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RELIGIONS
Eternal India
encyclopedia
*
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
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
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There is no priesthood.
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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).
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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.