Sikhism

Sikhism, today, is the ffth largest religion in the world with

some twenty-three million adherents. It emerged only about fve
hundred years ago; and, so, is the youngest of the largest
religions of the world.
The Foundations of Sikhism:
Guru Nanak (1469-1539)
Guru Nanak (. !"#$-!%&$' may be regarded as the founder
of Sikhism, but there were reformers before Nanak who
(rolaimed a similar message, most notably a man named )abir
(!""*-!%!+', who undoubtedly in,uened Nanak. Nanak-s title,
.Guru,/ in other Indian religions has more the onnotation of
.teaher/ or .sage,/ but in Sikhism, the title also means .leader./
Guru Nanak-s follows were alled Sikhs (the 0un1ab word for
.disi(les/'.
Nanak was born at village of 2alwandi (west India', about
thirty miles from 3ahore (in (resent-day 0akistan'. 2he area was
(art of the 0un1ab region of India, an area now divided by the
border between India and 0akistan. 2he area had been ruled by
4uslim leaders sine the eleventh entury. In the early si5teenth
entury, the 4ongols established an Islami em(ire known as the
4ughal 6m(ire. 7nder the 4ughal em(erors many Indians
onverted to Islam; the greater ma1ority, however, remained
8indu or (ratied another religion, suh as 9ainism.
Nanak-s (arents were 8indus of a merantile aste loally
known as )hatri ()shatriya'. Nanak-s father was a village
aountant and farmer, ranking om(aratively low on the
eonomi sale. Nanak is (ortrayed as a (reoious youth, a
(oet, given so to religious s(eulation that he was worthless as a
herdsman or a store-kee(er. 8e was married at the age of twelve
and would eventually have two sons. Nanak:s brother-in-law
(roured Nanak a government aounting 1ob at the distrit
a(ital of Sultan(ur. Nanak s(ent the evenings engaged in
religious disussion and singing with a grou( of friends who
inluded 4ardana, a 4uslim musiian who beame an inse(arable
om(anion.
;ne day, when he was about thirty years old, Nanak went to
bathe in a river and disa((eared. 8e rea((eared three days later,
and after one additional day of silene, Nanak (rolaimed that he
had e5(eriened a theo(hany, a vision of God (<2rue Name< in
Sikhism', and that God had alled him to be a (ro(het. =
9anamsakhi (a non-anonial aount of Nanak:s life' re(orts,
Nanak made his obeisane. 2he =lmighty gave
him a bowl of milk. :Nanak> ?rink this bowl,: 8e
ommanded. :It is not milk as it may seem; this is
netar. It will give thee (ower of (rayer, love of
worshi(, truth and ontentment.: Nanak drank the
netar and was overome. 8e made another
obeisane. 2he =lmighty then blessed him. :I release
thee from the yle of birth, death and rebirth; he that
sets his eyes on you with faith will be saved. 8e that
hears your words with onvition will be saved; he that
alls on you for suour will be hel(ed by 4e; he that
you forgive will be forgiven by 4e. I grant thee
salvation. Nanak, go bak to the evil world and teah
men and women to (ray, to give in harity and live
leanly. ?o good to the world and redeem it in the age
of sin.
Nanak delared, .2here is neither 8indu nor 4uslim, so whose
(ath shall I follow@ I shall follow God-s (ath. God is neither 8indu
nor 4uslim, and the (ath whih I follow is God-s./ Aith the
om(any of 4ardana, Guru Nanak embarked u(on a missionary
1ourney, (reahing (urity and advoating the reoniliation of
religious faiths. =s 4ardana (layed a rebe (a stringed
instrument that looks something like a violin', Nanak would also
sing.
Bor his dress Nanak devised a ombination of 8indu and
4uslim garb. 8e wore a 8indu lower garment (dhoti', and bore a
saCron mark on his forehead (in the manner of 8indus'. Dut he
hose the kind of head overing assoiated with 4uslim hermits.
Nanak and 4ardana traveled to the hief (laes of 8indu
(ilgrimage, inluding 8ardwar, ?elhi, Denares, the 2em(le of
9aganatha, and holy (laes in the 8imalaya 4ountains. 2hey
traveled to Sri 3anka, 2ibet, )abul, Daghdad, 4edina, and 4ea.
