It is a collection of nearly 6000 hymns of the sikh gurus religious leaders. Guru is a sanskrit word for teacher, and within sikhism it is the title given to the 10 spiritual leaders of sikhism dating from 1469 ad to 1708 ad as well as the sri guru granth sahib, the 11th and last of the sikh gurus. The guru granth sahib is a collection of teachings and writings by guru nanak and other gurus as well as sikh, hindu and muslim saints. Guru nanak 14691539 was at the head of the first community, and. Sikhism and spirituality by rabinder singh bhamra in my view, the author has a motive and purpose for writing this book to checkmate those writers who are bent upon. A granthi is a person, female or male, of the sikh religion who is a ceremonial reader of the sri guru granth sahib, which is the holy book in sikhism, often read to worshipers at sikh temples. He called for activity, creativity, fidelity, selfcontrol, and purity. Osho rajneesh, kartar singh jhabbar, and maulana syed sibte hasan naqvi were wellknown spiritual and religious leaders of the 20th century. The sikh religion is a monotheistic faith that is one of the youngest of the worlds major religions.
The religion of the gurus fisher digital publications st. It is considered to be much more than a book, it is deemed to be the living guru of the sikhs. Guru nanak was a pioneer of his time, advocating for gender equality, social justice, and religious freedom amid the oppressive social restrictions of the day. Sikhism does not believe that any holy book takes precedence over all others or any religions prophet is the final messenger of god. Sikhs are people associated with sikhism, a monotheistic religion that originated in the 15th. The passages of poetry quoted in this book are only a very small part of nanaks spiritual treasure, which is presented, in its original form in the holy book guru granth. The fifth guru, arjun guru 1581 1606, gave sikhism its holy book, the granth sahib, which contains hymns of sikh gurus as well as those of hindu and muslim saints such as kabir. Today, it has roughly 20 million adherents worldwide, the majority of whom live in the punjab, in northwest india.
The main holy book in sikhism is the guru granth sahib. Sikhs do not believe in idols and idol worships or rituals. The engaging faith communities tip sheets were created through a collaboration between the dhs center for faithbased and neighborhood partnerships, the usc center for religion and civic culture, usc create and the national disaster interfaiths network. S wearing an oath on religious book in court makes a mockery of religion, spiritual leaders have said the network of sikh organisations warned that official advice saying sikhs can swear on a. First book, the principal sacred text of sikhism contains hymns and poetry as well as the teachings of the first five gurus. S wearing an oath on religious book in court makes a mockery of religion, spiritual leaders have said. The punjabi word sikh learner is related to the sanskrit shishya disciple, and all sikhs are disciples of the guru spiritual guide, or teacher. The holy book of the sikh religion is the guru granth sahib. Sikhs are forbidden from eating halal and kosher meat. Apr 26, 2018 s wearing an oath on religious book in court makes a mockery of religion, spiritual leaders have said the network of sikh organisations warned that official advice saying sikhs can swear on a. It has over 3000 hymns and instructions to lead a good sikh life. The dasam granth is a composition primarily of the tenth guru, guru gobind singh. The adi granth, its first rendition, was compiled by the fifth sikh guru arjan dev. Key stage 2 assembly about sikhism and attending a gurdwara.
Sikhism is based on the religious teachings of ten spiritual leaders bowker, j. In terms of numbers of followers, it ranks as the ninth largest religion in the world, with followers numbering between 25 and 28 million. Wonders of sikh spirituality come alive the new york times. The fundamental principles of the sikh religion are also inscribed in the holy book of this religion, the guru granth sahib. Sikhism was founded at the end of the 15th century in northern india, when a young, highcaste punjabi hindu named nanak had a revelation. Early religions caney creek high school world history. The book teaches that outward rituals and indulgence in the worldly pleasure only bring us pain. Sikhism though has a very specific definition of the word guru. Sikhs cover their heads and remove their shoes while in the presence of this sacred scripture, their eternal living guru. Guru nanak 14691539 was one of the greatest religious innovators of all time and the founder of the sikh religion. Sikhism maintains that while truth is high, higher still is truthful living. It was founded by guru nanak, the first in a line of ten gurus spiritual leaders who developed and promulgated the faith.
