Guru Nanak,the founder of Sikhism was born in the 15th century.it was during this time that Punjab faced several invasions.The sufferings of the local people and the molestation of women tore at his heart and resulted in hymns which became part of the sacred verses of Sikhism.Nanak was greatly influence by Kabir,a saint who was loved by both Hindus and Muslims.Kabir himself was a disciple of Ramananda,whose guru was Ramanuja,one of the earliest teachers of the Bhakti cult which introduced a one-to-one personal relationship between man and god.Guru Nanak from the being taught the fatherhood of god and brotherhood of man.What was important,he said, was to realize that all religions taught the same truths.His message to people of all religions was to stress the importance of compassion,contentment and purity in personal living.The outward garb of religion was meaningless without inner morality.Guru Nanak’s devine relevation showed a new path,a new vison,which anyone of any religion could follow,the path of truth,devotion and service,human and divine.He set up the Sikh institutions of the Guru(teacher) and Sikh(disciple),all his followers being called Sikhs.Before he died at the age of 70,he selcted the next Guru,Angad,who continued to his master’s mission and established firmly the system of langar of free kitchens for the pilgrims and the poor,which had been introduced by Guru Nanak.This practice continues till day.
The fourth Guru,Ramdas,is known for establishing the pool of immortality, Amritsar,which has become the headquarters of Sikhism.The next head,Guru Arjan Dev,consolidated the religion,built the Hari mandir and compiled Adi Granth or Granth Sahib,the scripture of Sikhism.This great Guru was viciously tortured and executed at Lahore by the Mughal emperor,Jahangir ,in contrast to the treatment meted out by the latter’s father Akbar,who had great regard for Sikhism.Guru Hargobind Singh,the next Guru,decided after the cruelty to his father,to convert his followers into militant people and set up Akal Takht or immoral throne.He maintained troops and moved away from the austerity of the earlier gurus. Guru Tegh Bahadur,who followed, lived at the time of mughal emperor Aurangzeb.He was arrested and offered death or conversion to Islam. He chose the former and was tortured and beheaded at Delhi.His son Guru Gobind Singh ,swore vengeance.He realized that the Sikhs to escape martyrdoom would have to become martial people.He called all the Sikhs of Anandpur and set up a new order,the Khalsa,the elected,the pure.His first five followers, the Panj Pyare were beloved of the Guru.All Sikhs were given a second name,Singh or lion.It was made compulsory for them to adopt the five ks – Kesh(uncut Hair),Kara or Kangan(steel bangle),Kach(short drawers),Kangha(comb) and Kirpan(sword).He initiated the rite of baptism by the sword.
Guru Gobind Singh abolished the system of the Gurus after him and said that the Adi Granth,the sacred book,would be the Guru of the future.Is is often reffered to as the Guru Granth Sahib.The temples of faith are called Gurdwaras.Sikhism is a monotheistic faith and Par-Brahma, the supreme being(similar to Nirguna Brahman of Hinduism) is designated as Ek Onkar.To describe god,Guru Nanak used hundi names of god such as Hari,Ram and Gopal,and Muslim appellations such as Allah and Khuda.The Sikh faith is opposed to miracles of any kind.I places great emphasis on hard work,family life,on upholding moral values and social obligations.These have resulted in the Sikhs being very hard working community.The martial tradition introduced by Guru Gobind Singh has resulted in their joining the armed services in large numbers.The path of the Sikh seeker is by prayer,devotion and meditation and not by becoming a monk or ascetic.Sikhism tried to build a bridge between the teachings of Hinduism and Islam.Sikhs believe in rebirth like Hinduism but reject caste. Images are not used for worship but are allowed for decorative purposes.Sikhism has no classical language and used the local Punjabi language to convey its teachings to the ordinary people.