Dak in the 0un1ab, Nanak established a new town, )artar(ur
(<town of the Ereator<', on the Favi Fiver. 8ere, Nanak ho(ed,
those of diverse faiths and bakgrounds ould fnd unity under
God.
4ardana beame ill and died at )atar(ur around !%&".
Nanak, around !%&$, at the age of si5ty-nine, a((ointed one of his
disi(les, =ngad, as his suessor and laid down to die.
2radition relates that those who gathered around Nanak in
mourning began to debate the manner of Nanak:s dis(osal.
2hose of 4uslim (ersuasion wanted to bury him aording to their
ustom while those of 8indu (ersuasion wanted to remate him
aording to their ustom. Guru Nanak, in his usual mode of
reoniliation, instruted, <3et the 8indus (lae ,owers on my
right, and the 4usalmans on my left. 2hey whose ,owers are
found fresh in the morning may have the dis(osal of my body.<
=fter these words, Nanak drew a sheet over his head and stirred
no more. Ahen the sheet was removed the ne5t morning, no
body was found beneath and the ,owers on both sides were in full
bloom.
The Teachins of Sikhism
Gurus followed Nanak, taking leadershi( of the Sikhs. 2he
ffth Guru, =r1an (!%+!-!#*#', is known for introduing a militant
fervor into Sikhism and for om(iling the =di Granth. 2he =di
Granth beame the entral sri(ture of the Sikhs and found a
highly elevated (osition in the life of the ommunity after the
death of the tenth Guru, Gobind Singh. Gobind Singh was
stabbed by a 4uslim fanati in !G*+. 2he stabbing was fatal, but
before his death, Gobind Singh instruted the Sikhs, heneforth,
to regard the =di Granth as their Guru. 2hus the book is
ommonly referred to as Guru Granth or Guru Granth Sahib
(.4aster/'. 2he =di Granth is basially is a olletion of hymns
(some &,&+"', a large (ortion of whih originated from Guru
Nanak ($G" hymns' and Guru =r1an (HH!+ hymns'. 2he remainder
of the hymns stem from a variety of soures, inluding Nanak-s
(redeessors (suh as, )abir', 4uslim and 8indu leaders, and
other Sikh gurus. 2he language of the =di Granth is 0un1abi
(written in Gurmukhi sri(t'.
Sikh beliefs re,et the goal of harmoniIing Islam and
8induism. Nanak wholeheartedly ae(ted the monotheism of
Islam, and Sikhs refer to their one God as 2rue Name (Sati Nam or
Sat Naam' or Aonderful Guru (AaheguruJKahiguru'. 2rue Name is
regarded as the reator of the universe, omni(erfet,
omni(resent, omnisient, omni(otent, and eternal (=kal 0urakh L
.2imeless ;ne/'. God is without form and is beyond human
understanding. God may be (ersonifed, but annot be redued
to any image.
8uman beings are 2rue Name:s su(reme reation, and
humans stand free to en1oy the world around them. Fe1eting the
Indian teahing of ahimsa or non-in1ury to all living beings, Sikhs
may kill and eat animals with a lear onsiene.
Brom 8induism, Sikhism ado(ted the notion of samsara.
Souls, one united with God, disassoiate themselves, seeking to
e5erise their inde(endene and realiIe the illusion of selfhood
(haumai, .I-me'. Dased u(on their karma, souls are reinarnated
again and again until they are freed from the yle by 2ruth
Name. Dodies serve as tem(orary abodes as souls transmigrate
from one lifetime to another. =s in 8induism, de(ending u(on
their karma, souls may be reborn as animals or humans, and they
may be reborn in (urgatories or (aradises where they an be
(unished or rewarded for their (ast lives. 2he ultimate goal, of
ourse, is om(lete release from samsara, and this release ours
as one is absorbed into 2rue Name. 2hrough living one-s life in
devotion to 2rue Name, one may merge with 2rue Name and end
all suCering. 2he soul 1oins with God like a dro( of water merges
with the oean, realiIing God and obtaining eternal (eae.
