Religion and Origins - My Creator -'IK ONG KAR'

Religions In India.

There are five main religions in India which is the Sikh, Hindu, Islam, Buddhaism and Janism. Jaidism, Christianity, Zoroastranism and Baha’ism have followers, but very few.
Languages also vary and India has several different languages including, Punjabi (there are many different types of Punjabi) , Hindi, Urdu, Gurjarati and many more.

A number of world religions originated in India, and others that started elsewhere found fertile ground for growth there. Devotees of Hinduism, a varied grouping of philosophical and devotional traditions, officially numbered 687.6 million people, or 82 percent of the population in the 1991 census (see table 13, Appendix). Buddhism and Jainism, ancient monastic traditions, have had a major influence on Indian art, philosophy, and society and remain important minority religions in the late twentieth century. Buddhists represented 0.8 percent of the total population while Jains represented 0.4 percent in 1991. (India Religion, religions in India: 2004)

Islam spread from the West throughout South Asia, from the early eighth century, to become the largest minority religion in India. In fact, with 101.5 million Muslims (12.1 percent of the population), India has at least the fourth largest Muslim population in the world (after Indonesia with 174.3 million, Pakistan with 124 million, and Bangladesh with 103 million; some analysts put the number of Indian Muslims even higher--128 million in 1994, which would give India the second largest Muslim population in the world).

Sikhism, which started in Punjab in the sixteenth century, has spread throughout India and the world since the mid-nineteenth century. With nearly 16.3 million adherents, Sikhs represent 1.9 percent of India's population.

Christianity, represented by almost all denominations, traces its history in India back to the time of the apostles and counted 19.6 million members in India in 1991. Judaism and Zoroastrianism, arriving originally with traders and exiles from the West, are represented by small populations, mostly concentrated on India's west coast. A variety of independent tribal religious groups also are lively carriers of unique ethnic traditions.
(India Religion, religions in India: 2004)


Although 80.5% of the population is Hindu, India's Muslim population, which constitutes 13.4% of the population, is the world's second largest Muslim population. Other religious groups include Christians (2.3%), Sikhs (1.9%), Buddhists (0.8%), Jains (0.4%), Jews, Zoroastrians, Bahá'ís and others. Eight percent of India's people are classified as tribal.
(Religious Beliefs in India: 2008)


Sikh Faith.

The religion was founded in the Punjab area of India and the holiest site is the Golden Temple (Harmiandir Sahib) in Amritsar – though it is not a place of pilgrimage. Today there are approximately 6 million followers in the Punjab within a total 20 million followers around the world (in the UK there are approximately 350,000 – 500,000).
Sikh Prayer for Peace (World-Faiths, Sikhism: No date)

God adjudges us according
to our deeds,
not the coat that we wear:
that Truth is above everything,
but higher still is truthful living.
Know that we attaineth God when we loveth,
and only victory
endures in consequences of which no
one is defeated.

Sikhism is the youngest of the world religions and was founded in the Punjab area of India in the fifteenth century by Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak was born in 1469. He preached a message of love and understanding. His was a simple message of ‘Ek On Kaar’ – we are all one, created by the one creator of all creation.

In Sikhism Guru Arjan wrote about the non-worshipping of other religions.

‘I observe neither hindu fasting nor the ritual of the Muslim Ramadan month; Him I serve who at the last shall save.The Lord of Universe of the Hindus, Gosain and Allah to me are one; From Hindus and Muslims I have broken free. I perform neither Kaaba pilgrimage nor at bathing spots worship; One Sole Lord I serve, and no other. I perform neither the Hindu worship nor the Muslim prayer; To the Sole formless Lord in my heart I bow. We neither are Hindus nor Muslims; Our body and life belong to the One Supreme being who alone is both Ram and Allah for us.’ (World Faiths, Sikhism:No date)

Guru Nanak passed on his leadership to nine successive Gurus. The last was Guru Gobind Singh
who established the Khalsa in 1708

The holy book of the Sikhs is called the Sri Guru Granth Sahib and is written in Punjabi in a script called Gurumukha (meaning from the mouth of the Guru). The book was compiled by Guru Arjan and placed in the Golden Temple in 1604. (World Faiths, Sikhism:No date)

The first two sentences of the Granth are those which are said by Sikhs every day on wakening:

‘There is but one God, whose name is True, Creator, devoid of fear and enmity, immortal, unborn, self-existent, great and bountiful. The True One is, was, and also shall be.’

In one of his poems, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib defines the Khalsa :

"He who repeats night and day the name of Him,
Who has full love and confidence in God,
Who bestows not a thought on anv but one God,
Whose enduring light is inextinguishable,
Who puts no faith in fasting and worshipping cemeteries and monasteries,
Who only recognises the one God and makes no fetish, Of pilgrimages,
alms, charities and austerities:

He is recognised as a true member of theKhalsa,
In whose heart the light of the Perfect One shines."

A Sikh believes:

· There is only one God and he is the same God for all
religions.

· The soul goes through a cycle of birth and death
before reaching its human form. The goal of life is to
merge with God and to maintain a balance between
spiritual and temporal obligations.

· The true path to God does not mean a renunciation of
the world but through living the life of a householder,
earning an honest living and avoiding temptation and
sin.

· Sikhism condemns rituals such as fasting,

· All people of all races and sex are equal in the eyes of
God. There is total equality between man and woman
and women can participate in any religious function
and lead the congregation in prayer.

Duties of the Khalsa.

Guru Gobind Singh Sahib laid down the following duties for the Khalsa :

I. The Khalsa is to worship one God and read Nitname (Five Banis) and daily meditate on the Name.

II. He is to keep the symbols (Panj Kakar) and to lead his life according to the Guru's teaching. Gurmantra is Waheguru and the Basic creed is Mool-manlra.

