Eternal India Encyclopedia

RELIGIONS

Eternal India encyclopedia

and a cross section of 15 Bhaktas, the saints, Muslims and Hindus, brahmins, shudras, a barber and a jat. Later during the time of Guru Gobind Singh, a revised recension was prepared at Damdama, when the hymns of slokas of Guru Tegh Bahadur were incorporated. Guru Gobind Singh left the spiritual Guruship to this volume, in 1708. Besides its spirituality, it is the treasure of old Hindi dialects. Apabhransha, Sanskrit, Prakrit, sant bhasha or saint language, Hindi, Sindhi, Arabic and Persian language have each added to the richness and variety of its contents. It is written in 31 ragas. Guru Granth Sahib has 1430 pages and contains the total number of 5894 hymns. * Dasam Granth (Book of the Tenth Guru). It is the second holy book of the Sikhs and contains devotional and heroic poetry composed by Guru Gobind Singh. The total number of verses is 17,155. RITUALS AND CUSTOMS * There is no priesthood. * The Sikh temple is called Gurdwara. The only object of ven- eration in the Gurdwara is the Guru Granth. No images or idols are permitted inside a Gurdwara. The Guru Granth is en- throned, draped in silk or other piece of clean cloth, on a high seat or pedestal, under a canopy. The congregation takes place in the presence of the Guru Granth with the officiant, which could be any one from those present, with a chaowar or whisk in his hand which he keeps swinging over the Guru Granth in veneration. * The Holy volume is opened ceremonially in the early hours of the morning after ardas or supplication and the first hymn at the left hand page is read to obtain what is called Vak or the day's lesson or order {Hukm). * Singing of hymns by a group of musicians called ragis, go on. * After Kirtan, first few stanzas and last stanza) are recited. It is recited every day in all Gurdwaras and on all occasions happy or sorrow, by sangat and individual. * At the end of the service the audience will stand up in the presence of the Guru Granth with hands folded in reverence with one of them or Granthi leading the prayer. At the end of the evening service the Holy Book will be closed, again after a short prayer and put to rest for the night ( Sukhasan ). * The Guru Granth is similarly kept in some Sikh homes where a separate room is kept apart for it. It is opened in the morning . and put to rest in the evening in the same style and manner. Before starting the day's work men and women go into the room where the Guru Granth is kept, say a prayer in front of it and read the first hymn at the left page to obtain the Vak or order. (Hukm). * A very beautiful custom is that of Akhand Path or uninter- rupted recital of the Guru Granth (1430 pages) from beginning to end. Such recital must be completed within 48 hours. The reading must go on day and night, without a moment's intermis- sion. * Important days on the Sikh calendar are marked by Akhand Paths in gurdwara celebarations and ceremonies in Sikh families centre upon Akhand Paths.

* Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and the last Guru, son of Guru Tegh Bahadur, became the Guru at the age of nine. He resolved to revolutionise the Sikh faith and transform it into a militant church. He founded the Khalsa (the pure), the Sikh brotherhood. * On Baishakhi Day (1699) Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur, in the Sivalik hills baptised five of his followers ipanj pyare or the five beloved ones) at a simple ceremony (pahul ). These five formed the Khalsa. They came from different directions and belonged to different traditional castes. Three of them were Shudras, the fourth a Kshatriya and the fifth a Jat. * Water was poured into an iron vessel, stirred with a double- edged sword and hymns from holy scriptures were recited, while Guru Gobind's wife Mata Sahib Kaur threw in patase (sweets) making the water amrit (the sweet water of immortality). The five disciples drank out of the same bowl and were given new names, a suffix "Singh" ("lion" or "lion hearted") * The disciples were enjoined to wear the five symbols of the brotherhood called Kakkars as the name of each begins with the letter "K" — kesh (long hair), kangha (comb), kacha (short breeches), kada (iron bracelet) and kirpan (a sword). The uncut hair of the head was to be kept in a top knot under a turban. * Guru Gobind was, in turn, baptised by his five disciples. He incorporated the hymns of Guru Tegh Bahadur in the holy book. He installed the Granth Sahib as the Guru and declared that the line of personal Gurus had ended. * To understand the world around him, the Guru made a serious study of Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian languages and their litera- tures. The Guru himself was a great scholar and poet and found time for great many works. To mention a few, his Jap Sahib, Akal Ustat, Chandi Charitra, Vars, Vichitra Natak, Shabad Hazare, among others is enshrined in Dasam Granth which also contains the writing of many of the poets at his court. * Guru Gobind Singh sacrificed his father, his mother, his four sons and himself so that his people may lead free and honourable lives. His parting message “Obey the Grant Sahib - the visible body of the Guru”. TEACHINGS Guru Nanak's teachings can be summed up as follows:- * Nam Japna (meditating on the true name): A true Sikh is expected to rise early in the morning (i.e. amritvela), bathe, cleanse the body and then meditate on God's name and recite Guru's hymns in the congregation. He is expected to repeat God's name with every breath throughout the day. * Dharam Di Kirat Kami (honest living): A true Sikh is expected to work hard and earn his livelihood by the sweat of his brow. * Vand Ke Chhakna (sharing the fruits of labour): Having earned the livelihood honestly, a true Sikh is required to share the fruits of his labour with others. * Chardi Kala (optimistic temperament): Being in tune with the will of God (i.e. hukm) a true Sikh always remains in Chardikala and does not lose heart in the face of insurmountable difficulties and hardship. SCRIPTURES * Guru Granth Sahib, Holy Book of Sikhism. * Dasam Granth (Book of the Tenth Guru Gobind Singh). * Guru Granth Sahib : The first recension of the Adi Granth or what is called Guru Granth Sahib was compiled in 1604 by Guru Aijan and installed at Harmandir with Bhai Buddha as first Head Granthi or in-charge. It contained the hymns of all five Gurus