How did the Sikh religion come to birth? Who were the 10 Gurus ?
The Sikh religion, also known as Sikhism, was founded in the late 15th century in the Indian subcontinent by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. Sikhism emerged as a distinct religious and spiritual movement that sought to bridge the gap between Hinduism and Islam, emphasizing the oneness of God and the equality of all human beings.
The birth of Sikhism can be traced back to the life and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1539). He was born in the village of Talwandi, which is now known as Nankana Sahib in present-day Pakistan. Guru Nanak belonged to a Hindu family, but from a young age, he showed a profound interest in spirituality and a questioning mind. He embarked on numerous spiritual journeys, engaging in deep contemplation and seeking spiritual truths.
The pivotal moment that marked the beginning of Sikhism occurred when Guru Nanak had a spiritual experience during one of his meditations. He emerged from this experience with a profound realization of the divine unity that underlies all existence. He proclaimed, "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim," emphasizing the universal nature of spirituality and the oneness of God.
Guru Nanak's teachings revolved around the concept of one God (Ik Onkar) and the rejection of rituals, caste system, and religious divisions. He advocated the importance of selfless service, equality, compassion, and the pursuit of an honest and meaningful way of life.
Throughout his life, Guru Nanak traveled extensively, spreading his teachings and gathering disciples who were inspired by his message. His followers came to be known as Sikhs, a term derived from the Sanskrit word "shishya," meaning disciple or student.
After Guru Nanak, the mantle of leadership passed to nine more Gurus, each contributing to the development and consolidation of Sikhism. The Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikhs, includes the writings of Guru Nanak and the subsequent Gurus, along with compositions of saints from different religious backgrounds.
Sikhism was established and developed by ten Gurus during the period 1469 to 1708. Sikhs regard the ten Gurus not as divine, but as enlightened teachers through whom God revealed his will. Each Guru appointed his successor. Guru Nanak Dev was the first Guru and Guru Gobind Singh the final Guru in human form. Guru Gobind Singh designated the Sri Guru Granth Sahib the ultimate and final Sikh Guru.
The ten Gurus are:
Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539). The founder of Sikhism (see above).
Guru Angad Dev (1504-52). Developed Gurmukhi, the script used for the Punjab language and composed 62 hymns that were later included in the Guru Granth Sahib.
Guru Amar Das (1479-1574). Became Guru at the age of 73. Organized three annual gatherings for Sikhs, set up the first pilgrimage site at Goindval Sahib and introduced Sikh rituals for birth and death. His most famous hymn, Anand Sahib, is part of Sikh daily ritual.
Guru Ram Das (1534-1581). Founded Amritsar, the holy city of Sikhism. His followers dug the pool that became the holy lake surrounding the Golden Temple. Composed the Lavan marriage hymn, still used in Sikh marriages.
Guru Arjan Dev (1563-1606). Collected the hymns of previous Gurus and added 2616 of his own to form the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhism. He also built the Golden Temple. Sikhism was well established by the time of Guru Arjan Dev Guru Arjan completed the establishment of Amritsar as the capital of the Sikh world, and compiled the first authorised book of Sikh scripture, the Adi Granth.However, during Arjan's time Sikhism was seen as a threat by the state and Guru Arjan was eventually executed for his faith in 1606.
Guru Hargobind (1595-1644). The son of Guru Arjan. Proclaimed that the Guru is a military leader as well as spiritual leader, leading to conflict with the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
Guru Har Rai (1630-1661). Grandson of Guru Hargobind.
Guru Har Krishan (1656-1664). Younger son of Guru Har Rai. Became guru at the age of 5 and died of smallpox at the age of 8. He is the only Guru depicted in art without a beard.
Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-75). Great-uncle of Guru Har Krishan. Was barred from Amritsar by Sikh rivals, so founded the Sikh center of Anandpur. Was beheaded in Delhi by Muslims for helping Brahmins avoid forcible conversion to Islam. who used force to make his subjects accept Islam.Aurangzeb had the ninth Guru Tegh Bahadur arrested and executed in 1675.
Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708). Son of Guru Tegh Bahadur. Second only to Guru Nanak in importance, he is often shown prominently next to Nanak in Sikh art. Resisted oppression by Mughgal and Hindu authorities, exemplifying the Sikh ideal of the heroic saint-soldier. Founded the Khalsa and Sikh baptism, composed many poems, and nominated the Sikh sacred text as the final and enduring Guru.
The tenth and final Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, bestowed the status of the eternal Guru upon the Guru Granth Sahib before passing away. From that moment on, Sikhs consider the Guru Granth Sahib as their eternal and spiritual guide. Sikhism has since grown into a significant religion with a rich cultural and historical heritage, centered around the teachings of its Gurus and the principles of equality, service, and devotion to the divine.
The first military leader of the Sikhs to follow the Gurus was Banda Singh Bahadur.
He led a successful campaign against the Moghals until he was captured and executed in 1716.
In the middle of the century the Sikhs rose up again, and over the next 50 years took over more and more territory.
In 1799 Ranjit Singh captured Lahore, and in 1801 established the Punjab as an independent state, with himself as Maharaja.
He proved an adept ruler of a state in which Sikhs were still in a minority.
Although a devout Sikh, he took part in religious acts Muslims and Hindus too
After Ranjit Singh died in 1839 the Sikh state crumbled, damaged by vicious internal battles for the leadership.
In 1845-6 troops of the British Empire defeated the Sikh armies, and took over much Sikh territory.
The Sikhs rebelled again in 1849, and were defeated by the British, this time conclusively.
The Sikhs and the British Raj
After this final battle, the Sikhs and the British discovered they had much in common and built a good relationship. The tradition began of Sikhs serving with great distinction in the British Army.
The Sikhs got on well with the British partly because they came to think of themselves less as subjects of the Raj than as partners of the British.
The British helped themselves get a favourable religious spin when they took control of the Sikh religious establishment by putting their own choices in control of the Gurdwaras.
Good relations between Sikhs and British came to an end in 1919 with the Amritsar massacre.
