About Sikhism
Sikhism was founded in the late 15th century, around 1469, by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in the Punjab region of South Asia. It developed as a distinct religion over the following centuries through the teachings of nine successive Gurus, with the final Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, passing the Guruship to the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism, in 1708.
The 10 Gurus
Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469–1539)
The founder of Sikhism, he emphasized the oneness of God and equality among all people.
Guru Angad Dev Ji (1504–1552)
Introduced the Gurmukhi script and promoted the importance of community service and education.
Guru Amar Das Ji (1479–1574)
Advocated for social equality and established the concept of langar (community kitchen).
Guru Ram Das Ji (1534–1581)
Founded the city of Amritsar and composed the hymn “Lavan,” which is integral to Sikh marriage ceremonies.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1563–1606)
Compiled the Adi Granth (the precursor to the Guru Granth Sahib) and built the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Guru Hargobind Ji (1595–1644)
Introduced the concept of Miri-Piri, emphasizing both spiritual and temporal authority.
Guru Har Rai Ji (1630–1661)
Known for his compassion and emphasis on environmental conservation and healing.
Guru Har Krishan Ji (1656–1664)
Became Guru at a young age and is remembered for his service during a smallpox epidemic in Delhi.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (1621–1675)
Known for his stand against religious persecution and martyrdom for the rights of others.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji (1666–1708)
Final Guru who established the Khalsa (the community of initiated Sikhs) and affirmed the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru.
The Guru Granth Sahib was formally recognized as the eternal Guru in 1708 when Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Guru, passed away. He declared that after him, the Guru Granth Sahib would be the spiritual guide for the Sikh community. The scripture itself was compiled earlier, with significant contributions from the first five Gurus and some other saints, but it was after Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s declaration that its status as the eternal Guru was firmly established.
The Guru Granth Sahib consists of 1,430 pages, known as “Angs.” These pages contain hymns and writings from the Sikh Gurus and various other saints, forming the central scripture of Sikhism. The text is written in Gurmukhi script.
The Five Ks
The Khalsa is a significant aspect of Sikhism, established by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. It represents a community of initiated Sikhs who adhere to a strict code of conduct and embody the ideals of courage, discipline, and spirituality. Members of the Khalsa, known as “Singh” for males and “Kaur” for females, commit to the Five Ks (Kakaars) which include: