Dr. Awatar Singh Sekhon, Dr. Gurcharan Singh Dhillon, Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer and Dr. Harbakhash Singh Sandhar “CONTINUED FROM LAST ISSUE Religion and Institutionalization (Brief History) Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak Sahib (15.04.146922.09.1539), son of Baba Kalu and Mata Taripie, as revealed to him by the Almighty.
Sikh philosophy is the direct revelation made to Guru Nanak Sahib from Waheguru (the Almighty). Guru Nanak Sahib preached: There is but one God (Eternal, Infinite, Omnipotent), He alone is the Creator, the Sustainer, and the Destroyer. Salvation is possible in this world and can be attained through Nam Simran (meditation) and truthful living. Truthful living means: honest earning; sharing with others; helping the needy, the weak and the oppressed; praying for the all the humanity, A Sikh must always have complete faith in His grace. A Sikh must always bow before his Bhana (surrender to His Will). All this helps one to become ‘a Sachiar (2 truthful person or a self-realized person), It does not meant that by doing all this one becomes entitled to the Sachiar state. One has to be a Sachiar to become a candidate to obtain the grace of the Almighty. All blessing, including liberation, is through His grace. Grunt Nanak Sahib rejected renunciation:
Of the world. He asked the people to live in active householder’s life (which be himself lived) and become self-realized. He taught the people to be valuable citizens of the social and spiritual realm of the Almighty.
Guru Nanak Sahib travelled far and wide, from cast to west, from north to south. He visited Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Bengal, Afghanistan, Tibet, Kashmir, India, and Sri Lanka and finally returned to the Sikh Homeland, His missionary journey brought him numerous followers. Guru Nanak Sahib ‘Spent his last days at Kartarpur (a town founded by him). Here he started the Sikh institution of Langar (Sacred Sikh Kitchen). In langar every one has to share food without distinction of any kind and Gone fiats to practice this equality through ‘out one’s life, Guru Nanak Sahib taught that all of us are the subjects of the Almighty, hence there could be no hierarchical distinctions among the sovereign subjects of the Supreme Sovereign (Almighty).
Guru Nanak Sahib institutionalized the Sikh religion in his lifetime. He established Sangats(the Sikh national communities) and Dharamsala (religious and social centers) in various parts of the world Before his departure, Guru Nanak Sahib appointed Guns Anged Sahib, who was the most worthy of his followers, as his successor in mission, Guru Nanak Sahib did not appoint his elder son Sri Chand, as. The Latter had renounced the world (Sikhism rejects asceticism, monasticism and other worldliness). Gurubani Sahib also rejected his younger son in favor of Guru Angad Sahib as the latter was betier qualified. (Sikhism ejects hereditary succession) When Guns Angad Sahib was appointed success or in mission by Guru Nanak Sahib, he was presented with all the Sikh Scriptures that Guru Nanak Sahib had in his possession. Guru Nanak Sahib ‘merged his light in Guru Angad Sahib’s light. Though a separate physical existence, it was the same light (of Guru Nanak Sahib). According to some sources, the date of binh of Guru Nanak Sahib was October 20, 1469. Guru Angad Sahib (31.04.150429.03.1552), son of Baba Pheru and Mata Daya Kaur, was installed as the Second Nanak, in 1539, He furthered Guru Nanak Sahib’s mission. He promoted the Punjabi Language and Gurmukhi, the script of the masses, which was also used by Gur Nanak Sahib for writing his hymns, the usage of a common language and script ushered cohesion among the Sikhs. Guru Angad Sahib established another major Sikh Center at Khadur Sahib, Before his departure he appointed Guru Amar Das ‘Sahib as his successor in mission and presented him with all the Sikh Scriptures he had, including those received from Guru Nanak Sahib. Guru Amar Das Sahib (05, 05.147901.09.1574), son of Baba Te} Bhan and Mata Sulakhani (Lakhami), was installed as the Third Nanak in 1552. By his time the number of Sikhs had increased enormously and several centers had to be established. He appointed 22 major missionaries and a very large number of deputy missionaries. He made it obligatory for the Sikhs to dine in Langar before joining a congregation. He preached that there ‘was no place for hierarchy of caste, color, creed, area or sex in Sikhism. Guru Amar Das Sahib was instrumental in bringing an end to Sati (burning of the widow on the pyre of the dead body of her husband), 1 cruel ceremony of the Hindu religion. Guru Amar Das Sahib established the Sikh city of Goindwal Sahib, Guru Ram Das Sahib (24.09.1534. 01.09.1581), son of Baba hard as Sodhi and Mata Daya Kaur, was installed as the Fourth Nanak, in 1574, He founded Chak Guru, the city later, known as Chak Ram Das (now known as Amritsar after the name of the Sarovar) in 1577. He began the digging of Amritsar Sarovar (sacred tank) in the town; Amritsar became a ‘center of the Sikh nation’s religious, cultural, economic and political life. Before his departure, he appointed Guru Arjan Sahib as his successor in mission and presented the latter with all the Sikh scriptures.