Naam, the name of god, shabad the word of god and sat sang, the company of the pious and the holy. Almost every school of religious thought and belief has its own central texts to guide its followers. Sikhism is an independent religion that emerged in the environment of hinduism and islam. However, this claim is first observed only much later, in texts attributed to the 17thcentury hariji, the. The basic philosophy of sikhism revolves mainly around three concepts. The book of mormon is a scripture used in the church of jesus christ of latter day saints often referred to as the mormons. During early sikh history, ultimate political, administrative, and spiritual leadership was vested in the living gurus. The sri guru granth sahib also known as adi granth is more than a holy book for the sikhs. In sikhism it is used to describe a being who has attained spiritual enlightenment and divine knowledge and power through union with god. First book the sacred scripture of sikhism, a religion of india. The sikhs fought against the great mughals between the 17th and 18th centuries and created their state in the punjab 1765 1849, india.
More important than the metaphysical, guru nanak argued, is a life in which one enacts the will of god. This book contains the teachings of all gurus, and hass been identically printed since the first copy, containing the same amount of pages, same words, and same paper size to preserve it. Jun 20, 2019 sikhism as a religious movement developed at the beginning of the 16th century in northwest india. The famous people and important leaders of sikh history include influential women, fearless warriors, and countless brave and heroic martyrs who stood fast for their faith when confronted with infamous tyrannical villains. Sikhism is a relatively young religion, with guru granth sahib as its key religious text.
Oct 07, 2011 the founder of sikhism guru nanak guru nanak. The year 1469 marks the birth of guru nanak, the founder of sikhism. The first sikh guru, nanak, established the practice of. When most people think of leadership, they picture a military officer giving out orders or an employer closely supervising his employees, making sure all the work gets done. The book teaches that outward rituals and indulgence. Guru granth sahib, the holy book of sikhs introduction like the bible of christianity, the vedas of hinduism or the koran of islam, the guru granth sahib, also known as the adi granth, is the main scripture of sikhism.
Sikhism is based on the spiritual teachings of guru nanak, the first guru. Sikhism is a monotheistic faith that originated in india during the 15th century. Sep 18, 2006 sikhism was founded at the end of the 15th century in northern india, when a young, highcaste punjabi hindu named nanak had a revelation. The guru granth sahib was also a guru and was the 11th guru. It seems that some of these local leaders were not particularly loyal to the gurus, and the sikh tradition may have been on the verge of splintering into separate groups. He was succeeded by nine other gurus until, in 1708, the guruship was finally passed on by the tenth guru to the holy sikh scripture, guru granth sahib, which is now considered the living guru by the followers of the sikh faith. In other cases, they helped to revitalise a particular religion or spiritual movement.
Sri guru granth sahib ji is the central religious scripture of sikhism, regarded by sikhs as the. In contrast to the bible or the koran, which are both held in high reverence to their religions, the guru granth sahib is much more than just written holy words in a book, it is actual guru of the sikhs. 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. Last human guru 16661708, announced the guru granth sahib as successor, introduced the five ks and military rule in sikhism guru granth sahib holy book, sikh holy book. By small and simple things are great things brought to pass.
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. First, with the advent of the khalsa, gobind singh nullified the power of the masands, the various local sikh leaders. Sikhs call it shri guru granth sahib ji answer to what is unique about guru granth sahib. The guru granth sahib, their holy book is the current leader of the sikh religion because long ago there were 10 gurus or leaders. This holy book would become an official part of the sikh religion later on in the. Sikhism is based on the religious teachings of ten spiritual leaders bowker. Sikhism is one of the worlds youngest religions being founded just over 500 years ago. Sikhism as a religious movement developed at the beginning of the 16th century in northwest india. In hinduism, jainism, and buddhism, a sant is a human being revered for his or her knowledge of self, truth, reality and as a truthexemplar. Who are the 10 gurus of sikhism what is the truth of life. And by the power of the holy ghost ye may know the truth of. Jun 20, 2019 sacred texts of major world religions. Famous religious figures and leaders biography online. Even kings and emperors, with mountains of property and oceans of wealth these are not even equal to an ant, who does not forget god.
Many other sikh leaders supported the partition along religious and. Similarly a spiritual leader and his disciple become equal, nanak says the truth. Sikhism rejects the notion that any religion, even theirs, holds a monopoly on the ultimate spiritual truth. 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. This religion does not allow idol worship, but the holy book or the guru. It led him to believe that god was a formless spiritual. He was succeeded by nine other gurus until, in 1708, the guruship was finally passed on by the tenth guru to the holy sikh scripture, guru. Swearing on a holy book makes a mockery of religion, sikh.
