The Encyclopedia of World Religions

424 S Sikhism

became prosperous in business and agriculture. With the establishment of India and Pakistan in 1947 and 1948, some Sikhs began to agitate for the establishment of a separate Sikh state to be called Khalistan. In the 20th century a mod est Sikh community also began to grow in North America and Europe, especially in the south western United States. In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks Sikhs in the United States experienced discriminatory treatment and violence because some people wrongly associ ated their distinctive appearance with Osama bin Laden and A L -Q AEDA . BELIEFS Every morning Sikhs pray a PRAYER known as the Japji. It summarizes Sikh teachings about G OD : He is one and true; he is the creator; he is present in all the universe but is not subject to the laws of rebirth. Sikhs believe that God cannot be found in images. Instead, they find God in his name, in the 10 gurus, and in the Guru Granth. Sikhs believe that by following God’s path people can become pure and, over a succession of rebirths, eventually unite with the eternal. PRACTICES Sikhs WORSHIP together in a building known as a gurdwara. There the Guru Granth rests upon an elevated platform, where it is decorated with flow ers and fanned. During worship Sikhs listen to and participate in singing from the Guru Granth. They also present gifts to the Guru Granth and receive a sweet in return. Sikh holidays include the birth days of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh and the anniversary of Guru Arjun’s martyrdom. ORGANIZATION Most Sikhs are members of the khalsa. They observe what are known as the “five k’s” (in the Punjabi language each stipulation refers to a word beginning with “k”): They do not cut their hair, including beards in the case of men; they carry combs; they wear special steel bracelets; they carry swords; and they wear a special kind of pants. Male Sikhs generally wear turbans over their hair.

This miniature portrait made on ivory shows Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion (Victoria & Albert Museum, London/Art Resource, N.Y.)

that went beyond the differences between Hindus and Muslims. Nanak was followed in succession by nine other gurus or teachers. The fifth guru, Arjun, began building the most sacred shrine of the Sikhs, the Golden Temple at Amritsar in northwest India. He also collected writings from his predecessors into a book known as the Adi Granth. From 1526 northern India was ruled by the Mughal dynasty. The Mughals were Muslims. At first relations between the Sikhs and the Mughals were good. But in 1605 Jahangir came to the throne. He tortured and executed Guru Arjun, because he thought Arjun had adulterated Islamic teachings. In response, the Sikhs saw themselves as called to be soldiers as well as saints. In the face of continuing persecution, the last guru, Guru G OBIND S INGH (1666–1708), established a Sikh com munity known as the khalsa. He also ended the line of human gurus and transferred his authority to the Adi Granth. In the 19th century the Sikhs decided Brit ish rulers were preferable to Muslim ones. Many Sikhs became soldiers in the British army. Others