Although growing up in Northern Ireland may have given me a great advantage when it comes to understanding Christianity and its variants, one of the most embarrassing conversations of my life was in the school playground with a colleague, during my first teaching post, and having to confess my complete and utter ignorance of even the basics of the Sikh religion. Why? Because as an RE teacher in London’s East End, that should have been inconceivable, especially as only just over 4 years after that (1999) the Sikh’s had a massive celebration of the founding of the current form of Sikhism 300 years before by its last human leader – Guru Gobind Singh.
The Original Founder: Guru Nanak
Due to the vision of Sikhism’s original founder, or leader, Guru Nanak (b. 1469 AD), Sikhism is remarkably unique amongst the six major religions. (For the uninitiated, Guru simply means “teacher”).
Nanak was raised as a Hindu, but had many Muslim friends, and lived in the region of the Indian sub-continent known as the Punjab (“land of the five rivers”). After disappearing for 3 days, he returned claiming that God had taken him up to heaven whilst he had been bathing in a river. From this point on he simply taught, and lived, that there is neither Hindu nor Muslim, but only Sikh. The word ‘Sikh’ simply means ‘Disciple’. So to be a Sikh is to be a disciple of God.
This syncretism (blending of religious beliefs into one religion) is reflected both in the core beliefs of Sikhism, and in its Holy Book – the Guru Granth Sahib (which literally means: “Teacher, Big Book, Sir”).
Consequently, Sikhs believe both in as strict a monotheism as Islam, and in the reincarnation taught by Hindus.
What made Sikhism quite different from either of its major influences (i.e. Hinduism and Islam) was the radical equality embedded in its teachings from the very beginning. All forms of discrimination based on caste, creed, race or sex are completely rejected.
Likewise, Nanak also sought to remove what he considered to be meaningless ritualistic practice from Sikhism, and so all ‘blind’ rituals such as fasting, religious vegetarianism, pilgrimages, superstitions, yoga (Yoga is the physical path to Moksha* in Hinduism) and any form of idol worship are, in theory, no part of Sikh practice.
As he was dying, Nanak appointed the first of his successors, Guru Angad, to take over the spiritual leadership of the new religion, and this pattern was repeated a further 8 times (10 Gurus in total), until Guru Gobind Singh who decided that after him there was no further need for a human Guru, and so appointed the Holy Book as the spiritual head of Sikhism. It has remained so to this day, and is the reason why the Holy Book has the title Guru.
Guru Granth Sahib
Amongst the Holy Books of the world’s religions, the Guru Granth Sahib must be considered as unique. It may be useful to compare with the Bible.
For Christians, Jesus fulfilled and superseded the Tanakh (the Old Testament), and so Christians do not see themselves as using another religion’s Holy Book. Sikh’s, however, do not have such a belief (called supersessionism) but quite happily admit that they have appropriated writings from Hindu and Muslim writers into the Guru Granth Sahib. The only qualification being that they must be in agreement with the writings of the Gurus contained within the Guru Granth Sahib.
When Guru Gobind Singh appointed the Holy Book as his successor, instead of appointing another human leader, the act had quite an impact on how the Book was now treated. From this point onwards the book was treated as a person in its own right.
Should a Sikh wish to have a complete copy of the Guru Granth Sahib within their house it must be given its own room and bed, and it is considered quite an honour to be able to have the Granth within one’s house. Even within the Gurdwara (meaning “Gateway to the Guru”, i.e. in this case Gate to God, who is the Guru) the Granth must be ‘put-to-bed’ in its own room.
Guru Gobind Singh
The last human Guru, Gobind Singh, is responsible for creating the modern form of Sikhism.
At the festival of Vaisakhi in 1699, he created the Panj Piare (Pure Ones), the five original members of what is now called the Khalsa (or ‘brotherhood’). All Sikhs are encouraged to perform the ceremony of Amrit in their teens, after which they are members of the Khalsa, and follow the code of Sikhism. Once they have made Amrit, Sikh girls adopt the name ‘Kaur’ (Princess) and all boys adopt the name ‘Singh’ (Lion) – primarily to emphasise their equality – and are permitted to wear the 5 Ks.
These are:
- Kesh (Uncut hair, covered by a turban in men);
- Kangha (a small wooden comb used to keep the hair pinned);
- Kirpan (in the UK this is an ornamental sword, usually worn as a necklace);
- Kara (a steel bracelet), and;
- Kaccha (shorts worn beneath the clothing by both men and women as a sign of equality).
How May I Be Of service?
If there is one defining part of the Sikh code which is the most emphasised in their lifestyle and worship, then it is the concept of Seva, or service. It is one of the primary ways for a Sikh to achieve the breaking of the cycle of reincarnation.
This may be in simple acts of service to neighbours and community, or it may be in serving the Langar meal in the Gurdwara. This is a community meal which is normally paid for by one family each week. It takes place at the end of a Gurdwara service, and anyone may eat of it, even if they have just walked in from the streets and have no pretence at being a Sikh.
As I never formally studied Sikhism, I have no books to recommend on this most fascinating of religions, however, you may wish to learn more at www.sikhs.org.
Although it is the youngest of the six major religions, it has already made quite an impact on the world stage. Who knows what the future of Sikhism may bring?
* Moksha is the goal of the cycle of reincarnation, i.e. to break free from it and become one with the Ultimate Being.
