FIVE PILLARS OF SIKHISM

                                                  FIVE PILLARS OF SIKHISM

                                                                         

The foundation of SIKHISM was laid by Guru Nanak Dev Ji, by taking up His mission to wake up a depressed, demoralized, superstitious and priest ridden society of India and enlighten the humanity in Asia, after receiving the message from Almighty God. All The Sikh Gurus contributed to the completion of this 'MAHAL'(Palace) of SIKHISM, as The light of God transmigrated from Guru Nanak Dev Ji to succeeding Gurus. The peaceful bearing of extreme torture with equanimity by Guru Arjan Dev Ji, for spreading TRUTH, righteousness  and fighting for human rights, brought a revolutionary change. Consequently, Guru Hargobind sahib adorned two swords at the time of His succession, symbolising ‘PIRI’ i.e. saintliness and ‘MIRI’ i.e. sovereignty.The Supreme sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji for protecting Hinduism on the request of Kashmiri Pandits i.e. for protecting their human rights, enormously lightened it up. 

After the birth of infant Gobind Rai in Patna in Bihar(India), Pir Bhikhan shah, a Muslim Saint living in Punjab, paid obeisance towards east, instead of Muslim practice of paying towards the west. On questioning by his followers, he replied that as The messenger of God has appeared in the east, therefore he paid towards the east. He also told them that He will be a great reformer, will fight for truth, virtues and destroy the tyrannical Mughal rule. Then Pir Bhikhan Shah went to meet the infant Gobind Rai at Patna to seek His blessings, when Gobind Rai was about two weeks old. After initial reluctance to allow him to meet for two days, he was allowed to meet, as he implored that he has travelled for days and will remain hungry till he is allowed to meet. When the Pir placed two pots filled with sweets before Gobind Rai, He placed His both hands on both the pots kept before him. On this the Peer was very pleased and bowed  his head on the fleets of Gobind Rai. On questioning by his disciples that why he was taking the pots back, he told them that Gobind Rai will protect both Hindus and Muslims, as all humanity is one to him.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji told, while giving instructions to His wife Mata Gujari ji at the time of leaving Patna for Punjab, that they should not treat Gobind Rai as a normal child as He is The messenger of The God and will be a Guru like earlier Sikh Gurus and a great reformer and a warrior. He asked her to act according to his wishes and not to do anything contrary to His wishes. When the Sikh Sangat insisted Guru Tegh Bahadur to stay for more time at Patna, He told the Sangat that Infant Gobind Rai will fulfill all their desires, when they meet him and place them before him.

This was further authenticated by young Gobind Rai at the age of about 8 years when He told his father that there is no soul holier than Him to sacrifice life for saving the lives and religion of Kashmiri Pandits, who had come to Him to seek His help. Guru Gobind Singh ji says in His autobiography ‘Bachitar Natak’ that The God sent Him as His son, for propagating a righteous faith (PANTH) for fighting the evil and end repression in the world, as He says that :-

MEI APNA SUT TOHI NIVAZA II

PANTH PARCHUR KARBE KAHU SAAZA II 

JAAHI TAHAN TEI DHARAM CHALAYAI II

KABUDHI KARAN TE LOK HATAYAI II 29 II--Bachitar Natak---69

He further says that He bowed His head and prayed to The God and sought His blessings that The ‘PANTH’ can be created in this world, if YOU ( GOD ) help Him in this cause, as The Guru says that :-

Thadh bhayou mei jori kar Bachan Kaha Sirr niayai II 

Panth Chalie tab Jagat mei Jab tum Karhu Sahayai II 30 II--Bachitar Natak---69

Guru Gobind Singh Ji completed the task by giving appearance to The  ‘KHALSA’ (who directly belongs to God), by baptizing 'Panj Piaras' with ‘Khande Di Pahul’ i.e. ‘Amrit’( water of immortali,ty), which was prepared by stirring water in the iron bowl with Khanda( a double edged iron sword) and reciting the divine five Banis namely Japji, Jaap, Sudha Savaiye, Kabio bach benti chaupai and Anand Sahib, and gave them the name ‘SINGH'. Thus with this revolutionary deed, The Guru transformed the fallen and spineless Indian polity, which had lost its manliness, from 'jackals' to ‘lions’ and thus also abolished caste system in India by making all to drink ‘AMRIT ’ from the same bowl. Thus the religious evolution started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji reached its goal. The Indian communities which were deeply divided in lower and upper castes, Hindus, Muslims and hated each other, were United into a UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD i.e. SIKHISM, as it believes that all humanity is one. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                          SIKHISM preaches that the evil in the human beings can not be destroyed but can be substituted with the consciousness of the Divine light i.e. Contemplating on GOD and singing His praises from the heart as He lives in every heart. Consequently,becoming good human beings to spread peace, righteousness, end injustice and fight repression by implementing the following fundamental principles, which form the FIVE PILLARS OF SIKHISM.

