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Info: Biography, Pictures, Discography of all CDs & DVDs |
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| This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the Gurmat (literally the counsel of the gurus) or the Sikh Dharma.Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God.God, to the extent that one can interpret God as the Universe itself.The text was decreed by Gobind Singh, the tenth guru, as the final guru of the Khalsa Panth.Sikhism's traditions and teachings are distinctively associated with the history, society and culture of the Punjab.Adherents of Sikhism are known as Sikhs (students or disciples) and number over 23 million across the world.Most Sikhs live in the state of Punjab in India and, prior to the country's partition, millions of Sikhs lived in what is now the Punjab province of Pakistan.Growth of the Sikh community
3.Observances and ceremonies
5.Ceremonies and customs
5.The Harimandir Sahib, known popularly as the Golden Temple, is a sacred shrine for Sikhs.Sikh religious philosophy has roots in the religious traditions of northern India.Especially important to the connection with Sikhism were the teachings of some of the saints such as Ravidas and Kabir.However, Nanak's teachings diverge significantly from Vaishnavism in their rejection of idol worship, the doctrine of divine incarnations and a strict emphasis on inward devotion; Sikhism is professed to be a more difficult personal pursuit than Bhakti.The evolution of Nanak's thoughts on the basis of his own experiences and study have also given Sikhism a distinctly unique feature.God
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion.Sikhs believe that prior to creation, all that existed was God and his hukam (will or order).When God willed, the entire cosmos was created.Nanak described God as not wholly unknowable.God has no gender in Sikhism, though translations may incorrectly present a masculine God.Sikh man at the Harimandir Sahib.God and salvation: people are distracted from devotion by worldly attractions which give only illusive satisfaction.Salvation can be reached only through rigorous and disciplined devotion to God.Nanak distinctly emphasised the irrelevance of outwardly observations such as rites, pilgrimages or asceticism.Nanak's ideal is the total exposure of one's being to the divine Name and a total conforming to Dharma or the "Divine Order".Sikh should balance work, worship, and charity, and should defend the rights of all creatures, and in particular, fellow human beings.Tanjore style painting from the late 19th century depicting the ten Sikh Gurus with Bhai Bala and Bhai Mardana.The traditions and philosophy of Sikhism were established by ten specific gurus from 1507 to 1708.Each guru added to and reinforced the message taught by the previous, resulting in the creation of the Sikh religion.Guru Gobind Singh was the final guru in human form.After Guru Nanak Dev's passing, the most important phase in the development of Sikhism came with the third successor, Guru Amar Das.Guru Nanak Dev's teachings emphasised the pursuit of salvation; Guru Amar Das began building a cohesive community of followers with initiatives such as sanctioning distinctive ceremonies for birth, marriage and death.When Guru Ram Das's youngest son Guru Arjan Dev succeeded him, the line of male gurus from the Sodhi Khatri family was established: all succeeding gurus were direct descendants of this line.Guru Arjan Dev was captured by Mughal authorities who were suspicious and hostile to the religious order he was developing.His persecution and death inspired his successors to promote a military and political organisation of Sikh communities to defend themselves against the attacks of Mughal forces.The Sikh gurus established a mechanism which allowed the Sikh religion to react as a community to changing circumstances.Sikhdom and sits opposite the Harimandir Sahib.Khalsa Panth) historically gathers at the Akal Takht on special festivals such as Vaisakhi or Diwali and when there is a need to discuss matters that affect the entire Sikh nation.His parents were Khatri Hindus of the Bedi clan.As a boy, Nanak was fascinated by religion, and his desire to explore the mysteries of life eventually led him to leave home.Sikh tradition states that at the age of thirty, Nanak went missing and was presumed to have drowned after going for one of his morning baths to a local stream called the Kali Bein.It was from this moment that Nanak would begin to spread the teachings of what was then the beginning of Sikhism.Although the exact account of his itinerary is disputed, he is widely acknowledged to have made four major journeys, spanning thousands of kilometres.The first tour being east towards Bengal and Assam, the second south towards Tamil Nadu, the third north towards Kashmir, Ladakh and Tibet, and the final tour west towards Baghdad and Mecca.The elder son, Sri Chand, was an ascetic, and he came to have a considerable following of his own, known as the Udasis.Guru Angad Dev and became the second guru of the Sikhs.Though Sri Chand was not an ambitious man, the Udasis believed that the Guruship should have gone to him, since he was a man of pious habits in addition to being Nanak's son.Guru Amar Das, a Khatri of the Bhalla clan, became the third Sikh guru in 1552 at the age of 73.Goindval became an important centre for Sikhism during the guruship of Amar Das.Khatri of the Sodhi clan, as the fourth Sikh guru.Political advancement
