Sikhism (IPA: /ˈsiːkɪzəm/ (help·info) or /ˈsɪk-/ (info); Punjabi: ਸਿੱਖੀ, sikkhī, IPA: [ˈsɪkkʰiː] (info)), founded on the teachings of Nanak and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century Northern India, is the fifth-largest organised religion in the world. The history of Sikhism is closely associated with the History of Punjab, the socio-political situation in medieval India, and the social structures and Simran and Seva: These are the Foundation of Sikhism. It is the duty of every Sikh to practise Naam Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. Sikhism was established by Guru Nanak over the period of 1469 to 1708. Sikh Bhagats (ਭਗਤ from Sanskrit भक्त) refers to the saints and holy men of various faiths whose teachings are included in the Sikh holy book This article lists historical personalities who are important to the Sikh religion Mai Bhago (http//www The Sikh religious philosophy is covered in great detail in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy text Ek On Kar Sikhs believe there is only one God who has infinite qualities and names The Sikhs must believe in the following values Equality All humans are equal before God – No discrimination is allowed on the basis of caste race sex creed There are a number of religious prohibitions in Sikhism Cutting Hair Cutting hair is strictly forbidden in Sikhism Naam: Or Naam Japo. Free service ( Seva) meditation and prayer ( Simran) sacred music ( Kirtan) prod concern = This is not an encyclopedic topic This is a list of random unrelated facts about Sikhism Gurbani is the term used by Sikhs to refer to any compositions of the Gurus Sikh practices are simple precise and practical guidelines laid out by the Gurus for the practice of the "Sikh way of life" The principal Sikh scripture is the Adi Granth (First Scripture) more commonly called the Guru Granth Sahib. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ gurū granth sāhib) or Guru Granth Sahib, is the eleventh and eternal Guru of the Adi Granth (or Aad Granth, literally "the first book" is the early compilation of the Sikh Scriptures by Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji the fifth The Dasven Patshah Da Granth (ਦਸਵੇ ਪਾਤਸ਼ਾਹ ਦਾ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ (book of the Tenth Emperor popularly known as Dasam Granth(ਦਸਮ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ This list is of topics related to Sikhs and Sikhism. Sikhism:CategorySikhism Sikhism Sikh Amritsar Punjabi (pa ਪੰਜਾਬੀ in Gurmukhi script pa-PK {{Nastaliq پنجابی}} in Shahmukhi script Pañjābī in Transliteration) is an Guru Nanak Dev (ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ (गुरु नानक گرونانک Gurū Nānak ( 15 april 1469, Nankana Sahib Sikhism was established by Guru Nanak over the period of 1469 to 1708. Geography Northern India lies mainly on continental India and a very small part of it lies on the Indian peninsula The world's principal Religions and spiritual traditions may be classified into a small number of major groups or world religions'. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos ^[1] This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the Gurmat (literally the counsel of the gurus) or the Sikh Dharma. Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language GURMAT (gur-mat mat Sanskrit mati ie counsel or tenets of the Guru, more specifically the religious principles laid down by the Guru) is a term which Sikhism originated from the word Sikh, which in turn comes from the Sanskrit root śiṣya meaning "disciple" or "learner", or śikṣa meaning "instruction. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical The guru-shishya tradition lineage or Parampara, is a spiritual relationship in traditional Hinduism where teachings are transmitted from a "^[2][3]

The principal belief of Sikhism is faith in Vāhigurū—represented using the sacred symbol of ēk ōaṅkār, the Universal God. Waheguru (ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ vāhigurū or pa ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ vāhgurū; also transliterated Vahiguru)It is the term used in Sikhism Ik Onkar (also pa ੴ, pa ਇਕ/ਏਕ ਓਅੰਕਾਰ, Ēk Ōaṅkār, Ik Onkar, Ek Onkar and other variants means In philosophy universalism is a doctrine or school claiming universal facts can be discovered and is therefore understood as being in opposition to Relativism. Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God. A key distinctive feature of Sikhism is a non-anthropomorphic concept of God, to the extent that one can interpret God as the Universe itself. Anthropomorphism is the attribution of uniquely Human characteristics to non-human creatures and beings natural and supernatural phenomena material states and objects The Universe is defined as everything that Physically Exists: the entirety of Space and Time, all forms of Matter, Energy The followers of Sikhism are ordained to follow the teachings of the ten Sikh gurus, or enlightened leaders, as well as the holy scripture entitled the Gurū Granth Sāhib, which includes selected works of many devotees from diverse socio-economic and religious backgrounds. Sikhism was established by Guru Nanak over the period of 1469 to 1708. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ gurū granth sāhib) or Guru Granth Sahib, is the eleventh and eternal Guru of the The text was decreed by Gobind Singh, the tenth guru, as the final guru of the Khalsa Panth. Guru Gobind Singh (ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ gʊɾu gobɪn̪d̪ sɪ́ŋg ( December 22, 1666 &ndash 7 October, 1708) was Khalsa Panth (meaning a group of baptized Sikhs (ਖਾਲਸਾ ਪੰਥ khālsā panth) is the Theocracy that manages the affairs of the Khalsa Sikhism's traditions and teachings are distinctively associated with the history, society and culture of the Punjab. Punjab ( ਪੰਜਾਬ پنجاب, पंजाब پنجاب also Panjab (پنجاب meaning "Land of the Five Rivers") (c Adherents of Sikhism are known as Sikhs (students or disciples) and number over 23 million across the world. Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. Most Sikhs live in the state of Punjab in India and, prior to the country's partition, millions of Sikhs lived in what is now known as the Punjab province of Pakistan. Punjab (ਪੰਜਾਬ पंजाब pəɲdʒaːb is a state in northwest India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Partition of India was the partition of the British Indian Empire which led to the creation on August 14, 1947 and August 15, The Punjab ( Urdu:) province of Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and ^[4]

Philosophy and teachings

Main articles: Sikh religious philosophy and Sikhism primary beliefs and principles

The Harimandir Sahib, known popularly as the Golden Temple, is a sacred shrine for Sikhs. The Sikh religious philosophy is covered in great detail in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy text Ek On Kar Sikhs believe there is only one God who has infinite qualities and names Sri Harmandir Sahib ( Punjabi: ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ) informally referred to as The Golden Temple or Temple of God, He himself was decapitated

The origins of Sikhism lie in the teachings of Nanak and his successors. Guru Nanak Dev (ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ (गुरु नानक گرونانک Gurū Nānak ( 15 april 1469, Nankana Sahib Nanak disapproved of many religious beliefs and practices of his time. The essence of Sikh teaching is summed up by Nanak in these words: "Realisation of Truth is higher than all else. Higher still is truthful living". ^[5] Sikhism believes in equality of all humans and rejects caste system. Sikhism also does not attach any importance to asceticism as a means to attain salvation, but stresses on the need of leading life as a householder. For Sikhs, initiation into the Khalsa strengthens their identity and also signifies the Sikh teaching of equality. ^[6] The Sikhs are required to follow the teachings of their Guru and serve him, under all circumstances. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ gurū granth sāhib) or Guru Granth Sahib, is the eleventh and eternal Guru of the

According to Sikhism, the goal of life for a person is to progress on a spiritual scale from Manmukh, or "self-centered", to Gurmukh, or "God-centered". Gurmukh implies the qualities of humility, selfless service, adhering to the teachings of Guru and not being a recluse. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ gurū granth sāhib) or Guru Granth Sahib, is the eleventh and eternal Guru of the

