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The
Concept of God in Sikhism
Santokh Singh*
As per Sikh philosophy, God is the only Infinite one, the
only Supreme Being, the Eternal, Universal Spirit, the Creator,
All-Pervading, Sovereign, Harmonious, the Un-incarnated,
Self-existent, Formless, without fear and rancour, the Enlightener
and Bountiful. So Guru Nanak is Guru and not God. Guru has
himself stated that he revealed Gurbani as per dictates
of God. Guru Gobind Singh explicitly declared that he was
servant of God and any body proclaiming him God deserved
severe punishment.
Sikhism is the latest and scientific religion, based on
logic and rational preaching through love and logic with
stress on cogitation. It discourages blind faith and holds
no fear of hell and no promise of heaven, nor any use of
force and nor assistance from State. It rather vindicates
confrontation with the State against miss-use of authority.
It does not confine to any geographical boundary and stresses
upon service of humanity by establishing an egalitarian
harmonious society. It forbids exploitation of the weak
by the powerful. It disapproves religious parasites and
dependence on priestly class. It enjoins upon every Gursikh
to earn his livelihood through institutionalised means and
to perform religious service according to his ability and
to recite God’s praises.
Sikh ideology is deduced from the concept of One and only
One God. God is Creator and the whole humanity are his children.
All children of a father are equal. Children must sing praises
of their Father, who has provided them everything. Children
have no right to exploit each other; they should mutually
cooperate, work hard and create enough wealth so that a
portion could be spared for the weak. They are to adopt
and imbibe the character of their Father. Sikhism stands
for creation of a sovereign harmonious society, leading
to a dignified and honourable life of mutual love and respect.
God is Enlightener, his children must spread education and
knowledge, based on cogitation. Let children be Bountiful
like their Father. Modern science has reduced the world
to a global village. There is a lot of unnecessary violence.
Fear is all around and there is lack of security. Hard earned
human resources and wealth is being wasted on weapons of
destruction. Adoption of ideology of one God would lead
the humanity to peace, progress and plenty.
Guru Nanak was a spiritual prophet who guided humanity for
uniting with God. At the same time, he was a sociologist
par-excellence. He felt the pain of simple and illiterate
masses being ruthlessly exploited by religious parasites
and alien rulers. He opposed human exploitation and suggested
remedial measures. Brahmins, Mullahs and Mughal rulers made
a united front for the decimation of Sikh doctrine. Birbal,
a Brahmin holding a prominent position in Mughal court,
vowed to decimate Sikhism. But inspite of all the odds,
the doctrine of One God and work culture survived. After
three centuries-long struggle, parasites and alien rulers
were defeated. The followers of Guru Nanak flourished. It
will not be out of place to mention that what Guru preached
during sixteenth century was advocated by western sociologists
during eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Inspite of partition
of Punjab followed by loss of lacs of lives and destruction
of economy and subsequent different economic retardations,
Sikhs still have a better standard of living. This is a
gift from Guru Nanak’s doctrine of One God, egalitarian
society, work culture and stress on cogitation.
It is a canard that Guru Nanak was a reformer of Hinduism,
and Sikhism is a reformed sect of Hinduism. Guru Nanak not
only criticized Brahminical concept of God and religion,
but totally rejected it. The Guru founded a unique and distinctly
new religion. Revealed Gurbani clearly states that Sikhs
are not Hindus. Sikh scripture also clarifies that Sikhism
has nothing to do with Pandits and Mullahs. Sikhism has
rejected the philosophy and writings of both and has not
accepted anything from both ideologies. Sikh scripture has
further compared the Brahmin (Brahminical priestly class
with Tikka on forehead) to a butcher of humanity. One verse
states that Hindu is like a blind person (having no knowledge
of God), Musilm is like one-eyed person (having some knowledge
of God), but the person enlightened with the concept of
one God (Giani), is the wisest. There are many other verses
in Guru Granth Sahib which confirm that Sikhism’s
concept of One Eternal God is unique and totally different
from Hinduism.
