In my book ‘Want to Know God: For Young and Old,’ I have written a full chapter on the origin of Sikh religion. I give below an excerpt or an extract from my book (Chapter 10 page 97) titled ‘The origin of Sikh Religion.’
Hinduism was in turbulent and difficult times in the past after the formation of Islam religion. Forcible conversions of Hindus to Islam religion were taking place with sheer power of the sword and coercion.
It was easy to divide Hindus since they followed multiple gods and believed in different sects. Muslim rulers of that era started destroying Hindu temples and idols, as Islam strictly forbids worship of idols.
Muslim emperors in those times used clever ploys to marry beautiful Hindu Rajput Princesses after converting them to Islam. This was done to influence the Hindu population so that other Hindus will also similarly follow.
A quote from Quran says: “A Muslim is allowed to marry a maximum of four wives only (excluding the slave girls and captive girls). ---It is not lawful for thee to marry more women after this, nor to change them for other wives, even though their beauty attract thee, except any thy right hand should possess as hand maidens and God doth watch over all things.”
Surah 2:221: “Do not marry unbelieving women (idolaters), until they believe: A slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman, even though she allures you. Nor marry (your girls) to unbelievers until they believe: A man slave who believes is better than an unbeliever, even though he allures you. Unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the Fire. But Allah beckons by His Grace to the Garden (of bliss) and forgiveness, and makes His Signs clear to mankind: That they may celebrate His praise.”
“There was a hue and cry to save the ancient Hindu religion from the merciless atrocities and forced conversions. However, there was a divine dispensation and the Lord formed the Sikh religion with their origins in Hindu families to form a formidable force of ‘Khalsa Sikhs’ to oppose the tyranny and oppression by the Mughal emperors of that era.”
“Sikhism is one of the world’s youngest religions, which was founded just over 500 years ago. Despite being the youngest religion, it is the world’s fifth largest religion with over 26 million followers and it is still growing. The community of the baptised Sikh followers is known as Khalsa Panth. Sikhism teaches that all human beings are equal and can realize the 'divinity' within their own self by devotion to God, truthful living and service to humanity.”
“Guru Nanak Dev Ji (15 April 1469- 22 September 1539) was the founder of Sikh religion. He was born to Kalu Mehta and Mata Tripta, in a Hindu family in the village of Talwandi, which is now called Nankana Sahib, near Lahore.
As a boy, Sri Guru Nanak grasped Sanskrit and Persian languages without any effort. He learnt the Vedas and Bhagavad Gita, as if he already knew them from the previous births.
Nanak Dev Ji got married to Mata Sulakhani on 24 September 1487, and was blessed with two sons, Sri Chand in 1494 and Lakhmi Chand in the year 1496.
Enlightenment of Guru Nanak Dev Ji :
In the year 1485, Guru Nanak at the age of 16 years, moved to Sultanpur Lodhi in Punjab, where he lived for the next 14 years. Each day before sunrise, he would go for his ablutions in the river ‘Kali Bein,’ accompanied by Mardana who was his lifelong companion. One day, to Mardana’s surprise, Nanak plunged into the river for a bath, but did not come back on the water surface.
Mardana waited with bated breath, and then rushed to the town to seek assistance. Everyone thought that either Nanak had been drowned or washed away in the strong currents of the river. All efforts to trace Guru Nanak were in vain, and he was nowhere to be seen.
Then, suddenly on the third day, Guru Nanak reappeared to the surprise of everyone. Guru Nanak was now a completely changed man with a radiant glow on his face, and a divine light in his eyes. It was a full-moon day of the kartik month of the year 1496, when Guru Nanak became an enlightened saint.
As the word about Nanak’s return spread, people started thronging the place. They asked him where he had been, but Nanak remained silent and gave no reply.
In the book ‘History of the Sikhs-vol 1’ Dr. Hari Ram Gupta writes: “Finally when ‘Guru Nanak’ spoke, he said: ‘Na koi Hindu, na koi Mussalman (There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim, but only human beings).’ Each time he spoke, he repeated these words.
Nanak’s message was that all human beings are sons and daughters of the same Supreme Being. There was no Hindu or Musalman in the eyes of God. It implied that people should not be divided on the basis of religion. Nanak’s mission was to reconcile the two hostile communities and stop all unnecessary killings.”
Nanak would speak on the oneness of both the universe and the living beings. The Creator and His manifest creation were one and the same. God is neither Hindu nor Musalman, and the path of God is true love and compassion for all.
What happened to Guru Nanak in those three days? --- What was the mystery of his divine transformation? In his ‘profound meditation,’ Guru Nanak had gone back to the ancient time period of an ‘eon’ or nearly 5 billion years back from that period of time. God had not yet created the earth and human beings, 5 billion years back.
Guru Nanak described his experience. --- “It was pitch black, and there was no sun, no moon, no earth, no sky, no water, no air and no human beings. There was no heaven or hell. There was only wondrous God who sat in primal profound ‘Samadhi.’