God

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion. ^[7][8] In Sikhism, God—termed Vāhigurū—is formless, eternal, and unobserved: niraṅkār, akāl, and alakh. Waheguru (ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ vāhigurū or pa ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ vāhgurū; also transliterated Vahiguru)It is the term used in Sikhism Nirankar (ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ niraṅkār from the ਨਿਰਾਕਾਰਾ/निराकारा nirākārā) means without form or formless AKAL literally timeless immortal non-temporal, is a term integral to Sikh tradition and philosophy Alakh Niranjan is a term in Hinduism and Sikhism to describe the characteristics of God and the Self known as the Atman) The beginning of the first composition of Sikh scripture is the figure "1"—signifying the universality of God. Mathematics For any number x: x ·1 = 1· x = x (1 is the multiplicative identity It states that God is omnipresent and infinite, and is signified by the term ēk ōaṅkār. Omnipresence is the ability to be present in every place at any and/or every time unbounded or universal presence Ik Onkar (also pa ੴ, pa ਇਕ/ਏਕ ਓਅੰਕਾਰ, Ēk Ōaṅkār, Ik Onkar, Ek Onkar and other variants means ^[9] Sikhs believe that prior to creation, all that existed was God and his hukam (will or order). Hukam is a Punjabi word derived from the Arabic Hukm, meaning "command" or "order ^[10] When God willed, the entire cosmos was created. From these beginnings, God nurtured "enticement and attachment" to māyā, or the human perception of reality. Maya ( Sanskrit sa माया māyā) in Indian religions, has multiple meanings ^[11]

While a full understanding of God is beyond human beings,^[9] Nanak described God as not wholly unknowable. God is omnipresent (sarav viāpak) in all creation and visible everywhere to the spiritually awakened. Sarav Viapak is a term used to describe omnipresence of God in Sikhism. Nanak stressed that God must be seen from "the inward eye", or the "heart", of a human being: devotees must meditate to progress towards enlightenment. Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness Guru Nanak Dev emphasized the revelation through meditation, as its rigorous application permits the existence of communication between God and human beings. ^[9] God has no gender in Sikhism, though translations may incorrectly present a masculine God. In addition, Nanak wrote that there are many worlds on which God has created life. ^[12]

Pursuing salvation

A Sikh man at the Harimandir Sahib. Sri Harmandir Sahib ( Punjabi: ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ) informally referred to as The Golden Temple or Temple of God, He himself was decapitated

Nanak's teachings are founded not on a final destination of heaven or hell, but on a spiritual union with God which results in salvation. Heaven may refer to the physical heavens the sky or the seemingly endless expanse of the Universe beyond Hell, according to many Religious beliefs, is a location in the Afterlife, which may be described as a place of suffering In Theology, salvation can mean three related things being saved from or Liberation from something such as Suffering or the punishment of The chief obstacles to the attainment of salvation are social conflicts and an attachment to worldly pursuits, which commit men and women to an endless cycle of birth — a concept known as reincarnation.

Māyā—defined as illusion or "unreality"—is one of the core deviations from the pursuit of God and salvation: people are distracted from devotion by worldly attractions which give only illusive satisfaction. Maya ( Sanskrit sa माया māyā) in Indian religions, has multiple meanings However, Nanak emphasised māyā as not a reference to the unreality of the world, but of its values. In Sikhism, the influences of ego, anger, greed, attachment and lust—known as the Five Evils—are believed to be particularly pernicious. Ahankar is the Gurmukhi word which translates to means ego or excessive pride due to one's possessions material Wealth, Intelligence For the 2006 Nepalese film see Krodh (film Krodh is derived from the Sanskrit word krodha, which means wrath or Lobh is a Gurmukhi word which translates in English to greed it is a strong desire for worldly possessions and a constant focus on possessing material items especially Moh ( Sanskrit muh: “to become stupefied to be bewildered or perplexed to err to be mistaken” stands in ancient texts for perplexity or confusion as also for Kam ( Sanskrit kama) meaning deep desire uncontrolled longing concupiscence sensuality or lasciviousness is counted among the five cardinal sins The fate of people vulnerable to the Five Evils is separation from God, and the situation may be remedied only after intensive and relentless devotion. ^[13]

Nanak described God's revelation—the path to salvation—with terms such as nām (the divine Name) and śabad (the divine Word) to emphasise the totality of the revelation. Nanak designated the word guru (meaning teacher) as the voice of God and the source and guide for knowledge and salvation. ^[14] Salvation can be reached only through rigorous and disciplined devotion to God. Nanak distinctly emphasised the irrelevance of outwardly observations such as rites, pilgrimages or asceticism. Ascetic redirects here You might also be looking for Acetic acid. He stressed that devotion must take place through the heart, with the spirit and the soul.

A key practice to be pursued is nām simraṇ: remembrance of the divine Name. Nām Japō ( Gurmukhi ਨਾਮ ਜਪੋ refers to the Meditation, vocal singing of Hymns from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib or of the various The verbal repetition of the name of God or a sacred syllable is an established practice in religious traditions in India, but Nanak's interpretation emphasised inward, personal observance. Nanak's ideal is the total exposure of one's being to the divine Name and a total conforming to Dharma or the "Divine Order". The Sanskrit term ( Devanāgarī: धर्म Pali transliteration dhamma) is an Indian spiritual and religious Nanak described the result of the disciplined application of nām simraṇ as a "growing towards and into God" through a gradual process of five stages. The last of these is sac khaṇḍ (The Realm of Truth)—the final union of the spirit with God. Sach Khand, or Sac Khand, ("The Realm Of Truth" is the Sikh concept of joining with God ^[14]

Nanak stressed kirat karō: that a Sikh should balance work, worship, and charity, and should defend the rights of all creatures, and in particular, fellow human beings. Kirat Karō is one of three primary pillars of Sikhism the others being Naam Japo and Wand kay Shako. They are encouraged to have a caṛdī kalā, or optimistic, view of life. Chardi Kala is an important expression and a central concept used in Sikhism for a mind frame that a Sikh has to accept acquire and practise Sikh teachings also stress the concept of sharing—vaṇḍ chakkō—through the distribution of free food at Sikh gurdwaras (laṅgar), giving charitable donations, and working for the good of the community and others (sēvā). In Sikhism, Vaṇḍ Chakkō (ਵੰਡ ਛੱਕੋ is one of the three main pillars of the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Langar may refer to Langar (Sikhism British Parachute Schools - Langar - parachuting drop zone Langar Nottinghamshire

The ten gurus and religious authority

Main article: Sikh Gurus

A rare Tanjore style painting from the late 19th century depicting the ten Sikh Gurus with Bhai Bala and Bhai Mardana. Sikhism was established by Guru Nanak over the period of 1469 to 1708. Tanjore painting ( Tamil Language: தஞ்சாவூர் ஓவியம் Thanjavur Oviyam) is an important form of classical South Indian Painting Bhai Bala, (1466 - 1544 AD Born in Talvandi Rai Bhoi now called Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. Bhai Mardana (1459-1534 was the first follower and companion of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism.

The term guru comes from the Sanskrit gurū, meaning teacher, guide or mentor. A guru (गुरु গুরু is a person who is regarded as having great knowledge wisdom and authority in a certain area and uses it to guide others Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical The traditions and philosophy of Sikhism were established by ten specific gurus from 1507 to 1708. Each guru added to and reinforced the message taught by the previous, resulting in the creation of the Sikh religion. Nanak was the first guru and appointed a disciple as successor. Guru Nanak Dev (ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ (गुरु नानक گرونانک Gurū Nānak ( 15 april 1469, Nankana Sahib Gobind Singh was the final guru in human form. Guru Gobind Singh (ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ gʊɾu gobɪn̪d̪ sɪ́ŋg ( December 22, 1666 &ndash 7 October, 1708) was Before his death, Gobind Singh decreed that the Gurū Granth Sāhib would be the final and perpetual guru of the Sikhs. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ gurū granth sāhib) or Guru Granth Sahib, is the eleventh and eternal Guru of the ^[15] The Sikhs believe that the spirit of Nanak was passed from one guru to the next, " just as the light of one lamp, which lights another and does not diminish ",^[16] and is also mentioned in their holy book. Guru Nanak Dev (ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ (गुरु नानक گرونانک Gurū Nānak ( 15 april 1469, Nankana Sahib

After Nanak's passing, the most important phase in the development of Sikhism came with the third successor, Amar Das. Guru Nanak Dev (ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ (गुरु नानक گرونانک Gurū Nānak ( 15 april 1469, Nankana Sahib Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English Events 636 - Battle of Yarmouk: Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid take control of Syria and Palestine Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians Guru Angad Dev Ji was the second of the eleven Sikh Gurus. Lehna was born in the village of Sarae Naga in Muktsar district in Punjab, on March 31, Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece. Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Guru Amar Das ( Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਅਮਰ ਦਾਸ ( 5 May 1479 - 1 September 1574) was the third of The Events 553 - The Second Council of Constantinople begins 1215 - Rebel Barons renounce their allegiance to King John Events 1026 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor. Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Guru Ram Das (ਗੁਰੂ ਰਾਮ ਦਾਸ (Born in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan on 24 September, 1534 &ndash 1 September Events 622 - Prophet Muhammad completes his hegira from Mecca to Medina. Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Guru Arjan Dev Ji or Guru Arjun Dev Ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਦੇਵ (born in Amritsar, Punjab, India on 15 April, Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Guru Har Gobind (ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਾਹਿਬ also Sacha Padshah (ਸੱਚਾ ਪਾਦਸ਼ਾਹ True King Events 1179 - The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. Events 1085 - Alfonso VI of Castile takes Toledo Spain back from the Moors. Events 202 BC - coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty 's rule Guru Har Rai (ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ ( 26 February 1630 - 6 October 1661) was the seventh of The Eleven Gurus of Sikhism Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate. Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus Guru Har Krishan (ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ ( 7 July, 1656 &ndash 30 March, 1664) was Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Guru Tegh Bahadur ( 1 April 1621 – 11 November 1675) became the 9th Guru of Sikhism on Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Events 1600 - The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Guru Gobind Singh (ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ gʊɾu gobɪn̪d̪ sɪ́ŋg ( December 22, 1666 &ndash 7 October, 1708) was Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1708 ( MDCCVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ gurū granth sāhib) or Guru Granth Sahib, is the eleventh and eternal Guru of the Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1708 ( MDCCVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a While in the popular mind eternity often simply means existing for a limitless amount of Time, many have used it to refer to a timeless existence altogether outside of Nanak's teachings emphasised the pursuit of salvation; Amar Das began building a cohesive community of followers with initiatives such as sanctioning distinctive ceremonies for birth, marriage and death. Amar Das also established the manji (comparable to a diocese) system of clerical supervision. In many rites of the Roman Catholic Church and in Anglican churches, a diocese is an administrative territorial unit administered by a Bishop. ^[14]

The interior of the Akal Takht.

Amar Das's successor and son-in-law Ram Das founded the city of Amritsar, which is home of the Harimandir Sahib and regarded widely as the holiest city for all Sikhs. Amritsar (ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ meaning The Lake of the Holy Nectar, is the administrative headquarters of the Amritsar District in the state Sri Harmandir Sahib ( Punjabi: ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ) informally referred to as The Golden Temple or Temple of God, He himself was decapitated When Ram Das's youngest son Arjan Dev succeeded him, the line of male gurus from the Sodhi Khatri family was established: all succeeding gurus were direct descendants of this line. Arjan Dev was responsible for compiling the Sikh scriptures. Arjan Dev was captured by Mughal authorities who were suspicious and hostile to the religious order he was developing. ^[17] His persecution and death inspired his successors to promote a military and political organization of Sikh communities to defend themselves against the attacks of Mughal forces.

The Sikh gurus established a mechanism which allowed the Sikh religion to react as a community to changing circumstances. The sixth guru, Har Gobind, was responsible for the creation of the Akal Takht (throne of the timeless one) which serves as the supreme decision-making centre of Sikhdom and sits opposite the Harimandir Sahib. The Takht Sri Darbar Sahib Akal Takht (ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ əkɑl t̪əxt̪ literally means The Seat (Throne of the Timeless One or Seat (Throne of God The Sarbat Ḵẖālsā (a representative portion of the Khalsa Panth) historically gathers at the Akal Takht on special festivals such as Vaisakhi or Diwali and when there is a need to discuss matters that affect the entire Sikh nation. The Sarbat Khalsa is a gathering of a representative portion of the Khalsa Panth held at Amritsar in India. A gurmatā (literally, guru's intention) is an order passed by the Sarbat Ḵẖālsā in the presence of the Gurū Granth Sāhib. A Gurmata (literally guru's intention is an order passed by the Sarbat Khalsa in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. A gurmatā may only be passed on a subject that affects the fundamental principles of Sikh religion; it is binding upon all Sikhs. ^[18] The term hukamnāmā (literally, edict or royal order) is often used interchangeably with the term gurmatā. A Hukamnama refers to a hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib which is given as an order to Sikhs or a historical order given by one of the Guru's of Sikhism. However, a hukamnāmā formally refers to a hymn from the Gurū Granth Sāhib which is given as an order to Sikhs.

History

Main article: History of Sikhism

Nanak (1469–1538), the founder of Sikhism, was born in the village of Rāi Bhōi dī Talvaṇḍī, now called Nankana Sahib, near Lahore (in what is present-day Pakistan). The history of Sikhism is closely associated with the History of Punjab, the socio-political situation in medieval India, and the social structures and Guru Nanak Dev (ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ (गुरु नानक گرونانک Gurū Nānak ( 15 april 1469, Nankana Sahib Nankana Sahib, also known as Raipur is a City in the province of Punjab with a population of almost 160000, it is also the capital of Nankana Sahib ( lahor is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and is the second largest city in Pakistan after Karachi. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and ^[19] His father, Mehta Kalu was a Patwari ( an accountant of land revenue in the government ). Kalu Mehta was a Hindu by faith a Khatri by caste of the Bedi clan he worked an accountant of land revenue in the government An accountant is a practitioner of Accountancy, which is the measurement disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers investors Nanak's mother was Tripta Devi and he had one older sister, Nanaki. Mata Tripta, is the mother of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev. Guru Nanak Dev (ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ (गुरु नानक گرونانک Gurū Nānak ( 15 april 1469, Nankana Sahib His parents were Khatri Hindus of the Bedi clan. Khatri ( Punjabi: ਖੱਤਰੀ Hindi: खत्री is the Punjabi language adaptation or pronunciation of Sanskrit word Kshatriya A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical As a boy, Nanak was fascinated by religion, and his desire to explore the mysteries of life eventually led him to leave home.

