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Home / IAS Preparation / Sikh Movement

Sikh Movement: Rise, Sikh Gurus, Teachings Of Sikhism And More For UPSC!

Last Updated on Oct 16, 2024
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Sikhism, commonly referred to as the Sikh movement, was founded in the 15th century. It started in the Indian province of Punjab. Religion has a huge history. However, its foundations can be traced back to the teachings of Guru Nanak. 

In this article, we will learn about the Sikh Movement. This forms a significant part of the UPSC IAS exam. UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains Paper I have many questions about this topic. It is also an important topic for UPSC History Optional and essential for the UGC NET History exam. Every year over 5-7 questions on the history of religion and important figures are in the question paper.

About Sikh Movement

The Sikh movement in India traces its roots to the teachings of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, in the 15th century. Guru Nanak emphasized the oneness of God, equality among all people, and the rejection of social hierarchies. The Sikh movement evolved with the succession of ten Gurus, each contributing to the development of Sikh philosophy and principles.

Under the leadership of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, the Khalsa Panth (the community of initiated Sikhs) was established in 1699. Guru Gobind Singh introduced the distinctive Sikh identity, including the Five Ks (articles of faith) and a code of conduct. The Khalsa was mandated to uphold justice, defend the oppressed, and practice selfless service.

The Rise Of The Sikh Movement In India

In the year 1469, Guru Nanak was born in the Pakistani hamlet of Talwandi, which is today called Nankana Sahib. Guru Nanak had a keen interest in spirituality at an early age and often practised meditation.

Guru Nanak spent his early adult years travelling around India and other regions of Asia while working as a trader. He had several spiritual encounters while travelling. They motivated him to start spreading his message of equality and togetherness. His journeys are known as Udasis.

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The Gurus Of Sikhism: The Spiritual Leaders Of The Sikh Movement

Ten different gurus, each of whom was crucial to the growth and dissemination of Sikhism, have headed the Sikh cause. The gurus of Sikhism have moulded the faith into what it is today. It began with Guru Nanak's teachings and ended with Guru Gobind Singh's founding of the Khalsa. Let us learn more about them in the following table.

Saint

Details

Guru Nanak

The first of the 10 gurus and the founder of the Sikh Movement was Guru Nanak, who was born in 1469. Rejecting the caste system and putting an emphasis on devotion to God, he preached a message of equality and togetherness. Guru Nanak went widely in India and other Asian nations, disseminating his teachings and assembling a group of devotees.

Guru Angad

The second teacher, teacher Angad, carried on Guru Nanak's teachings and grew the Sikh community. He developed the Gurmukhi writing system, which made it simpler for people to learn about and comprehend Sikhism.

Guru Amar Das

The third guru, Guru Amar Das, grew the Sikh community by developing a decentralised leadership structure. He also started the custom of having a community kitchen, or langar. People of different religions and castes could eat together here.

Guru Ram Das 

Ram Das, the fourth guru, established Amritsar. He also constructed the Golden Temple or Harmandir Sahib. He also started the custom of the sangat, a gathering place for Sikhs to worship and exchange knowledge.

Guru Arjan

The Guru Granth Sahib was written by Guru Arjan, the fifth guru, who established it as the Sikhs' everlasting guru. He also suffered martyrdom. The Sikh community was more inspired, and their dedication to their faith was strengthened.

Guru Hargobind

The system, which balanced spiritual and worldly authority, was developed by Guru Hargobind, the sixth guru. He also constructed the Akal Takht, a Sikhism site of governmental and spiritual significance.

Guru Har Rai

He committed himself to undertaking missionary activity and disseminating Guru Nanak's teachings.

Guru Harkrishan

The eighth guru, Guru Harkrishan, was just five years old when he assumed his position. He showed amazing knowledge and compassion despite his youth, and he is recognised for his healing abilities.

Guru Tegh Bahadur

Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth guru. He stood up for both religious liberty and human rights. He refused to convert to Islam. As a result, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb had him executed. He is considered a martyr for his religion.

Guru Gobind Singh 

The Khalsa was founded by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last guru. It is a group of Sikhs who have sworn to uphold and preserve the Sikh Movement principles. He is famous for his courage and military leadership, and he also authored the Dasam Granth, a compendium of spiritual literature.

