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Born
in 1469, Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism depart in 1539. He
came at a critical period in India's history. Religion has
been misconceived. The spirits of religion had been mislead by
empty ceremonials, time consuming rituals, adherence to
outward symbols, superiority of one creed over another. One
believer of religion is waging war against the other, brothers
are fighting with brothers, on the basic of differences of
opinion regarding the mean of inner truth.
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Bloodshed, hatred,
intolerance and bigotry have often been preached in the name
of religion while the primal understanding of religion, the
Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man , are set at
nought.
Reasons has been banished altogether, reducing religion to a
mere profession of creeds and dogmas. Words have replaced
deeds. Religion no longer seems to be concerned with such
ennobling issues as the divine knowledge of one's self, and
union with the Divine origin. Religion have to be something
that brings up together rather than something that keeps
people apart. Religion is the bringing together of people to
share the important moments of their human lives. Guru Nanak
teach that true religion consisted of being ever mindful of
the God, meditating on His name, and reflecting it in all
activities of our daily life.
Sikhism is one of youngest of great world faiths. There are
more than 20 millions Sikh living around the world. Sikh think
religion should be practiced by living in the world and coping
with life's everyday problems. Sikhism are religions of deeds
not of words. Sikhism is not concerned with the divinity in
abstraction from human reality. It holds out the ideal of a
multi-dimensional human personality, which actively seeks and
realizes the fullest expression of all faculties latent in
human form. A Sikh leads a life of activity and action, moral
and just, and not a mere contemplation. Sikhism is founded on
the principle of equality of all human beings.
Sikism is a monotheistic religion emphasizes social and
equality of all human beings. Sikh stresses the importance of
doing good actions rather than merely carrying outward rituals
and ceremonies. Sikh rejects asceticism and encourages full
participation in family and social life with responsibility as
the framework within which to seek God. Three cardinal
principles of Sikh faith are Kirt Karo (work with one's own
hand), Vand Chako (share the fruit of the labour with others)
and Nam Japo (meditating of God's name).
Sikh do not disparage other faiths, nor claim sole possession
of the truth and do not attempt to convert adherents of other
faiths. It is a comradeship in the emergence of a pluralistic
world community that preserves the right of human dignity and
freedom for all human beings. All belong to the one humanity
on earth. Guru Nanak exhorts us to accept this - the
brotherhood of man as the grandest religion, a overwhelmingly
practical religion - a religion of service and love.
History and Philosophy
Every new religious movement is born out of and shaped by
existing faiths, and like offsprings bears likeness to them.
The essential truth or what we understand as the universal
truth is the same in every religion and faith. In Sikhism too,
various faith give influence especially Hinduism and Islam.
Sikhism is the natural outcome of the contact of Indian mind
represent the Bhakti cult with non-Indian mind containing
Islamic represent the Sufis currents of thought. But once it
exist, it began to develop a personality of its own and in due
course grew into a faith which bore no resemblance to either,
in which a new spirit breaths and adopted an independent
ethical system of ritual.
The history of a religion is, in fact, the history of the
people's spiritual journey, growth and progress. Describing
the India's religious condition and social aspect in the 15th
century of Guru Nanak advent was at a declining period in
history. Guru Nanak himself described India's state in the
following words "Kings are butchers, cruelty is their
weapon. The sense of duty has taken wings and vanished.
Falsehood is over the land as a veil of darkness, the darkness
of the darkness night."
In such a dark hour, Nanak appeared. The faith of Nanak became
the foundation of a new society. It has built up the Sikh
community who have a wondrous record of courage and service.
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Gurdwara Sachkhand Darbar