Guru Har Gobind, became the sixth guru of the Sikhs.Sikhs grew as an organised community and always had a trained fighting force to defend their independence.No hymns composed by these three gurus are included in the Sikh holy book.Guru Teg Bahadur became guru in 1665 and led the Sikhs until 1675.He was succeeded by his son, Gobind Rai who was just nine years old at the time of his father's death.From here on in he was known as Guru Gobind Singh.From the time of Nanak, when it was a loose collection of followers who focused entirely on the attainment of salvation and God, the Sikh community had significantly transformed.Even though the core Sikh religious philosophy was never affected, the followers now began to develop a political identity.Conflict with Mughal authorities escalated during the lifetime of Teg Bahadur and Gobind Singh.Gobind Singh with the duty of punishing those who had persecuted the Sikhs.After the guru's death, Banda Bahadur became the leader of the Sikh army and was responsible for several attacks on the Mughal empire.The Sikh community's embrace of military and political organisation made it a considerable regional force in medieval India and it continued to evolve after the demise of the gurus.After the death of Banda Bahadur, a loose confederation of Sikh warrior bands known as misls formed.With the decline of the Mughal empire, a Sikh empire arose in the Punjab under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, with its capital in Lahore and limits reaching the Khyber Pass and the borders of China.The order, traditions and discipline developed over centuries culminated at the time of Ranjit Singh to give rise to the common religious and social identity that the term "Sikhism" describes.Sikhs formed the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and the Shiromani Akali Dal to preserve Sikhs religious and political organisation.With the partition of India in 1947, thousands of Sikhs were killed in violence and millions were forced to leave their ancestral homes in West Punjab.Sikhs were facing opposition from the Government in forming a linguistic state that other states in India were afforded.Sikh and Punjabi rights, but was brutally suppressed by India.Sikh riots massacres all over India.Sodhi family of Kartarpur.It is believed that it was decreed by Gobind Singh that the Granth was to be considered the eternal, living guru of all Sikhs, however, this belief finds no mention either in 'Guru Granth Sahib' or in 'Dasham Granth' compiled by Guru Gobind Singh.English: All Sikhs are commanded to take the Granth as Guru.Sikh musicians at the Golden Temple complex.Sikhs, and instead were collected in the Dasam Granth.The authenticity of some portions of the Granth has been questioned and the appropriateness of the Granth's content still causes much debate.Sikh tradition states that Mani Singh collected the writings of Gobind Singh after his death to create the Granth.There are many gurdwaras prominently constructed and maintained across India, as well as in almost every nation where Sikhs reside.Groups of Sikhs regularly visit and congregate at the Harimandir Sahib.Festivals in Sikhism mostly centre around the lives of the Gurus and Sikh martyrs.The SGPC, the Sikh organisation in charge of upkeep of the gurdwaras, organises celebrations based on the new Nanakshahi calendar.This calendar is highly controversial among Sikhs and is not universally accepted.Several festivals (Hola Mohalla, Diwali and Guru Nanak's birthday) continue to be celebrated using the Hindu calendar.Sikh festivals include the following:
Gurpurabs are celebrations or commemorations based on the lives of the Sikh gurus.They tend to be either birthdays or celebrations of Sikh martyrdom.Vaisakhi normally occurs on 13 April and marks the beginning of the new spring year and the end of the harvest.Sikhs celebrate it because on Vaisakhi in 1699, the tenth guru, Gobind Singh, began the Khalsa baptismal tradition.Nanak taught that rituals, religious ceremonies or empty worship is of little use and Sikhs are discouraged from fasting or going on pilgrimages.However, during the period of the later gurus, and due to increased institutionalisation of the religion, some ceremonies and rites did arise.Sikhism is not a proselytizing religion and most Sikhs do not make active attempts to gain converts.However, converts to Sikhism are welcomed, although there is no formal conversion ceremony.All boys are given the middle name or surname Singh, and all girls are given the middle name or surname Kaur.Sikhs marry when they are of a sufficient age (child marriage is taboo), and without regard for the future spouse's caste or descent.According to Sikh religious rites, neither husband nor wife are permitted to divorce.Upon death, the body of a Sikh is usually cremated.If this is not possible, any means of disposing the body may be employed.The tenth guru, Gobind Singh, ordered these Five Ks to be worn so that a Sikh could actively use them to make a difference to their own and to others' spirituality.As with most world religions, there are groups of Sikhs (such as the Namdharis, Ravidasis and Udasis) who do not adhere to the mainstream principles followed