CHAPTER SEVEN: SIKHISM

Chapter Outline and Unit Summaries

I. Introduction

A. Origins in Sixteenth Century C.E. Northwestern India

B. Sikhism: Dialogical and Reformist Religion

C. An Indian Minority Religion

II. The Life of Nanak

A. Muslim Invasions Cause Extreme Strife Between Islam and Hinduism

1. Islamic Presence Strongest in Punjab, Northwestern India

2. Islam and Hinduism Seemingly Antithetical Religions

B. Nanak Seeks to Bridge Divide Between Muslim and Hindu

1. Kabir (1440-1518 C.E.) as Forerunner of Nanak

a. Born Muslim but Worshipped Hindu Deities

b. Believed God is One, Worshipped Many Ways
c. Revered as Holy Man by Hindus and Muslims

2. Nanak (1469-1538 C.E.) Carries on Kabir’s Mission

a. Born Hindu but Educated by Muslim Schoolmaster

b. Leaves Family, Goes to Sultanpur
c. Receives Vision from God and Prophetic Mandate
to Teach True Religion: “There is no Muslim and
there is no Hindu.”
d. Nanak and Partner Mardana Wander India and
Preach Essential Unity of Islam and Hinduism
e. Nanak forms Communities of Disciples (Punjabi
word meaning Sikh) all Over India
f. Nanak Returns to Punjab and Forms More
Communities
g. The Legend of Nanak’s Death: Fostering Unity and
Harmony Between Hindus and Muslims

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III. The Teachings of Nanak

A. Attempts Synthesis of Islamic and Hindu Religion

1. Emphasizes Islamic Belief that God is One, The True Name

2. Teaches Hindu Doctrine of Reincarnation

a. One God Eventually Freeing People from Cycle of

Birth-Death
b. Many Sikhs Believe Spirit of Nanak was
Reincarnated in Bodies of Gurus who Succeed Him
in Later Tradition

3. Teaches Hindu Doctrine of karma

B. Rejects Elements of Both Islam and Hinduism

1. Rejects Hindu Doctrine of ahimsa, Emphasizes Human

Primacy in the Order of the One God’s Creation

2. Rejects Hindu and Muslim Ritual and Ceremony, Advocates

Simple and Plain Religion

3. Advocates Pacifism in Opposition to Both Islamic and Hindu

Traditions

IV. The Historical Development of Sikhism

A. Angad and the First Four Gurus (Leaders)

1. Angad, the First in Series of Ten Gurus, Rules Until 1552

2. First Four Gurus Follow Teachings of Nanak and Retain his

Pacifism

B. Arjan Dev (1581-1606 C.E.), the Fifth Guru, Changes Sikhism

1. Begins the Compilation of the Adi Granth, the Official Sikh

Scriptures

a. The Adi Granth Contains Hymns by Nanak, Kabir,

and other Gurus
b. Contains 3,384 Hymns
c. Three Times the Size of the Rig-Veda

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 2. Arjan Militarizes Sikhism

a. Growth of Sikhism Threatened Muslim Rulers

b. Muslim Emperor Orders Arjan to Remove from
Granth Anything Contrary to Qur’an
c. Arjan Refuses and is Tortured to Death
d. Before Death Arjan Instructs Son, Har Gobind, the
Sixth Guru, to Arm Himself and Have Bodyguards

3. Builds Golden Temple at Armistrar

C. Gobind Singh, the Last Sikh Guru (1675-1708 C.E.)

1. Father, the Ninth Guru, Executed by Muslims

2. Completely Forfeits Nanak’s Pacifism

a. Prepared Sikh’s to be Warrior Religion

b. Introduces Worship of the Hindu Death Goddess
Durga into Sikhism
c. Introduces Baptism of the Sword as Ritual
d. Develops Elite Class of Warriors within Sikhism
Called the Singhs (Lions)

(1) Wear Long Hair and Beards

(2) Adorn Hair with Combs (kangha)
(3) Wear Short Pants (kachk)
(4) Wear Steel Braclet (kara)
(5) Equipped with Steel Dagger (kirpan)
(6) Not Allowed to Use Any Intoxicant
(7) Encouraged to Eat Meat
(8) Open to Men of all Castes
(9) Theology of Reincarnation Emboldens Sikh
Warriors

3. Establishes Granth as Final Religious Word, Thereby Ending

Guru Tradition

4. Assassinated in 1708 C.E., History of Violence Follows

a. Sikh’s Both Aggressors and Victims

b. Sikh Control of Punjab in Early Phase of British
Colonial Takeover Leads to Many Bloody Wars
c. British Respect Sikhs, Use Them as Policemen and
Warriors All Over India During the Raj

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V. Divisions Within Sikhism

A. Commonalities Between All Sikh Sects

1. Accept the Central Teachings of Nanak

2. Accept the Granth as Sacred Scripture

3. Accept the Ten Gurus as Inspired Leaders

B. The Singhs: Warrior Class

C. The Udasis: Sect of Sikh Holy Men

1. Follow Many of Same Principles as Ascetics of Hindu,

Buddhist, and Jain Traditions

2. Practice Celibacy

3. Wear Coarse Yellow Garments Like Buddhists or Go Naked

Like Jain Monks

4. Shave Heads and Beards

5. Often Active Missionaries

D. The Sahajdharis: Conservative, Slow-Going

1. Stopped Developing Prior to the Rule of Gobind Singh

2. Reject Military Characteristics of Much of Sikhism

3. Shave Beards

VI. Sikh Religious Life

A. Rituals and Ceremonies Simple and Minimal

B. Initiation Ritual: Baptism Ritual, not a Sikh by Birth

1. Bowl of Sweetened Water Stirred with Dagger

2. Initiate Sprinkled with Water, Instructed in Sikh Beliefs and

Practices

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 C. Daily Rituals

1. Early Morning Bath

2. Reading Hymns and Reciting Prayers

3. Night Hymns and Prayers

D. Congregational Worship

1. Meet in Gurdwaras (Temples)

2. Gurdwaras Contain Copies of Granth

3. Prayers, Hymns, Sermon, Communal Meal

4. No Sikh Priests

5. No Caste or Sexual Differences in Worship Services

E. The Takht (Throne) of Sikhism at Amristar

1. Located in the Golden Temple

2. Sikh Leaders Gather to Make Decisions about Sikh Life

3. Sikh’s Pilgrimage to Amristar

VII. Sikh Holy Days

A. North India Sikhs Celebrate Holi and Divali with Hindus

B. June Commemoration of the Martyrdom of Guru Arjan

C. Celebrate Birthdays of Nanak and Arjan

VIII. Sikhism Today

A. Precarious Minority in Punjab

1. Lack Political Strength

2. Radical Sikhs Demand Punjab Independence, Risk Military

Conflict with Government of India

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 B. Westerners Attracted to Sikhism Due to Its Simplicity, Tolerance, and
Emphasis on Gender Equality
Key Names, Concepts, and Terms

Punjab sikh Kabir

Nanak Adi Granth The True Name
Guru Singhs Arjan Dev
Gobind Singh Sahajdharis Udasis

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