Guru Nanak:s Japji (<hymn<' was formally written down
toward of Nanak:s life, and beame enshrined in the =di Granth as
an o(ening statement about the Sikh view of God. 2he 9a(1i is
re(eated silently, in the morning, from memory, by every devout
Sikh. 2he o(ening (assage of the 9a(1i is the Mal Mantra, a short
verse written by Guru Nanak immediately after his enounter with
God around age thirty. =n e5er(t from the 9a(1i follows.
2here is but one God whose name is true, the Ereator,
devoid of fear and enmity, immortal unborn, self-
e5istent; by the favour of the Guru. Mthe 4al
4antraN
2he 2rue ;ne was in the beginning; the 2rue ;ne was in
the (rimal age.
2he 2rue ;ne is now also, ; Nanak; the 2rue ;ne also
shall be.
Dy thinking I annot obtain a one(tion of 8im, even
though I think hundreds of thousands of times.
6ven though I be silent and kee( my attention frmly
f5ed on 8im, I annot (reserve silene.
2he hunger of the hungry for God subsideth not though
they obtain the load of the worlds.
If man should have thousands and hundreds of
thousands of devies, even one would not assist
him in obtaining God.
8ow shall man beome true before God@ 8ow shall the
veil of falsehood be rent@
Dy walking, ; Nanak, aording to the will of the
Eommander as (reordained.
Dy 8is order bodies are (rodued; 8is order annot be
desribed.
Dy 8is order souls are infused into them; by 8is order
greatness is obtained.
Dy 8is order men are high or low; by 8is order they
obtain (reordained (ain or (leasure.
Dy 8is order some obtain their reward; by 8is order
others must ever wander in transmigration.
=ll are sub1et to 8is order; none is e5em(t from it.
8e who understandeth God:s order, ; Nanak, is never
guilty of egoism.
Aho an sing 8is (ower@ Aho hath (ower to sing it@
Aho an sing 8is gifts or know his signs@ Aho an sing
8is attributes, 8is greatness and 8is deeds@
Aho an sing 8is knowledge whose study is arduous@
Aho an sing 8im, who fashioneth the body and again
destroyeth it@
Aho an sing 8im, who taketh away life and again
restoreth it@
Aho an sing 8im, who a((eareth to be far, but is
known to be near@
Aho an sing 8im, who is all-seeing and omni(resent.
In desribing 8im there would be never end.
4illions of men give millions u(on millions of
desri(tions of 8im, but they fail to desribe 8im.
2he Giver giveth; the reeiver groweth weary of
reeiving.
In every age man subsisteth by 8is bounty.
2he Eommander by 8is order hath laid out the way of
the world.
Nanak, God the unonerned is ha((y.
2rue is the 3ord, true is 8is name; it is uttered with
endless love.
0eo(le (ray and beg, :Give us, give us:; the Giver giveth
8is gifts.
2hen what an we oCer 8im whereby his ourt may be
seen@
Ahat words shall we utter with our li(s, on hearing
whih 8e may love us@
=t the ambrosial hour of morning meditate on the true
Name and God:s greatness.
2he )ind ;ne will give us a robe of honour, and by 8is
favour we shall reah the gate of salvation.
Nanak, we shall thus know that God is altogether true.
8e is not established, nor is 8e reated.
2he (ure one e5isteth by 8imself.
2hey who worshi((ed 8im have obtained honour.
Nanak, sing 8is (raises who is the 2reasury of
e5ellenes.
Sing and hear and (ut 8is love into your hearts.
2hus shall your sorrows be removed, and you shall be
absorbed in 8im who is the abode of ha((iness.
7nder the Guru:s instrution God:s word is heard; under
the Guru:s instrution knowledge is aOuired;
under the Guru:s instrution man learns that God
is everywhere ontained.
2he Guru is Siv; the Guru is Kisnu and Drahma; the
Guru is 0arvatl, 3aksmi and Saraswati.
If I knew 8im, should I not desribe 8im@ 8e annot be
desribed by words.
4y Guru hath e5(lained one thing to me, that there is
but one Destower on all living beings; may I not
forget 8im>
The !a"or #i$isions of Sikhism
2oday, Sikhism may be divided into three divisions. 2he best
known and most (o(ulous of these three divisions is the Singhs or
.3ions./ In addition to the Singhs, there are the 7dasis and the
Saha1dharis.