Guru Arjan Sahib (15.04.1563. 30.05.1606), son of Guru Ram Das Sahib and Mata Bhani was installed as the Fifth ‘Nanak, in 1581. He laid the foundation of Darbar Sahib in 1588. He compiled Adi Granth Sahib (the Guru Etemal since 1708) and installed it in Darbar Sahib on August 16, 1604; Adi Granth Sahib is the volume of Sikh Scriptures, Guru. Arjan Sahib established other Sikh centers at Tam Taran, Kartarpur (Jullundur) etc. Hindu enmity and State aggression resulted in the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Sahib; He is the first martyr of South Asia. Guru Hargobind Sahib (19.6.159003.03.1644), son of Guru Arjan Sahib and Mata Ganga, was installed as the Sixth Nanak, in 1606. He laid the foundation of the building of Akal Takht Sahib (the Throne of the Almighty), at Amritsar, on June 15, 1606 and revealed the Sikh concept of the unity of Miri (temporal) and Piri (transcendental). A subject of the Supreme Sovereign cannot be a subject of an earthly ruler. He said the earthly rulers had no right to govern the minds and bodies of sovereign subjects of the Supreme Sovereign (God). A man of Miri has an obligation to impart Dharma (Righteousness) and aman of Piri must not be a silent observer to injustice, tyranny, in humanism. A Sikh has to be a “saint soldier” i.e. a man of Miri and Piri.
For a short time, in 1619, Guru Hargobind Sahib remained as a prisoner in Gwalior fort. He left the prison after 52 Hindu rulers, 100, were released. The Hindus called him Bandi Chhor (the Deliverer), ‘Guru Hargobind Sahib formed an army to defend the Sikh nation from aggressions of the tyrants. The Guru fought four batules (Ruhila in 1621, Amritsar in April 1634, Mehraj in December 1634 and Kartarpur in April 1635), He too established Sikh City of Kiratpur Sahib, to where he moved in May 1635. Guru Har Rai Sahib (26.02.163006.10.1661), son of Baba Gurditta (son of Guru Hargobind Sahib) and Mata Nihal Kaur, was installed as the Seventh Nanak in 1644; He consolidated the Sikhs into a united cohesive force. He taught the Sikhs the art of political administration. Guru Har Rai Sahib toured extensively and added several thousand followers to the Sikh faith. He had a large army to defend the Sikh cities from the attack of insurgents Guru Harkrishan Sahib (17.7.1652303.1664), son of Guru Har Rai Sahib and Mata Sulakhani, installed as the Eighth Nanak in 1661, He died at a very young age, and He taught the Sikhs not to have association with cruel rulers. He taught that service of the needy was more important than one’s own life, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib (01.04.162111.11.1675), son of Guru Hargobind Sahib and Mata Nanaki, was installed as the Ninth Nanak in 1664, He undertook several missionary tours of different parts of the subcontinent and added numerous followers to the faith: He founded the Sikh: State of Anandpur Sahib in June 1665. Anandpur Sahib is an example of strategic military planning. Guru Sahib knew that sometime in the future the Sikhs shall have 10 face such situations. Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib sacrificed his life for the freedom of the right (of faith and worship. The Hindus, who were being forced into the Islamic faith called Guru Sahib “the Saviour (Messiah of the Hindus).
Article extracted from this publication >> January 3, 1996
