Marriage

Author(s): Natubhai Shah
Publisher: UK Jain Academy

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SIKH BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS
Origin
Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak (1469-1539 CE) in the Punjab, as an attempt to reconcile Hinduism and Islam, and was promoted by a succession of nine gurus, the last of whom was Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708 CE). Sikhism is a monotheistic religion believing in the oneness of God and of humanity and that divinity lies within oneself; its teachings as revealed to the Gurus are found in the holy Sikh scripture the 'Guru Granth Sahib' (Adi Grandh), a copy of which is kept in every Gurudwara (Sikh temple).
Beliefs
Sikhism believes in humanity and its true nature, whereby human beings possess divine elements in the form of mind or soul (mana or atman), but the involvement of humans in evil passions and egoism, does not allow the divine element to reveal itself; thus, Sikhism emphasises self-purification as means of purging evil passions and egoism. Bad actions bring misery and rebirth, while good leads to happiness and salvation. Sikhism firmly believes in karma professing 'As one sows, so one reaps'.
The performance of righteous actions, repeating God's name (naama smaran), and hymns and praises to God (bhajan and kirtan) are the means to liberation. It is opposed to pilgrimage, idolatry and other extraneous practices,
God is regarded as eternal, omnipotent, creator, sustainer and destroyer of the world. Sikhism believes in karma and transmigration, but salvation is possible by God's grace and with the aid of the Guru, hence, loyalty to the Guru is overriding importance. The entire world is the product of the divine will or divine order (hukum). Moreover, God's act of continual creation shows his perpetual interest in it, it is God's garden where a human finds opportunity for right action and salvation, a world worth living in and
not a place of hatred or defiance. Sikhism believes in life and consciousness to varying degrees
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