by most Sikhs.Groups such as the Nirankaris have a history of bad relations with mainstream Sikhism, and are considered pariahs by some Sikhs.Others, such as the Nihangs, tend to have little difference in belief and practice, and are considered Sikhs proper by mainstream Sikhism.Religions by adherents (PHP).The Illustrated History of the Sikhs.India: Oxford University Press, 15.Punjabi) Nabha, Kahan Singh (1930).World Religions: From Ancient History to the Present.For endless eons, there was only utter darkness.When He so willed, He created the world.He created Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; He fostered enticement and attachment to Maya.You are the One True Lord and Master of all the other beings, of so many worlds.World Religions: From Ancient History to the Present.Mann, Gurinder Singh (2001).Method of Adopting Gurmatta.The Illustrated History of the Sikhs.The Illustrated History of the Sikhs.Duggal, Kartar Singh (1988).Philosophy and Faith of Sikhism.Himalayan Institute Press, 15.The Sikhism Homepage: Guru Amar Das.The Illustrated History of the Sikhs.The Illustrated History of the Sikhs.United States: Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, 256.India: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, 1xxxi."The Study of Sikh Literature", Studying the Sikhs: Issues for North America.World Religions: From Ancient History to the Present.Sikh Matrimonial Ceremony and Conventions).This article contains Indic text.This page was last modified 10:37, 18 January 2008.The Sikh religion today has a following of over 20 million people worldwide
and is ranked as the worlds 5th largest religion.God at all times, truthful living, equality
of mankind and denounces superstitions and blind rituals.Gurus enshrined in the Sikh Holy
Book and Living Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.There are no central governing bodies in the Sikh religion.There are about twenty three million Sikhs worldwide, with the majority
in India's Punjab region.Sikhs have no clergy, believing an established clergy to invite corruption.Sikh theology of the equality of all.Granth Sahib, and are open to people of all faiths.Harmiandir Sahib (Golden Temple) is an important religious center,
but is not considered more holyt than any other Gurdwara.Sikh Temple is the Langar,
a communal vegetarian meal open to people of all faiths.Khalsa to be Sikh.Guru Gobind Singh, their purpose to uphold Sikh
values.Sikhs usually wear their hair in a turban, as do many women.Kanga, a wooden comb, symbolizing cleanliness.Sikh unity, and a committment to abstain from
wrongdoing.Khalsas' historic mission was to fight oppression and injustice.Gurus and of many non Sikhs are also believed to be spiritually
valuable.Hola Mohalla, commemorating Sikh battles for justice
with mock fighting, religious teachings, and community meals.Dharma, (the law of Karma) reincarnation, and Samsara (the
Hindu cycle of life and death).Like Muslims, they believe in a single
deity, and eschew idolatry.Sikh religion prohibits idolatry, the observance of a caste system,
and the use of alcohol or tobacco.Sikhs also avoid meat that is not
humanely slaughtered, and some prefer a vegetarian diet.Kirpan (a ceremonial knife worn by initiates), and
the Onkar, a symbol of the unity of God.Something missing, broken, or
incorrect?The New York Times Company.TRUTH
IS HIGH, HIGHER STILL IS TRUTHFULL LIVING .In welcome news for the Sikh community before 2008 begins, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reversed a ban on kirpans at its Washington, DC headquarters.Over the past four months, the Sikh Coalition has filed 32 separate complaints of discrimination with the TSA.Sikh Coalition's lead staff attorney are responsible for this major initiative to protect Sikh rights.Sikh cab driver was brutally assaulted by a passenger on Saturday, the night of Gurpurab.Sukhvir Singh's attacker threatened to kill him, calling him a "terrorist" as he punched and bit him, pulling locks of hair from his head.The Sikh Coalition calls on the King's County Prosecuting Attorney's Office to prosecute the incident as a hate crime.The Sikh Coalition is pleased to announce a significant expansion of its staff this year.Sikh Coalition is now the most staffed Sikh organization in the history of the United States.Will Thanksgiving Travel Embrace or Disgrace You?Next week, the TSA's new search policy for Sikh turbans will have been in place for a month.Now is the time to go back to the government and let them know how they're doing.To do that, the Sikh Coalition needs to hear from you, the Sikh traveling public, about your experiences in America's airports.An immigration detention center in Elizabeth, New Jersey reversed a ban against turbans last week.Three detained Sikh men were barred from wearing turbans for months.The facility changed its policy three weeks after the Sikh Coalition intervened.Sikh's turban was torn from his head in a vicious hate assault at a truck stop in Oakland, Oregon.The Sikh Coalition has communicated with both the county Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney's office, and has confirmed that the three assailants were arrested and are being charged with hate crimes.Tomorrow the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will implement new procedures for screening Sikh turbans.Sikh air travelers will have to know their rights in order to assert them properly during security screenings at U.The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) yesterday announced a new security screening procedure that will apply to all religious head coverings at U.The goal of the Library Project is to place a package of 10 books and 2 DVDs on Sikhs in every library in North America.In the last five years the Sikh Coalition has defended the rights of more individual Sikhs in America than any other organization ever.Add this for each new level