The Sinhs
Nanak taught (aifsm or non-violent resistane. 7(on the
death of Nanak, the leadershi( of the new movement was taken
over by =ngad, who served as Guru until E.6. !%%H. Nanak and
=ngad were the frst two in a series of ten gurus who led Sikhism
until the eighteenth entury. 2he frst four of the ten gurus of
Sikhism tended to follow the (aif teahings of Nanak. Aith the
demise of the ffth guru, =r1an ?ev (!%+!-!#*#', Sikhism
underwent signifant hanges.
Guru =r1an is res(onsible for om(iling a signifant (ortion
of the sri(ture of Sikhism, the =di Granth, and he is also
res(onsible for introduing militany within Sikhism. Detween the
time of Nanak and that of =r1an, Sikhism had e5(anded to the
(oint that it was reogniIed as a threat by 4uslim authorities.
2he former 4uslim 4ughal em(eror, =kbar, had been
tolerant, if not friendly, toward Sikhism, but =kbar-s son, 9ahangir
(r. !#*%-!#HG' insisted that Sikhism be inor(orated into Islam or
terminated. 9ahangir instruted Guru =r1an to remove from the
=di Granth anything that on,ited with the teahings of Islam.
Ahen Guru =r1an refused, 9ahangir had =r1an im(risoned and
gave him to hoie of death or onversion to Islam. 9ahangir
tortured =r1an, (ouring burning sand on him while he was seated
on a hot iron (late and immersing him in simmering hot water.
=r1an held frm and, fnally, was drowned in the Favi Fiver.
Defore his demise, =r1an instruted his young son, 8ar
Gobind, who would beome the si5th guru (!#*#-!#"%', to .sit
fully armed on the throne./ 2he Sikhs were heneforth more
aggressive and militant in the maintenane of their faith.
In !#G%, the 4ughal 4uslim em(eror, =urangIeb (r. !#%+-
!G*G', beheaded the ninth Sikh Guru, 2egh Dahadur, in front of
thousands of s(etators. 6m(eror =urangIeb-s goal was to
eliminate both Sikhs and 8indus.
Guru 2egh Dahadur-s young son, Gobind, beame the tenth
guru. Gobind (re(ared the Sikhs for self-defense and war. In
!#$$, at a New Pear-s festival (Daisakhi', Guru Gobind founded a
Sikh military brotherhood alled the )halsa. Guru Gobind alled
for men who were willing to die for the Sikh ause. ;ne man
ame forward, and Gobind esorted him into his tent. Gobind
soon emerged from his tent with a bloody sword and asked for
another man of onvition. =fter the ffth man (roved his faith,
Gobind emerged from the tent with all fve men, still alive.
Gobind had a((arently sarifed a goat rather than the men. In a
ritual that ame to be known as .ba(tism by the sword,/ Gobind
added netar to water in a steel bowl and mi5ed the two
ingredients with a double-edged sword (kirpan'. 8e invited the
fve men to drink the water, and he then s(rinkled the water over
the hair and eyes. Gobind then asked the fve men to ba(tiIe him
in the same manner and invited all those (resent to 1oin this
olletive of )halsa (.(ure/ ones of God'. Gobind onferred u(on
all the initiates a new surname, Singh or .3ion./
2he Singhs beame an elite lass of ade(t warriors who were
distinguished by .the fve )s/Q (!. kes, (H. kangha, (&. kachk, (".
kara, and (%. kirpan. 2he kes refers to the long hair they wear on
their heads and faes. 2he kangha refers to the omb they wear
in their hair. 2he kachk refers to the short trousers they wear.
2he kara refers to a steel braelet they wear on their wrists. 2he
kirpan refers to a short steel sword or dagger with whih they are
armed. 2hese members of the )halsa may stem from any aste
or soial level. 2hey must abstain from wine, tobao, or any
other stimulant, and they must adhere to other rules of ondut
that are s(elled out in a ode alled the Fahit (a defnitive edition
of whih, the Sikh Fahit 4aryada, was (ublished in !$%*'.