Sikh tradition states that at the age of thirty, Nanak went missing and was presumed to have drowned after going for one of his morning baths to a local stream called the Kali Bein. Three days later he reappeared and would give the same answer to any question posed to him: "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim" (in Punjabi, "nā kōi hindū nā kōi musalmān"). It was from this moment that Nanak would begin to spread the teachings of what was then the beginning of Sikhism. ^[20] Although the exact account of his itinerary is disputed, he is widely acknowledged to have made four major journeys, spanning thousands of kilometres. The first tour being east towards Bengal and Assam, the second south towards Tamil Nadu, the third north towards Kashmir, Ladakh and Tibet, and the final tour west towards Baghdad and Mecca. Etymology and ethnology The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang Assam) ( Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur, a suburb of the city Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. This article is about the geographical region of greater Kashmir Ladakh ( Ladakhi lad̪ɑks लदाख لدّاخ "land of high passes" is a region in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir between Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European Baghdad (بغداد) is the Capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate, with which it is also coterminous Mecca ˈmɛkə also spelled Makkah ˈmækə (in full Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Arabic mækːæ(t ælmʊkarˑamæ مكّة المكرمة, literally Honored ^[21]

Nanak was married to Sulakhni, the daughter of Moolchand Chona, a rice trader from the town of Batala. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> For the drum music see Batala (music. They had two sons. The elder son, Sri Chand, was an ascetic, and he came to have a considerable following of his own, known as the Udasis. Sri Chand (1494 – 1643 was the first son of Guru Nanak, raised by his sister Udasi is a religious, ascetic Sadhu Sect, which considers itself a Denomination of Sikhism focused on the teachings of its founder The younger son, Lakshmi Das, on the other hand, was totally immersed in worldly life. To Nanak, who believed in the ideal of rāj maiṁ jōg (detachment in civic life), both his sons were unfit to carry on the Guruship.

Growth of the Sikh community

In 1538, Nanak chose his disciple Lahiṇā, a Khatri of the Trehan clan, as a successor to the guruship rather than either of his sons. Khatri ( Punjabi: ਖੱਤਰੀ Hindi: खत्री is the Punjabi language adaptation or pronunciation of Sanskrit word Kshatriya Khatri ( Punjabi: ਖੱਤਰੀ Hindi: खत्री is the Punjabi language adaptation or pronunciation of Sanskrit word Kshatriya Lahiṇā was named Angad Dev and became the second guru of the Sikhs. Guru Angad Dev Ji was the second of the eleven Sikh Gurus. Lehna was born in the village of Sarae Naga in Muktsar district in Punjab, on March 31, ^[22] Nanak conferred his choice at the town of Kartarpur on the banks of the river Ravi, where Nanak had finally settled down after his travels. Kartarpur (meaning The City of God, was established by Guru Nanak during the later days of his life The Ravi River (रवि ਰਾਵੀ راوی is a River in Pakistan and India. Though Sri Chand was not an ambitious man, the Udasis believed that the Guruship should have gone to him, since he was a man of pious habits in addition to being Nanak's son. They refused to accept Angad's succession. On Nanak's advice, Angad shifted from Kartarpur to Khadur, where his wife Khivi and children were living, until he was able to bridge the divide between his followers and the Udasis. Mata Khivi (1506 - 1582 came from the small town of Sanghar which is now located in the province of Sindh in Pakistan. Angad continued the work started by Nanak and is widely credited for standardising the Gurmukhī script as used in the sacred scripture of the Sikhs. Gurmukhī (ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ Shahmukhi:) is the most common script used for writing the Punjabi language.

Amar Das, a Khatri of the Bhalla clan, became the third Sikh guru in 1552 at the age of 73. Guru Amar Das ( Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਅਮਰ ਦਾਸ ( 5 May 1479 - 1 September 1574) was the third of The Khatri ( Punjabi: ਖੱਤਰੀ Hindi: खत्री is the Punjabi language adaptation or pronunciation of Sanskrit word Kshatriya Khatri ( Punjabi: ਖੱਤਰੀ Hindi: खत्री is the Punjabi language adaptation or pronunciation of Sanskrit word Kshatriya Goindval became an important centre for Sikhism during the guruship of Amar Das. Goindval (also known as Goindwal Sahib is a place in Amritsar district in the states of Punjab in India about 22 km He preached the principle of equality for women by prohibiting purdah and sati. This article is about the practice of preventing men from seeing women Satī ( Devanagari: सती, the feminine of sat "true" (also suttee) is a Funeral practice among some Amar Das also encouraged the practice of langar and made all those who visited him attend laṅgar before they could speak to him. Langar may refer to Langar (Sikhism British Parachute Schools - Langar - parachuting drop zone Langar Nottinghamshire ^[23] In 1567, Emperor Akbar sat with the ordinary and poor people of Punjab to have laṅgar. Akbar redirects here For other uses see Akbar (disambiguation Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar ( Jalāl ud-Dīn Muhammad Akbar Amar Das also trained 146 apostles of which 52 were women, to manage the rapid expansion of the religion. ^[24] Before he died in 1574 aged 95, he appointed his son-in-law Jēṭhā, a Khatri of the Sodhi clan, as the fourth Sikh guru. Sodhi is a Punjabi tribe of Kshatriyas clan in PunjabThe Sodhis claim descent from an ancestor called Sodhi Rai in 12th century

Jēṭhā became Ram Das and vigorously undertook his duties as the new guru. Guru Ram Das (ਗੁਰੂ ਰਾਮ ਦਾਸ (Born in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan on 24 September, 1534 &ndash 1 September He is responsible for the establishment of the city of Ramdaspur later to be named Amritsar. Amritsar (ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ meaning The Lake of the Holy Nectar, is the administrative headquarters of the Amritsar District in the state In 1581, Arjan Dev—youngest son of the fourth guru—became the fifth guru of the Sikhs. Guru Arjan Dev Ji or Guru Arjun Dev Ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਦੇਵ (born in Amritsar, Punjab, India on 15 April, In addition to being responsible for building the Harimandir Sahib (often called the Golden Temple), he prepared the Sikh sacred text known as the Ādi Granth (literally the first book) and included the writings of the first five gurus. Sri Harmandir Sahib ( Punjabi: ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ) informally referred to as The Golden Temple or Temple of God, He himself was decapitated Adi Granth (or Aad Granth, literally "the first book" is the early compilation of the Sikh Scriptures by Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji the fifth In 1606, for refusing to make changes to the Granth and for supporting an unsuccessful contender to the throne, he was tortured and killed by the Mughal ruler, Jahangir. Nuruddin Salim Jahangir (full title Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Khushru-i-Giti Panah Abu'l-Fath Nur ud-din Muhammad Jahangir Padshah Ghazi ''( September 20 ^[25]

Political advancement

Har Gobind, became the sixth guru of the Sikhs. Guru Har Gobind (ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਾਹਿਬ also Sacha Padshah (ਸੱਚਾ ਪਾਦਸ਼ਾਹ True King He carried two swords—one for spiritual and the other for temporal reasons (known as mīrī and pīrī in Sikhism). Spirituality, in a narrow sense concerns itself with matters of the Spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and Faith, a transcendent reality Secularism is generally the assertion that governmental practices or institutions should exist separately from Religion or religious beliefs ^[26] Sikhs grew as an organised community and always had a trained fighting force to defend their independence. In 1644, Har Rai became guru followed by Har Krishan, the boy guru, in 1661. Guru Har Rai (ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ ( 26 February 1630 - 6 October 1661) was the seventh of The Eleven Gurus of Sikhism Guru Har Krishan (ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ ( 7 July, 1656 &ndash 30 March, 1664) was No hymns composed by these three gurus are included in the Sikh holy book. ^[27]

