RELIGION

Religion – that’s the thing which can be as soothing as the morning Sun, and can be as painful as Death. In India majority of the public follow their religion to the extremes. But do they really know the meaning of the Religion?

Bowing your head to the GOD or visiting the Gurudwara/ Mandir And possessing the five K’s/ wearing Janeu will not do any good if you don’t follow the teachings of your GOD. Same is the case with every other religion, you must follow the ideologies of your GOD then only you can say ‘I follow _ _ _ _ _ Religion’

SIKHISM - is based on the wisdom of ten Gurus. But do we really follow their teachings, or is it just the outer look?

Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539)

Preached the equality of all humans. Guru Nanak said that all people are the children of one God. Guru Nanak spoke out against empty religious rituals, pilgrimages, the caste system, the sacrifice of widows, of depending on books to learn the true religion. Never did he ask his listeners to follow him. He asked the Muslims to be true Muslims and the Hindus to be true Hindus.

Guru Angad Dev (1504-1552)

Introduced Gurmukhi script and encouraged people to learn Punjabi. Started a school at Khadur Sahib to teach children through Gurmukhi alphabet. For the youth he started the tradition of Mall Akhara, where physical as well as spiritual exercises were held. He popularized and expanded the institution of 'Guru ka Langar'.

Guru Amar Das (1479-1574)

Guru Amar Das further institutionalized the free communal kitchen called langar among the Sikhs. Guru Amar Das not only preached the equality of people but also tried to foster the idea of women's equality. He tried to liberate women from the practices of pardah (wearing a veil) and preached strongly against the practice of sati.

Guru Ram Das (1534-1581)

Founded the city of Amritsar in 1574. The standard Sikh marriage ceremony known as the Anand Karaj is centered on the Lawan, a four stanza hymn composed by Guru Ram Das. Guru Ram Das stressed the importance of kirtan, which remains an important part of Sikh worship.

Guru Arjan Dev (1563-1606)

Compiled the Guru Granth Sahib in 1604. Built the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib). Started the practice of daswandh - contributing one tenth of one's earnings for community purposes. Author of Sukhmani Sahib bani - the Prayer for Peace. First Sikh Guru to be martyred. Guru Arjan Dev was imprisoned and martyred in 1606 by Emperor Jahangir for not amending the Adi Granth, the Sikh holy book to reflect his views. Guru Arjan Dev was made to sit on a scorching iron plate and had boiling sand poured over his body. Guru Arjan Dev tolerated this pain and sat there chanting hymns.

Guru Hargobind (1595-1644)

Transformed the Sikhs by introducing martial arts and weapons for the defense of the masses. Guru Hargobind put on two swords - one signifying miri (secular power) and other piri (spiritual power). Built the Akal Takht in 1608 at Amritsar in Punjab.

Guru Har Rai (1630-1661)

To the Sikhs he proved to be the very symbol of service, purity and truth. The Guru gave his life while serving and healing the epidemic-stricken people in Delhi. The young Guru began to attend the sufferers irrespective of cast and creed. Particularly, the local Muslim population was much impressed with the purely humanitarian deeds of the Guru Sahib and nicknamed him Bala Pir (child prophet).

Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-1675)

Build the city of Anandpur Sahib. Sacrificed his life upholding the "right to freedom of religion". Guru Tegh Bahadur saved Kashmiri Hindu pandits who being persecuted by the Mughals, but had to lay down his own life to protect their freedom of religion.

Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708)

In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh baptized the Sikhs and created the Khalsa (the "Pure"). The Khalsa consists of Sikhs who have been baptized and dedicate themselves to living by the high standards of the Sikh Gurus at all times. Instructed the Sikhs to keep the five K's. Compiled the 1428 page Dasam Granth Sahib. All four of Guru Gobind Singh's sons were martyred by the Mughals. He instructed the Sikhs to follow Granth Sahib as the Guru after him.

Guru Granth Sahib

The Guru Granth Sahib is the holy book of the Sikhs. It is the eternal spiritual guide of the Sikhs. Compiled by Guru Arjan Dev, it has writings of the Sikh Gurus and other saints. It contains a total of 5867 hymns in 1430 pages.

For the common Religion is True, for the wise its False and for the Rulers its Useful.