Sikhism in India
Sikhism, the youngest of the world religions, is barely
five hundred years old. Its founder, Guru Nanak, was born in 1469.
Guru Nanak spread a simple message of "Ek Ong Kar": we are all one,
created by the One Creator of all Creation. This was at a time when
India was being torn apart by castes, sectarianism, religious
factions, and fanaticism. He aligned with no religion, and respected
all religions. He expressed the reality that there is one God and
many paths, and the Name of God is Truth, "Sat Nam". World Religions
. Guru Nanak's followers were Sikhs (seekers of truth). He
taught them to bow only before God, and to link themselves to the
Guru, the Light of Truth, who lives always in direct consciousness
of God, experiencing no separation. Through words and example, the
Guru demonstrates to followers how to experience God within
themselves, bringing them from darkness into
light.
![Sikhismus im Indien]() Guru Nanak was a humble bearer of this Light of
Truth. He opposed superstition, injustice, and hypocrisy and
inspired seekers by singing divine songs which touched the hearts of
the most callous listeners. These songs were recorded, and formed
the beginnings of the Sikhs' sacred writings, later to become the
"Siri Guru Granth Sahib".
The Making of the
Khalsa
Guru Gobind Singh was the last
Guru of the Sikhs in human form. He created the Khalsa, a spiritual
brotherhood and sisterhood devoted to purity of thought and action.
He gave the Khalsa a distinctive external form to remind them of
their commitment, and to help them maintain an elevated state of
consciousness. Every Sikh baptized as Khalsa vows to wear the Five
"K's":
Kesh
uncut hair and beard,
as given by God, to sustain him or her in higher consciousness; and
a turban, the crown of spirituality.
Kangha
a wooden comb to
properly groom the hair as a symbol of cleanliness.
Katchera
specially made
cotton underwear as a reminder of the commitment to purity.
Kara
a steel circle, worn
on the wrist, signifying bondage to Truth and freedom from every
other entanglement.
Kirpan
the sword, with
which the Khalsa is committed to righteously defend the fine line of
the Truth.
Khalsa also vows to refrain from any
sexual relationships outside of marriage, and to refrain from taking
meat, tobacco, alcohol, and all other intoxicants. Then Guru Gobind
Singh infused his own being into the Khalsa, declaring that the
Khalsa was now the Guru in all temporal matters. For spiritual
matters, the Guruship was given to the "Siri Guru Granth Sahib", a
compilation of sacred writings by those who have experienced Truth.
For Sikhs, "Siri Guru Granth Sahib" is the living embodiment of the
Guru, and is regarded with the utmost reverence and respect wherever
it is found. Sikhs all over the world took to the "Siri Guru Granth
Sahib" as their living Guru, as the source of spiritual instruction
and guidance.
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