Death

Death in Sikhism refers to an occasion of joy and a the celebration, where the soul enters a stage of meeting the Almighty. As for a Sikh, Guru is considered to be his best friend who always remains with him, whether whatever the circumstances be. It is only after death that one is able to meet the Almighty. Each of us has to realize that God is residing within us.

Only those breaths of a person are counted with the every passing day, which are attached with the name of the GOD and the collection of these thousands of valuable breaths are attached to this soul, after death to meet the almighty. Only a person who always remembers death knows how valuable and precious is
the wealth of these counted breaths granted during a lifetime. It is said that 'Life is a dream, whereas death is the Reality'. Thus, the thought of death is the key to life eternal. This perishable body is composed of five elements, ether, air, fire, water and earth. These five elements disintegrate and dissolve after death.

Mostly human beings live just to satisfy their ego. They just live and work to get all the luxuries and attractions, in their lives. He uses all his power, and devotes all his energy and effort in satisfying the worldly attractions. Mostly people are unaware of, that how they got these precious breaths during the lifetime and how these breaths are to be utilized, that leads them to moksha. To live is not important but in a Sikhs life, how to live is important. As, With the pleasures of life, one seeks only material benefits. Those who don't run after the worldly pleasures, are the blessed ones. The more u remember God, the more u feel urself detached (feel free) from the worldly pleasures. Some people cheat themselves by not surrendering their ego, since it is the greatest stumbling block, an obstacle between us and God. Guru's sikh is neither afraid nor expects anything exceptional out of the life, is completely satisfied with whatever Almighty gives him.

In guru granth sahiib ji, it is mentioned:

"Every time we breathe, we should breathe Nam, which is our very support, our very goal and our real life. As we cannot live without Pranas, so we cannot also live without Nam."

According to Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj,

" As a letter correctly addressed reaches its destination and a blank letter or an incorrectly addressed one gets lost, similarly breaths addressed and spent in the loving devotion, memory, love, worship of Sri Guru Nanak Sahib and at his lotus feet and those spent in the pursuit of perishable objects get perished."

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Prayer

Prayer is a connection between a sikh and his guru. It flows from the true heart of the sikh and reaches the pure feet of his beloved Satguru. A true prayer contains a powerful love current from the sikhs heart to his guru heart, which is never unheard and unresponded. A sikhs prayer reaches the heart of his divine GOD only if he learns how to surrenders his ego, greed, anger, proud and learns how to sacrifice. With total absence of ego, also known as haumain a direct divine channel is established between the guru and his sikh and in this channel flows only Grace, happiness and peace to the thirsting soul. When the prayer is true and sincere the mind is actually free from all thoughts and desires and seeks from the Lord, 'Lord Himself'.

As said by Baba Narinder Singh Ji,

" Real prayer needs no words, no gesture, no thoughts.
A real prayer only comes from the Lord "

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Adi Granth

Earlier known as Adi Granth, Guru Granth Sahib is written in the Gurmukhi script. Ādi Granth was primarily written by Bhai Gurdas ji, under the supervision of Arjan Dev ji, between the years 1603 and 1604. When Guru Arjun dev ji first completed the Adi Granth, they placed it upon their own bed and slept on the floor. The sacred script was written without any spaces or breaks. However, the original volume was burned by Ahmad Shah Durrani's army in 1757, when they burned the whole town of Kartarpur.

Gurū Granth Sāhib ji was again compiled by Guru Gobind Singh ji, the tenth Guru of the sikhs in the year 1678. Guruji dictated all the bani to Bhai Mani Singh who recorded the bani on the paper. It consists of the original Ādi Granth along with the addition of Teg Bahadur's hymns. Thus Guru Gobind Singh Ji did not included his own bani (shabads) in Guru Granth Sahib Ji instead, he placed them in a separate Granth, the 'Dasam Granth'. Thus, Dasam Granth is not revered as Guru. It was decreed (announced ) by Gobind Singh ji, that Guru Granth Sahib Ji is to be considered as the eternal guru of all Sikh. Though, this is not mentioned either in 'Guru Granth Sahib' or in 'Dasam Granth'.

The first hukamnama of guru granth sahib ji was "Sabb sikkhan kō hukam hai gurū mānyō granth"

Printing

The printing of Guru Granth Sahib is done in Amritsar by officially appointed Sikhs. These are printed world wide under strict code of conduct. Before the twentieth century, Guru Granth Sahib was only hand written and was first printed in the year 1864, in the basement of the Gurdwara Ramsar in Amritsar.

Recitation

Guru Granth Sahib ji is always placed at some raised platform, known as Takht (throne). The Guru Granth is given the greatest respect and honour. Sikhs cover their heads and remove their shoes in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib ji. Guru Granth sahib ji is normally carried on the head as a sign of respect. It is waved upon by a chaur (sort of fan) which is made of fine material and a canopy is always placed over it. The devotees bow before the Guru as a sign of respect.

