Gur satgur ka jo sikh akhaaye so bhalke utth har naam dhiyaave
— Guru RamDaas Ji Maharaaj
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The word Sikh means one who seeks after truth. The first word in the Sikh scripture is “Sat”, which translates to truth. Sikhism is based on truthful living.
Sikhism (Sikhi in Panjabi) is one of the major world religions, primarily developed in 16th and 17th century India. “Sikhi” comes from the word “Sikh”, and the word “Sikh” comes from the Sanskrit root “śiṣya” (शिष्य) which means “disciple” or “learner”. Guru Nanak was the founder of Sikhi. He was born in 1469 in the village of Nankana Sahib, near Lahore in present-day Pakistan.
Introduction to Sikhism:
Over twenty million Sikhs follow a revealed, distinct, and unique religion born five centuries ago in the Punjab region of northern India. Between 1469 and 1708, ten Gurus preached a simple message of truth, devotion to God, and universal equality. Often mistaken as a combination of Hinduism and Islam, the Sikh religion can be characterized as a completely independent faith:
Sikhism rejects idolatry, the caste system, ritualism, and asceticism. It recognizes the equality between both genders and all religions, prohibits the intake of any intoxicants, and encourages an honest, truthful living. Sikhs have their own holy scripture, Guru Granth Sahib. Written, composed, and compiled by the Sikh Gurus themselves, the Guru Granth Sahib serves as the ultimate source of spiritual guidance for Sikhs. While the Sikhs hold their Gurus in high reverence, they are not to be worshipped; Sikhs may only worship God.
Members of the Sikh community are mainly concentrated in their homeland, Punjab; however, substantial Sikh populations exist throughout the rest of India and the world. Punjabi, a variant of the Hindi language with some Persian influence, is the spoken and written language of the Sikh people. Male members of the Sikh religion use the name, Singh (lion), as their middle or last name, while females use the name, Kaur (princess). Sikhs tend to be industrious and pioneering; this accounts for their general success wherever they live and settle. The hard-working nature of the Sikhs is derived from their religion, which can be best characterized as a faith of unlimited optimism.
The sikh prayers and their timings:
The prayers are classified as: Individual and Collective prayers. The Individual prayers are Morning prayers: Jap ji, Jap Sahib, Tavprasad Swaye, Chaupai and Anand Sahib. Evening prayer: Rehras Sahib Night time prayer: Kirtan Sohila
The Congregational prayer is: Morning prayer: Asa di Var (composed by Guru Nanak Dev)
In addition to the above prayers a Sikh normally reads the following: At the end of every service or prayer: Anand Sahib (composed by Guru Amardas) At any special occasion or otherwise: Sukhmani Sahib (composed by Guru Arjan) At the time of marriage: Lavan (composed by Guru Ramdas) At the time of cremation: Kirtan Sohila