Sikhism is a system of faith propounded by the Ten Guru's the first of whom was Guru Nanak but the evolution of Guru Nanak’s devotional path need to be understood.
Guru Nanak who started preaching in 1499 in (Punjab) India. Being a compassionate person, Guru Nanak had observed the selfish ways of life and was touched by unhappiness prevalent in people at large in his time. He saw the tyranny of Muslim rulers. He commented on the weaknesses of both – Hindu and Muslim – communities. At that time the noble Hindu culture had, in practice, yet again, fallen a victim of decadence. Casteism was yet again rampant and lower caste persons were treated inhumanly. Mechanical performance of rituals had become the norm. Internal purity of mind and spiritual progress were not the aim, only external actions were the aim. Despite the divine knowledge about the four Paths for ‘Spiritual Progress’ viz. ‘Jnaana Yoga’ (Knowledge), ‘Karma Yoga' (Action), ‘Paatanjali Yoga’ and of ‘Bhakti Yoga' (Devotion) being available, upper castes including Brahmins, in their selfish interests, were inhumanly exploiting the lowest castes. On the one hand such divine knowledge was available, and on the other such abysmal inhuman behavior!!
4) He used the language of common man like some other Sants. He also used Sanskrit for a few Shlokas (couplets).
5) He started teaching congregations his message through devotional songs (not just poems but musical compositions), obviously one of the most attractive and effective methods. This was done for the first time probably after the compositions of ‘Saama Veda’ and some Upanishads.
6) Although previous Sants had written devotional poems, they had not got them composed musically.
7) In Gurudwaras he started the custom of distributing sanctified Karaaha Parsaada, a sweet food (halwa) which is prepared in a Karaaha – an iron cauldron, hence the adjective. In a congregation, while distributing parsaada, no differential treatment was given to any person based on his caste, gender, status or class. This was a very simple and yet extremely effective method of ensuring equality of all before the Supreme One and also in the society.
8) Those who accepted his teachings were known as ‘Sikhs’ literally meaning disciples. In the period of early Gurus, Sikhs basically remained Hindus. After considerable time the word ‘Sikh’ evolved into the meaning that we are familiar with today, and ‘Sikhism’ was established as a religion.
Guru Nanak who started preaching in 1499 in (Punjab) India. Being a compassionate person, Guru Nanak had observed the selfish ways of life and was touched by unhappiness prevalent in people at large in his time. He saw the tyranny of Muslim rulers. He commented on the weaknesses of both – Hindu and Muslim – communities. At that time the noble Hindu culture had, in practice, yet again, fallen a victim of decadence. Casteism was yet again rampant and lower caste persons were treated inhumanly. Mechanical performance of rituals had become the norm. Internal purity of mind and spiritual progress were not the aim, only external actions were the aim. Despite the divine knowledge about the four Paths for ‘Spiritual Progress’ viz. ‘Jnaana Yoga’ (Knowledge), ‘Karma Yoga' (Action), ‘Paatanjali Yoga’ and of ‘Bhakti Yoga' (Devotion) being available, upper castes including Brahmins, in their selfish interests, were inhumanly exploiting the lowest castes. On the one hand such divine knowledge was available, and on the other such abysmal inhuman behavior!!
Bhakti Movement : Historical Background
It would help to understand the evolution of Guru Nanak’s devotional path – ‘Naam Simarana’ – chanting the Name of ‘Advaitic (non-dual) God’. Among many others, the old scriptures like Bhagwad Geeta, Upanishads (Upani) and Naarada Bhakti Sutra (NBS) and even Paatanjali Yoga Sootra have discourses on paths of devotion. Bhakti (devotion) basically is remembering and chanting Names of Gods or Supreme One. NBS is a comprehensive treatise on paths of devotion, inclusive of chanting of His Name, and all other modes described in Guru Granth Sahib (GGS). Bhakti (devotion) movement in India is ancient. Both Patanjali and Naarada are believed to belong to the ancient period, but certainly a few centuries prior to Christ. Bhakti Movement of ‘Alawars’ was prevalent from 7th to 9th century A.D. in South India.