III. He has no caste after joining the brother-hood ; he has to repudiate non-Sikh rites and ceremonies, and follow only Sikh practices.

IV. He is not to commit 'any of the four misdeeds (Kurahat) namely, the shaving or cutting of hair, eating Halal meat, adultery and the use of tobacco or any other intoxi-cant.

V. He is not to commit any of the social offences (Tankhah), such as giving dowry, using liquors and intoxicants, raising monuments over graves and associating with apostates.

VI He must contribute one-tenth {daswand) of his income for religious purposes.

VII He is to serve the sangat in all ways

VIII He must practice arms and be ready defend the weak.


"It is through them that I have gained experience ; with their help I have subdued my enemies. Through their favour, I am exalted, otherwise there are millions of ordinary humble men like me."

Meaning of Symbols: Symbols or outward signs are a mode of discipline. A person who enters the Panth (Khalsa Community) will gladly embrace all its tenets and symbols. Symbols test the disciple's firmness and strengh of faith. They indicate the type of character the wearer should have. He must be proud of being a Sikh, even though it may cost him his life. Secondly this common appearance and uniform ensures easy recognition One can easily spot a Khalsa in a crowd. Each symbol has its own use and psychological significance. (Singh. S. Brar:1998)

The significance of Symbols-Panj Kakar- is given below :

I. Underwear {Kachha) ensures agility and briskness. It is a mark of perpetual readi-ness. It also stands for chastity.

II. Wrist-band {Kara} is a sign of restraint and bondage. It indicates that one is a devotee of the Guru. A look at the wrist-band will bring shame to a Sikh when he does any misdeed.

III. Sword (Kirpan) is an emblem of power and courage. It is to be used primarily as an instrument of defence.

IV. Unshorn Hair {Kes) is an emblem of the saints and Rishis of the past.

V. Comb {Kanga} is necessary to keep the hair clean and in shape. The hair make a Khalsa look exactly like Guru Gobind Singh Sahib and enable him to behave exactly like the Guru. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib says, "The Khalsa is my special form ;I live in the embodiment of the Khalsa. The Khalsa is a part and parcel of my body ; the Khalsa is my very soul."

Sikhism

1) Sikhism is a practical religion. It does not consist in a certain set of beliefs or mere words. Religion does not imply wandering to shrines and tombs, or following austerities of Yogis. Sikhism is a way of life, something to be lived according to a pattern. Its main virtue is simplicity. There is no supernaturalism or mythology on which it rests. It does not believe in devils or angels or heavenly spirits.

2) Sikhism is a universal religion.

3) Sikhism is opposed to all ritualism and formalism.

4) Sikhism does not enjoin blind faith. Blind obedience to an external authority is dis-couraged. The death of the intellect can not be a condition of the life of the spirit. Faith does not start with surmises or absurdities.

5) Sikhism is a faith of hope and cheer. Though it affirms Karma, it recognises the possibility of the modification of one's Karma with the grace of the Guru or God. It does not lead to despair and defeatism.

6) Sikhism is a democratic religion. The decisions of the Sangat are regarded as resolutions having the force of law (Gurmatta) Guru Gobind Singh Sahib vested the authority of the organisation in the Panth.
(Singh. S. Brar:1998)

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion. The word Sikh means ‘disciple’ and they are the disciples of God who follow the writings and teachings of the 10 Sikh Gurus. A Sikh is a:

’Any human being who faithfully believes in:
(i) One Immortal Being,
(ii) Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh,
(iii) The Guru Granth Sahib,
(iv) The utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus and
(v) the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru,
and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion
is a Sikh.’
(vi) Reht Maryada – Sikh Code of Conduct.

(World Faiths, Sikhism: No date)

Adi Granth

The Adi Granth teaches:

"There is one God, Eternal Truth is His Name; Maker of all things, fearing nothing
and at enmity with nothing; Timeless is His Image; Not begotten, being of His own being; By the grace of the Guru made known to men. As he was in the beginning, the Truth; So throughout the ages He ever has been, the Truth; So even now he is the Truth Immanent; So for ever and ever, He shall be Truth Eternal."

These words express the basic belief of Sikhs. Idolatry is forbidden. True worship consists in singing God's praises and in meditating on His Name. To realise Him speculation is useless, and so are also all pilgrimages, and ascetical practices like fasting and celibacy.

God is the Supreme Guru, "Satnam, Wah Guru" (The True Name, The Wondrous Teacher). The Ten Gurus are reverenced because God spoke through them. Nanak had no other Guru but God. His followers, however, reach God through Guru Nanak and the other nine. When the line ended, the God-given "Word of the Gum", remained embodied in the Granth and the temporal function of the Guru was bestowed on the Khalsa. (Indian Traditions: Beliefs and Superstitions:No date)

References:

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http://www.spainexchange.com/guide/IN-religion.htm [accessed: 17.03.2009]

2. India religions (2004) India religions, Religion in India [online] available from: http://www.indianchild.com/india_religion.htm [accessed: 17.03.2009]

3. Religions in India (No date) Religions in India [online] http://www.religions.iloveindia.com [accessed: 07.04.2009][accessed:17.03.2009]

4. Religious Beliefs in India (2008) India: Religious Beliefs In India [online] available from: http://www.spainexchange.com/guide/IN-religion.htm [accessed: 1703.2009)

5. Ahluwalia. P.S.M (2001) Popular Indian Superstitions [online] available from: http://www.sikhmatrimonials.com/sikhnet/discussion.nsf/ [accessed: 23.03.2009]

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