2he (ur(ose of the )halsa was to end the (erseution of the
4uslim 4ughal government and establish an arm of Sikhism to
.e5eute divine 1ustie on earth./ 4embers of the )halsa
believed they would fnd immediate esa(e from samsara if they
were to die while fghting in a 1ust ause. Guru Gobind, who now
arries the surname of Singh, led the Sikhs in a series of battles
against the 4ughal 6m(ire. = 4ughal governor had Guru Gobind
Singh assassinated in !G*+. Defore he died, Gobind Singh
instruted the Sikhs that the =di Granth should be regarded as
their Guru from that time forward.
In !G+*, under the leadershi( of Fan1it Singh, the Singhs
established Sikh rule over the 0un1ab, setting u( the a(ital at
3ahore. In the early nineteenth entury, Dritish olonialists,
having already onOuered most of the old 4ughal 6m(ire, turned
their attention to the 0un1ab. 2he Dritish met stubborn resistane
and aOuired great res(et for the Sikh military, but the Sikhs
were eventually overome (!+"#' and inor(orated into the
Dritish 6m(ire in !+"$.
2he Sikhs 1oined the Indian fght for inde(endene, ho(ing
that when the Dritish left, they would be able to reate a se(arate
nation for themselves, a nation to be alled )halistan. Ahen the
Dritish de(arted, however, the 7nited Nations, in !$"G, eleted to
(artition India into 8indu (India' and 4uslim sates (0akistan and
Dangladesh'. 2he (artition between India and 0akistan ran
through the histori 0un1ab region. 2he larger (ortion of the
0un1ab, inluding several im(ortant Sikh sites, was loated in the
new nation of 0akistan, but most Sikhs reloated to the 0un1ab in
India.
Sikh se(aratists still ho(e for the reation of )halistan. In
!$+", Sikh se(aratists took ontrol of the entral Sikh shrine, the
Golden 2em(le of =mritsar, with a((arent designs to fght for
inde(endene. 2he 0rime 4inister of India, a woman named
Indira Gandhi, sent in the Indian military (;(eration Dlue Star' to
sOuelh the se(aratists. ;ver fve-hundred Sikhs were killed.
Shortly after, Indira Gandhi-s Sikh body guards assassinated her.
2he assassination led to many re(risals in whih thousands of
Sikhs lost their lives. 7nderstandably, tensions between Sikhs
and 8indus ontinue to e5ist.
2oday, many Sikhs never 1oin the )halsa. 4embershi( is
stritly voluntary, and being a Sikh is not de(endent u(on it.
2hose who worshi( the ;ne 2rue God, res(et the ten gurus, and
honor the Guru Granth are Sikhs. Singh is a ommon name in
India, and not everyone who bears the name of Singh is Sikh.
?ue to the tradition of the )halsa, however, the vast ma1ority of
Sikhs will arry the surname or middle name of Singh.
The %dasis
2he 7dasis om(rise a seond division of Sikhism. =s
distinguished from mainstream Sikhism, the 7dasis onsist of
renuniants or asetis, holy men who (ratie elibay, wear
yellow ourse garments (like Duddhist monks', or go naked (like
9ain monks'. 2heir only (ossession is a begging bowl, and they
(refer to shave their heads and beards. 2his division of Sikhism
has been traed to Srihand, Guru Nanak-s older son. 6ven
though Nanak had hosen =ngad as his suessor, Srihand
hallenged =ngad-s (osition and reated a rift in the Sikh
ommunity.
The Saha"dharis
2he third division of Sikhism is re(resented by the
Saha1dharis (<onservative< or <slow-ado(ters<'. 2he Saha1dharis
re1et the militarism of the )halsa, the distintive dress of the
Singhs, and, like the 7dasis, (refer to be lean-shaven.
The &itua's of Sikhism
Father than siding with either 8induism or Islam regarding
the neessity or validity of eremonialism, Nanak re1eted the
rituals of both religions. In the words of Guru Nanak,
2he 4usalmans (raise the Sharia, read it, and
re,et on itQ Dut God:s servants are they who em(loy
themselves in 8is servie in order to behold him. 2he
8indus (raise the 0raised ;ne whose a((earane and
form are inom(arable; 2hey bathe in holy streams,
(erform idol-worshi( and adoration, use o(ious
inense of sandal. 2he 9ogis meditate on God the
Ereator, whom they all the 7nseen, Ahose form is
minute, whose name is the Dright ;ne, and who is the
image of their bodies. (=sa )i Aar, Slok 4KI, 2he
Sared Aritings of the Aorld:s Great Feligions, ed. S.6.