It consists of a compilation of religious and mystic poetry written by an array of spiritual leaders from the 12th century to the 17th all over. A holy man reading the guru granth sahib, the holy book of sikhism. Holy book and place of worship of sikhism,jainism, buddhism. The five kakars are required to be worm by sikh followers. According to sikh tradition, sikhism was established by guru nanak 14691539 and subsequently led by a succession of nine other gurus. The network of sikh organisations warned that official advice saying sikhs can swear on a. The word guru is a sanskrit word meaning teacher, honoured person, religious person or saint. A hindu priest or religious leader is called a swami. The word swami means master in hindu, or striving for the mastery over ones smaller self and habit patterns, so that the eternal self within may come shining through.
Engaging sikh leaders center for religion and civic culture. Despite being so young, it is the fifth largest religion in the world with over 20 million followers. All visitors to the gurdwara should remove remove their shoes and cover their heads. A succession of ten gurus developed and established the tenets of sikhism.
Sikhism, religion and philosophy founded in the punjab region of the indian subcontinent in the late 15th century. Many sikhs follow both cultural and religious dietary practices written in the guru granth sahib sikh holy book. Ramakrishna paramahamsa, a natural mystic given to spiritual ecstasies from a young age, was regarded as an influential indian mystic and yogi during the 19thcentury. The gurdwara is still however set up as though a human guru is in residence that is the book is treated as the human gurus may have been in their day. The ten commandments were revealed to moses by god in the book of exodus. This honour of being called a sikh guru applies only to the ten gurus who.
Feb 25, 2019 the first spiritual leader of sikhism, guru nanak, lived from 1469 to 1539 and taught that a good, spiritual life must be intertwined with a secular life welllived. The wisdom and teachings of all can be accessed by anyone at any time in this sikh holy book. Dec 21, 2017 the sacred book is guru granth sahib ji. It means the descent of divine guidance to mankind provided through ten enlightened masters. Before his death in 1708 guru gobind singh declared that the sikhs no longer needed a living leader and appointed as his spiritual successor the sikh holy book, now known as sri guru granth sahib, and as his physical successor the khalsa meaning the pure, order of soldiersaints. Before the time of guru arjan dev, the place of sikh religious. A selection of famous spiritualreligious figures and leaders. Originally, the religion relied on the teaching of living gurus. Holy place, nankana sahib, where the founder of the sikh religion, guru nanak. Aryan books international, 2009, isbn 9788173053863. Although they are considered religious officials in sikhism, they are not considered to be the equivalent of a priest, as the belief is. A hindu or buddhist religious leader and spiritual teacher.
Sikhs consider the granth to be a spiritual guide for mankind, and it plays a central role in guiding the sikhs way of life. Guru, in sikhism, any of the first 10 leaders of the sikh religion of northern india. Guru granth shows the harmony between truth and music. Sikhism or sikhi is a monotheistic religion that originated in the punjab region of the indian. Biographies of sikh leaders miscellaneous sikh diaspora. God and in helping others as a way of living a good spiritual life. The book of mormon contains writings from ancient prophets including events before christs birth and after his resurection. 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. What is the sacred book of sikhs, and who compiled it. Swearing on a holy book makes a mockery of religion, sikh leaders.
These sikh leaders have evolved over many years and are known as gurus. Out of total 5894 hymns of the scripture, guru granths contribution is 974, composed in 19 ragas musical modes. Thou shalt not take the name of the lord thy god in vain 4. The word swami means master in hindu, or striving for the mastery over ones smaller self and habit patterns, so that the eternal self. In the religious sense, a sikh is someone who believes in one god, sat guru, or true teacher, 21. Most popularly the word guru is used globally for indian spiritual leaders who. Belief in the guru granth sahib the sikh holy book or the living guru. Throughout his life, guru nanak was a religious leader and social reformer.
Many of these religious personalities have founded a new religion or new religious movement. In a modern gurdwara, the guru is not a person but the book of sikh. The sikhism is a monotheistic faith, one of the worlds major religions. The fundamental beliefs of sikhism, articulated in the sacred scripture guru granth. The sikh scripture is a book called the guru granth sahib the tenth guru, guru gobind singh declared that there would be no other living gurus but instead sikhs could look to their holy scriptures for guidance, so the holy book became the guru teacher.
441 1062 1127 773 1561 64 1404 1585 457 328 1283 422 428 501 1254 443 31 658 1504 746 1530 144 1396 1299 248 411 958 429 1290 297 986 579 753 1421 317 279 263