Sikhism
Sikhism, or Sikhi, is a universal faith embracing the belief that God is the same for all people. It teaches a harmonious life encapsulated by three principles: Pray, Work, and Give.
Pray
Sikhism teaches constant remembrance of God (Naam Simran), inspiring Sikhs to lead lives of integrity and devotion. The ultimate goal of a Sikh is to merge with God through self-discipline, meditation, and virtuous living. This spiritual focus is balanced with worldly responsibilities, symbolized by the two swords in the Sikh emblem, the Khanda, representing the harmony of spiritual and temporal obligations.
Work
In Sikhism, honest work (Kirat Karni) is an essential expression of faith. Instead of renouncing the world, Sikhs find God through a practical, ethical, and simple lifestyle. Rejecting supernaturalism and mythology, Sikhism emphasizes reason and truth over superstition. Sikhs are encouraged to contribute positively to society through dedication and honest efforts, ensuring their daily actions reflect their spiritual values.
Give
Selfless service (seva) forms the heart of Sikh practice. Through acts of service, such as volunteering in community kitchens (Langar) or helping the vulnerable, Sikhs cultivate humility and dissolve ego. The Langar, a hallmark of Sikh identity, serves free meals to all, symbolizing equality and generosity. Beyond the Gurdwara, Sikhs extend seva to the broader community by caring for the poor, sick, and elderly, embodying compassion in every action.
The Sikh Way of Life
Most human beings can’t see the true reality of God because they are blinded by their own self-centred pride and concern for physical things. Sikhism encourages the rejection of harmful impulses such as greed, lust, anger, attachment, and pride. As are things like intoxicants, eat meat and engaging in worthless talk. By cultivating virtues like truthfulness, self-control, and purity, Sikhs strive to overcome self-centeredness and build a closer connection to God.
A Vision of Equality
Unlike many religions Sikhism stands out for its unwavering commitment to equality. Men and women have equal roles in worship, leadership, and service, challenging gender norms prevalent at the time of its inception. Sikhi teaches that God resides in every individual, fostering a belief in the inherent goodness and potential for change within all people, regardless of their actions or background. And so, women can participate in any religious function or perform any Sikh ceremony or lead the congregation in prayer.
Rejecting Ritualism
Sikhs do not follow blind rituals such as fasting, mandatory visiting places of pilgrimage, superstitions, worship of the dead, idol worship etc, advocating instead for meaningful worship through truth, compassion, and remembrance.
Sikhs Believe God is Everywhere
Sikhs believe that God is inside every person, no matter how wicked they appear, and so everyone is capable of change.
A Democratic Faith
Sikhism's foundation lies in collective decision-making, emphasizing the power of the community (Sangat) to shape its practices and uphold its values. Decisions made by the collective (Gurmatta) are considered binding, reflecting the deeply democratic nature of the faith.
Sikhism ultimately describes an “active, creative, and practical life” of truth and service. A Sikh is encouraged to embody the dual qualities of a Sant-Sipāhī—a saint-soldier who meditates on God while standing courageously to defend justice and protect the weak from oppression. This balance of devotion, service, and courage defines Sikhism as a timeless and progressive path for humanity.
Guide To Discover Sikhism
'Sikh' literally means 'learn', as Sikhs strive to learn throughout their lives. Learn about the Sikh beliefs, practices, reasons for the articles of faith, Sikh scripture, Sikh emblems, Sikh national anthem, Gurdwaras, Five Takhts, Sikh ceremonies, Sikh festivals, Sikh literature, Sikh saaj, philosophical, teachings and more.
Historic Sikh Gurdwaras
There are many hundreds of Historic Sikh Gurdwaras that are not very well known. Sikhs have an amazing history that needs to be understood and preserved.
Sikhs visit historic sites as a reminder of the Sikh Guru's, to learn about their sakhis (stories), to learn about their teachings and (most importantly) to be part of the sangat (community).
Learn about the historic gurdwaras, locations and stories associated with the Sikh Guru's (Guru Sahibhan) and other historic Sikhs (during the period of the Sikh Guru's).
Discover other Gurbani Contributors
The Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji written in the Gurmukhī script, in various dialects – including Arabic, Lehndi Punjabi, Braj Bhasha, Khariboli, Sanskrit and Persian is truly a holy book for ALL.
| Bhagats (Holy People) | Bhatts (Bards) |
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The Sikh Bhagats (Gurmukhi: ਭਗਤ) refer to holy men who lead a life of spirituality, dedication to God and whose teachings are included in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. They lived between the 12-15th centuries. |
It is notable that the Bhatts became Sikhs from a background of many non-Sikh Indians today. Bhatt Bani (the hymns by the bards) comprises of Ang's in the concluding part of the Guru Granth Sahib. |
Discover the Sikhs
| Early Gursikhs | Sikh Martyrs | Sikh Women |
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Learn about the contemporaries and companions of the Great Sikh Guru's. |
Sikhism's unique philosophy is so great that it threatens established religions. This is why some have committed murder and genocide of the Sikhs. |
Sikh woman have played a glorious part in Sikh History and have proven themselves as equal in service, devotion, sacrifice and bravery. |
Punjabi and Gurmukhi
There appears to be a lot of confusion regarding Punjabi and Gurmukhi.
People make the assumption that there is a language called Punjabi (what we use everyday) and there is a language called Gurmukhi - the language used to write the Guru Granth Sahib.
So are there two languages?? Did the Guru's use different language called Gurmukhi?? The answer is No.
| Gurmukhi | Download Gurmukhi Fonts |
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There are many benefits of learning to read, pronounce and understand the Gurmukhi script (paintee). |
We have many great Gurmukhi fonts you can download and use for free. |
