hair should be cut from the body.”
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z
Kanga: Comb for good grooming.
z
Kara: Steel bangle, warn by men. Steel
for strength and circle for unending circle
of continuity.
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z
Kirpan: Small
sword.
Symbol of
self-defence
and struggle
against evil
and injustice.
z
This is a picture of
Guru Gobind Singh
with his Kirpan
z
Kachha: Pair of shorts made to a specific
design—symbol of sexual restraint.
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SIKHISM AS A WAY OF LIFE
Equality.
z Worship of God “Nam” anywhere.
z Dignity of labour: Any job, hard work.
z Giving to charity: 10% (yes, ten percent)
of income to benefit of society.
z Service “sewa” Service to God (reading
scripture, etc), and service to people.
z
LIFE AND DEATH
Many lives (like Hinduism), but they can
only worship God when they are born into
a human body.
z The same prayer is said at funerals as
when a Sikh goes to bed (you will wake
up again in another form).
z Cremation and spread of ashes over
running water (as in a river).
z
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DRESS
z
Men are expected to wear a turban and
women wear whatever they want as long
as it is modest.
MARRIAGE
z
Seen as mutual dependence between man
and woman. Not based on love but on
compatibility (This means arranged
marriages).
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FAMILY
z
Extended family tradition
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