  

1. KIRAT KARNI i.e. Earning Honest Living.

2. NAAM JAPNA / SIMRAN i.e. Contemplating on The God.

3. VAND SHAKNA i.e. share your earnings.

4. SELFLESS SERVICE TO THE HUMANITY by any possible means.

5. SPREAD TRUTH, LOVE, RIGHTEOUSNESS, END INJUSTICE AND FIGHT EVIL

The understanding and following these principles, for the welfare of humanity and loving His Creation, is the execution of the Divine will. When an individual follows the teachings of SIKHISM in GURBANI, it gives him immense pleasure and satisfaction and he becomes content with what God has given him and he also visualizes The God in His creation. This realization changes his thinking and instead of hurting others, he enjoys utilizing his life serving the humanity, as 'Bibek budh’ i.e. Higher sense in him awakens.The Sikhs repeat this desire in their daily ‘ARDAS’ ( prayer ) as under :-

‘SIKHAN DA MUNN NEEVAN MATT UCHI MATT KA RAAKHA AAP WAHEGURU’ II     

i.e. may the intellect of the Sikhs remain humble, and their wisdom exalted. Waheguru(GOD) is the protector of our wisdom.

THUS  SIKHISM IS A UNIVERSAL MESSAGE OF COMPLETE TRUTH FOR HUMANITY AT LARGE, irrespective of caste, color, creed, rich, poor etc. It aims at transformation of the human being and thus the society. In order to achieve this goal, every Individual should contemplate on GOD, remembering God while doing all our activities to save ourselves from doing bad deeds, do selfless service for the society, spread truth, righteousness, fight to end injustice and the evil of repression, corruption in the society for the welfare of humanity in the WORLD.

1. KIRAT KARNI: i.e. Earning Honest Living:-

Sikhism preaches earning our livelihood by sincere hard work and honest means and not to become a parasite on the society. The Guru says that dishonest means of earning are prohibited to a Sikh, as pork to Muslim and beef to a Hindu, as such earnings pollute the mind in the same way as blood stains the clothes. The Guru says that :-

Hak paraayiaa NANAKA  ous sooar ous gaae ||

Gur peer haama taa bharaye ja muradaar na khaae ||--SGGS---141

i.e. To take what rightfully belongs to others, is like a Muslim eating pork, or a Hindu eating beef. Our Guru, our Spiritual Guru, stands by us, if we do not eat those carcasses I.e. do not take anything by undesirable means, which rightfully belongs to others.

2. ‘NAAM JAPNA / SIMRAN’ i.e. Contemplating on God:-

Gurbani says that one is born, when God infuses His light into him, as such every individual should remember God daily in the ambrosial hours, and to be continuously with God while doing all his daily acts/deeds, as who knows weather we will get next breath or not. It further advises to reflect on His virtues such as love, benevolence and kindness and inculcate such virtues into our character. This can be done by singing, listening and contemplating on ‘Gurbani’ with love, individually or in the congregation (Saadh Sangat), and doing ‘NAAM SIMRAN’ i.e. applauding the Lord-God for His manifestation with the name ‘WAHEGURU’, or any other name by other faiths. It removes all sufferings and gives peace and tranquility and hence one lives a heaven like life and is thus saved of the hell like life. Guru says that :-

E sarira meria Har tum meh jot rakhi taa tu jag meh aia ||-- SGGS---9

i.e. O my body, The God infused His light into you, and only then you came into the world.

Har japdia khin dhil na keejeei meri jindurie mat ke jaapee sahu avai ken a avai ram ||--SGGS---540 

I.e. do not hesitate for an instant to meditate on the Lord, O my soul; who knows whether you shall take another breath or not.

Naao Tera  nira(n)kaar hai naae laeiai narak n jaaeeai ||--SGGS---465

i.e. your name is the Lord; chanting your name ,one does not have to live a hell like life.

Muhou ki bolan boleeai jit sun dharae piaar ||

A(n)mrith vaelaa sach naao vaddiaaee veechaar ||--SGGS----2

i.e. what word can we speak to evoke His Love. In the ambrosial hours before dawn, chant the True NAAM and contemplate on His Glorious Greatness.

Guru further says that He is preaching what The God commanded Him, and is by the will of the GOD and that He himself does not know what to say. As such understand it to be truth as communicated by The God. He says that ‘Gurbani’ is the truth and communicates with The God.The Guru says that :-

Hau Aaphu Boli na jaanadaa mai kahiaa sabh hukamaao jeeo || --SGGS---763                                                i.e. By Myself, I do not even know how to speak; I speak all that the Lord commands.