Brost (New PorkQ 4Graw-8ill, !$"&, (. &#H'
2o be in God-s servie, in other words, is better than engaging in
ritual.
=ording to a story, Nanak was one e1eted from a 4uslim
worshi( servie beause he laughed aloud during an imam-s
sermon. Ahen asked why he was so disres(etful, Nanak re(lied
that he found the imam to be more onerned with the well being
of his horse than with God. 2his (ere(tion aused Nanak to
burst out with laughter.
Sikhism, then, does not su((ort an elaborate alendar or lots
of festivals. 2hey may well elebrate 8oli and ?ivali with their
8indu neighbors, and they do ommemorate a few notable events
in their history. Guru Nanak-s birthday is elebrated in the fall
(November'. Guru =r1an-s birthday is elebrated in the winter
(?eember or 9anuary'. 2he formation of the )halsa under Guru
Gobind Singh is elebrated on Daisakhi (=(ril', and the martyrdom
of Guru =r1an is ommemorated in the summer (9une'.
&ite of (assae: )ife *+c'e (u,ert+ or Status -'e$ation
2he ritual desribed above as .ba(tism by the sword,/ is still
(ratied by Sikhs. Ahen one beomes mature enough to
om(rehend hisJher ommitment, a bowl of sweet water is stirred
by a kir(an and s(rinkled over the initiate as heJshe is instruted
in the truths of ode of the faith. 2he ritual marks one as a
member of the Sikh ommunity. 4ales reeive the name Singh,
and females reeive the name )aur (.(riness/'.
&ite of (assae: )ife *+c'e &itua': #eath
If one remembers that Guru Nanak-s lifeless body was
(resumably assumed into the heavens u(on his death, one may
wonder how the Sikhs dis(ose of the dead today. Sikhs, like
8indus and unlike 4uslims, remate their deeased. = lose
relative will light the funeral (yre.
*a'endrica' (eriodic: .orshi/
2he most ommon form of worshi( among the Sikhs is a
daily (ratie that onsists of ritual bathing, (rayer, and the
reitation of s(eif hymns from the =di Granth and the ?asam
Granth. 2he ?asam Granth is a su((lemental Sikh sri(ture
whih onsists of the writings of Guru Gobind Singh and some
other (oets. Gobind Singh did not add his own writings to the
Granth when he elevated the Granth to the status of absolute
Guru, but later followers om(iled this material and granted it
anonial status. Some form of bathing, (rayer, and reitation is
e5euted by Sikhs in the morning, at sunset, and before retiring to
bed in the evening. 2he 9a(1i (one of Nanak-s hymns' is among
the morning reitations. =s one may gather from what is merely
an e5er(t of the 9a(1i inluded above, the daily (raties reOuire
a lot of time (about two hours', and only the most devout arry
out the full routine on a daily basis.
Sikhs do gather for ongregational worshi(. 2hey meet in
tem(les alled gurdwaras. 2he gurdwaras ontain, as the entral
ob1et of reverene, the =di Granth. Ahen the holy book is
arried, it is arried above the head. =t rest in the gurdwara, it is
(laed high u(on a ushioned altar and overed by a ano(y.
Ahen o(ened, Guru Granth is fanned with a ,ywhisk. Sikh
devotees will over their heads before the Granth and never turn
their baks toward it. Inside the gurdwara Sikhs will (ray, sing
hymns, and hear sermons. In aord with the Sikh re1etion of
ritualism, there are no (riests. 2he servies are led by members
of the ommunity. Burther, there are no aste or se5ual
distintions. 4en and woman of all bakgrounds worshi( side by
side. Servies onlude with all those (resent ingesting karah
prasad, a mi5ture of ,our, sugar, and ghee (larifed butter'.
2he following (rayer is uttered at the onlusion of Sikh
worshi(. 2he (rayer, asribed largely to Guru Gobind Singh,
honors the lineage of the gurus (in the frst several lines' and
elebrates the )halsa or the Sikh ommunity.