Then, God started the creation. He created Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. He created the solar system, continents and oceans. The formless Creator (Nirgun) manifested into various forms with different bodies (Sargun).”
What Sri Guru Nanak saw and experienced is described in ‘Sri Guru Granth Sahib,’ as an authentic and authoritative source. What did he see during his enlightenment phase, when the clock had turned 5 billion years back? Was he face to face in the presence of God?
ਅਰਬਦ ਨਰਬਦ ਧੁੰਧੂਕਾਰਾ
Arabad narabad dhunddhookaaraa ||
Before the start of creation, for endless eons (billions of years back), there was only utter darkness.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Ang 1035 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib)
ਧਰਣਿ ਨ ਗਗਨਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਅਪਾਰਾ ॥
There was no earth or sky; there was only the infinite Command of His Hukam.
ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ : ਅੰਗ ੧੦੩੫ ਪੰ. ੧੦ Guru Nanak Dev (Ang 1035 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib)
ਨਾ ਕੋ ਮੁਲਾ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਕਾਜੀ
There was no Mullah, there was no Qazi.
ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ : ਅੰਗ ੧੦੩੬ ਪੰ. ੨ (Guru Nanak Dev: Ang 1036)
ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਬਿਸਨੁ ਮਹੇਸੁ ਉਪਾਏ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਵਧਾਇਦਾ ॥੧੪॥
He created Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; He fostered enticement and attachment to Maya in human beings. ||14||
ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ : ਅੰਗ ੧੦੩੬ ਪੰ. ੭ (Guru Nanak Dev: Ang 1036)
In Bhagavad Gita Lord Sri Krishna said:
O Arjuna! Many are the births taken by Me and you from the ancient past; while I remember them all, you do not have memory of the past births. (Book: Word of God Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 4 verse 5)
श्री भगवानुवाच
बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन।
तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप।। (4:5)Transliteration:--bahuni:--many; me:--my; vyatitani:--have passed away; janmani:--births; tava:--your; cha:--and; Arjuna:--O! Arjuna; tani:--them; aham:--I; veda:--know; sarvani:--all; na:--not; tvam:--you; vettha:--know; paramtapa:--O! Arjuna.
Though I am unborn and of imperishable cosmic Spirit and the dwelling soul in all living beings, yet I manifest as a human incarnation, by presiding over My own Maya (Prakriti). (Book: Word of God Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 4 verse 6)
अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन्।
प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय संभवाम्यात्ममायया।। (4:6)
Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his divine Mission:
After his enlightenment Guru Nanak Dev Ji relinquished all worldly attachment and started with his mission and country wide tours, along with his disciple Mardana. --- Guru Nanak had a distinct sense of his mission, and he knew that his mission was God-ordained. During his preaching, he announced. “O Lallo, as the words of Lord come to me, so do I express them.”
History tells us that there have been several massacres and wars between different communities due to differences in religious doctrines. There was a massive bloodshed by the ruling Muslim emperors of those times to convert the population of other religions to Islam.
In the days of the Mughal Empire, the Sikh community came in defence to stop the persecution and torture of the Hindus, and other non-Muslims who were being forcibly converted to Islam.
Hinduism has ancient roots, while Sikhism was founded in the 15th century by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Both religions share the same philosophical concepts such as Karma, Dharma, Mukti, Maya, rebirth and cremation of the dead, although both religions may have different interpretation of some of these concepts.
While organically connected with Hinduism, the Sikh faith is a distinct religion in its own right, with a strong sense of its own identity and guiding pillars of faith.
Sikhs are the glory of India, and in secular India, Sikhs serve in the Indian Armed forces along with personnel drawn from other religions.
Death of Guru nanak Dev Ji:
On 22 September 1539, Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism died at the age of 70 years, at Kartarpur in present-day Pakistan. Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the most revered Guru because of his noble teachings among the Hindus, Sikhs and Muslim communities.
Kartarpur, was the holy place where he decided to reside during his last days after travelling far and wide during his mission to spread the message of peace and harmony. Hindu, Sikhs and Muslims all claimed him to be their teacher and Guru.
As the devotees became aware that their master was preparing to leave his mortal coil, there was a tussle between Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims as to who will claim his body for the last funeral rites.
Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims decided that they will build separate memorials in memory of the Divine Master. Thus, on the banks of the river Ravi in Kartarpur, which is in Pakistan now, two shrines were built; one by the Hindus and Sikhs, and the other by the Muslims. Over the period of time, these shrines have been washed away by the floods.
Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur which is located in Pakistan, stands as a testimonial, to commemorate the death of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. His birth is celebrated worldwide as ‘Guru Nanak Gurpurab’ on kartik full-moon i.e. (October–November).