Tegh Bahadur became guru in 1665 and led the Sikhs until 1675. Guru Tegh Bahadur ( 1 April 1621 – 11 November 1675) became the 9th Guru of Sikhism on Teg Bahadur was executed by Aurangzeb for helping to protect Hindus, after a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits came to him for help when the Emperor condemned them to death for failing to convert to Islam. Guru Tegh Bahadur ( 1 April 1621 – 11 November 1675) became the 9th Guru of Sikhism on Aurangzeb ( (full title Al-Sultan al-Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Abul Muzaffar Muhiuddin Muhammad Aurangzeb Bahadur Alamgir I Padshah Ghazi) ( November 4, Original Kashmiri Pandit ( Hindi: hi कश्मीरी पण्डित refers to a person who belongs to a sect of Hindu Pandits who originate ^[28] He was succeeded by his son, Gobind Rai who was just nine years old at the time of his father's death. Gobind Rai further militarised his followers, and was baptised by the Pañj Piārē when he formed the Khalsa in 1699. The Panj Piare (ਪੰਜ ਪਿਆਰੇ Pañj Pi'ārē, literally the five beloved ones) name given to the five Sikhs Bhai Daya Singh, Bhai Dharam For the village in Azerbaijan see Xəlsə. Khalsa ( Punjabi: pa ਖਾਲਸਾ literally "Pure" refers to the collective From here on in he was known as Gobind Singh. Guru Gobind Singh (ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ gʊɾu gobɪn̪d̪ sɪ́ŋg ( December 22, 1666 &ndash 7 October, 1708) was ^[29]

From the time of Nanak, when it was a loose collection of followers who focused entirely on the attainment of salvation and God, the Sikh community had significantly transformed. Even though the core Sikh religious philosophy was never affected, the followers now began to develop a political identity. Conflict with Mughal authorities escalated during the lifetime of Teg Bahadur and Gobind Singh. The latter founded the Khalsa in 1699. The Khalsa is a disciplined community that combines its religious purpose and goals with political and military duties. ^[30] After Aurangzeb killed four of his sons, Gobind Singh sent Aurangzeb the Zafarnāmā (Notification/Epistle of Victory).

Shortly before his death, Gobind Singh ordered that the Gurū Granth Sāhib (the Sikh Holy Scripture), would be the ultimate spiritual authority for the Sikhs and temporal authority would be vested in the Khalsa Panth – The Sikh Nation/Community. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ gurū granth sāhib) or Guru Granth Sahib, is the eleventh and eternal Guru of the ^[15] The first scripture was compiled and edited by the fifth guru, Arjan Dev, in 1604. a former ascetic, was charged by Gobind Singh with the duty of punishing those who had persecuted the Sikhs. After the guru's death, Banda Bahadur became the leader of the Sikh army and was responsible for several attacks on the Mughal empire. He was executed by the emperor Jahandar Shah after refusing the offer of a pardon if he converted to Islam. Jahandar Shah (1661-1713 was a Mughal Emperor who ruled Hindustan for a brief period in 1712-1713 CE ^[31]

The Sikh community's embrace of military and political organisation made it a considerable regional force in medieval India and it continued to evolve after the demise of the gurus. After the death of Banda Bahadur, a loose confederation of Sikh warrior bands known as misls formed. The Sikh Confederacy was a nation that existed from 1716 to 1799 Misl refers to a fighting clan The period from 1716 to 1799 in Punjab was a highly turbulent time politically and militarily With the decline of the Mughal empire, a Sikh empire arose in the Punjab under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, with its capital in Lahore and limits reaching the Khyber Pass and the borders of China. Maharaja Ranjit Singh (ਮਹਾਰਾਜਾ ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ also called "Sher-e-Punjab" ("The Lion of the Punjab" (1780-1839 was a ( lahor is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and is the second largest city in Pakistan after Karachi. The Khyber Pass, (also spelled Khaiber or Khaybar (درہ خیبر (altitude  m   ft is the Mountain pass that links Pakistan and China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The order, traditions and discipline developed over centuries culminated at the time of Ranjit Singh to give rise to the common religious and social identity that the term "Sikhism" describes. ^[32]

After the death of Ranjit Singh, the Sikh kingdom fell into disorder and was eventually annexed by Britain after the hard fought Anglo-Sikh Wars. This brought the Punjab under British rule. For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British Sikhs formed the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and the Shiromani Akali Dal to preserve Sikhs religious and political organisation. The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕ ਕਮੇਟੀ (also called the parliament of the Sikhs is an organisation Akali Dal, also called Shiromani Akali Dal ( Akali Religious Party) is a collection of Sikh Political parties mainly based in Punjab With the partition of India in 1947, thousands of Sikhs were killed in violence and millions were forced to leave their ancestral homes in West Punjab. The Partition of India was the partition of the British Indian Empire which led to the creation on August 14, 1947 and August 15, West Punjab was a former province of Pakistan which existed from 1947 to 1955 ^[33] Sikhs faced initial opposition from the Government in forming a linguistic state that other states in India were afforded. The Akali Dal started a non-violence movement for Sikh and Punjabi rights. Akali Dal, also called Shiromani Akali Dal ( Akali Religious Party) is a collection of Sikh Political parties mainly based in Punjab Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale emerged as a leader of a faction which did not agree with the Akali Dal's approach on the matter. Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale (ਜਰਨੈਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਭਿੰਡਰਾਂਵਾਲੇ ʤəɾnɛl sɪ́ŋg pɪ̀ɳɖɾɑnʋɑɺ̡e (February 12 1947 &ndash June 6 1984 was In June 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered the Indian army to launch Operation Blue Star to remove Bhindranwale and his armed followers from the Golden Temple. Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi ( Indirā Priyadarśinī Gāndhī) ( Née: Nehru (19 November 1917 - 31 October 1984 was the Prime Minister of the Operation Blue Star ( ਬਿਲਯੂ ਸਟਾਰ, बिल्यू स्टार) ( June 3 to June 6, 1984) was an Indian military operation Hundreds of militants, including Bhindranwale, and a number of innocent civilians were killed during the army's successful operation. In October, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards. The assassination was followed by the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots massacre^[34] and Hindu-Sikh conflicts in Punjab, as a reaction to the assassination and Operation Blue Star. The 1984 Anti-Sikh massacre took place in India after the assassination of Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.

Scripture

There are two primary sources of scripture for the Sikhs: the Gurū Granth Sāhib and the Dasam Granth. The Gurū Granth Sāhib may be referred to as the Ādi Granth—literally, The First Volume—and the two terms are often used synonymously. Here, however, the Ādi Granth refers to the version of the scripture created by Arjan Dev in 1604. Guru Arjan Dev Ji or Guru Arjun Dev Ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਦੇਵ (born in Amritsar, Punjab, India on 15 April, The Gurū Granth Sāhib refers to the final version of the scripture created by Gobind Singh. Guru Gobind Singh (ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ gʊɾu gobɪn̪d̪ sɪ́ŋg ( December 22, 1666 &ndash 7 October, 1708) was

Adi Granth

Main article: Ādi Granth

It is believed that the Ādi Granth was compiled primarily by Bhai Gurdas under the supervision of Arjan Dev between the years 1603 and 1604. Adi Granth (or Aad Granth, literally "the first book" is the early compilation of the Sikh Scriptures by Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji the fifth Bhai Gurdas ( 1551 - 25 August 1636) was a Punjabi Sikh writer historian missionary and religious figure Guru Arjan Dev Ji or Guru Arjun Dev Ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਦੇਵ (born in Amritsar, Punjab, India on 15 April, ^[35] It is written in the Gurmukhī script, which is a descendant of the Laṇḍā script used in the Punjab at that time. Gurmukhī (ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ Shahmukhi:) is the most common script used for writing the Punjabi language. The Laṇḍā script ( Gurmukhi: ਲੰਡਾ meaning an alphabet "without tail" is a Punjabi word used to refer to scripts in Northern India ^[36] The Gurmukhī script was standardised by Arjan Dev for use in the Sikh scriptures and is thought to have been influenced by the Śāradā and Devanāgarī scripts. Gurmukhī (ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ Shahmukhi:) is the most common script used for writing the Punjabi language. The Śāradā, or Sharada, script (sa शारदा is an Abugida writing system of the Brahmic family of scripts developed from ca An authoritative scripture was created to protect the integrity of hymns and teachings of the Sikh gurus and selected bhagats. At the time, Arjan Dev tried to prevent undue influence from the followers of Prithi Chand, the guru's older brother and rival. ^[37]

The original version of the Ādi Granth is known as the kartārpur bīṛ and is currently held by the Sodhi family of Kartarpur.

