The recent inauguration of Sri Akhand Path at Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal marks the 400th Prakash Purab (birth centenary) of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh guru. This article aims to delve into the life and teachings of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the core principles of Sikhism, significant Sikh literature, and the roles of Sikhs’ ten Gurus.
Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-1675)
Guru Tegh Bahadur, known as the ‘Protector of Humanity’ (Srisht-di-Chadar), was a prominent figure in the Sikh community. Not only was he a revered spiritual teacher, but he also excelled as a warrior, thinker, and poet. His profound insight into the nature of God, mind, body, and physical attachments, culminated in 116 poetic hymns that are part of the sacred text ‘Guru Granth Sahib.’
Throughout his lifetime, he furthered the reach of Sikh teachings by establishing preaching centers across the Indian subcontinent. One such accomplishment was founding the town of Chak-Nanki in Punjab, which is now part of Anandpur Sahib. However, his mission was cut short when he was executed in Delhi in the year 1675 on the orders of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
Understanding Sikhism
Derived from the Punjabi word for ‘disciple’, Sikhism is a faith where followers, known as Sikhs, adhere to the teachings of Ten Sikh Gurus. Their central belief system, Gurmat (“the Way of the Guru”), promotes the notion of one God (Ek Onkar) and encourages followers to remember God in all their actions (simran).
Sikhism’s development was heavily influenced by the Bhakti movement and Vaishnava Hinduism, with Guru Nanak (1469–1539) setting its foundations. The religion upholds virtues such as commitment, dedication, and social conscience, with the Khalsa, Sikhs who strictly follow the Sikh Code of Conduct and Conventions, exemplifying these values.
Distinctively, Sikhism condemns blind rituals, advocating instead for equality among races, religions, and sexes in the eyes of God.
Sikh Literature and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee
At the heart of Sikhism are the Guru Granth Sahib and the Dasam Granth. The Guru Granth Sahib, also known as Adi Granth, is considered the abode of the eternal Guru, while the Dasam Granth’s authorship and composition have sparked controversy within the community.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, a democratically elected organization representing Sikhs worldwide, was established in 1925 to oversee religious affairs and cultural and historical monuments.
The Ten Gurus of Sikh Religion
Starting with the founder of the Sikh religion, Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539), to the last human form Guru, Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708), the ten Gurus played integral roles in shaping Sikhism.
Guru Nanak Dev was instrumental in starting the GURU KA LANGAR, a communal kitchen for Sikhs. Successive Gurus like Guru Angad and Guru Amar Das expanded on Guru Nanak’s teachings by creating the new script, Guru-Mukhi, and introducing the Anand Karaj Marriage ceremony, respectively. Also notable are Guru Ram Das, founder of Amritsar, and Guru Arjun Dev, who composed the Adi Granth.
The later Gurus, such as Guru Hargobind and Guru HarRai, were responsible for the militarization of the Sikh community and maintenance of peaceful relations with Mughal rulers. Guru Har Krishan, the youngest guru of all, was given the title at just five years old.
Guru Teg Bahadur, who we have previously discussed, founded Anandpur Sahib. The final Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, established the warrior community Khalsa and introduced the new rite “Pahul”. He passed on the Guruship of Sikhs to the Guru Granth Sahib, ushering in a new era for the Sikh community.
