The ultimate source of authority and doctrine in sikhism is the sacred book, the adi granth. It contains nearly 6,000 hymns, or songs praising god, written by nanak and other gurus. As a religious leader guru nanak did not turn a blind eye to political supression or consider it outside the realm of religion, but undertook political protest through his writings, speaking out against the cruelty of rulers. Sikhism simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Sikhism is a religion all but unknown to western civilization. Sikhism is a religion of india that was started by a man named nanak. Sikhism, religion and philosophy founded in the punjab region of the indian subcontinent in the late 15th century. Even the names of new born children are taken from granth. The term which originates from byblos an ancient phoenician city which traded in papyrus used in producing a paper like substance for writing upon. The sikhs do not regard this as their holy book but as their perpetual and current guru, guide or master.
We explore the context of spirituality within sikhism. The sri guru granth sahib also known as adi granth is more than a holy book for the sikhs. Buy original and high paper quality sikhism punjabi history books at affordable rates, around the globe. Sikhs call it shri guru granth sahib ji answer to what is unique about guru granth sahib.
Sikhism is open to all through the teachings of its 10 gurus enshrined in the sikh holy book and living guru, sri guru granth sahib. The sri gur granth sahib is the holy book for sikhs, as guru gobind singh. The dasam granth is a composition primarily of the tenth guru, guru gobind singh. Naam, the name of god, shabad the word of god and sat sang, the company of the pious and the holy. This text describes various notions of spirituality and mental wellbeing, giving directions for living ones life. Sri guru granth sahib ji is the central religious scripture of sikhism, regarded by sikhs as the. Detailed information on the historical and philosophical background of sikhism.
Sikhism religions of the world series by gurinder singh mann this series provides succinct and balanced overviews of the religions of the world. A great strength is its contemporary feel, and its uptodate references ensure that it becomes more than just another book about religion. The main sikh temple is the harimandir, or golden temple, in punjab state. One unusual feature of sikhism is that all sikh males share the name. Because the name of god the total expression of all that god is, and this is truth, another name for god is sati nam in sikhism we have a religious perspective that specifically integrates elements of both hinduism and islam tf. The principal sikh scripture is the adi granth first scripture, more commonly called the guru granth sahib. The religion of the sikhs by dorothy field 1914 a short guide to the sikh religion.
Despite being so young, it is the fifth largest religion in the world with over 20 million followers. Most sikhs live in the state of punjab in northwestern india. The divine name is its antidote for all pain and vices. Shri guru granth sahib the sacred text of the sikhs. Sikhism is one of the worlds youngest religions being founded just over 500 years ago.
Sikh religion books sikhism guru granth sahib sikh. At a ceremony at the gurdwara, the name of the baby is chosen by taking the hukam, the granthi randomly. Jun 20, 2019 sikhism as a religious movement developed at the beginning of the 16th century in northwest india. Jains see these texts, which are the transcriptions of lord mahavirs sermons, as sacred documents. The teachings of ten gurus can be found in the sikh holy book and living guru, sri guru granth sahib ji. Scriptures and scrolls were among the earliest of hand written books. The holy book of jainism is a collection of texts known as agam literature or the agam sutras. Highlights sikhism is a relatively young religion with guru granth sahib as its key religious text. Sikh books of value contain numerous literary pieces on guru granth sahib and more valuable books of gurus and other topics of relevance. Sikhism does not differentiate religious obligations by gender.
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 repurification of hinduism. It was called adi granth until guru gobind singh, the tenth and final guru in human form, conferred on it the title of the guru in 1708, after which it was called sri guru granth. Like christians believe the bible to be the living word, sikhs believe the guru granth to be the embodiment of the living word. The word sikh in the punjabi language means disciple, sikhs are the disciples of god who follow the writings and teachings of the ten sikh gurus. Because the name of god the total expression of all that god is, and this is truth, another name for god is. Islam teaches that nonislamic religious traditions have been distorted by man to suit their desires. The book teaches that outward rituals and indulgence. Their holy book is the sri guru granth sahib ji many sources call sikhism a monotheistic religion. Sikhism is a monotheistic faith that stresses the ideal of achieving spiritual liberation within a persons lifetime through meditation on the divine name. The history of sikhism started with guru nanak dev ji. Sikhism does contain many unique postulates and principles that are quite different from both hinduism and islam.
