Sikhism

Introduction

Guru Nanak Dev Ji is the Founder of Sikhism. He was born in 1469AD at Talwandi Rae Bhoe, which is now called Nankana Sahib, in Pakistan.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji came into this world and brought the name of God Ek Onkar (God is One) and blessed Guru mantar Waheguru to this world.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s TeachIngs

Guru Nanak Dev Ji stated:

“ek pita, ekas ke hum barik”

There is one father (god) and we are all his children

Guru Nanak Dev Ji during his life travelled on Four Journeys (Udasis) to the North, the South, the East and the West. When Guru Nanak Dev Ji visited the kings, he advised them to give Justice to their people, he told Wazirs to be good Ministers and not overburden people with taxes and rules, He told Saints and other holy people to be faithful to God and not to mislead people and he told the people to have faith in God.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji blessed Naam, Daan and Ishnaan to all. Naam is the repeating of God’s name, Daan is giving to needy people out of a person’s earnings and Ishnaan is having a bath every morning to keep oneself clean. With Naam, Daan and Ishnaan a person will receive blessings from God.

Sikhism is following our Guru’s teachings so that our deeds become good and we obtain salvation. God has created the whole world and if we are cruel or harm his creations, how will God be pleased with us and give us his Blessings?

Everyone should have faith in the religion in which God has blessed them by being born. Everyone has the right to practice their own religion. We should meet with everyone, love everyone as God’s creation, recognise all humanity as one, share in others sadness and happiness and remember God.

By doing this in our everyday life, we will receive our Guru’s blessings.

“Nanak nam charde kala, tere bane sarbhat da bhala”

Nanak says: naam generates the ever ascending spirit and through Your Divine Will may everyone be blessed Guru Nanak Dev Ji then blessed the Guruship and its disciplines and responsibilities to Bhai Lehna (Guru Angad Dev Ji, the Second Guru). Each Guru was blessed by the previous Guru to continue the work started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Guru Gobind Singh Ji was the tenth and last Guru.

SHRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB

Guru Gobind Singh Ji added the Gurbani (teachings) of the Ninth Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur and his own Gurbani (Dohra’s) to the Pothi Sahib (Holy Book) which had been created by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and then updated by Guru Arjan Dev Ji (the Fifth Guru), at the place of Sri Dam Dama Sahib, called Guru Ke Kanshi, where the maiden recital took place.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji then blessed and sanctified the Shri Guru Granth Sahib (the Holy book of the faith of Sikhs) to the whole communities. In the Guru Granth Sahib there are teachings of the Gurus, Saints (Bhagats, Rishis and Munis), Prophets (Pirs and Avtars) and Kings (Rajas) from different faiths and areas who had full faith in God and blessed this faith to the whole community.

The Shri Guru Granth Sahib consists of 1430 pages and is all written in verse and raags. It takes 48 hours of continuous recitation to read it all aloud. People will have a recital, called Akhand Paath, for many reasons such as when a child is born, a birthday, a marriage ceremony or any other special occasion to remember and say thank you to God. People will invite their friends and relatives to share in this special occasion and Guru Ka Langar (food) is provided to all.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji blessed Amrit (holy Nectar) to all to get the blessing of faith. Amrit gives strength and builds faith as it is imbued with the blessings of the Gurus.

Saints (Sadho’s) are sent by God into this world to help, guide and bless all people.