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| Sikhism |
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The foundation of Sikhism was laid very recently as compared to the other religions of the world.It was founded by Sri Guru Nanak Dev in 1469 around 550 years ago. It is said that when Guru Nanak was born he was smiling in contrast to other new born who cry when they are born. He is said to have the Godly aura right from his birth. He spread his preaching on love and humanity. Thereafter nine more Gurus followed him. The tenth guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh said that from that time onwards there will be only one Guru which will be the book, Siri Guru Granth Sahib .This had the teachings of the gurus and it later became to be the holy book of the Sikh.
The element of Sikhism arise from the theory of love for one God which follows the love of mankind. God is the Supreme being, Universal and all powerful. For a Sikh, all human beings are creatures of God and must be treated equally. A Sikh must be always active in mind and body and one must work hard and share one's earnings with the less fortunate which should be earned by righteous means. The Sikh pray in the Gurudwara.
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The last Guru of the Sikh, Sri Guru Gobind Singh gave them a unique uniform and appearance so that they could be easily recognized. In 1699 on April 13 which is celebrated as Baisakhi, he assembled his Sikhs and baptized five brave and obedient to his orders and called this group -The Khalsa. He gave them the five symbols and five basic prayers. These saint like soldiers were loyal to the mankind. The women were given equal status with men as the new brotherhood had no distinctions of caste, creed, color or sex. The women were asked to add "KAUR" (Princess) to their names and were to be always protected. The men were given the surname "SINGH" (Lion) to be added to their first names.
A Sikh can be easily recognized by his Uncut and untrimmed beard and uncut hair which he covers with a turban on his head. Sikhs grow their hair to its natural lengths and they believe that to cut them will be going against the law of God and nature. The simple ideals of Sikhism and the history of fearless courage of the Sikhs has made the Khalsa proud and fearless even today. It is found that genetically Sikhs are daring individuals. They form a very strong part of the Indian Army.
Most of the Sikhs originate in the northern part of India and Pakistan. In India they belong to the state of Punjab. They have made their presence felt all over the world and can be found in large numbers in the US and the UK. Most of the Sikhs are patriotic, chivalrous, hard-working and daring.The Sikh have to wear five things as a part of their religion. They are commonly called as the five K’s
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| The five K’s of Sikhism |
| 1.Kangha |
: It means the comb which is used to keep their hairs neat and clean |
| 2.Kada |
: It is a steel bracelet which signifies their bond with God |
| 3.Kesh |
: It means hair.All Sikhs must have untrim beard and hair |
| 4.Kachcha |
: It means underwear.It is the symbol of agility and readiness in action |
| 5.Kripan |
: It is a sword which is the symbol of coiurage which can be used for self defense |
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| The fundamental values of Sikhism: |
Equality of both the sexes — Sikhism does not discriminate on the basis of caste,creed,colour or sex.Sikh men have their surname as "Singh" and women have "Kaur".It believes in the equality and respect of all Mankind.
Belief in One God — Sikhs believe in a single God who is Omkar or an omnipresent form.All human beings are equal in front of God.
Belief in the Guru — Sikh believe in the preaching of their Gurus or teachers. It is a faith that has been transmitted through their Gurus.
Belief in the Guru Granth Sahib — The Sikh worship their Holy book and their preachings .They do not believe in idol worship.Their rituals are very simple and easy to follow.
Belief in Freedom — Sikhism is an strongly independent faith that puts importance on the individual and freedom of choice for everyone.
Love for All — The Sikhs pray daily for the well-being of humanity and this world.
Justice for All — A Sikh’s beliefs be proven in the world of action. A Sikh cannot turn a blind face to injustice. They are "Saint Soldiers" in today’s time also
Food and Shelter for All — The Sikh provide humble and selfless service to the poor and needy sections of the society.
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