Guru Granth Sahib

Gurū Granth Sāhib folio with Mūl Mantra.

Main article: Gurū Granth Sāhib

The final version of the Gurū Granth Sāhib was compiled by Gobind Singh. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ gurū granth sāhib) or Guru Granth Sahib, is the eleventh and eternal Guru of the The Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ gurū granth sāhib) or Guru Granth Sahib, is the eleventh and eternal Guru of the Guru Gobind Singh (ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ gʊɾu gobɪn̪d̪ sɪ́ŋg ( December 22, 1666 &ndash 7 October, 1708) was It consists of the original Ādi Granth with the addition of Teg Bahadur's hymns. It was decreed by Gobind Singh that the Granth was to be considered the eternal guru of all Sikhs, however, this tradition is not mentioned either in 'Guru Granth Sahib' or in 'Dasam Granth'.

Punjabi: ਸੱਬ ਸਿੱਖਣ ਕੋ ਹੁਕਮ ਹੈ ਗੁਰੂ ਮਾਨਯੋ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ।

Transliteration: Sabb sikkhaṇ kō hukam hai gurū mānyō granth. Punjabi may refer to The Punjabi language of Pakistan and India Punjabi grammar List of Punjabi Transliteration is the practice of Transcribing a Word or text written in one Writing system into another writing system or system of rules for such practice

English: All Sikhs are commanded to take the Granth as Guru. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States

It contains compositions by the first five gurus, Teg Bahadur and just one śalōk (couplet) from Gobind Singh. A Sanskrit term shloka (श्लोक also spelt sloka specifically denotes a metered and often rhymed poetic verse or phrase ^[38] It also contains the traditions and teachings of sants (saints) such as Kabir, Namdev, Ravidas and Sheikh Farid along with several others. Al-Kabir "the Great" is also one of the 99 names of God in Islam Nāmdev ( Nām Dev or Sant Nāmdev) (c1270-c1350 CE was a prominent religious poet of Maharashtra, India in the Hindu tradition Indian Hindu religious leader and founder Satguru of the " Ravidasi " beliefs revered by most Hindus as a Sant, by Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Masood Ganjshakar Dari حضرت بابا فرید الدّین مسعود گنج شکر Punjabi ਫ਼ਰੀਦ-ਉਦ-ਦੀਨ ਗੰਜਸ਼ਕਰ}} ^[32]

A group of Sikh musicians at the Golden Temple complex.

The bulk of the scripture is classified into rāgs, with each rāg subdivided according to length and author. Rāga ( Sanskrit, lit "colour" or "mood" or rāgam in Carnatic music) refers to melodic modes used There are 31 main rāgs within the Gurū Granth Sāhib. In addition to the rāgs, there are clear references to the folk music of Punjab. The main language used in the scripture is known as Sant Bhāṣā, a language related to both Punjabi and Hindi and used extensively across medieval northern India by proponents of popular devotional religion. Sant Bhasha (Sant Bhāṣā is a scriptural language related to both Punjabi and Hindi and used extensively across medieval northern India by proponents of popular Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is ^[30] The text further comprises over 5000 śabads, or hymns, which are poetically constructed and set to classical form of music rendition, can be set to predetermined musical tāl, or rhythmic beats. In Indian classical music, Tala ( Sanskrit tāla literally a "clap" is a rhythmical pattern that determines the rhythmical structure of a composition

The Granth begins with the Mūl Mantra, an iconic verse created by Nanak:

Punjabi: ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

ISO 15919 transliteration: Ika ōaṅkāra sati nāmu karatā purakhu nirabha'u niravairu akāla mūrati ajūnī saibhaṅ gura prasādi. The Mul Mantra (ਮੂਲ ਮੰਤਰ Mūla Maṃtar, or pa ਮੂਲ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ Mūla Maṃtra, Mul Mantra) is the most important concept Punjabi (pa ਪੰਜਾਬੀ in Gurmukhi script pa-PK {{Nastaliq پنجابی}} in Shahmukhi script Pañjābī in Transliteration) is an ISO 15919 Transliteration of Devanagari and related Indic scripts into Latin characters is an international standard for the Transliteration of Indic scripts to the Transliteration is the practice of Transcribing a Word or text written in one Writing system into another writing system or system of rules for such practice

Simplified transliteration: Ik ōaṅkār sat nām kartā purkh nirbha'u nirvair akāl mūrat ajūnī saibhaṅ gur prasād.

English: One Universal Creator God, The Name Is Truth, Creative Being Personified, No Fear, No Hatred, Image Of The Timeless One, Beyond Birth, Self Existent, By Guru's Grace. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States

All text within the Granth is known as gurbānī. Gurbani is the term used by Sikhs to refer to any compositions of the Gurus Gurbānī, according to Nanak, was revealed by God directly, and the authors wrote it down for the followers. The status accorded to the scripture is defined by the evolving interpretation of the concept of gurū. In the Sant tradition of Nanak, the guru was literally the word of God. The Sikh community soon transferred the role to a line of men who gave authoritative and practical expression to religious teachings and traditions, in addition to taking socio-political leadership of Sikh adherents. Gobind Singh declared an end of the line of human gurus, and now the Gurū Granth Sāhib serves as the eternal guru, with its interpretation vested with the community. ^[30]

Dasam Granth

A frontispiece to the Dasam Granth. A frontispiece is an elaborate decorative Illustration that appears facing the Title page of the book The Dasven Patshah Da Granth (ਦਸਵੇ ਪਾਤਸ਼ਾਹ ਦਾ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ (book of the Tenth Emperor popularly known as Dasam Granth(ਦਸਮ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ

Main article: Dasam Granth

The Dasam Granth (formally dasvēṁ pātśāh kī granth or The Book of the Tenth Master) is an eighteenth-century collection of miscellaneous works generally attributed to Gobind Singh. The Dasven Patshah Da Granth (ਦਸਵੇ ਪਾਤਸ਼ਾਹ ਦਾ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ (book of the Tenth Emperor popularly known as Dasam Granth(ਦਸਮ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ Guru Gobind Singh (ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ gʊɾu gobɪn̪d̪ sɪ́ŋg ( December 22, 1666 &ndash 7 October, 1708) was The teachings of Gobind Singh were not included in Gurū Granth Sāhib, the holy book of the Sikhs, and instead were collected in the Dasam Granth. Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. Unlike the Gurū Granth Sāhib, the Dasam Granth was never declared to hold guruship. The authenticity of some portions of the Granth has been questioned and the appropriateness of the Granth's content still causes much debate.

