Sikhism is the latest among the oriental religions. It was founded in the Punjab, which had been the meeting place of many civilizations and races ever since the migration of Aryans into India from Central Asia. It is a very simple philosophy of life, which unlike Hinduism does not consider the life on the earth a mere illusory dream. It prescribes that life should not be wasted in unreal and abstract expectations after death, but should be devoted to selfless service of mankind.
Founding of Sikhism Sikhism was born in the northern state of the Punjab in India with the birth of its founder, Guru Nanak, in 1469 A.D. The Lord God had manifested His Light in Nanak and therefore Nanak was born as Guru, the Enlightener.
He continued to teach the Truth in ten human manifestations including himself.
Each of the nine human successors of Nanak was and is referred to as the second Nanak, the third Nanak and so on. This human succession continued till the ninth successor, Guru Gobind Singh terminated it and established an eternal Guru in the Guru Granth Sahib (The Holy Book that is the Guru). The Panth the Corporate Body of the Sikhs is authorized to perform the physical functions of the Guru in strict obedience to and in strict accordance with the Holy World contained in the Guru Granth.
All the Gurus were family men except Guru Harkrishan, the eighth Guru, who passed away when he was very young. This meant a complete break from the then prevailing Hindu tradition and belief of asceticism being a prerequisite for leading and guiding spiritual life. As a consequence, Sikhs are preeminently family men.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 17, 1989
