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Introduction to Role of Ritual Within Sikhism

Sikhism is one of the oldest and the traditional religion of Northern India and is one of global fifth-largest organized religion. The purpose of the paper is to discuss the role of the rituals in the Sikhism religion. Sikhism religion and values are based on the philosophy which was preached and propounded by Guru Nanak Ji. It was founded in the holy place Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab region within the Indian subcontinent during the late 15th century (Leonard, 2018). People practising the Sikhism religion are called as the Sikhs. The Sikhs also hold faith within the Gurmat (Punjabi: “followers of Guru"). A Sikh tradition was blessed by Guru Nanak (1469–1539) and then 10 human Gurus have a belief in the single spirit. When the 10th Guru has died who was the Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708), it is believed that the spirit of the eternal Guru has transited into the sacred scripture of the Guru Granth Sahib (“The Granth also referred to as the Guru”), referred to the Adi Granth (“First Volume”) (Bertolani, 2020). Towards the early 21st century, approximately there have been 25 million Sikhs globally and so far the greatest majority of the people that have been living across the Indian state of Punjab. An estimated 25 million Sikhs have been living worldwide (Mooney, 2020).

Principles

Sikhism is known as the global fifth largest religion and by far has been known as the third largest monotheistic religion. Sikhism was propounded by the Nanak Ji, and the thoughts and the religions shared on the principles of the one God and to have the equal people rule with equal experience (Bassi, 2020). Sikhism religion has a strong belief, that there is one omnipresent and as such, there are no actual forms of God (Mooney, 2020). Sikhs also refer to God as the Waheguru (Wa-HEY-guru) (Arweck, 2019). Equality and acceptability are the foundation of religion. It is important to choose and practise religion freely with the strong foundation of Sikhism. Sikhism has a strong belief that identifies truth with the avenues of life. Religion also practices the community service and aims to serve the less fortunate people. The five articles of the Sikhism faith are the Kesh (uncut hair), having a Kirpan (a ceremonial sword), wearing a Kara (an iron bracelet) along with the Kanga (comb), along with the Kachha (breeches) (Saryal 2016). Sikhism is mainly identified with wearing turban-wearing and the purpose of the turban is to show a commitment, that can protect and also stand for the overall values of equality along with following with the people and justice (Santos-Fraile, 2020).

The religion preaches on the principle of freedom which can provide loving and serving others. By the meaning of the "Sikh", it means the “Seeker of Truth.” Sikhism values are based on the values of the honesty, compassion, generosity, humility and having set integrity along with identifying the service that can be followed daily spiritually (Saryal, 2016). Sikh prayers and the values are based on the mankind welfare. The three core tenets of the Sikh religion is based upon the meditation and having a set devotion that can signify the Creator. Sikhism is also based on the principle of finding truth and it is based on the services that can define humanity.

Rituals Role

Sikh practices are also simple, realistic and even precise, based o the practical guidelines that can outline the set practices and the practice identifying the "Sikh way of life". The rules of the Guru identify how a Sikh can lead and define a disciplined life that can engage in the Naam Simran which is the reminder and the meditation of God's name (Saryal 2016). By following the life of the Kirat Karni, it is living an honest life that can follow and also follow the house-holder along with the Wand kay Shako, which is following one common aspect of the community. It would translate into hard work, and engage in the honest living and holding respect to the fellow humans, that can service and serve God, who is a primal power. By following virtues and the principles of the Sikhism, it is the belief that one can remain away from the complications, myths and even from facing any sort of the jargon, rituals along with facing the exploitation from man to man and by name of religion (Arweck, 2019). As such benefits have been gained from nowhere and the common belief is to be born with the common rigours of Simran (meditation) along with having a Sewa (selfless service) that can progress spiritually. Sacred book Sri Guru Granth Sahib has asked to seek a "Practice truth, having contentment along with practising the kindness”; that can be followed for excellence of the life (Arweck, 2019). Religion and the rituals preach renounce selfishness and to have a self-identity to dust all. It is followed by the names of four rituals that define the rites as a passage. The first rite describes birth as a named ceremony, and it specifies gurdwara, where the mother is able to give rise and bathe post the birth. While naming, a name beginning with the first letter of the hymn is chosen from the Guru Granth Sahib, and subsequently, Singh would be added to the names of males along with the Kaur given to the females (Arweck, 2019). The second rite is known as the Anand Karaj (“blissful union”), also called as the marriage ceremony. Bride and groom have to follow the four times in and around the Guru Granth Sahib by reciting the Guru Ram Das’s Sukhi Chant (Bassi, 2020). The third rite is the most vital that is the Amrit Sanskar, that describes the ceremony as the initiation that transits into the Khalsa (Arweck, 2019). The last rite which is final is also referred to as the funeral ceremony which is also referred to as the initiation rite that can be referred to as the Sikh Rahit Marayada. It is conducted with the initiated Sikhs that is performed by the five actual rites and sixth remains in attendance to the Guru Granth Sahib that would be present at every occasion (Arweck, 2019). The common practices that have been performed are the water that is placed in the large iron bowl and then one adds over the soluble sweets. It is referred to as the Amrit (“nectar”) and the “Kanjar” referred to as the double-edged sword that ha been one of the five Sikhs (Bassi, 2020). After the recitation of the given works, Gurus, are followed by the Ardas, which is the candidates that can initiate and drink five handfuls of the offered Amrit (Bassi, 2020). The ritual mention, that Sikh’s while being offered Amrit recites “Vahi Guruji ka Khalsa, Vahi Guruji ki Fateh” which means to praise almighty and to praise for the Guru’s victory (Bassi, 2020). Amrit is also sprinkled over the’ hair along with the eyes five times, that reminds Guru spiritual care and having holy feelings. Every time, they repeat five times this is the Mul Mantra (describing at the beginning of the Guru Granth Sahib), reminds of the Rahit that has been expounded with the five Sikhs (Bassi, 2020). For the Sikh’s it is common to wear Five Ks and it is important to follow the rituals, as cutting one own hair, by consuming halal meat, having a sexual relationship with anyone older the spouse or consuming tobacco is viewed as committing sins (Santos-Fraile, 2020). For the Sikhs that have committed such cardinal sins, in order to gain the path of recovery, it is important to publicly confess and to begin with the reinitiated. Religion also mentions, anyone who violates the Rahit and has not been apologetic of the act, would be a patit (apostate). Lastly, through the ‘Karah Prasad,' the purpose is to savour the sweetness of the blessings of God (Santos-Fraile, 2020).