The entire Granth is written in the Gurmukhī script, although most of the language is Braj and not Punjabi. Gurmukhī (ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ Shahmukhi:) is the most common script used for writing the Punjabi language. Brij Bhasha (ब्रज भाषा also called Braj Bhasha, Braj Bhakha, or Daihaati Zabaan (country tongue is a Central Indian language Punjabi (pa ਪੰਜਾਬੀ in Gurmukhi script pa-PK {{Nastaliq پنجابی}} in Shahmukhi script Pañjābī in Transliteration) is an Sikh tradition states that Mani Singh collected the writings of Gobind Singh after his death to create the Granth. Bhai Mani Singh, a great Sikh personality of eighteenth century occupies a very esteemed position in Sikh history ^[39]

From 1892 to 1897, scholars assembled at the Akal Takht, Amritsar, to study the various printed Dasam Granths and prepare the authoritative version. The Takht Sri Darbar Sahib Akal Takht (ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ əkɑl t̪əxt̪ literally means The Seat (Throne of the Timeless One or Seat (Throne of God Amritsar (ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ meaning The Lake of the Holy Nectar, is the administrative headquarters of the Amritsar District in the state They concluded that the Dasam Granth was entirely the work of Gobind Singh. Further re-examinations and reviews took place in 1931, under the Darbar Sahib Committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee they too vindicated the earlier conclusion. The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕ ਕਮੇਟੀ (also called the parliament of the Sikhs is an organisation ^[40]

Janamsakhis

Main article: Janamsākhīs

The Janamsākhīs (literally birth stories), are writings which profess to be biographies of Nanak. The Janamsakhis (ਜਨਮਸਾਖੀ janamsākhī) literally birth stories, are writings which profess to be biographies of the first Sikh Guru Although not scripture in the strictest sense, they provide an interesting look at Nanak's life and the early start of Sikhism. There are several—often contradictory and sometimes unreliable—Janamsākhīs and they are not held in the same regard as other sources of scriptural knowledge.

Observances and ceremonies

Observant Sikhs adhere to long-standing practices and traditions to strengthen and express their faith. The daily recitation from memory of specific passages from the Gurū Granth Sāhib, especially the Japu (or Japjī, literally chant) hymns is recommended immediately after rising and bathing. Family customs include both reading passages from the scripture and attending the gurdwara (also gurduārā, meaning the doorway to God). There are many gurdwaras prominently constructed and maintained across India, as well as in almost every nation where Sikhs reside. Gurdwaras are open to all, regardless of religion, background, caste or race.

Worship in a gurdwara consists chiefly of singing of passages from the scripture. Sikhs will commonly enter the temple, touch the ground before the holy scripture with their foreheads, and make an offering. The recitation of the eighteenth century ardās is also customary for attending Sikhs. The Ardās (ਅਰਦਾਸ is a Sikh prayer that is done before performing or after undertaking any significant task after reciting the daily Banis (prayers or The ardās recalls past sufferings and glories of the community, invoking divine grace for all humanity. ^[41]

The most sacred shrine is the Harimandir Sahib in Amritsar, famously known as the Golden Temple. Sri Harmandir Sahib ( Punjabi: ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ) informally referred to as The Golden Temple or Temple of God, He himself was decapitated Groups of Sikhs regularly visit and congregate at the Harimandir Sahib. On specific occasions, groups of Sikhs are permitted to undertake a pilgrimage to Sikh shrines in the province of Punjab in Pakistan, especially at Nankana Sahib and the samādhī (place of cremation) of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Lahore. The Punjab ( Urdu:) province of Nankana Sahib, also known as Raipur is a City in the province of Punjab with a population of almost 160000, it is also the capital of Nankana Sahib Samadhi ( Sanskrit: sa समाधि is a Hindu and Buddhist technical term that usually denotes higher levels of concentrated meditation or

Festivals in Sikhism mostly centre around the lives of the Gurus and Sikh martyrs. The SGPC, the Sikh organisation in charge of upkeep of the gurdwaras, organises celebrations based on the new Nanakshahi calendar. The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕ ਕਮੇਟੀ (also called the parliament of the Sikhs is an organisation The Nanakshahi (ਨਾਨਕਸ਼ਾਹੀ nānakashāhī) calendar is a Solar calendar that was adopted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee This calendar is highly controversial among Sikhs and is not universally accepted. Several festivals (Hola Mohalla, Diwali and Nanak's birthday) continue to be celebrated using the Hindu calendar. The Hindu calendar used in ancient times has undergone many changes in the process of regionalization and today there are several regional Indian Calendars, as Sikh festivals include the following:

• Gurpurabs are celebrations or commemorations based on the lives of the Sikh gurus. A Gurpurab is a celebration or commemoration based on the lives of one of the Sikh Gurus. They tend to be either birthdays or celebrations of Sikh martyrdom.
• Vaisakhi normally occurs on 13 April and marks the beginning of the new spring year and the end of the harvest. Vaisakhi (ਵਸਾਖੀ vaisākhī, also known as Baisakhi) is an ancient Harvest festival in Punjab, which also marks beginning of Sikhs celebrate it because on Vaisakhi in 1699, the tenth guru, Gobind Singh, began the Khalsa baptismal tradition. For the village in Azerbaijan see Xəlsə. Khalsa ( Punjabi: pa ਖਾਲਸਾ literally "Pure" refers to the collective
• Diwali (also known as bandī chōḍ divas) celebrates Hargobind's release from the Gwalior Fort, where he was imprisoned by Jahangir, on 26 October 1619. Diwali, or Deepavali, (also called Tihar and Swanti in Nepal (Markiscarali is a major Indian and Nepalese festival and a significant Gwalior Fort ( Hindi: ग्वालियर क़िला Gwalior Qila) in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India, stands on an isolated Nuruddin Salim Jahangir (full title Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Khushru-i-Giti Panah Abu'l-Fath Nur ud-din Muhammad Jahangir Padshah Ghazi ''( September 20 Events 740 - An Earthquake strikes Constantinople, causing much damage and death
• Hola Mohalla occurs the day after Holi and is when the Khalsa Panth gather at Anandpur and display their fighting skills. Hola Mahalla (also Hola Mohalla or simply Hola) is a Sikh festival which begins on the first day of the Lunar month Holi ( or language|Bhojpuri]] also called the Festival of Colours, is a popular Hindu spring Festival observed in India, Khalsa Panth (meaning a group of baptized Sikhs (ਖਾਲਸਾ ਪੰਥ khālsā panth) is the Theocracy that manages the affairs of the Khalsa

Ceremonies and customs

The anand kāraj (Sikh marriage) ceremony.

Nanak taught that rituals, religious ceremonies or empty worship is of little use and Sikhs are discouraged from fasting or going on pilgrimages. ^[42] However, during the period of the later gurus, and due to increased institutionalisation of the religion, some ceremonies and rites did arise. Sikhism is not a proselytizing religion and most Sikhs do not make active attempts to gain converts. However, converts to Sikhism are welcomed, although there is no formal conversion ceremony.

Upon a child's birth, the Guru Granth Sāhib is opened at a random point and the child is named using the first letter on the top left-hand corner of the left page. All boys are given the middle name or surname Singh, and all girls are given the middle name or surname Kaur. Singh (सिंह sinh, ਸਿੰਘ singh, સિંહ sinh) is derived from the Sanskrit word Siṃha meaning " KAUR (891 FM) is a Radio station broadcasting a Variety format ^[43] Sikhs are joined in wedlock through the anand kāraj ceremony. Anand Karaj (ਅਨੰਦ ਕਾਰਜ anand kāraj) is the Sikh marriage ceremony meaning "Blissful Union" or "Joyful Union" that was introduced Sikhs are required to marry when they are of a sufficient age (child marriage is taboo), and without regard for the future spouse's caste or descent. The marriage ceremony is performed in the company of the Guru Granth Sāhib; around which the couple circles four times. After the ceremony is complete, the husband and wife are considered "a single soul in two bodies. "^[44]

According to Sikh religious rites, neither husband nor wife are permitted to divorce. A Sikh couple that wishes to divorce may be able to do so in a civil court – but this is not condoned. ^[45] Upon death, the body of a Sikh is usually cremated. If this is not possible, any means of disposing the body may be employed. The kīrtan sōhilā and ardās prayers are performed during the funeral ceremony (known as antim sanskār). "Antam" or "Antim" mean Final or Last. "Sanskar" means ritual rite ceremony service. ^[46]

Baptism and the Khalsa

A kaṛā, kaṅghā and kirpān.