Sikh religious, ethical, and ceremonial life revolves around the text and presence of the guru granth sahib gg. Sikhs show their reverence by bowing their foreheads to the floor before the sacred scripture. The sikhs fought against the great mughals between the 17th and 18th centuries and created their state in the punjab 1765 1849, india. The book teaches that outward rituals and indulgence in the worldly pleasure only bring us pain. It offers description of terms equivalent to depression and happiness along with its phenomenology and therapeutic context. The sikhs do not regard this as their holy book but as their perpetual and. In the early twentyfirst century there are twenty million. Sikhism is not a cult nor a hybrid but a distinct religious movement. Sikhism the history the history of sikhism begins with nanak, a son of the rulerwarrior caste, who lived from 14691538 and was born in northern india. To call sikhism a compromise between islam and hinduism would be taken as an insult akin to calling a christian a heretical jew.
Sikhism emerged in 16thcentury india in an environment heavily permeated with conflicts between the hindu and muslim religions. We have wide verity of books in punjabi, english and hindi. Though one of the worlds youngest religions, sikhism too has a holy book of scripture compiled from various. Sikhism is a faith whose followers are called sikhs. Indian religions, sometimes also termed dharmic religions or indic religions, are the religions that originated in the indian subcontinent. Sikhism is the third major branch of hinduism and was founded by a man named nanak. Sikhism is a relatively young religion with guru granth sahib as its key religious text. A fairly recent religion, sikhism is an attempt to harmonize two of the worlds greater religions, hinduism and islam. Cunningham 18121851, the author of a history of the sikhs 1848, observed. In the event of disputes, a council is convened at the akal takht throne of the timeless, a building facing the harimandir temple in amritsar. Holy place, nankana sahib, where the founder of the sikh religion, guru nanak dev was born. The basic philosophy of sikhism revolves mainly around three concepts.
Originally, the religion relied on the teaching of living gurus. The word sikh means disciple or student from sanskrit s i. What is the holy book of sikhism and why is it not so popular like. The 10th guru, gobind singh, declared that he would have no living successor, and this collection of teachings would become the ultimate guru for the sikh. Therefore, sikhism s holy scripture known as the siri guru granth sahib, is last in the lineage of the sikh gurus, and can never be replaced. They honor this holy book as their living and perpetual guru as ordered by tenth guru guru gobind singh ji and accord it the same respect as they did their ten human gurus. He was the first guru of the fifteenth century in the punjab region in the northern part of the indian subcontinent. According to sikh tradition, sikhism was established by guru nanak 14691539 and subsequently led by a succession of nine other gurus. Sikhism is an independent religion that emerged in the environment of hinduism and islam.
A key distinctive feature of sikhism is a nonanthropomorphic concept of god, to the extent that one can interpret god as the entire creation itself. Sikhisms religious foundation and formalization around. The holy book contains writings of the sikh gurus, muslim fakirs and hindu. Its adherents are to be found for the most part in the punjab province of india. Sikhism, spirituality and psychiatry sciencedirect. Women can participate in any religious function or perform any sikh ceremony or lead the congregation in prayer. However, this claim is first observed only much later, in texts attributed to the 17thcentury hariji. Mar 17, 2015 sikhism emerged in 16thcentury india in an environment heavily permeated with conflicts between the hindu and muslim religions. The sikh religion is a monotheistic faith that is one of the youngest of the worlds major religions. Jainism is an eastern religion with origins in the indus river valley dating back to 3000 b. Sikhs consider the granth to be a spiritual guide for mankind, and it plays a central role in guiding the sikhs way of life.
