![](\"http:\/\/localhost\/rs\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/01\/bbbb.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sikhism originated from the word Sikh, which in turn comes from the Sanskrit root \u015bi\u1e63ya meaning disciple<\/em> or learner<\/em>.\u00a0 It is the world\u2019s fifth largest religion, with approximately 27 million adherents.\u00a0 The majority of Sikhs live in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan; however Sikhs live all over the world with more than 336,000 in the UK alone.\u00a0 Sikhism was\u00a0founded in the 15th century by\u00a0Guru Nanak and is based on his teachings, and those of the nine Sikh gurus who followed him.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Guru Nanak was born into a Hindu family at a time in history, not unlike our own when Hindu\u2019s and Muslims where in a state of extreme conflict.\u00a0 He felt compelled to form the Sikh religion stating, \u201c”There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim, so whose path shall I follow? I shall follow the path of God.” \u00a0Guru Nanak and those who followed him rejected the Hindu caste system and went to great lengths to eradicate it from their thinking.\u00a0 Because the caste system was, at one time identifiable by surname, all male Sikhs use the name Singh, meaning lion, and the women the name Saur, meaning princess.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Nine enlightened men followed Guru Nanak and together they became known as the ten gurus. \u00a0The word guru<\/em> is from the Sanskrit language and means, teacher, honoured person, religious person or saint.\u00a0 Sikhism adds a very specific definition to the word guru – the descent of divine guidance to humankind through the ten enlightened ones.\u00a0 The establishment of the Sikh religion began with Guru Nanak in 1469; the divine spirit was passed through each guru.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n After the death of the tenth Guru, Gobind Singh in 1708, the Sikh Holy Scriptures were called Guru Granth Sahib.\u00a0 The Granth was compiled by the fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjan Dev ji.\u00a0 He undertook the enormous task of collecting, compiling, and scrutinizing the hymns and compositions of Guru Nanak and his predecessors.\u00a0 He decided to include not only the hymns of the Gurus but also that of other righteous men including both Muslims and Hindus. \u00a0It is not clear whether the Guru Granth Sahib is considered to be revelation or inspiration from God \u00a0however its teachings are practised in three ways: Chanting the Holy Name and thus remembering God at all times, making a living honestly, and sharing with others and helping those in need.\u00a0 Thus, with this in mind, a very simplified form[1] the teachings of Sikhism could be described as follows,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There is only one God.\u00a0 Worship and pray to the one God and to none other<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Remember God, work hard and help others<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 God is pleased with honest work and true living<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There is no rich, no poor, no black and no white, before God.\u00a0 Actions make you good or bad.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Men and Women are all equal before God<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Love everyone and pray for the good of all<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Be kind to people, animals and birds<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fear not, Frighten not.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Always speak the truth.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 10.\u00a0 Be simple in your food, dress and habits.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Unlike most other religions, Sikhs wear the five articles of their faith.\u00a0 These are, known as the five Ks.\u00a0 Kesh<\/strong>, un cut hair kept very clean and considered to be God given.\u00a0 Kangha,<\/strong> a small wooden comb to keep the hair tidy and act as a reminder to keep well ordered lives.\u00a0 Kirpan is <\/strong>a short sword, about 15 cm long. \u00a0It signifies honour, dignity, bravery and the Sikh duty to defend the weak and oppressed, and uphold truth.\u00a0 The Kirpan should never be drawn in anger, but once drawn it should not re-sheathed without shedding blood.\u00a0 The Kara<\/strong> is a steel bracelet worn on the right wrist (unless the wearer is left-handed).\u00a0 The circle of the bracelet is a symbol of God and unity, and the steel symbolises strength and fighting for right. \u00a0Kachs<\/strong> are short underpants tied with a drawstring allowing ease of movement in battle.\u00a0 They also symbolise purity and modesty, and are a reminder of the necessity to remain faithful to their spouses.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The most widely recognised symbol of Sikhism is the turban worn by men. \u00a0It symbolizes discipline, integrity, humility, and spirituality, and is a mandatory part of Sikh faith, not a social custom.\u00a0 The long uncut hair is covered by approximately 15 feet of cloth.\u00a0 Both men and women cover their heads in public as a sign of respect for the gurus and God.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Sikhs worship in a building known as a Gurdwara (the door of the Guru<\/em>) and it is usually also a community centre consisting of two halls, one a prayer hall, and a room in which the Guru Granth Sahib is kept when not in use in the prayer hall.\u00a0 Sikhs have no particular day of devotion however there are usually daily services, often several times a day in the larger centres.\u00a0 A saffron and blue Nishan Sahib (flag) flies outside the gurdwara to indicate a place of hospitality.\u00a0 No one is allowed to bring tobacco, alcohol or intoxicating drugs inside. \u00a0Worshippers leave their shoes outside and respectfully cover their heads when entering.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Inside the Gudwara the Guru Granth sahib is usually on display and worshippers bow to the ground before it and make offers of food and or money.\u00a0 Most often men and women usually sit separately but this is a cultural, not religious requirement.\u00a0 An important feature of the service is the distribution and sharing of Kara parshad, a mixture of semolina, sugar and ghee.\u00a0 This mixture is blessed near the end of a service by stirring with the small sword known as the kirpan.\u00a0 In the large gudwaras, where services are offered throughout the day Kara pashard is distributed as worshippers either enter or leave the building.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In part two we will look at the Sikh concept of God and compare some of the Sikh beliefs with Islam.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Footnotes: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [1] (http:\/\/www.ely.anglican.org\/education\/schools\/collective_worship\/documents\/Background.pdf)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Ref. www.islamreligion.com \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Sikhism originated from the word Sikh, which in turn comes from the Sanskrit root \u015bi\u1e63ya meaning disciple or learner.\u00a0 It is the world\u2019s fifth largest religion,… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":1488,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-atheism"],"yoast_head":"\n
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\n
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"