The Teachings Of Sikhism: Key Principles Of The Sikh Movement

Let us explore the teachings of Sikhism and their significance to the Sikh movement.

The Sikh Movement places a strong emphasis on the singularity of God and the value of devotion to Him. 

  • The formless God that Sikhs believe in is present in all things and creatures. To communicate with God and develop a more profound spiritual awareness, they engage in meditation and prayer.
  • The principles of equality and service to others are highly valued in Sikhism. Sikhs hold that caste, class, and gender-based societal inequalities are unimportant. Sikhs are urged to give back to their communities and help others.
  • Sikhs are required to have upright, moral lifestyles. Honesty, integrity, and ethical behaviour are stressed in the Sikh code of conduct, also known as the Sikh Rehat Maryada. 
  • Sikhs are urged to live lives that are characterised by moral bravery and integrity. They should abstain from vices like greed, dishonesty, and others.
  • Sikhism emphasises the value of forgiveness and compassion. Sikhs are urged to be nice and compassionate to one another and to forgive those who have harmed them. It is believed that practising forgiveness can help one achieve inner tranquilly and forge closer bonds with others.
  • A key component of the Sikh Movement is seva or unselfish service. Sikhs are encouraged to serve others without looking for praise or recognition in return. Seva is viewed as a means of developing humility and forging stronger relationships with others.

Creation Of The Khalsa

The Sikh movement underwent a significant transition while Guru Gobind Singh served as its tenth and last guru. Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa and is a community of committed and orderly Sikhs who were initiated via the Amrit Sanchar rite. The Khalsa, who battled against the Mughal Empire and other tyrants, were renowned for their courage.

The Five Ks are the five pillars of faith that Sikhs must wear. They were adopted during the Khalsa. The five Ks are the Kesh, Kangha, Kara, Kachera, and Kirpan.

Major Sikh Institutions

The followers of Sikhism visit sacred places to seek blessings from Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book and eternal Guru of Sikhs. The most revered Sikh shrines and heritage sites are outlined below:

Takhts

The worship places of Sikhs are called Takhts, meaning 'the seat of divine power.' There are only five Takhts:

  1. Akal Takht Sahib
  2. Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib
  3. Takht Sri Damdama Sahib
  4. Takht Sri Hazur Sahib
  5. Takht Sri Patna Sahib

Takhts are believed to be sites where the Gurus conducted various social and political settlements.

Gurdwaras

Gurudwara translates to 'the doorway to the master.' In India, several Gurudwaras exist, but only five are considered Takhts. Many people, especially Sikhs, visit Gurudwaras to commemorate the Gurus, making them significant pilgrimage sites. Two popular Gurudwaras in India are:

Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab: Known for its gilded dome, it is the most sacred for Sikhs. Founded by Guru Ram Dass in 1577, completed by Guru Arjun Dev, and later covered in gold leaf by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Bangla Sahib in Delhi: An impressive edifice intricately linked with Sikhism's history.

Other Sikh shrines in India include Gurudwara Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh, Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, and Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi, along with Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand.

Conclusion

Sikhism's teachings place a strong emphasis on the virtues of devotion to God, equality, and forgiveness. These tenets have governed the Sikh movement for many years and still serve as an example to millions of Sikhs worldwide. Sikhs work to develop a more profound spiritual awareness. They forge closer bonds with each other. 

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Sikh Movement FAQs

Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh are the first and last of Sikhism's 10 gurus. Each guru made a significant contribution to the growth of Sikhism. It had a significant impact on the principles and practises of the faith.

The Guru Granth Sahib is the sacred text of the Sikh religion. It includes the Sikh gurus' works as well as the wisdom of other Indian and Pakistani saints and poets. The Guru Granth Sahib is regarded as the Sikh religion's ultimate guru.

Sikhism's guiding ideals include the concept of a single God. They believe in the value of selfless service to others, the equality of all people, and the pursuit of moral and ethical conduct.

Sikhism observes many festivals and holidays all year long. The significant ones are Vaisakhi, the Sikh New Year, the birthdays of various Sikh gurus, and Guru Nanak's birthday. Gurpurab, which honours the anniversary of a Sikh guru's birth or demise, is the most significant festival in the Sikh religion

In the Punjab area of India, the Sikh movement got its start in the 15th century. It was established by Guru Nanak, a man who advocated for social justice, equality, and a commitment to God.
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