Sathigur kee bani sat sat kar jaanhu gursikhhu har karataa aap muhahu kadhaaeae ||--SGGS---308                 

i.e. O Gursikhs, know that the ‘bani’, the Word of the True Guru, is true, absolutely True. The Creator Lord Himself causes the Guru to chant it.

Guru advises that singing and listening kirtan of His praises and contemplating on the word of the 'SHABAD', will fulfill all our desires, give pleasure and lasting bliss.He says that all living beings of the world behold the True Guru but one is not liberated by merely seeing Him and even remembering Him under compulsion does not bring any goodness. Alone that deed is beneficial, which is done by one’s own free will i.e. one contemplates on His ‘SABAD’ with love from the heart.Guru says that :-Sarab manoraṭɦ raaj sookɦ ras saḍ kɦuseeȧ keeraṭanu japi naam ||--SGGS---683.                                                           i.e. All desires, power, pleasure, joy and lasting bliss, are found by chanting the Naam, the Name of the Lord, and singing the Kirtan of His Praises.

SATGUR NU SAB KO VEKHDA JETA JAGAT SANSAR II 

DITTHE MUKAT NA HOVEI JICHAR SABAD NA KARAEI VICHAAR II---SGGS---594                                                                       

i.e. All living beings of the world behold The Guru. One is not liberated merely seeing Him,unless one contemplates on the word of His 'SHAAD'.

BADHA CHATEE JO BHARE NA GUN NA UPKAAR II

SETI KHUSHI SAVARIA NANAK KAARAJ SAAR II---SGGS----787

i.e. doing anything under compulsion, does not bring either merit or goodness. Alone that deed is beneficial, O Nanak, which is done by one's own free will.

The Guru condemns those, who do not remember God, in the strongest words. He says that such people who do not remember God, do not call them human beings; they are just animals and stupid beasts. The Guru says that Out of all the 8.4 millions of beings, God blessed mankind with glory and that human being who misses the chance in this life, shall suffer the pain of coming and going in reincarnation. 

Jinaa sathigur purakh na saeviou sabadh na keetho veechaar ||

Oue maanas joon na ankhiyan pasoo dhor gaavaar ||--SGGS--1418.             i.e. those who do not serve i.e. remember the True Guru/The Primal Lord and do not reflect on the word of the ‘Shabad’, but do not call them human beings; they are just animals and stupid beasts. 

LAKH CHAURASI JON SABAEE II

MANAS KO PRABH DEE VADIAYEE II

IS PAUREE TE JO NAR CHOOKE AYE JAYE DUKH PAIEDA II---SGGS---1075.                        I.e. Out of all the 8.4 millions of beings, God blessed mankind with glory. That human being, who misses the chance in this life, shall suffer the pain of coming and going in reincarnation.

The Guru advises that every individual should perform ”ARDAS” (prayer) after his “SIMRAN”/Contemplating on God, as no one can command Him but can only offer prayer to Him standing before Him with folded hands, from the heart with faith in The God, which will work. He Himself knows, acts, does it right. The Guru says that :-

NANAK HUKAM NA CHALAI NAAL KHASAM CHALAI ARDAS II----SGGS---474.                                                             i.e. no one can command The Lord, offer prayer to Him, which will work.

AAPEI JANHE KARE AAP AAPE  AANHE RAAS II

TISEI AGEI NANAKA KHALIE KEECHAI ARDAAS II--SGGS----293

i.e. He Himself knows, acts, He Himself does it right. Stand before Him, O Nanak, and offer your prayer.

3. ‘VAND SHAKNA’: i.e. share your earnings with the less fortunate and for the welfare of society:-

Sikhism preaches that it is the sacred duty of a Sikh to share his earnings with the society for welfare of mankind such as running “Langar” (free kitchen) for the poor, helping the needy and the less fortunate. The Guru says that one who earns by honest means and shares his earnings with others becomes kind-hearted, liberal and this brings invaluable blessings to him. The Guru says that :-

Nanak agai so milai Ji khatte ghaalai dei ||1||---SGG---472

i.e. O Nanak, in the world hereafter, that alone is received, which one gives to the needy from his own earnings and labor.

Ghaal khaei kishh hathue deh II  

Nanak rahu pashane sae ll----SGGS----1245.      i.e. one who works for what he eats, and shares it with others-O Nanak, he knows the path.