Guru Nanak’s Teachings:
Guru Nanak was against caste-based distinctions. He also denied the need for priests and rituals to reach the goal of God-realisation.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji never said that he was a prophet or a messenger of God. His mission was to foster peace and love amidst mankind, and remove hatred among different communities, and lead people on the path of Bhakti for God-realisation.
ਹਮ ਦਾਸਨ ਕੇ ਦਾਸ ਪਿਆਰੇ ॥
I am the slave of Your slaves, O my Beloved.
ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ : ਅੰਗ ੧੦੩੫ ਪੰ. ੧ (Guru Nanak Dev: Ang 1035)
Guru Nanak Dev Ji in the above ‘bani shabad’ is talking to God and addressing Him as ‘Pyare--ਪਿਆਰੇ ’ or beloved, due to his infinite love for Him. God is like the ‘father’ and the entire humanity is His creation as the children of God.
ਹੁਕਮਿ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੧॥
O Nanak, it is written that we all shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will. ||1||
ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ : ਅੰਗ ੧ ਪੰ. ੭(Guru Nanak Dev Ji: Ang 1 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib)
ਬਾਬਾ ਨਾਂਗੜਾ ਆਇਆ ਜਗ ਮਹਿ ਦੁਖੁ ਸੁਖੁ ਲੇਖੁ ਲਿਖਾਇਆ ॥
O Baba, we all come into the world naked, and we experience pain and pleasure, according to our karma account from the previous births.
ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ : ਅੰਗ ੫੮੨ ਪੰ. ੪ (Guru Nanak Dev: Ang 582 of 1430 Sri Guru Granth Sahib)
Sri Guru Granth Sahib:
The central scripture of the Sikhs ‘Sri Guru Grant Sahib Ji’ is revered as the 11th Guru by the Sikhs. It was chiefly composed by Guru Nanak, Guru Angad, Guru Amar Das, Guru Ram Das, Guru Arjan, and Guru Teg Bahadur and teachings of Bhakti saints like Kabir, Ramananda, Namdev and Sufi saint Sheikh Farid, beside others.
Guru Nanak contributed 974 poetic hymns to the Guru Granth Sahib.
The Guru Granth Sahib is written in Gurmukhi (the script in which the Punjabi language is written) and has 1,430 pages. It contains nearly 5894 shabads or hymns arranged into 31 ragas as musical groupings.
Nothing can be altered or added now to the affirmed and declared ‘Sri Guru Granth Sahib.’ in the Gurmukhi script. The purity of the sacred text is thus protected from any aberrations or changes in the future generations.
However, different scholars and intellectuals have translated the ‘bani shabads’ into other languages from the Gurmukhi script as per their knowledge and command over the language, to convey the original meaning to the extent possible.
This helps to spread the knowledge of ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ and core precepts of Sikhism worldwide to people in different regions and countries, who may not be well conversant with the Gurmukhi language.
Islam and Quran Quotes:
Quran verse (47:19): “Know, therefore, that there is no God but Allah.”
Quran verse (9:5): “And when the forbidden months have passed, kill the idolaters wherever you find them and take them prisoners, and beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they repent and observe Prayer and pay the Zakat, then leave their way free. Surely, Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful.”
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all recognize Abraham as their first prophet, and they are called the Abrahamic religions.
Islam is an Abrahamic religion of monotheistic faith which was established only 1400 years ago. It does not give credibility to the ancient Vedas and Puranas of ‘Sanatana Dharma’ which existed from the very beginning of civilisation.
Sikhism and Gurbani:
Sikhism is a very accommodating religion and welcomes people from all faiths. A person from any religion can partake of langar prasad and listen to the ‘bani shabad’ of ‘Sri Guru Granth Sahib’ in any Gurdwara.
The Mul Mantar which is the first composition of the holy Sikh text of ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ is as follows:
“Ek Omkar, Satnam, Karta Purakh, Nirbhau, Nirvair, Akaal Moorat, Ajoonee, Saibhan, Gur Prasaad.”
Translation of the above hymn into English:
“There is only One Creator God, who is known by the sound of ‘OM.’ -- He is the only True Name (Sat Nam). He is the doer of everything (Karta Purakh), fearless (Nirbhau), without hatred (Nirvair), timeless and eternal (Akaal Moorat), Unborn (Ajoonee), Self-existent (Saibhan). He can be known by the grace of ‘Wahe Guru’ as the divine teacher (God).”
“WAHEGURU” is the distinctive name of the Supreme Being or formless God in Sikh religion, like Hari, Vishnu, Gobind, Rama, Krishna in Hinduism, Allah in Islam, and Jesus Christ in Christianity.
The term ‘Wahe Guru’ thus encompasses all incarnations and messengers of God as One Spirit of God.
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References :
Online book references on the internet: History of the Sikhs (1469-1708) by Dr. Hari Ram Gupta
Word of God Bhagavad Gita by Ajay Gupta
Online book: Want to Know God: For Young and Old: Ajay Gupta https: amzn.to/3h0fGiw:https: — -
