Sikhism religion | History, Facts, Beliefs, Books, & More..

Sikhism religion History, Facts, Beliefs, Books, Symbol & More..

Sikhs (/siːk/ or /sɪk/; Punjabi: ਸਿੱਖ, sikkh) are people associated with Sikhism religion , Many sources call Sikhism a monotheistic religion, while others call it a monistic and panentheistic religion.

It originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Guru Nanak. Sikhism religion is classified as an Indian religion along with Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Sikhism religion history:

Sikhism religion was born in the Punjab area of South Asia, which now falls into the present-day states of India and Pakistan. The main religions of the area at the time were Hinduism and Islam. The Sikh faith began around 1500 CE when Guru Nanak began teaching a faith that was quite distinct from Hinduism and Islam.
According to Sikh tradition, Sikhism was established by Guru Nanak (1469–1539) and subsequently led by a succession of nine other Gurus. The religious practices were formalized by Guru Gobind Singh Ji on 13 April 1699.

Sikh beliefs:

The core beliefs of Sikhism religion, articulated in the Guru Granth Sahib, include faith and meditation on the name of the one creator; divine unity and equality of all humankind; engaging in Seva (‘selfless service’); striving for justice for the benefit and prosperity of all; and honest conduct and livelihood while living a householder’s life.
Also, Sikhs believe that human beings spend their time in a cycle of birth, life, and rebirth. They share this belief with followers of other Indian religious traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion. This means that Sikhs believe there is one God. One of the most important names for God in Sikhism is Waheguru (Wonderful God or Lord).

besides, men and women are inherently good and are equal before God, that everyone has direct access to God, and that the way to become closer to God is to be of service to our fellow human beings.

Sikhism religion holy book:

The Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib. The teachings of the Sikh religion were passed down from Guru to Guru and then written down in a very special book, the Guru Granth Sahib. The Guru Granth Sahib is used to guide the everyday thoughts and actions within a Sikh family and the rituals involved, It also contains the poetic teachings of thirteen Hindu Bhakti movement saint poets and two Sufi Muslim poets.

This is why Sikhs call their holy book a Guru. The Guru Granth Sahib is a collection of lessons from the ten gurus as well as Sikh, Hindu and Muslim saints.

Sikhism religion practices:

Wake up very early in the morning.
Bathing and cleansing of the body should be performed.
Cleanse the mind by meditating on God.
Engage in family life and address your responsibilities within the family.
Attend to a work or study routine and earn a living by earnest means.
Undertake to help the less well off with monetary and/or physical help.
Exercise your responsibilities to the community and take an active part in the maintenance and safeguard of the community.

Sikhism symbol:

The khanda (Punjabi: ਖੰਡਾ, khaṇḍā) is the symbol of the Sikh faith, that attained its current form around the first decade of the 20th century. It is an amalgam of three symbols: A double-edged khanda (sword) in the center This represents the belief in one God. A chakkar (chakram) like the Kara is a circle representing God without beginning or end and reminding Sikhs to remain within the rule of God.

Sikhism rituals:

The initiation rite, as set down in Sikh Rahit Maryada, is conducted by six initiated Sikhs, five of whom conduct the actual rite while the sixth sits in attendance on the Guru Granth Sahib, which must be present on such occasions. The ritual involves pouring water into a large iron bowl and adding soluble sweets.

The ceremonies which are most important to a Sikh are:

Naming Ceremony.
Baptism or Amrit.
Marriage or Anand Karaj (ceremony of bliss).
The Death Ceremony.
Amrit.

Sikhism place of worship:

A Gurdwara is a place where Sikhs come together for congregational worship. The first Gurdwara in the world was built by Guru Nanak in 1521-2 at Kartarpur. There are about 200 Gurdwaras in Britain. The literal meaning of the Punjabi word Gurdwara is ‘the residence of the Guru’, or ‘the door that leads to the Guru’.

Sikh turban:

Dastār which derives from dast-e-yaar or “the hand of God”, is an item of headwear associated with Sikhism and is an important part of the Sikh culture. The word is loaned from Persian through Punjabi.
All Sikh Gurus since Guru Nanak have worn turbans. Some reasons Sikhs wear the turban are to take care of the hair, promote equality, and preserve the Sikh identity. … Sikhs do not cut their hair, as a religious observance. The turban protects the hair and keeps it clean.

Among the Sikhs, the dastaar is an article of faith that represents honor, self-respect, courage, spirituality, and piety. The Khalsa Sikh men and women, who keep the Five Ks, wear the turban to cover their long, uncut hair (kesh). The Sikhs regard the dastaar as an important part of the unique Sikh identity.

World Religions

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