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Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Guru Granth Sahib Ji, earlier known as Adi Granth, is the 'eleventh guru' of the sikhs. The holy script was compiled by sikh gurus from 1469 to 1708, containing the text of text of 1430 angs (pages). The Divinity ( Faiths and belief systems ) of our gurus is mentioned in our eternal sikh scripture called Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji, the living Guru. This not only explains us about the pure lives lived by our great gurus, but also explains that how pure our life can be that leads to moksha. All the text mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib Ji is known as 'Gurbani', which is also known as 'Dhur ki bani', which means 'words of God'.

Guru granth sahib contains the hymns of all the nine gurus along with the traditions and teachings of fifteen other sants (saints) such as Kabir, Namdev, Ravidas, Sheikh Farid and several others. There are 31 main rāgs within the Gurū Granth Sāhib. The granth further comprises over 5000 śabads or hymns. Guru Granth Sahib was given the Guruship by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, in the year 1708. Guru Gobind Singh ji said that before his demise, the Sikhs were to treat the Granth Sahib as their next Guru. Guru Ji said – “Sab Sikhan ko hokam hai Guru Manyo Granth” meaning “All Sikhs are commanded to take the Granth as Guru”

In the staring we have the Mūl Mantra, an iconic verse created by guru Nanak,

' Ik ōankār sat nām kartā purkh nirbha'u nirvair akāl mūrat ajūnī saibhan gur prasād '

which says there is ' One Universal Creator God, The Name Is Truth, Creative Being Personified, No Fear, No Hatred, Image Of The Timeless One, Beyond Birth, Self Existent, By Guru's Grace.'

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Population

Sikhism is India's fourth-largest religion and has existed for over 500 years, beginning with the birth of its founder Guru Nanak Dev. his life was devoted more to meditation and religion than to work. About 2% of India's population are Sikhs. Worldwide, there are 25.8 million Sikhs and approximately 75% of sikhs live in the state of Punjab. There they constitute about 60% of the population. The Sikhs are predominately located in Punjab, but also in many other parts of India. It describes a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various worldly pleasures, with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals.

The Sikh Empire was formed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh from 1801-1849, by the Punjabi Army. Sikhs exist in nearly every country in the world. Now, Sikh communities are found not only in India but world wide such as in Canada (Brampton), Malton in Ontario and Abbotsford, Surrey in British Columbia, East Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the United Kingdom in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Western Europe. Smaller populations of Sikhs are also found in Mauritius, Malaysia, Fiji, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Afganistan, Iraq, Singapore and many other countries.

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Sikhism - What Sikh Religion Is All About?

The incarnation of the Gurus, their Life and cause for which they died is our glorious Religion - Sikhism. Sikhism denotes truth, purity and sacrifice of a sikhs life. It unexplored the tracks and the paths reaching out to the ultimate reality. Sikhism was originated by Guru Nanak, the first guru of sikh religion and his successors.

The essence of Sikh teaching is summed up by Guru Nanak in the words
'Realization of Truth is higher than all else. Higher still is truthful living'.

God is described as not wholly unknowable. It is said that God is omnipresent (sarav viāpak) in all creation and is visible everywhere to the those who are spiritually awakened. This means God is seen and known only from 'the inward eye', or the 'pure heart', of a human being. This also means that God is seen by those who have true love for God. God is known as 'Nirankar' means 'without any form'. In Sikhism, the influences of ego, anger, greed, attachment and lust are known as the Five Evils.

In a sikh life, the key practice to be pursued is 'nām', which means the remembrance of the divine Name 'God'. Money and all the luxuries of life which denotes Māyā', has been defined as illusion or unreality. These are the core deviations from the pursuit of God and salvation. It is believed that people who are distracted from devotion due to the worldly attractions, only gives illusive satisfaction. But to have moksha or reach the last stage of a sikhs life 'sac khand' (The Realm of Truth), only 'nam' (the divine name) is to be pursued.

Sikhs are divide into two groups such as Namdharis and Nirankaris. Nihangs are considered as, to be the army of Sikhism. There also existed a section known as Udasi, but they were exiled because of their misconduct and malpractices.

Practices Followed

- Sikhism tried to abolish caste system and Sati (practice)
- In Sikhism everyone has equal rights irrespective of caste,
creed, color, race, sex or religion.
- Sikhism rejects pilgrimage, fasting and superstitions.
- Sikhism raised voice against many social evils such as Dowry system and Girl Child Infanticide
- Promoted Girls education and raised voice for their respectable position in the society

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PREFACE

I am neither, an intellectual, nor a scholar or a preacher, but simply a sikh who has tried to made some sincere effort to express my feelings about my religion - Sikhism. The contents of the blog are a part of my some knowledge towards my religion. It describes a natural thought that came in my mind about our Guru's.

Sikhism is totally a practical religion. Belief in rituals and superstitions, carry no place here. Here i will share with u the journey of our Gurus, the places they visited, the work they performed, messages the gave and some of my experiences. The spiritual writing of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji are not be considered as some 'Mantras', but as the words of 'Almighty', as they are regarded as the Living Guru and asikh's strength.

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