8aving frst remembered 3ord thy God, all on Guru
Nanak
=nd then on Guru =ngad, =mar ?as and Fam ?asQ
4ay they ever (rotet us.
2hen all on =r1un and 8ari Gobind and the holy 8ari
Fai,
=nd then on 8ari )rishna, who an dis(el all one:s
sorrows.
2hen remember 2egh Dahadur, the ninth Guru, that the
nine treasures may hasten to thy home.
; masters be ye ever with us.
4ay the tenth king Guru Gobind Singh be ever on our
side.
=nd now turn your thoughts to the Guru Granth Sahib,
the visible embodiment of the Gurus, and say
:Glory be to God.:
MEongregation res(ondsQN :Aonderful 3ord.:
2he four sons, the fve beloved ones, the forty
saved ones, the martyrs, the true disi(les, the
ontem(lators of God, and those who remained
steadfast in the 0athQ remember their glorious deeds
and say :Glory be to God.:
MEongregation res(ondsQN :Aonderful 3ord.:
2hose who onstantly remembered God:s Name,
shared their earnings, wielded the sword on the
battlefeld, and shared food in om(anionshi(, oCered
their heads at the altar of the holy 3aw, were ut u(
limb from limb, were skinned or boiled or sawn alive but
uttered not a sign and did not falter in their faith L
remember their glorious deeds and say :Glory be to
God.:
MEongregation res(ondsQN :Aonderful 3ord.:
; great )ing, save us from the fves sins of lust,
wrath, greed, attahment and egoism. ; God, let us
all on 2hee alone, yea, 2hee alone, and let the
remembrane be ha((iness of all kinds. ; God,
wherever the members of the holy )halsa are, e5tend
2hy (rotetion and mery to them. 3et the Aay be ever
vitoriousQ let the sword be forever our (rotetorQ let
the war-ry of the )halsa resound aross the worldQ
:Glory be to God.:
MEongregation res(ondsQN :Aonderful 3ord.:
; God, may 2hy Sikhs M<disi(les<N be blessed with
faith, disi(line, trust, mental awakening and, above all,
the ontem(lation of 2hey Name.
4ay the banners, the staying-(laes, the hoirs of
the )halsa stay whole through the ages, and may true
religion be ever vitorious.
; God, let our minds be forever humble, and our
intellets e5alted, and may 2hou be ever (rotetor of
our minds.
Say, ; )halsa, :Glory be to God.:
MEongregation res(ondsQN :Aonderful 3ord.:
Bollowing servies there is ty(ially a ommunion meal
alled the langar. 2he langar is vegetarian, out of res(et for
those who hold to suh a diet. 2he langar follows a tradition
dating bak to the fourth Sikh guru, Fam ?as. 2he 4ughal
6m(eror =kbar ame to visit Fam ?as at =mritsar and 1oined in a
ommon meal with the Sikhs. 2he meal was indiative of =kbar-s
friendly relationshi( with the Sikhs, and the langar beame an
integral (art of Sikh life.
2he most honored gurdwara is 8armandir Sahib, otherwise
known as 2he 2em(le of God or 2he Golden 2em(le in =mritsar.
=mritsar was a village in the 0un1ab with a (ool that Guru Nanak
had en1oyed. Guru Fam ?as had (lanned to build the gurdwara
here and had worked on the (ool for that (ur(ose, but it was Guru
=r1an who onstruted 8armandir Shahib in the midst of the (ool
and installed within it a o(y of the =di Granth. =lthough Nanak
himself onsidered religious (ilgrimage worthless, the eminene
of the Golden 2em(le will ins(ire visits from most all Sikhs, at
least one during their lifetimes.
8armandir Sahib or 2he Golden 2em(le is onneted, via a
auseway over the (ool, to =kal 2akht (.2he 2imeless ;ne-s
2hrone/', one of fve .thrones/ of authority in Sikhism where Sikh
leaders made deisions related to faith and (ratie. 6very day
Guru Granth is trans(orted, high above the head on a (alanOuin,
bak and forth between 2he Golden 2em(le and =kal 2akht. 2he
Granth is arried from the Golden 2em(le to =kal 2akht around ten
o-lok in the evening and, then, arried bak to the Golden
2em(le around fve o-lok in the morning.