Khalsa (meaning pure) is the name given by Gobind Singh to all Sikhs who have been baptised or initiated by taking ammrit in a ceremony called ammrit sañcār. For the village in Azerbaijan see Xəlsə. Khalsa ( Punjabi: pa ਖਾਲਸਾ literally "Pure" refers to the collective Amrita or Amrit (अमृत ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ಅಮೃತ అమృతము is a Sanskrit word that literally means "without death" and is often Amrit Sanskar or Amrit Sanchar or the Amrit ceremony is the Sikh ceremony of initiation or baptism The first time that this ceremony took place was on Vaisakhi, which fell on 30 March 1699 at Anandpur Sahib in India. Vaisakhi (ਵਸਾਖੀ vaisākhī, also known as Baisakhi) is an ancient Harvest festival in Punjab, which also marks beginning of Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Anandpur Sahib (ਅਨੰਦਪੁਰ ਸਾਹਿਬआनन्दपुर साहिब is a city and a Municipal council in Rupnagar district in the state It was on that occasion that Gobind Singh baptised the Pañj Piārē who in turn baptised Gobind Singh himself. The Panj Piare (ਪੰਜ ਪਿਆਰੇ Pañj Pi'ārē, literally the five beloved ones) name given to the five Sikhs Bhai Daya Singh, Bhai Dharam

Baptised Sikhs are bound to wear the Five Ks (in Punjabi known as pañj kakkē or pañj kakār), or articles of faith, at all times. Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. "Five K" can also refer to a five-kilometer distance in long-distance running or other sports The tenth guru, Gobind Singh, ordered these Five Ks to be worn so that a Sikh could actively use them to make a difference to their own and to others' spirituality. The 5 items are: kēs (uncut hair), kaṅghā (small comb), kaṛā (circular heavy metal bracelet), kirpān (ceremonial short sword), and kacchā (special undergarment). In Sikhism, Kesh (sometimes Kes) is the practice of allowing one's hair to grow naturally as a symbol of respect for the perfection of God's creation The Sikhs were commanded by Guru Gobind Singh at the Baisakhi Amrit Sanchar in 1699 to wear a small comb called a Kanga at all times Kara (or Kada or Karra) is an iron Bangle, worn by both male and female baptized Sikhs It is one of the five Kakars &ndash The Kirpan (kɪrˈpɑn (ਕਿਰਪਾਨ kirpān) is a ceremonial sword or dagger that must be worn by all baptised Sikhs ( Khalsa) after Kachera/Kaccha ( Punjabi: ਕਛ are an undergarment which looks similar to boxer shorts The Five Ks have both practical and symbolic purposes. ^[47]

Sikh people

Main article: Sikh

A Sikh family, the boys wearing the traditional Dastar

Worldwide, there are 25,800,000 (25. Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. For the village in Azerbaijan see Dəstər; for the United States Supreme Court case see Dastar Corp 8 million) Sikhs, but around 75% of Sikhs live in the Indian state of Punjab, where they are close to 59. Punjab (ਪੰਜਾਬ पंजाब pəɲdʒaːb is a state in northwest India. 9% of the population. Large communities of Sikhs live in the neighboring states, and large communities of Sikhs can be found across India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country However, Sikhs are only about 2% of the Indian population. Migration beginning from the 19th century led to the creation of significant communities in Canada (Brampton & Malton, Ontario; Surrey, British Columbia), the United Kingdom, the Middle East, East Africa, Southeast Asia and more recently, the United States, Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Brampton (pronounced bramton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada and the seat of Peel Region. Malton is one of the Neighbourhoods in the northeast part of the city of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, located to the northwest of Toronto Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec Surrey is a Canadian city in the Province of British Columbia that lies within the Metro Vancouver The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. East Africa is the Easternmost Region of the African Continent. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Western Europe at its most general meaning means 'all the countries in the West of Europe ' For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Smaller populations of Sikhs are found in Mauritius, Pakistan, Nepal, Fiji and other countries. Mauritius (pronounced məˈrɪʃəs L’île Maurice /il mɔ'ʁis/ Mauritian Creole: Maurice) officially the Republic of Mauritius, République Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Fiji (Matanitu ko Viti फ़िजी officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य

Like the Hindus, many Sikhs are also divided along caste lines, although these divisions exist contrary to the teachings of Sikh Gurus. In addition to social divisions, there are a number of Sikh sectarian groups, such as Namdharis, Ravidasis, Nirankaris^[48] and Radhasoamis. Namdhari Sikhs (also known as Kuka Sikhs are an orthodox sect of Sikhism Ravidasi ( Panjabi: ਰਬਿਦਾਸੀ or ਆਦ ਧਰਮ) is a sect based on the teachings of Ravidas, who is considered the Satguru. The Sant Nirankari Mission (SNM was formally launched in May 1929 when Baba Buta Singh ji bestowed Divine Knowledge to Baba Avtar Singh ji in the province of Punjab (British Radha Soami "Radhasoami" (also Radhasoami Satsang and Radha Swami) is a Spiritual movement founded in 1861 by Soamiji Maharaj ^[49] These groups differ from orthodox Sikhism, and have their own religious and social organisations. Nihangs tend to have little difference in practice but are considered Sikhs proper by mainstream Sikhism. Nihang (pronounced Nee-hung) (also called Akalis) is an armed Sikh There is also a sect known as Udasi, founded by Sri Chand who were initially part of Sikhism but later developed into a monastic order. Udasi is a religious, ascetic Sadhu Sect, which considers itself a Denomination of Sikhism focused on the teachings of its founder Sri Chand (1494 – 1643 was the first son of Guru Nanak, raised by his sister

See also

• An index of the most important articles on Sikhism can be found at the list of Sikhism-related topics. This list is of topics related to Sikhs and Sikhism. Sikhism:CategorySikhism Sikhism Sikh Amritsar
• Famous Sikhs can be found at the list of Prominent Sikhs. Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism.
• Gurdwaras Worldwide
• Gurdwaras in Africa
• Gurdwaras in Asia excluding India, Pakistan
• Gurdwaras in Europe excluding UK
• Gurdwaras in India
• Gurdwaras in Pakistan
• Gurdwaras in Canada
• Gurdwaras in the United Kingdom
• Gurdwaras in the United States
• Gurdwaras in Australia and Oceania
• Gurdwaras in South America and Mexico
• Sikh
• Gurdwara
• Sikh Festivals

References

Further reading

This article contains Indic text. The Brahmic family is a family of syllabaries (writing systems used in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Central Asia and East Asia, Without rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes or other symbols instead of Indic characters; or irregular vowel positioning and a lack of conjuncts. Mojibake is the happenstance of incorrect unreadable characters (garbage characters shown when Computer software fails to render a text correctly according to its associated

External links

• Sikhism Resource
• srigranth.org
• sikh-heritage.co.uk
• All-About-Sikhs.com
• gurbani.org - Guru Granth Sahib search engine with additional scriptural resources
• SikhismGuide.org - Guide to the Sikh religion