Sikhism Religion

Although poorly known out of India, the sikh religion is the 5th religion of the world with 20 millions of believers. We can easily recognize the practicing Sikhs thanks to their colorful turbans. But except for the turbans and long hair, few of us know exactly what is the sikhism.Let’s take the mystery out on this religion based on tolerance and compassion.

The Sikhism appears in the North-West of India in the XVI century. Its founder, Guru Nanak was born in anhindu family that belongs to the cast of the merchants near Lahore, in the actual Pakistan. Revolted by the casts system of Hinduism and the inequalities between men and women in Islam, he sees the religion as a way to unify the Humans. According to him, there is no hindus nor muslims, but only disciples. The word “Sikh” means disciples in Sanskrit by the way.

As he became a sadhu and a fakir, Nanak leave his country for a spiritual journey of not less than 20 years that leads him through India, Tibet, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mecca, Afghanistan and Persia. After his return, he founds Kartapur. Literally meaning “the city of the creator”Kartapur sees a no Hindu nor Muslim community gathers. The city is located in Punjabi, at the current border between India and Pakistan.

Having Faith in only one God, protecting the poors, the weaks and the oppressed, here is what the Sikhism praches. If Guru Nanak had the desire to break away from the Hinduism, the Sikhism keeps the concepts of Karma and Samsara (cycle of lives).  The supreme goal of the existence of a Sikh is Sachiar, which can be translated by “ realize us by ourselves”. “Work, share the fruit of your labor and meditate on the name” that is the Sikh slogan.

The sikh people don’t recognize idols or goddess, only one unique God, present in everything. The religion claims to be egalitarian and grounded in the absence of discrimination based on the gender or the cast. It advocates the men/women equality, claiming that a man cannot feel totally secure if he doesn’t have a woman in hits life and inversely. Tolerance is a key word of the Sikh belief, indeed everybody is welcome at the temple of Amritsar to pray, eat or sleep, no matters from wich religion or country you are. When they talk about other religions, the Sikhs claim that all religion can lead to God, but Sikhism is just faster and more direct. A superb proof of openness.

Before to die, Guru Nanak had designated his successor. At the end, 9 Gurus had been following him. The 10^th, Gobind Singh, decided that he would be the last Guru Sikh, the religious authority belonging now to the sikh community and in to the Guru Granth Sahib, sacred text written by the five first gurus and considered as a Guru.

In the Sikhism history, each Guru bring his contribution. For instance, the 5^th called ArjunDev gave to the sikh community the Golden Temple, the most sacred place of the religion located in Amritsar. The last Guru introduced an initiation rite, granted the entrance in the Khalsa (which can be translate by “become pure”).

The rite or baptism takes place at the Gurdwara (sikh temple) in the presence of the sacred texts. The ceremony is lead by 5 persons of the Gurdwara. They have to ensure that the future baptized really wants it and that he is ready to follow the rules of the Sikhism.  Then, each candidate read a prayer. Once he his baptized, the Sikh receives 5 drops of sugar water in the head, in the eyes and in the hair. Then he drinks5 drops of this water while staring at the Guru Granth Sahib. During the ceremony, the baptized already wears the 5K, which have been offered to him just before in general. The 5 K are 5 objects whose names begin with K that the Sikhs (men and women) vow to wear daily from the day they enter in the Khalsa.

The first of the 5 K is the Kesh. It is the fact to wear long hair and never cut them, in order to symbolize the acceptation of god in his/her life. It is the most important of the 5 K, the 4 others loosing their meaning without it.

The second K is Kanga, a little comb that sikh people wear in their hair, under the turban for the men. It represents the neatness and the body cleanness (Sikhs are really concerned about healthy lifestyle).  It is made in wood, a non-flexible fabric, in order to represents the justice that has to be apply in a stiff and strict way.

Next comes the Kirpan, a little sabre that Sikhs people are wearing at their waists. Even if it’s a weapon, it mustn’t be used to kill or hurt. It symbolizes the fact that Sikhs people help those who need it and protect the weaks.

The fourth K is the Kara, an iron bracelet wear at the wrist and considered as a gift of god. It represents the belief in an eternal god, in the gurus and the non-belief in the superstitions.

Eventually there is the Kachera that is a unisex calecon symbol of the faithfulness toward the couple and god.

Given that the rite has been introduced by the 10^th Guru, for the first time in the history of religions, the Guru was himself baptized by the 5 first Sikh baptized.

In order to maintain their long hair, the sikh men cover their head with a turban. If it is not strictly speaking a part of a 5K, the turban has a great importance in the life of a Sikh. Remove it from his head would be seen as a really offensive and humiliating act, a total lack of respect. During the weddings, the men of the two families exchange their turbans to show their mutual respect.

Thus, the Sikhism shares beautiful values of tolerance and acceptation. You want to learn more about this religion and discover the majestic Temple of gold in Amritsar?  Do not hesitate to book your trip: https://www.passionindiatours.com/