India, known as the land of spirituality and philosophy, was the birthplace of some religions that are still actively practiced in the world today. The most dominant religion in India today is Hinduism. About 80% of Indians are Hindus. In the "modern" period, new religions were also established in India. One of these secondary religions is called Sikhism. This paper will explain its rise, rituals, and concepts.
Sikhism was established in 15th century in the state of Punjab in North India. Guru Nanak, a Hindu born in 1469 in the Punjab region, founded the religion. Guru loved to travel and learn about new concepts and ideas regarding different kinds of religions. From his childhood, Guru was attracted to Hindu and Muslim saints. "Even though he was born a Hindu, he was inspired by teachings of Islam, and he began to preach a message of unity between both religions."(Mcleod, 1968). He stated that," thee basic teachings of both faiths were essentially the same."(Oberoi, 1994). From Islam, Sikhism adopted the belief in the existence of one invisible God. From Hinduism it adopted the belief in Karma and reincarnation- the idea that your actions in this world will decide your fate in the next incarnation. Guru Nanak claimed that, "Sikhism is a religion of perfect and universal love, totally free from man-made barriers of color, caste, creed and status. It is a Religion which radiates with a deep thirst for the divine and with the highest gospel of purity of heart, mind, body, speech, and deeds." (McLeod, 1968).
Among Sikhism practices are: prayers, worship, temples, and "The Five K's". Prayers are repeated multiple times each day. Sikhs are prohibited from worshipping idols, images, or icons. Sikh temples, shrines, or holy places are called Gurdwaras, and there are more than 200 in India alone. The most sacred is at Amritsar. The Five K's are clothing practices followed by stricter Sikhs, called Khalsa saints.