Around 800 AD, the greatest exponent of modern era of Jnaana Yoga, Aadi Shankaraachaarya (Shankara) himself had written and sung devotional hymns; and he, a brahmin, had accepted an enlightened lowest caste person as one of his Gurus.
During 11th and 12th centuries in South India Sant philosopher Raamaanujaachaarya (1017 – 1137) expounded ‘Devotion’ as per his ‘Qualified Monism’. He indeed had rebelled against the caste system of Hinduism. He, a brahmin by birth, accepted an enlightened person of a lowest caste as his Guru! And he preached the lowest castes openly.
Naamdeva (1270 – 1309), of Mahaaraashtra, a lowly tailor by caste, enriched the Bhakti tradition with his both Saguna (God with form) and later Nirguna (God without form) devotional songs.
In Kashmir, Lalleshwari (1335 – 1376) propagated ‘non-dual devotion’ through ‘waakhs’ (sentences). She, living under a Islamic ruler Shah Mir, proclaimed, “ Supreme One pervades the world, Hindus and Muslims are the same.”
Devotional Movement was brought by Santa Raamaanand in the mid 15th century to North India. He openly sang, “Nobody asks for anyone’s caste, for one who chants His Name becomes His.” He also propounded a concept that although God Raama was a reincarnation of the Formless One, He is the Supreme Spirit the Formless One.
And his disciple Sants Kabir (1440 – 1510), Ravidaasa (15th century), and Dhannaa (15th century) etc. were preaching ‘non-dualistic (Advaitic) devotion’. Ravidaasa was the Guru of Santa Meeraa (1498 – 1563). (Akkaa Mahaadevi, Lalleshwaree and Meeraa form the trio of famous women rebel devouts that the Hindu society produced 7 to 8 hundred years ago).
Guru Nanak (1469 – 1538) also taught the same, and used all other names of various reincarnations of Brahman like Hari, Har, and Gobinda etc. to convey that these Names, commonly used to indicate different Gods, in fact, indicate the same Supreme One. ‘Chaitanya Mahaaprabhu (1468 – 1533) of Bengal, a contemporary of Guru Nanak, was extremely respected in North India, with his Dualism- based- Devotion.
It is a truism that there are always ups and downs in peoples’ lives and cultures depending on vicissitudes that they pass through. From this extremely brief view of development of ‘Devotion’, recurrence of casteism and rebellions against it in Hindu Society appear to be one such phenomenon. It may also be worth noticing that most of the rebellions against Caste System were initiated by Brahmins. Guru Nanak also belonged to an upper caste.
The great genius of Guru Nanak was that he :
1) Simplified the process of devotion (by chanting) to the utmost and named it ‘Naam Simarana’. He had realized that understanding of Vedas esp. the ‘Advaitic philosophy’ of Upanishads for a man of the world was difficult, as availability of teachers had become difficult. This achievement of simplification is even more remarkable for he did not lose the philosophical essence of complex hymns of the Upanishads.
It would help to understand the evolution of Guru Nanak’s devotional path – ‘Naam Simarana’ – chanting the Name of ‘Advaitic (non-dual) God’. Among many others, the old scriptures like Bhagwad Geeta, Upanishads (Upani) and Naarada Bhakti Sutra (NBS) and even Paatanjali Yoga Sootra have discourses on paths of devotion. Bhakti (devotion) basically is remembering and chanting Names of Gods or Supreme One. NBS is a comprehensive treatise on paths of devotion, inclusive of chanting of His Name, and all other modes described in Guru Granth Sahib (GGS). Bhakti (devotion) movement in India is ancient. Both Patanjali and Naarada are believed to belong to the ancient period, but certainly a few centuries prior to Christ. Bhakti Movement of ‘Alawars’ was prevalent from 7th to 9th century A.D. in South India.
Around 800 AD, the greatest exponent of modern era of Jnaana Yoga, Aadi Shankaraachaarya (Shankara) himself had written and sung devotional hymns; and he, a brahmin, had accepted an enlightened lowest caste person as one of his Gurus.