Though Guru rejected Hindu and Islamic philosophies, but
still Guru ordained Sikhs to live peacefully with them and
to respect their sentiments, never to follow their rituals
and philosophies, but to seek guidance from Gurbani and
act accordingly. The spirit of cordiality and mutual co-operation
with other religions is misunderstood and misinterpreted
by certain communal elements who propagate that Sikhism
is part of Hinduism, and Guru Nanak was a reformer who founded
the Sikh sect. This propaganda amounts to blasphemy, as
Sikh scripture and Guru explicitly declare that Sikhs are
not Hindus. Sikh Gurus made supreme scarifies for upholding
the principle of righteousness and fundamental human right
to practise the religion of one’s choice. No authority
or legislation should compel people to be the members of
a particular religion. This amounts to enforced conversion
and violation of fundamental human rights granted by U.N.O.
Indian, Chinese and Greek mythologies are well known. Many
scholars are of the view that Indians learnt the art of
history writing after the advent of Islam in India. Sikhs
have nothing to do with any mythology. As the children are
taught the stories of birds and animals for developing virtue
and truth, the mythological stories are quoted by elders
to follow truth, righteousness and God. This does not mean
that Sikhism believes in the quoted mythology.
Recently there was some controversy regarding Ram Sethu
bridge. Some people injured Hindu sentiments by declaring
Ramayana as mythology. In the September 2007, issue of ‘Organiser’
Shri Sudarshan stated that Ram in Sikh scripture supports
the fact that Ram existed. This statement induces people
to believe that Sikhs worship Ram (Sri Ram Chandra), so
they are part of Hinduism and Guru Nanak was a Hindu reformer.
The Sikhs feel that this statement is contrary to the facts
and misleading. Though word Ram has been repeatedly used
in Sikh scripture, but it denotes God. All the prevalent
names of the Creator God at that time, such as Ram, Rahim,
Bhagwan, Hari, Narian, Thakur, Naranjan, Allah, and Khuda
have been used in the Sikh scripture. Since as per Sikh
theology God is Eternal, so Sikhism does not recognise Shri.
Ram Chandra as God and Sikhs as such do not worship him.
Sikhism, by following the concept of One God and revealed
Gurbani, has created a marvellous chapter in Indian history.
The Gurus criticized unjust alien rulers, Mughal cruelty,
enforced conversions, destruction of religious places, violation
of basic human rights and inhuman behaviour. Gurus made
supreme sacrifices to uphold the principle of righteousness.
After exhausting all peaceful means it was observed that
rulers do not believe in logic and God, but in brutal force.
So the Guru gave a call for revolution. After a century-long
struggle, alien rulers were overthrown and sovereign Sikh
Kingdom was established. Mighty Sikh Kingdom demarcated
borders with Afghanistan and China, which exist to date.
An egalitarian society was established and Brahminical hegemony
was wiped out. The Guru had advised Sikhs to follow Sikh
ideology and never to follow Brahminical philosophy. Sikh
Raja, for his personal pleasures and reasons, violated Sikh
ideology and code of conduct under the influence of Brahminical
philosophy which resulted into losing Guru’s grace
and patronage. Consequently, Sikh Kingdom was lost. Common
Sikhs remained Gursikhs. Sovereignty was dearer to them
than their lives. They started freedom struggle and took
a leading role till the British left India. Sikhs created
heroes like S Maharaj Singh, S Ram Singh, S Kartar Singh
Sarabha, S Bhagat Singh, S Udham Singh and General Mohan
Singh. During freedom struggle, Sikhs made forty times more
sacrifices than their numerical strength in India. Main
battle confrontation occured at Amritsar (where Sri Akal
Takht Sahib promising sovereignty to humanity is located)
when British authority was publically challenged and out
of desperation they killed hundreds of un-armed Indians
(mostly Sikhs). A section of Indian society which intends
to establish Brahminical fascist dictatorship in India,
is trying to assimilate Sikhism into Brahmanism (Hindusim),
as Sikhism does not accept Manuism, which sanctions Brahminical
hegemony. Proclaiming Sikhs as Hindus and Sikh prophets
as Hindu reformists is a blasphemous act. It tarnishes the
fair credentials of Indian secularism as there are no basis,
logic and rationale to support this blasphemous canard.
The concept of One Eternal God, Humanity His creation, truthful
living, righteousness, egalitarian society, sovereignty
for humanity would prevail during 21st century. Mythology,
mythological religions and hegemonies backed by mythology
have no future in this age of science. Let Enlightener God
eradicate illiteracy, superstition, fatalism and hypocrisy,
and support righteousness and truth.
¤
©Copyright Institute of Sikh Studies,
2007, All rights reserved.
