Sikhism RELS 110 World Religions Deaths in Sikh

Sikhism RELS 110: World Religions

Deaths in Sikh temple attack in US August 5, 2012 http: //www. aljazeera. com/news/americas/201 2/08/201285171125839928. html

Emergence of Sikhism • Sikhism was founded during the fifteenth century in the Punjab, an area of South Asia. • Sikhism came into being through the close contact of Hinduism and Islam in South Asia, • • especially the bhakti traditions of Hinduism and Sufi variants of Islam. • The founder of Sikhism was Guru Nanak. • “Sikh” means “disciple” or “learner. ” Slide 3.

Life of Guru Nanak • • The founder of Sikhism was born in what is now Pakistan. Guru Nanak was born as a Hindu into the Kshatriya caste. As a young man he was married and had children. At the age of thirty, Nanak had a direct experience of God. Thereafter, he became a spiritual teacher. With his companion Mardana, Nanak traveled from Arabia to Tibet to Sri Lanka in a quest to understand other religions and spiritual teachers. Nanak established a community in Kartarpur where the Sikh religion was developed prior to Nanak’s death at age seventy. Slide 4.

Who are the Sikhs? (BBC, 1997)

The Ten Gurus • • • There are ten gurus in the Sikh lineage established by Guru Nanak, the religion’s founder. Beginning with the fifth guru, the office was handed down patrilineally. The gurus were both spiritual and political leaders. Many of the gurus wrote hymns and poems that were eventually incorporated into Sikh scripture. During the time of the ten gurus, there was much conflict between Sikhs and the Mughal Empire in India. The fourth and ninth gurus died while in Mughal custody and thus are considered to be martyrs. Slide 6.

The Khalsa • The Khalsa was created as a military elite within Sikhism. • The Khalsa was founded by Guru Gobind in 1699. • The Khalsa is not differentiated on the basis of caste. • Members of the Khalsa adhere to certain rules, such as those prohibiting the use of tobacco or alcohol. Slide 7.

Khalsa dress • Changes in name and dress mark members of the Khalsa as distinctively Sikh. • Kesh (uncut hair, usually worn in a turban) • Kangha (comb) • Kirpan (sword or dagger) • Kara (steel wrist guard) • Kach (short pants) Slide 8.

Pacifism • • • Khalsa reverses the pacifism of Guru Nanak The martyred gurus—Arjan and Tegh Bahadur—accepted violence against themselves. the ideal of martyrdom vies with that of the holy warrior in Sikhism Guru Gobind Singh’s 5 conditions for “righteous war”: military means may be used only as a last resort; battle must be conducted without enmity or desire for revenge; territory should not be taken or captured property retained; troops must be committed to the cause, not mercenaries, and they must not smoke, drink, or abuse opponents’ women; minimal force should be used, with hostilities ending as soon as the objective is attained. Slide 9.

Guru Granth Sahib • • • Before he died, Guru Gobind declared that the Adi Granth, the Sikh scriptures, would be the last and final guru. Guru Gobind Singh was stabbed by an assassin in 1708 but did not die immediately. Prior to his death, Gobind asserted that he was the last of the Sikh gurus, and that henceforward, the Sikh scriptures (the Adi Granth) would serve as the only guru for the Sikh community. Gobind added the writings of his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, to the Granth, and surrounded the book with honorifics, terming it Sri Guru Granth Sahib. With the creation of the Khalsa and the completion of the Granth, Gobind set Sikhism on a new course. Slide 10.

Sikh Scripture • • • Punjabi is the language of the Granth while Gurmukhi is the script in which it is written. The Mul Mantra declares that there is one God. “One God, truth is his name, creative being personified, without fear, without malice, image of the eternal, beyond birth, self-existent, by the guru’s grace. ” Guru Gobind Singh’s writings are contained in the Dasam Granth. Additional Sikh scriptures consist of codes of discipline (Rahitnamas) and narratives of the life of Guru Nanak. Slide 11.

Sikh Theology • Sikhs are monotheistic, like Abrahamic faiths. • For Sikhs, God is formless, but also personal, and has many names. • Akal Purakh (“Timeless One”); Nam (“The Name”); Sati Nam (“His Name is Truth”); and, most often, Vahiguru (“Wonderful Sovereign” or “Supreme Teacher”). • Souls are reincarnated repeatedly, like Hinduism • • Illusion of self causes separation from God, and therefore suffering. Devotion burns off bad karma • Human beings have a special place in God’s creation. • • Uniquely suited to gain liberation (oneness with God), like Hinduism, through prayer, music, meditation Given sovereignty over a good creation (as in Abrahamic faiths) Slide 12.