During 11th and 12th centuries in South India Sant philosopher Raamaanujaachaarya (1017 – 1137) expounded ‘Devotion’ as per his ‘Qualified Monism’. He indeed had rebelled against the caste system of Hinduism. He, a brahmin by birth, accepted an enlightened person of a lowest caste as his Guru! And he preached the lowest castes openly.
Naamdeva (1270 – 1309), of Mahaaraashtra, a lowly tailor by caste, enriched the Bhakti tradition with his both Saguna (God with form) and later Nirguna (God without form) devotional songs.
In Kashmir, Lalleshwari (1335 – 1376) propagated ‘non-dual devotion’ through ‘waakhs’ (sentences). She, living under a Islamic ruler Shah Mir, proclaimed, “ Supreme One pervades the world, Hindus and Muslims are the same.”
Devotional Movement was brought by Santa Raamaanand in the mid 15th century to North India. He openly sang, “Nobody asks for anyone’s caste, for one who chants His Name becomes His.” He also propounded a concept that although God Raama was a reincarnation of the Formless One, He is the Supreme Spirit the Formless One.
And his disciple Sants Kabir (1440 – 1510), Ravidaasa (15th century), and Dhannaa (15th century) etc. were preaching ‘non-dualistic (Advaitic) devotion’. Ravidaasa was the Guru of Santa Meeraa (1498 – 1563). (Akkaa Mahaadevi, Lalleshwaree and Meeraa form the trio of famous women rebel devouts that the Hindu society produced 7 to 8 hundred years ago).
Guru Nanak (1469 – 1538) also taught the same, and used all other names of various reincarnations of Brahman like Hari, Har, and Gobinda etc. to convey that these Names, commonly used to indicate different Gods, in fact, indicate the same Supreme One. ‘Chaitanya Mahaaprabhu (1468 – 1533) of Bengal, a contemporary of Guru Nanak, was extremely respected in North India, with his Dualism- based- Devotion.
It is a truism that there are always ups and downs in peoples’ lives and cultures depending on vicissitudes that they pass through. From this extremely brief view of development of ‘Devotion’, recurrence of casteism and rebellions against it in Hindu Society appear to be one such phenomenon. It may also be worth noticing that most of the rebellions against Caste System were initiated by Brahmins. Guru Nanak also belonged to an upper caste.
The great genius of Guru Nanak was that he :
1) Simplified the process of devotion (by chanting) to the utmost and named it ‘Naam Simarana’. He had realized that understanding of Vedas esp. the ‘Advaitic philosophy’ of Upanishads for a man of the world was difficult, as availability of teachers had become difficult. This achievement of simplification is even more remarkable for he did not lose the philosophical essence of complex hymns of the Upanishads.
2) Established the practice of group chanting daily in a regular and disciplined manner. Thus he developed social harmony and love.
3) To avoid rituals, he started a separate temple, appropriately known as ‘Gurudwara’, – door of Guru - for congregational chanting.
4) He used the language of common man like some other Sants. He also used Sanskrit for a few Shlokas (couplets).
5) He started teaching congregations his message through devotional songs (not just poems but musical compositions), obviously one of the most attractive and effective methods. This was done for the first time probably after the compositions of ‘Saama Veda’ and some Upanishads.
6) Although previous Sants had written devotional poems, they had not got them composed musically.
7) In Gurudwaras he started the custom of distributing sanctified Karaaha Parsaada, a sweet food (halwa) which is prepared in a Karaaha – an iron cauldron, hence the adjective. In a congregation, while distributing parsaada, no differential treatment was given to any person based on his caste, gender, status or class. This was a very simple and yet extremely effective method of ensuring equality of all before the Supreme One and also in the society.
8) Those who accepted his teachings were known as ‘Sikhs’ literally meaning disciples. In the period of early Gurus, Sikhs basically remained Hindus. After considerable time the word ‘Sikh’ evolved into the meaning that we are familiar with today, and ‘Sikhism’ was established as a religion.
The goal of both Sikhism and Hinduism is to achieve happiness here and now and also to attain ‘Moksha’ hereafter i.e. liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Looking at the complexity, and difficulty of the other three Paths or Yogas, Guru Nanak chose the simplest ‘Path of Devotion’.
