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Chapter Five
Part 2
Sikhism
©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Origins of Sikhism
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Began in Punjab—region known for conflicts and
attempted resolutions between Hindus and
Muslims
Founder—Nanak (1469-1539)
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Hindu, married with two children
Discussed religion with Islamic friend, Mardana
Experience of revelation
3 days in forest
 Taken into presence of the “True Name” God
 Claimed when you meet the True Name God, there is no
Hindu or Muslim
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©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Sikhism’s Early Beginnings
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After revelation experience, Nanak and Mardana
traveled together preaching and seeking sikhs
(disciples)
Nanak’s clothing blended religious elements from both
religions, symbolizing his concept of a blended religion
After Mardana’s death, as his own death approached,
Nanak chose a successor.
Nanak is known as Guru Nanak, the first of 10 Sikh
Gurus.
Early commentators saw Sikhism as a blending of the
two religions, but the modern view is a totally different
and separate religion.
©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Nanak’s and Sikhism’s
Worldview and Beliefs
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Monotheism—one god—True Name
True Name God has personal qualities and
dwells inside each individual
Accepted karma and reincarnation
Saw humans as composites of body and spirit
Accepted meat eating—animal world was
created for humanity’s use
Saw a strong social responsibility component
to religion—organized sangats (religious
groups) to help people in need
©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Development of Sikhism
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Ten human gurus through 2 stages of development
1st stage of development
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First 4 gurus—Nanak, Angad, Amar Das, Ram Das
Hymns written & religious communities organized
Headquarters established in Amritsar
2nd stage of development
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Consolidation and religious definition
5th guru, Arjan, built the Golden Temple and its
surrounding pond at Amritsar
Arjan collected hymns into Adi Granth
Arjan tortured to death by Muslim emperor Jahangir
©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Development of Sikhism
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2nd stage of development continued
6th guru, Har Gobind, influenced by death of Arjan,
set up bodyguard and established defenses
 Har Gobind abandoned the idea of ahimsa and
started wearing a sword
 Growing militancy averted persecution during
reigns of 7th guru, Har Rai, and 8th guru, Harkishan
 9th guru, Tegh Bahadur, imprisoned and decapitated
by Muslim emperor Aurangzeb
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©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Development of Sikhism
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2nd stage of development continued
10th guru, Gobind Rai, idealized the sword
 Military strength earned him the name Gobind
Singh “Gobind the lion”
 Established the military order called the Khalsa
 Males within the Khalsa take the name Singh “lion”
 With the Khalsa open to all castes, Gobind Singh
ended all caste distinctions among Sikhs
 Dying without a son to succeed him, Gobind Singh
named the Adi Granth both his successor and the
final permanent guru.
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©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Sikh Khalsa
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Originally open only to men, but now to women too
5 practices called the five K’s
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Kesh—uncut hair, symbolic of the strength of the lion,
Khalsa members do not cut their hair or beards, covering
long hair with turbans
Khanga—comb, used to hold the long hair in place
Kach—special underwear, to indicate alertness and
readiness to fight
Kirpan—short sword, used for defense
Kara—steel bracelet, a symbol of strength
Also forbidden to use intoxicants of any kind
©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Sikh Scriptures
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Adi Granth—also called Guru Granth Sahib
Believed to contain the living spirits of Nanak and
the gurus
 Treated with reverence and respect—given the
same respect shown to a living guru
 Enshrined in some Sikh homes and in gurdwaras
(temples)
 Devout Sikhs read from it or recite from it from
memory daily.
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©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Sikh Scriptures
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Adi Granth—also called Guru Granth Sahib
3 parts
1st part—Japji—long poem by Guru Nanak
summarizing the religion
 2nd part contains 39 “rags” or tunes by Guru Nanak
and other gurus
 3rd part is a collection of poems and hymns from
Hindu, Muslim and Sikh gurus and saints
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©2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.