Page 51 - Synergy 17-18

MINDSPACE

W O RD FA CT O R Y
SIKH ISM

India is a vast country with a rich and varied heritage. In this unique country is followed several religions
such as Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism and Sikhism. Unlike other
religions, Sikhism is comparatively a young religion. It is less than six hundred years old, for its
founder Guru Nanak Dev ji was born only in 1469. When Guru Nanak appeared on the scene,
India was bring ruled by Muslim kings. In their enthusiasm to convert non-Muslims to Islam, these
rulers oppressed their subjects in several ways. They imposed the Jizya- a religious tax paid by all
the non-Muslims. The most important posts were reserved only for the Muslims. To add to their
misery, some ruthless rulers showed open disrespect to some non-Muslims places of worship.
As if the tyrannical Muslim rulers were not bad enough for the Hindus, their own ‘Pandits’ and
‘Brahmins’ too had begun to exploit them by forcing upon them futile and expensive ceremonies
and rituals. Such acts of the religious preachers only helped to strengthen the evil caste
system. It was not only Hinduism that went downhill; even Islam witnessed deterioration .In
fact both the religions were being corrupted by the high priests and religious authorities of
their respective faiths.
At this juncture, when Guru Nanak Dev Ji offered them the simple ‘Sikh religion; teaching
the oneness of God’, there were many willing followers. According to Guru Nanak, there is
but one God whose name is truth. He cites this simple concept in the following three magic
words: ‘Ek omkar satnam.’
Guru Nanak thought of God as the Supreme Being: Universal, all powerful and truthful.
He placed truth and God above all religious ceremonies and manifestations. All the
other Sikh Gurus who followed Guru Nanak preached his teaching and wisdom, which
they repeated in their own characteristic way. These teachings by the Sikh Gurus are
compiled in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs. It includes hymns
by the Sikh Gurus as well as those of Hindus, Muslims and the so called untouchable
saints and sages. It is written in the spoken idiom of the people to whom the masters
delivered their message of devotion to God and service to humanity. The Sikh
regards the Granth Sahib as the embodiment of their Gurus, who are thought of
as only one person, the light of the Guru’s soul having been transmitted to each
of his successors in turn.
The Sikh religion is based on the Guru- Disciple relationship. The very word
‘Sikh’ comes from the term ‘Shishya’ which means discipline. And in Sikhism
the role of the Guru is very significant, for he is the link who connects man with
man and ultimately with God. Since the Guru is the bridge between man and
God, he must be perfect in all respects. The Sikh Gurus were perfect and
are considered as such in the Sri Guru Guru Granth Sahib. The king of the
Gurus come to an end with Guru Gobind Singh. He ordered that after him Shanti Chaudhary
the Sikhs should regard the Guru Granth Sahib as the –living Guru. S.Y.B.A.

GURU NANAK COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCE & COMMERCE | SYNERGY 17-18 | 51