The holy book Guru Granth Sahib or the Adi Granth is considered the living Guru and the supreme spiritual authority of the Sikh religion. Basically a collection of devotional hymns and poetry, the Granth Sahib lays down moral and ethical rules for development of the soul, spiritual salvation and unity with God. Since Sikhism shuns idol worship, Sikhs don't worship the Guru Granth Sahib as an idol but it is held in utmost respect for the writings of the Gurus it contains. The Guru Granth Sahib is perhaps the only Holy Scripture, which not only contains the works of its own religious founders but also writings of people from other faiths.

Read more here: » Sikhism: The Eternal Guru - Sri Guru Granth Sahib

Including:

• The Sikh Gurus - The Ten Gurus of Sikhism

Read more here: » The Sikh Gurus: Encyclopedia - The Sikh Gurus

List of Sikhs - The Ten Gurus. See: The Ten Gurus of Sikhism ...

See also:

List of Sikhs, List of Sikhs - Religious Figures, List of Sikhs - The Ten Gurus, List of Sikhs - Political Figures, List of Sikhs - Politicians, List of Sikhs - Other, List of Sikhs - Cultural Figures, List of Sikhs - Cinema & TV, List of Sikhs - Writers, List of Sikhs - Sport Figures

Read more here: » List of Sikhs: Encyclopedia II - List of Sikhs - Religious Figures

The Guru occupies a strategic relevance in the Sikh society, as the guidance of the Guru towards the attainment of Moksha -release - is absolutely essential. He is only a shade lighter rather than the supremacy of the Almighty. Here is a brief description of the ten gurus of Sikhism.

Read more here: » Sikhism: The Ten Gurus of Sikhism

Gurgadi Diwas is observed on October 20, when on this day in 1708, Guru Gobind Singh canonised the sacred Aad Granth pothi that Sikhs worship as the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

He said: " As ordained by the Lord Eternal/ A new way of life is evolved./ All the Sikhs are asked/ To accept the Holy Granth as the Guru./ Guru Granth should be accepted/ As the living Guru./ Those who wish to meet God/ Will find Him in the Word."

(See also: Gurgadi Diwas, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Guru Nanak Dev (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ) (20 October 1469 – 7 May 1539), the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Gurus of the Sikhs, was born in the village of Talwandi, now called Nankana Sahib, near Lahore. His parents, Kalu Mehta and Matta Tripat, were Hindus of the Khatri caste. Guru Nanak Dev married Sulkhni, of Batala, and they had two sons, Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das. He continued his religious pursuits as always. His brother-in-law, the husband of his sis ...

Read more here: » Guru Nanak Dev: Encyclopedia - Guru Nanak Dev

A striking feature of the Adi Granth - popularly called the Guru Granth Sahib - is its distinctly lilting literary flavour, eloquently described as the "musicalisation of thought".

Even as one pays homage to Guru Granth Sahib, on the 400th anniversary of its being established as the Holy Book and as the eternal Guru of the Sikh faith, one is struck by the rich literary underpinnings of this compilation and the systematic manner in which each part has been set to music.

(See also: Adi Granth, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Saint, scholar, soldier all rolled into one, Guru Gobind Singh was responsible for the evolution of the Khalsa Panth.

He was barely nine years old when the dismembered head of his father Guru Teg Bahadur was brought to him at Anandpur Saheb. This became the turning point in little Gobind Rai's life and paved the way for the concretisation of the Sikh tradition. The child held back his tears, embraced the faithful Jaita who had risked his life to bring the sacred trust in tact, and declared that henceforth all untouchables would be the Guru's own children.

(See also: Guru Gobind Singh, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

The traditional festivals of the Indian diaspora all reflect the ancient concept of the Utsav Mela, which encouraged everyone to congregate, meet and mix amid festivity and pageantry. In fact, the word mela (fair) is derived from the word mil , meaning 'to meet'.

Baisakhi epitomises the mela notion of convergence for it brings together people of all castes and communities on the first day of Vaisakha, the beginning of the traditional Indian New Year. Basically a harvest festival, Baisakhi marks the ripening of the Rabi harvest, especially in the Punjab. It is called the Naba Barsha celebrations in Bengal, Rongali Bihu in Assam, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu and Pooram (Vishu) in Kerala.

(See also: Baisakhi, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Today, as the vernal equinox bathes the universe in a golden glow and Spring dances in seen and unseen splendour, it is amply clear that once you are with God, everything's possible.

Today is Jamshedji Navroze , the original new year. It is celebrated by Parsees today - as it was by the people of ancient Iran - with good reason. The day marks the birth of Creation and therefore, your birth and mine too. It also celebrates Prophet Zarathushtra's profound pronouncements, the beauty and truth of which I've gleaned with my own limited vision from the scriptures.

(See also: Jamshedji Navroze, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

The individual's moral fibre had to be strengthened through basic convictions. With this farsightedness, the tenth and last Guru, Gobind Singh, set about honing the faith's dynamics through innovation and personal example. His rigorous self-discipline and inner fortitude were exemplified by his equanimity and poise in the face of tragedies few encounter in their lifetime.

He was nine when he received the head of his father Guru Tegh Bahadur, beheaded in Delhi on the orders of the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb. His father had chosen martyrdom to demonstrate to Aurangzeb - and the people of India - that a man convinced of his moral purpose and inalienable right to practise his own religion, is unafraid to die.