Sikhism also has the eight major festivals and celebration that are more focused on the several others that hold lesser importance. Religion also follows the major sacred festivals that describe the Gurupurabs or the celebration as the important marks of the Guru’s lives like Birthday's celebrating the martyrdoms of the Great Guru's Arjan along with the Tegh Bahadur (Santos-Fraile, 2020). When the Guru Granth was blessed, then to mark the celebration festival like Baisakh is celebrated. Festivals that are associated with the processions within the streets along with the visits to the gurdwaras have been referred to the Gurus or with some historical event. Guru Granth has the scriptures for the worshippers and it is religiously worshipped (Santos-Fraile, 2020).

Sikh Literature

 Adi Granth and The Dasam Granth

The purpose of these two granths are the scriptures volumes about the Sikh religion, that describes values and the principles. It has been described as the Adi Granth (“First Book”), that describes principles of the religion and for the Dasam Granth (“Tenth Book”) (Santos-Fraile, 2020). While in the first book of the Adi Granth, it has been described as the common Sikhs that can follow the abode of the eternal Guru, and it has a defined purpose that can follow the decorum.

Rituals Roles in Practice

Living in God and Community

Religion is based on the humanity and mankind that describes the beautiful relationship with the God. The Sikh ideals are based on the actions and the set belief’s that denote how to live a good life with the good deeds and to meditate by connecting with the God (Santos-Fraile, 2020).

God and The Cycle of Life

Rituals also belive, how to have the set belief in the human beings that can connect with the God, at the time of the birth cycle and during the stages of life, rebirth and while dying. Belief is the common religions transitions that allow viewing how life depends over the Karma Law (Santos-Fraile, 2020). Karma describes the life quality and the set attributes, that can be identified with the well or badly a person can connect with the previous life. It is the only way, through which the life cycle can be followed and it is regarded as the knowledge of along with following the God Union.

God of Grace

Sikh Rituals have a strong belief and the principle, following the spirituality clause that can be centred around the need and to experience God. It is a belief of God as one. Focus remains as the attention to the God themselves and it is the common state of the person to achieve a “Moksh” state or the “Mukti" (liberation), that brings the grace of God (Santos-Fraile, 2020). It describes how as the God, can think the welfare of human beings, can have the set life that can own and earn. God also has shown the people with the common life belief and having people that can follow holy books, that is the best way to connect. Sikh principles explain the truth as the highest of all virtues that can connect for the truthful living (Santos-Fraile, 2020). Sikhs have a common belief that makes human beings connect with God. It can be experienced with the love, worship, along with the contemplation (Bertolani, 2020.

Conclusion on Role of Ritual Within Sikhism

It is concluded that the Sikhs rituals and the principles, educate humans about the God that remain inside and connected with the world. It is the faith that has been rooted within the religion that discovers love; Sikhism religion also means equality among the men and the women that can denounce no discrimination. It does not even distinguish in between the gender, race, and caste and with the creed, or colour. Even though God is formless in the Sikh religion, but by following the principles and having an independent liberation that can remain united with God. Sikh religions are the way, through which the equality and the divine order can be followed. Sikh rituals also teach us, as the common set beliefs that can follow God everywhere, whether in thoughts, in the flower or the self-identity. It is looking for God beyond the self imaginary beliefs and world. Sikhs rituals also teach to devote selflessly and to have an ordinary life to get connected with God.

References for Role of Ritual Within Sikhism

Arweck, E. (2019). The Role of Ritual in Mixed-Faith Families. In Interreligious Relations and the Negotiation of Ritual Boundaries (pp. 249-268). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.

Bassi, T. (2020). Education, Religion and Gender: The Sikh Kanya Mahavidyalaya in Punjab. Contemporary Education Dialogue17(1), 70-91.

Bertolani, B. (2020). Women and Sikhism in Theory and Practice: Normative Discourses, Seva Performances, and Agency in the Case Study of Some Young Sikh Women in Northern Italy. Religions11(2), 91.

Leonard, K. (2018). South Asian American millennial marriages: Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims. Sikh Formations14(3-4), 446-458.

Mooney, N. (2020). ‘In Our Whole Society, There Is No Equality’: Sikh Householding and the Intersection of Gender and Caste. Religions11(2), 95.

Santos-Fraile, S. (2020). The Sikh Gender Construction and Use of Agency in Spain: Negotiations and Identity (Re) Constructions in the Diaspora. Religions11(4), 179.

Saryal, S. (2016). Ethnic Polarization in Punjab and the Role of Akali Dal. Journal of Political Studies23(2).

Sohi, K. K., Singh, P., & Bopanna, K. (2018). Ritual participation, sense of community, and social well-being: a study of Seva in the Sikh community. Journal of religion and health57(6), 2066-2078.

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