oCMenu2.Add this for each new level (adding one to the number)
oCMenu2.SikhiWiki : The Encyclomedia of the Sikhs!Select the topics that you are interested in:
SikhNet.Conquer the World
As soon as I started watching the video I was surprised to find that the lecture covering many of the very topics that I was just blogging about, in relation controlling your mind, religion, self discipline, intuition, love, and spirituality....In celebration of the Birthday of the 10th Sikh Guru (Guru Gobind Singh) we are featuring various SikhNet videos.In 2008 we want to take SikhNet to the next level of service and interactivity and reach a new audience through TV.Other Amount Every donation, no matter how large or small will help SikhNet.On January 5, this year the world celebrates the 341st anniversary of the birth in Patna, India of the tenth and last of the Ten Gurus in human form of Sikhism.Amarjit Kaur is one of the premiere female Indian Ragis in the United States today.The above pictures are randomly selected from the thousands of profiles on SikhMatrimonials.Events Calendar
Have your Sikh event featured HERE!What Do Sikhs Believe About Evolution?"Sikhi's stance on evolution is that first there were lower life forms that evolved to higher life forms and eventually man was created.Conversion: How Can I Become Sikh?What Are the Differences Between Sikhism and Hinduism?Explore the meditative paintings of artist Sohan Qadri, born into a Sikh family.Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs in the West are saving money and trouble by sending their worship needs abroad.Sikhism's 10 Gurus, a lineage of holy teachers that continued until the end of the 17th century.Main Tenets: The term Sikh is derived from the Sanskrit word for "disciple" or "learner."Sikhs are those who are disciples to the Guru.Sikhism originated in the Punjab region of northwest India, where it drew on elements from Bhakti Hinduism and Islamic Sufism to develop into a distinctive religious tradition in its own right.Known as the "religion of the householder," Sikhism emphasizes the family and advocates living in the world without being worldly.Moral purity is considered the chief basis of religion.The 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, instituted the Khalsa brotherhood, in which initiates are required to wear five distinctive symbols: uncut hair, a comb, a steel wrist bangle, a sword, and short underpants.Not all Sikhs belong to this disciplined fellowship, but many do obey the principle rules of Khalsa.Guru Gobind Singh also required all male Sikhs to take the name Singh (meaning "lion") and all female Sikhs to take the name Kaur ("princess").These measures give Sikhs a strong sense of communal identity, symbolized by the characteristic turbans and beards worn by Sikh men.This comprehensive site includes a Gurupurab calendar and a chronicle of Sikh history.Site dedicated to Sikh youth.Includes a creativity center with a Sikh crossword puzzle and a Sikh version of "Jeopardy."Thank you for sharing your concerns.Content of this nature is not necessarily prohibited on YouTube, however we will review this video and take action as appropriate.Thank you for sharing your concerns.Please refer to our Help Center for more information and the complete instructions.In order to process a privacy complaint we need more information from you.Thank you for sharing this video!Nichole Grimes to the newspaper "the Daily Star" in London today.Sikh for what made them hard as steel.Interesting history of Sikh Rajputs : There has been a long standing practice in Punjab which still continuous where Hindu families give their first born son to the Guru to be baptized as a Sikh and join the Guru's army of protectors.Many Punjabi Rajput families too have been giving their sons to be enrolled in the Guru's Army and baptized as Sikhs.Thus there are many Hindu, Punjabi Hindu Rajput and whose kin are proud followers of Sikhism today.Honest earnings, through work.Sikh history of betrayal by muslims : Aurungzeb;s army marched upon Anandpur and laid a siege to fort in May 1705.The Sikhs were reduced to desperate straits due to the siege.At this stage the besiegers offered, on Oath of the Qur'an, safe exit to the Sikhs if they quit Anandpur.At last, town was evacuated during a night of December 1705.But as the Guru and his Sikhs came out,the Mughals set upon them in full fury in violation of their treaty.The sikhs know the treatment they got from the muslims very well in 1947.Muhammed did it himself with the kaffirs in Arabia.Read "Muslim League Attack on Sikhs and Hindus in the Punjab 1947 is a book by Sikh author Gurbachan Singh Talib.Video about global sikhs.Video about global sikhs.After making your selection, copy and paste the embed code above. |
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