(See also: Guru Gobind Singh, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Sikhism (Punjabi: ਸਿੱਖੀ) is a religion based on the teachings of ten Gurus who lived primarily in 16th and 17th century India. It is one of the world's major religions with over 23 million followers. Sikhism comes from the word Sikh, which in turn comes from its Sanskrit root 'śiṣya' (शिष्य) which means "disciple" or "learner", or from the equivalent Pāli word 'sikkhā' (Including:

• Sikhism - History of Sikhism
• Sikhism - The Gurus of Sikhism
• Sikhism - The Ten Gurus of Sikhism
• Sikhism - The Guru Granth Sahib
• Sikhism - Sikh religious philosophy
• Sikhism - Primary beliefs and principles
• Sikhism - Underlying values
• Sikhism - Prohibited behavior
• Sikhism - Technique and methods
• Sikhism - Other observations
• Sikhism - Observations
• Sikhism - All welcomed
• Sikhism - Followers of Sikhism
• Sikhism - The Five Ks
• Sikhism - Sikhs around the world
• Sikhism - Sikhs and Punjabis
• Sikhism - The Khalsa
• Sikhism - Khalistan

Read more here: » Sikhism: Encyclopedia - Sikhism

Darbar Sahib refers to the Main Hall within a Sikh Gurdwara. This hall is where the current and perpetual Guru of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib is placed on a Takhat or Throne in a prominent central position in the hall. Other related archivesGurdwara, Guru Granth Sahib, Sikh, Takhat

Read more here: » Darbar Sahib: Encyclopedia - Darbar Sahib

The Dasam Granth (Punjabi: ਦਸਮ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ) is a holy book of Sikhism composed by 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Sikh Guru, significantly shaped the Sikh Panth and helped instil in the oppressed people of Punjab the discipline and spirit to fight against the tyranny of their Mughal rulers. There has been considerable controversy surrounding some of the writings attributed to him, with the suggestion being made that they fail to fit into some ...

Read more here: » Dasam Granth: Encyclopedia - Dasam Granth

A guru (गुरू Sanskrit) is a teacher in Hinduism, Buddhism or Sikhism. Based on a long line of philosophical understanding as to the importance of knowledge, the guru is seen in these religions as a sacred conduit, or a way to self-realization. In India and among people of Hindu, Buddhist, or Sikh belief, the title retains a hallowed meaning. Guru also refers in Sanskrit to Brihaspati, a Hindu figure analogous to the Roman planet/god Jupiter. In Vedic astrology, Jupiter/Guru/Brihaspati is believed to ...

Including:

• Guru - Etymology
• Guru - Guru in Hinduism
• Guru - Guru in Buddhism
• Guru - Guru in Sikhism
• Guru - Types of gurus
• Guru - Succession and lineage parampara
• Guru - Guru in a Western culture context
• Guru - Gurus in the West
• Guru - Assessment and criticism
• Guru - Notable scandals and controversies
• Guru - Bibliography

Read more here: » Guru: Encyclopedia - Guru

Guru Granth Sahib (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ) — Granth is Punjabi for book; Sahib is Hindi meaning master, from Arabic, meaning companion, friend, owner, or master — is more than a holy book of the Sikhs. The Sikhs treat this Granth (holy book) as a living Guru. The holy text spans 1430 pages and contains the actual words spoken by the founders of the Sikh religion and various other S ...

Including:

• Guru Granth Sahib - Printing

Read more here: » Guru Granth Sahib: Encyclopedia - Guru Granth Sahib

Anandpur Sahib is a holy Sikh city and one of the five most holy places in Sikhism. It was created by Guru Tegh Bahadur. Other related archivesGuru Tegh Bahadur, Sikh, Sikhism

Read more here: » Anandpur Sahib: Encyclopedia - Anandpur Sahib

The Adi Granth (Gurmukhi: ਆਦਿ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ), literally "the first book" is an early compilation of the Sikh scriptures by Guru Arjan, the fifth Sikh Guru. Often, the term is used to refer incorrectly to the Guru Granth Sahib. In actual fact, the Guru Granth Sahib is an expansion of the Adi Granth which was written in 1604. ...

Read more here: » Adi Granth: Encyclopedia - Adi Granth

In Sikhism Vaṇḍ Chakkō (Punjabi: ਵੰਡ ਛੱਕੋ) is a technique and method which means share it as you consume it. This could be wealth, food. etc. Gurus: Guru Nanak Dev | Guru Angad Dev | Guru Amar Das | Guru Ram Das | Guru Arjan Dev | Guru Har Gobind | Guru Har Rai | Guru Har Krishan | Guru Teg Bahadur | Guru Gobind Singh | Guru Granth Sahib | Sikh Bhagats Philosophy:

Read more here: » Vaṇḍ Chakkō: Encyclopedia - Vaṇḍ Chakkō

Guru Arjan Dev (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਅਰਜਨ ਦੇਵ) (15 April 1563 - 30 May 1606) was the fifth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on 1 September 1581 following in the footsteps of Guru Ram Das. He was born at Goindval. Before he died, he nominated his son Guru Hargobind as the next Guru of the Sikhs. The following is a summary of the main highlights of Guru Arjan's life: Huge number of hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib – over 2000 Author of Sukhmani S ...

Including:

• Guru Arjan Dev - Audio

Read more here: » Guru Arjan Dev: Encyclopedia - Guru Arjan Dev