Who are Sikhs? What is Sikhism?

A Sikh is an adherent of Sikhism, a monotheistic and pantheistic religion that emerged in the 15th century in the Punjab region of India. They are also a member of the Sikh community and consider themselves disciples of the Guru.

As per the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of Sikhs, a Sikh is described as someone who identifies as a follower of the True Guru. They rise early in the morning to meditate on the Name of the Lord, bathe, and cleanse themselves in a sacred pool. Following the Guru’s guidance, they chant the Lord’s Name, which leads to the erasure of all sins and negativity. At sunrise, they sing Gurbani, meditating on the Lord’s Name whether sitting or standing. One who meditates on the Lord with every breath and morsel of food pleases the Guru’s Mind. Those who receive the kindness and compassion of the Lord and Master are recipients of the Guru’s Teachings. Servant Nanak humbly seeks the dust of the feet of such a Gursikh, who not only chants the Naam themselves but also inspires others to do so.

According to Article I of the “Rehat Maryada,” the Sikh code of conduct and conventions, a Sikh is defined as any human being who firmly believes in One Immortal Being, the ten Gurus from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh, Guru Granth Sahib, the teachings of the ten Gurus, and the baptism bestowed by the tenth Guru. Such a person does not owe allegiance to any other religion. Sikhs uphold the belief in the equality of all humans, the concept of universal brotherhood, and the existence of One Supreme God, both transcendent and immanent, known as Ik Onkar.

Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, received direct revelations from God after being called to the Divine court during deep meditation by a river. God instructed him to drink from the cup of Naam (Path/Essence of God) and elevated him to the highest status. From that point on, he was known as Guru Nanak, tasked with teaching that there is one God, that all of humanity is one, and that religious divisions are human constructs. The Guru disseminated his teachings wherever he went and, when necessary, performed miracles. Toward the end of his life, he had followers from various backgrounds and faiths. The Guruship was subsequently passed down through nine other Gurus, who were believed to carry the divine light of God within them. These Gurus both fortified and expanded the Sikh faith and the revelations of God. The final Guruship was bestowed upon a combined institution of the holy book (Granth) enshrined in The Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the people (Panth), known as the Guru Khalsa.

Typically, male Sikhs adopt Singh (lion) and female Sikhs choose Kaur (princess) as their last names. Those who have undergone the khanḍe-kī-pahul, the Sikh initiation ceremony, can also be identified by the Five Ks: uncut hair (Kesh); an iron/steel bracelet (kara); a Kirpan, a sword carried in a gatra strap; Kachehra, a cotton undergarment; and a Kanga, a small wooden comb. Male Sikhs who have received the baptism cover their hair with a turban, while baptized female Sikhs have the choice to wear one. Although the greater Punjab region in India is the historical heartland of the Sikhs, significant Sikh communities exist around the world.