"ENLIGHTENED PATHS: EXPLORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF SIKH GURUS"
Main Article Content
Abstract
Enlightened Paths: Exploring the Life and Legacy of Sikh Gurus" delves into the profound journey of Sikhism through the lives and teachings of its revered spiritual leaders, the Sikh Gurus. This article offers a comprehensive examination of the rich tapestry of Sikh history, highlighting the pivotal role played by each Guru in shaping the faith and guiding its followers towards spiritual enlightenment. From the visionary insights of Guru Nanak Dev Ji to the martial valor of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the article traces the evolution of Sikhism's philosophy, practices, and ethos. Through a blend of historical narrative and theological exploration, it illuminates the enduring legacy of the Sikh Gurus, their unwavering commitment to equality, justice, and compassion, and the profound impact of their teachings on Sikh society and beyond. "Enlightened Paths" invites readers on a transformative journey of discovery, celebrating the timeless wisdom and inspirational legacy of the Sikh Gurus.
Sikhism is one of the youngest religions of the world and has its roots in the land of Punjab. Sikhism was an effort to transform Hinduism and Islam and rely in monotheism. The origins of monotheism can be drawn from the tradition of Sant and Sufis. According to the encyclopedia of religion, it is defined as “religion of Sikhs who live in Punjab and adjacent areas”. One of the most prominent characters of Sikhism is “brotherhood” which is centered on religion rather than race or ethnicity. The word 'Sikh' is derived from Sanskrit 'Shishya' means 'disciple'. A.S. Sethi claims that the word is Sekho which means a person who is dedicated to truth. Sikhs follow ten Gurus beginning with Guru Nanak and ending with Guru Gobind Singh[1] . In 1708, after the death of Guru Gobind Singh, personal Guruship ended. Afterward, the Sikhs celebrated the Adi Granth (Holy Book of the Sikhs) as their Guru[2]. Two words are used interchangeably such as Sikh and the Singh. Loehlin said that "Sikh means learner, and Singh means Lion[3] . He considers these two terms rightly explain the difference between the two. The main features of Nanak’s preaching were the unity of God, brotherhood, denunciation of caste system and the rejection of idol worship. Nanak tried to create a strong bond between Hindus and Muslims into one brotherhood. Nanak said, there is no Hindu; there is no Musselman.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Ahmad, A. Studies in Islamic Culture in the Indian Environment. Oxford University Press: 1964.
Allan, J. & Dodwell, H. H. Cambridge Shorter History of India, Delhi. S. Chand & Co, 1969.
Ali, K. A. Study of Islamic History. Calcutta: Eureka Book Agency, 1963.
Banerjee, B. I. Evolution of the Khalsa, VoL I. Calcutta: Jayanti Chatterjee, 1979.
Banerjee, A.C. Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh. New Delhi. Rajesh Publications, 1978.
Bradley, G. D. A Guide to World Religions. New Jersey: Englewood Cliffs, Prentice-Hall Inc., 1963.
Cunningham, J.D. A History of the Sikhs. Delhi: S. Chand & Co., 1955.
Chaturvedi, P. Uttari Bharat Ki Sant-Parampara. Allahabad: Leader Press, 1964.
Dass, N. Songs of the Saints from the Adi Granth: Translation and Introduction. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 2000.
Dhillon, S. B. Early Sikh Scriptural Tradition: Myth and Reality. Singh Brothers, Amritsar, 1996.
Dhillon, S. D. Sikhism origin and Development. New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors, 1988.
Grewal, J.S. From Guru Nanak to Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Amritsar: Guru Nanak Dev University, 1972.
Grewal, J.S. Guru Tegh Bahadurand the Persian Chroniclers. Amritsar: Guru Nanak Dev University, 1970.
Grewal, J.S. Guru nanak in history. Chandigarh: Punjab university press, 1979.
Grolier. The Encyclopedia Americana, International Edition, Vol. 24. New York: Americana Corporation, 1984.
Hans, S. A Reconstruction of Sikh History from Sikh Literature. Jalandhar: ABS Publications: 1988.
The Sikh Review, Volume 44, Issues 511-516. Michigan: The university of Michigan, 1996.
Vaudeville, C. Kabir, vol. I. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1974.
Vaudville, C. A. Weaver Named Kabir. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1993.
Verma, K. R. Kabir: Biography and Philosophy. New Delhi: Prints India, 1977