This book is an essential guide to increasing understanding of the sikh religion and culture. Sikhism is a religion founded by the first sikh guru that goes by the name of guru nanak dev. Sikhism teaches that all religious traditions are valid, leading to the same waheguru, and it rejects that any particular religion has a monopoly regarding absolute truth for all of humanity. Its founding teacher, guru nanak dev, was born in 1469 to a hindu family. Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of god. These religions are also all classified as eastern religions. The sikh religious book is called the adi granth first book. A sikh gurdwara includes both the house of worship proper and its associated langar, or communal refectory. The guru granth sahib is used to guide the everyday.
Bani of bhagats by g s chauhanthe lives and selected works of saints included in holy book sri guru granth sahib ji. This book is titled a very short introduction to sikhism yet manages to cover all of the main points about sikhism in an interesting and readable manner. It is also oriented toward action, encouraging the dignity of regular labor as a part of spiritual discipline. Sikhism is the sacred religion of the sikhs which leads to the ultimate goal of achieving salvation and uniting with one god. Select writings sikhism religion of the sikh people. Followed by over 20 million people worldwide, sikhism takes to the teachings of sikh gurus. Resolutions passed by this council carry spiritual sanction. The holy book of the sikh religion is the guru granth sahib. The religious practices were formalised by guru gobind singh ji on april 1699. The fundamental principles of the sikh religion are also inscribed in the holy book of this religion, the guru granth sahib. The sikh holy book, the guru granth sahib ks2 religious.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The willingness to change a word led guru har rai to bar his son from his presence, and name his younger son as his successor. The name of the sikh holy book is the sri guru granth sahib ji the sri and the ji are added to the name as a sign of respect. The granth is the central text of sikhism, a religion. This practice apparently started in the early years of the religion, and was a reflection of the sikhs absolute rejection of the hindu practice of caste. Asked in christianity what is the holy book called for. The mystic branches, bhakti hindu and sufi islamic, holy men influenced him. Forgiveness is taught as a virtue in sikhism, yet it also teaches its faithful to shun those with evil intentions and to pick up the sword to fight injustice and religious persecution. Like the bible of christianity, the vedas of hinduism or the koran of islam.
Guru nanak dev believed in a supreme being and determined that all religions used different names. The original name of the guru granth sahib was adi granth and it was guru gobind singh who elevated it to the status of the eternal and. The latter baptised five persons from different social backgrounds to form khalsa. The adi granth must be present at the gurdwara, and all attending must enter with heads covered and feet bare. It is the source of sikhs daily prayers and congregational singing. Not only important in spiritual part of religion granth teaches the way of life. The word bible is derived from the greek word biblia meaning books.
The religion developed through n a naks nine successor gur u s within the historical and geographical parameters of hinduism and islam. Written in an accessible and informative style, and assuming little or no prior knowledge on the part of. Jan 02, 2020 to call sikhism a compromise between islam and hinduism would be taken as an insult akin to calling a christian a heretical jew. Please note that outside sikhism it can be said a holy book or a holy scripture but within sikhism it is treated as the living embodiment of sikh gurus, therefore sikhs dont call in holy book.
First book also called granth or granth sahib, the sacred scripture of sikhism, a religion of india. He was the first of the 10 gurus, or teachers, of the sikhs. Varan bhai gurdas is the name given to the 40 varan chapters of writing by bhai gurdas ji. The teachings of the sikh religion were passed down from guru to guru and then written down in a very special book, the guru granth sahib. Sikhism as a religious movement developed at the beginning of the 16th century in northwest india. The fight against social and political injustice has historically been an integral part of sikhism.
The recognized founder of sikhism, nanak 14691538, was born to hindu parents in india. It has been usual to regard the sikhs as essentially hindu. Sikhism is traced to the person and ideology of gur u n a nak, who was born in the punjab in 1469. In terms of numbers of followers, it ranks as the ninth largest religion in the world, with followers numbering between 25 and 28 million. The granth is the central text of sikhism, a religion that emerged in the punjab region of india in the 15th century. Identify the best way to salvation, according to sikhs. Although indian religions are connected through the history of india, they constitute a wide range of religious communities, and are not confined.