The Sikh Religion of India

The word "Sikhism" derives from "Sikh," which means a strong and able disciple. There are about 23 million Sikhs worldwide, making Sikhism the 5th largest religion in the world. Approximately 19 million Sikhs live in India, primarily in the state of Punjab. Large populations of Sikhs can also be found in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. Sikhs are a significant minority in Malaysia and Singapore, where they are sometimes ridiculed for their distinctive appearance, but respected for their work ethic and high education standards.

Sikhism emerged in 16th-century India in an environment heavily permeated with conflicts between the Hindu and Muslim religions. It was somewhat influenced by reform movements in Hinduism (e.g. Bhakti, monism, Vedic metaphysics, guru ideal, and bhajans) as well as some Sufi Muslim influences. While Sikhism reflects its cultural context, it certainly developed into a movement unique in India. Sikhs regard their faith as an authentic new divine revelation.

Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak Dev, who was born in 1469 to a Hindu family. After four epic journeys (north to Tibet, south to Sri Lanka, east to Bengal and west to Mecca and Baghdad), Guru Nanak preached to Hindus, Muslims and others, and in the process attracted a following of Sikhs (disciples). Religion, he taught, was a way to unite people, but in practice he found that it set men against one another. He particularly regretted the antagonism between Hindus and Muslims. Guru Nanak's most famous saying is, "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim, so whose path shall I follow? I shall follow the path of God."

Retaining the Hindu doctrine of the transmigration of souls, together with its corollary, the law of karma, Guru Nanak advised his followers to end the cycle of reincarnation by living a disciplined life – that is, by moderating egoism and sensuous delights, to live in a balanced worldly manner, and by accepting ultimate reality. Thus, by the grace of Guru (Gurprasad) the cycle of reincarnation can be broken, and the Sikh can remain in the abode of the Love of God. Guru Nanak taught that salvation does not mean entering paradise after a last judgment, but a union and absorption into God, the True Name. Sikhs do not believe in a heaven or hell. Sikhs also reject the Hindu belief in incarnations (avatars) of God, believing instead that God makes his will know through the Gurus.

The most easily observable Sikh practice are the wearing of the turban and the Five Ks. Sikhs also pray regularly and meditate by repeating God's name, often with the aid of rosary beads. Sikhism rejects the Hindu notion of the four stages of life, teaching instead that the householder is the ideal for all people. A Sikh aims to live a life that balances work, worship and charity. Community is emphasized, and the Sikh temple (gurudwara) is the center of Sikh communal life.

                                                        (http://www.religionfacts.com/sikhism/fastfacts.htm#overview) 

Note from the Author: 

We visited the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib temple in New Delhi. It was a nice experience because we had a good feeling about it all the time, a good vibe. Just to make a comparison, when you visit a Muslim Mosque anywhere in the World, first it´s more likely you are not even allowed to enter; second you have to follow a whole protocol of dos and don´ts (mostly don´ts) ; third, people are always looking at you with that blank stare making you feel like an alien, they want to make sure you feel you don´t belong there, it´s their place, take your pics and get out...

That´s not what you feel at a Sikh temple. You can peacefully stroll around and they don´t bother. Besides, and that´s the most beautiful aspect of it, one of the foundations of the Sikhism is the charity. They cook food everyday for anyone who wants to come and eat. The temple we visited in Delhi serves 10,000 people PER SITTING, which means around 30,000 people per day. Food is always FREE and you don´t need to be a follower of their faith. Because equality is so important in the Sikh religion, everyone who comes in eats at the same level regardless of their background. You will see rich businessmen sitting on the floor and eating side by side to a homeless person...