In this Path there are three ways:
Dualist Path of devotion :
There is the God and separately there is His creation. He gives His grace and is merciful, but no person’s soul can ever unite with the God. Some dualists believe that He has a form (saakaar or saguna i.e. Brahman with form).
Non-dualist Path of devotion :
There is the Supreme One who is formless (Niraakaar or Nirguna), and there is His creation, but in essence both are the same. Any person’s soul can unite with Him, indeed the soul is the same in every one, and the Atman and Brahman are the same.
Dualist–Non-dualist Path :
The Supreme One is indeed formless, but He also takes forms when needed to restore justice. This path believes in ‘awataarawaada’ (the other two paths do not believe in this).
Out of these, Guru Nanak chose the Non-dualist (Advaitic or Nirguna) Path, which had been already used by Santa Naamadeva and Santa Kabir etc. who had been preaching the non-dualistic (Advaitic, Nirguna) Path for the past 200 years. And what I find extremely praiseworthy is that Guru Nanak deliberately uses the names of Hindu gods with forms (Saguna) in far too many places for it to be either a chance or to meet necessities of rhythm for the song, or merely to please any group. Names of Gods like Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh (or Shiva), Rama, Gobinda, Krishna, Paarwatee, Har, Hari etc., who all have ‘forms’, have been used liberally. There is an apparent contradiction in believing in the Supreme One who is both ‘formless’ (Nirguna) and with form (Saguna). This does not throw any doubt on his firm faith in and experience of the non-dual (‘Nirguna’) Supreme One, but indicates that he is preaching that ultimately the Truth or Parabrahma (Supreme One) is both, formless and with form.
Thus rather than merely condemn dualists and create a confrontation, he lovingly reconciles the difference. He says that Rama, Krishna, Shiva etc are the same as Parabrahma. Indeed Hindu scriptures keep reminding everyone about the same truth(Jaimineeya Upanishada Braahmana – 1.14.2; Kathopani. 2.1.12 & 13. Ishopani. – 15 & 16; Geetaa –11. 15 to 24.)
Thanks
In this Path there are three ways:
Dualist Path of devotion :
There is the God and separately there is His creation. He gives His grace and is merciful, but no person’s soul can ever unite with the God. Some dualists believe that He has a form (saakaar or saguna i.e. Brahman with form).
Non-dualist Path of devotion :
There is the Supreme One who is formless (Niraakaar or Nirguna), and there is His creation, but in essence both are the same. Any person’s soul can unite with Him, indeed the soul is the same in every one, and the Atman and Brahman are the same.
Dualist–Non-dualist Path :
The Supreme One is indeed formless, but He also takes forms when needed to restore justice. This path believes in ‘awataarawaada’ (the other two paths do not believe in this).
Out of these, Guru Nanak chose the Non-dualist (Advaitic or Nirguna) Path, which had been already used by Santa Naamadeva and Santa Kabir etc. who had been preaching the non-dualistic (Advaitic, Nirguna) Path for the past 200 years. And what I find extremely praiseworthy is that Guru Nanak deliberately uses the names of Hindu gods with forms (Saguna) in far too many places for it to be either a chance or to meet necessities of rhythm for the song, or merely to please any group. Names of Gods like Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh (or Shiva), Rama, Gobinda, Krishna, Paarwatee, Har, Hari etc., who all have ‘forms’, have been used liberally. There is an apparent contradiction in believing in the Supreme One who is both ‘formless’ (Nirguna) and with form (Saguna). This does not throw any doubt on his firm faith in and experience of the non-dual (‘Nirguna’) Supreme One, but indicates that he is preaching that ultimately the Truth or Parabrahma (Supreme One) is both, formless and with form.
Thus rather than merely condemn dualists and create a confrontation, he lovingly reconciles the difference. He says that Rama, Krishna, Shiva etc are the same as Parabrahma. Indeed Hindu scriptures keep reminding everyone about the same truth(Jaimineeya Upanishada Braahmana – 1.14.2; Kathopani. 2.1.12 & 13. Ishopani. – 15 & 16; Geetaa –11. 15 to 24.)
Thanks