4. SERVICE TO THE HUMANITY:-

Sikhism lays stress on serving the society by whatever means an individual can do i.e. by doing physical work, contributing by doing social service for the welfare of the society, preaching Guru's message / giving education to the uneducated etc. Gurbani says that service to humanity pleases God, as it is His manifestation and He loves such individual and rewards them and showers His blessings on him. Guru says that :-

EHU VISO SANSAAR TUM DEKHDE EHU HAR KA ROOP HAI HAR ROOP NADRI AAEIYA II-SGGS---922                  i.e . The whole world which you see is His manifestation, the image of The Lord is seen it.

Nanak Hukamee likheeai Lekh || 

“Jeha vekheh Teha Vekh ||---SGGS---466.         i.e. O, Nanak, by the 

Lord’s Command the destiny is recorded. As the Lord sees our deeds which we do while living in this world, so we are seen by the Lord. 

Saevaa karath hoe nihakaamee ||

Tis ko hot parapat suaamee ||--- SGGS---- 286.          

i.e. One who performs selfless service, without expectation of reward, shall attain his Lord and Master.

Following the Guru’s teachings, Bhai Ghanaiya used to serve drinking water to the wounded soldiers at Anandpur Sahib, even if they belonged to the enemy. On a complaint made against him to Guru Gobind Singh ji, for giving water for drinking to the enemy, he replied to The Guru that he only sees Tenth Guru in everyone and as such he is doing so. On hearing his reply,The Guru was pleased and asked him to apply ointment as well, to the wounded.Thus The Sikh Red Cross was founded by Bhai Ghanaiya ji at Anandpur Sahib more than 150 years before the formation of international Red Cross.

5. SPREAD TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, END INJUSTICE AND FIGHT REPRESSION:-

Sikhism preaches the spreading of truth, righteousness, ending injustice and fighting the evil of repression and corruption in the society, for establishing a humanitarian rule in the world. The Guru says that :-

Pahila sacɦu halaal ḍuï ṭeejaa kɦair kɦuḍaaï ||                 

I.e. Let the first be truthful, the second honest living, and the third charity in the Name of God.  

Cɦaūṭɦee neeȧṭi raasi manu paṇjavee sipɦaṭi sanaaï ||--SGGS--141.                       I.e. Let the fourth have goodwill to all, and fifth the praise of the Lord.  

Guru Nanak raised his voice in strongest words against the tyrant rulers and for the human rights of the suppressed and gave a divine message of leading a peaceful but dignified life and fight injustice. Guru says that:-

Rajae  seeh  mukadam  kuttae ||

i.e. The kings are tigers, and their officials are dogs;

Jaae jagaainih bait(h)ae suttae ||--SGGS---1288

i.e. They go out and awaken the sleeping people to harass them.

Jae jeevai path lathhee jaae ||

i.e. those who merely live  in dishonor;

Sabh haraam jaettaa kishh khaae II---SGGS----142

i.e. everything they eat is sinful.

Guru Arjan Dev ji and Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji sacrificed their lives and attained Martyrdom, spreading message of truth, righteousness and for ending injustice and repression. GURU GOBIND SINGH Ji transformed the cast-ridden, coward, fallen and utterly despondent society of India from 'jackals' to 'lions', by baptising them with ‘Khande-DI-pahul’( Ambrosial nectar ), to whom He gave the name of 'KHALSA’, to prepare them for fighting for human rights. 

The Guru then requested these five beloved ones to give Him ‘Amrit’ and make Him their first disciple as they collectively should be His Guru and He became Guru Gobind Singh from Guru Gobind Rai. The Guru thus set an example of religious development in the world i.e.The Guru baptizing the followers and the followers baptizing The Guru. 

The Guru says that The 'KHALSA' is Army of The GOD and has appeared as per wishes of The Almighty God, as GURU says that :-

KHALSA AKAL PURAKH KI FAUJ ||

PRAGTIYO KHALSA PARMATAM KI MAUJ ||–Guru Gobind Singh ji 

It was The ‘KHALSA’ of The Guru, who removed the shackles of about 1000 years slavery of the people of India, by destroying the tyrant Mughal / Turkish rule in Punjab and creating the 'KHALSA RAJ' in North-west of India. The Brave Sikh generals like General Hari Singh Nalwa blocked the entry of foreign invaders from ‘Khyber Pass’ forever, which laid the foundation for destroying Mughal / Turkish rule in entire India. There is no parallel to the sacrifices of GURU GOBIND SINGH JI in the whole world as The Guru sacrificed His entire family i.e. His father, four sons, mother, fighting for the cause of the human rights of the people of India.

Although all Gurus contributed to the task started by Guru Nanak Dev JI for the welfare of humanity but GURU GOBIND SINGH JI completed the task by giving appearance to The ‘KHALSA’ and giving the status of THE LIVING GURU to SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB JI, as it is a UNIVERSAL MESSAGE OF TRUTH for the HUMANITY at large. 

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