Sikhism in India & the Diaspora • • The gurdwara has been the center of Sikh worship since the death of the tenth guru, Gobind Singh. Ranjit Singh ruled a Sikh kingdom from Lahore from 1780 until 1849, when it was annexed by the British Empire. Today, most Sikhs live in the Punjab, but some live in other parts of India or in Asia, Africa, Europe, or North America. Several smaller groups, such as the Sahajdharis and Udasis, also consider themselves Sikhs, though they do not participate in the Khalsa. Slide 13.

Khalistan • The hope for independence • generally positive relationship with the British authorities • Nevertheless, Sikhs joined the Indian campaign for home rule. • hope that Sikhs would be able to create a separate nation, Khalistan, was disappointed. • Most Sikhs left Pakistan for India after partition. • Devastating partition: border between India and Pakistan (along Hindu/Muslim lines), ran right through Punjab. • Most of Punjab was in Pakistan (with many important Sikh sites), but most Sikhs relocated to India. Slide 14.

Golden Temple, 1984 • Sikh separatists took over the Golden Temple at Amritsar. • attacked by Indian army (Operation Blue Star) under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi • at least 1000 Sikhs killed • Result: more riots and murders throughout India 8000 Sikhs dead • Shortly afterward, Indira Gandhi’s Sikh bodyguards assassinated her. • Slide 15.

Rituals & Rites of Passage • • • Daily prayer three times a day and can take two hours altogether. Congregational worship (at gurdwara): reading and venerating Granth. Common meal (langar), follows congregational worship. Sikhs freely choose whether to join the Khalsa no penalty for deciding not to join. many devout practicing Sikhs never join the Khalsa. They retain monotheism, respect for the ten gurus and the Guru Granth. Initiation into Khalsa follows the form given by Guru Gobind Singh: water and nectar are mixed together and sprinkled on eyes and hair. Rahit (code of conduct) is explained to the initiates. Complete readings of the Guru Granth are used to mark special occasions such as marriage and death. Slide 16.

Sikh Holidays • Sikhs share several holidays with Hindus. • Baisakhi, or New Year’s, celebrates the creation of the Khalsa. • Hola is an occasion for demonstrations of the martial arts. • Diwali is a festival of lights and commemorates the release of Guru Hargobind. • The gurpurbs commemorate important events that happened during the time of the ten gurus. • The Golden Temple is Sikhism's most important site. Slide 17.

Videos • BBC Documentary • From 12: 45 Slide 18.

Review of Early Sikhism • “Sikh” means “disciple” or “learner. ” • Emergence of Sikhism • contact of Hinduism and Islam (bhakti & Sufi) • Guru Nanak, a Hindu in 15 th C. Punjab; • At 30, experienced God and became a guru. • traveled with Mardena • established a Sikh community in Kartarpur • 10 Gurus • • spiritual and political leaders. From 5 th on, hereditary. Wrote poems conflict between Sikhs and the Mughal Empire in India. • 4 th & 9 th gurus martyrs Slide 19.

Review: • The Khalsa • • Sikh military elite founded by Guru Gobind in 1699. Changes in name and dress ; certain rules reverses the pacifism of Guru Nanak 5 conditions for “righteous war”: last resort; no desire for revenge; no looting; no mercenaries; minimal force. • Guru Granth Sahib • Guru Gobind named it the final guru. • Sikh Theology • View of God and creation from Islam (Monotheism ; good creation) • View of Humans from Hinduism (reincarnation, karma, devotion, able to achieve oneness with the divine) Slide 20.

Review • • • • Khalistan: The hope for independence most Sikhs live in the Punjab Ranjit Singh 1780 -1849. Punjab partitioned between India and Pakistan most Sikhs relocated to India. Golden Temple, 1984: Sikh separatists took over Golden Temple; attacked by Indian army Indira Gandhi’s Sikh bodyguards assassinated her. Rituals & Rites of Passage Daily prayer Congregational worship (at gurdwara): reading and venerating Granth. (Can be daily or weekly) Halifax: Sundays Khalsa is voluntary Complete readings of the Guru Granth at weddings & funerals. Sikh Holidays Hindu holidays, but celebrating Sikh history; plus gurpurbs. Slide 21.