Sikhism is one of the six largest religions in the world and Guru Nanak founded it in the 15th century. It originated from Punjab, an area in the North West India. Guru Nanak was born to a warrior caste (Kshatriya) of the Hindu community but later faced influence from the Muslims (Kalsi, 2004). Sikhism has had ten Gurus, Guru Nanak being the First, and the last Guru being Guru Gobind Singh (Mann, 2004). They believe in one Supreme Being and that all human beings are equal. Most males have Singh (lion) as their middle name and most females middle name is Kaur meaning princess. The Sikhism evolved from being pacifists to violent warriors who protected their faith.
The main factors turned the pacific movement of Nanak into the warrior caste of later Sikhism was the oppression and attempts by the Mughals to suppress their faith. During Nanak’s time, Sikhism was a religion of peace and advocated for pacifism. The first four Gurus followed Nanak’s teachings of being pacific towards enemies. However, the Sikhs were later known as warriors. Guru Arjan is known for giving the Sikhs their military aspect unlike the earlier Gurus. Guru Arjan Dev leadership made Sikhs to be more militant only in response to repression and attempts to suppress their faith (Mann, 2004). The Mughals felt threatened by the Sikhs and this resulted in the repression of the Sikhs. On June 16, 1606, Arjan was tortured and martyred by the Muslims and this worsened the situation.
After the death of Arjan, the sixth Guru Ha Gobind had a belief that military action was necessary for the purposes of promoting justice and ensuring that it protects the innocent. The 10th Guru, Gobind Singh prepared the Sikhs for war and self-defense. He gave them the mission of fighting against any form of oppression. Singh advocated for military action as the last resort and that it should not be avoided if it proves to be necessary (Kalsi, 2004). To strengthen the Sikhs and be prepared for any war, an elite class of Sikhs was developed to be warriors. Through war, they were able to protect their religion.
The Modern Sikhism has three major sects including the Udadis, Sahajdharis, and the Singhs. Each sect believe in teachings of Nanak, accepts Granth (sacred scripture) and they accept and respect the ten Gurus and they believe that they are the inspired (Mann, 2004).
Characteristics of Udasis
- This is a holy men’s order and they follow a number of the same rules and principles that governs Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
- They focus on the teachings of their founder, Sri Chand
- They have no restrictions on hair; some wear it short while others long and matted. Matted hair acts as a symbol of the renunciation of the earthly life.
- Some strip naked and smear themselves with ash as a symbol of their death to the world of caste, business, and family relations.
- They are typically celibate and abandon the worldly cares.
Characteristics of Sahajdharis
- These are the slow going, conservative and they prefer a clean shave.
- Sahajdharis are against any militant characteristics
- Some parents belonging to this sect take a vow of rearing their first born sons as Sikh,
Characteristics of Singhs
- They believe in the theology of reincarnation
- No use of stimulants long hair on their faces and heads.
Reference
Kalsi, S. S. (2004). Sikhism. New York: Infobase Pub.
Mann, G. S. (2004). Sikhism. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
