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Sikhism

The Sikh Philosophy

The Sikh Gurus

Guru Nanak

In the 15^th century 'Sikhism' as a religious way with its own philosophy emerged. Guru Nanak the founder was a Guru with household and family. Born in 1469, Guru Nanak believed fully, in the devotional path towards God. He never renunciated life and preached that every normal person irrespective of age or caste is entitled to recite, rehearse the god's name which is the only way for the welfare of the society. Soon after his teachings got a wide acceptance, his followers got united and 'Sikhism', a sect emerged. It did not differentiate between Hindus and Muslims.

Guru Nanak made a continuous, rigorous pilgrimage throughout Bharat and abroad. He was trying to absorb the contemporary socio-political situation, which only confirmed his views about life. This pilgrimage converted him from a 'seeker' to the 'enlightened' status. Lately after this entourage for around 15 years, he settled himself at Kartarpur- on the West Bank of Raavi River. He led quite a peaceful but regulated life here and met people from all walks of life. After his passing away in 1538 both, his devotees from Hindus and Muslims compromised and led him in peace as per his wishes. In his last days he had nominated his enlightened disciple 'Angad' as a Guru. Consequently the Sikh sect had 11 prominent Gurus. Each of them has a unique contribution towards the religion.

He sacred book of the Sikh religion is 'Grantha Sahib'. This is slightly different from the other religious books in the sense that, it has taken the verses of other eminent saints like Kabir, Ramanand, Namadeo- the leading personalities in the devotional ( Bhakti) aspect. This volume, to facilitate reading by the common, grassroots people is written in the local script. This script was later named as 'Gurumukhi'- to indicate the Guru is using it.

It is very interesting to know how an original Bhakti sect, with the passage of time got transformed as the most vehement and militant religious sect.

Owing to its strategic location the Punjab provinces always had to face enormous invasions, which continued till the end of Mughal era. Probably dwellers there as a result were bound to emerge with a militant philosophy. But then from Guru Nanak, till the fourth Guru Ramadas, Sikhs lived in harmony with the rulers. The fourth Guru Ramadas had met the Mughal emperor, Akbar, in 1574. It was Akbar who gave him a spacious land on which Ramadas and his disciples built a beautiful lake and a temple. This is the golden temple of Amritsar. The clash with the rulers first took place, during the period of Jahangir and Sikh Guru Arjun Dev.

Jahangir's son, Khusru had revolted against him and Arjun just happened to give him a shelter for a while. This annoyed Jahangir and he killed Arjuna, this incidence created havoc amongst the Jat followers of Sikhism. And they got together to defend the injustice. Since then events after events confirmed that the Mughals in no way can be friends of Sikhs. The sixth Guru, Gobind actually transformed the sect as a militant and warrior self-defending sect. Gobind instigated the feeling of bravery and discipline in the Sikhs. Each of his chosen Sikhs was all time required to possess 5 k's (kakars) with them. Those were, Kesh (grow hair), Katch ( a tight inner wear), Kangi ( a comb), Kada (a bracelet) and Katyar ( a sword). He started affixing 'Singh' (lion) before the name of each of his chosen militants. The first chosen five were known as the favorite fives. ( the Panch Pyare) and their organization was named 'Khalsa'- meaning pure, in Arabic.

During Shehajahan's time Punjab was rocked by numerous clashes of Sikhs with the Mughals. Such incidents turned each of the Sikh Gurus more to Senapatis (militant officers). Strangely enough during the Khalsa time most of the cities of Punjab were developing and flourishing. Lahore, for example was the capital.

Slightly turning away from the new, militant attitude of Sikhism, Sufi sect emerged. The great unity in thoughts and daily life was responsible that the Khalsa spirit not only survived but emerged as strong power center despite so many clashes, battles, massacres of Sikhs.

Till the early years of 1800, the Sikh power flourished and the Sikh empire spread it's wings from Punjab to Kashmir wiping put the Mughal rule in these areas. Sikhs had a systematized system of donating money, for the sect. There were small and large divisions. The larger ones known as 'misals' . these misals were substituting a single Guru and were the Sikh governance. It was through one such 'misal', that Ranajitsingh could fast achieve the ladder of power. Once he rose, soon he attached Kangra valley and the southern area of Sutlej banks till Jhelum to his kingdom.

In 1813 he attacked Kashmir and obtained the famous 'Kohinoor' diamond from Shaha Suja-the warden of Mughals.

However in the later years, the British rulers were afraid of the Napolean's possible attack in Bharatiya territory. To defend him, they needed Ranajit Singh and made a tryst with him.

Later part of the Sikh sect generally goes hand in hand with the British rule and by 1854, they were possibly, the best friends of the British rulers.