Customer Reviews

Guru Nanak and Sikhism (Great Religious Leaders)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sikhism is a monotheistic Indian religion that combines elements of Islam and Hinduism. According to this book, Sikhism is practiced by about 32 million adherents. Guru Nanak was the founder of this religion. He and his nine successors are called the Ten Gurus.

If you read "Guru Nanak and Sikhism," a book aimed at a Young Adult (YA) audience, you might be led to believe that Sikhism is a very pacifistic religion, but this ignores both Sikh history and the teachings of Gurus who followed the fifth Guru, Arjun, who himself was executed by the Mughal Emperor. Toward the end of this book, in the chapter "Festivals and Special Occasions," the persecution of the Sikhs by the Muslims is mentioned, as is the Khalsa Brotherhood (originally a militant sect), which remains the principal Sikh order.

Other than this curious de-emphasis on the militant side of Sikhism, "Guru Nanak and Sikhism" is quite an interesting book, with many color photographs of Sikh holy sites and festivals. Since I knew nothing about this religion except for the reputation of its adherents as fierce warriors, I learned quite a bit about its teachings.

The three basic rules as expounded by Sikhism's founder, Guru Nanak are listed in this book as:

1. 'Naam Japna:' meditate
2. 'Kirat Karna:' earn an honest living
3. 'Vand chhakna:' share earnings with needy people

The Sikhs also believe in the transmigration of the soul after death, a recurrent cycle until the soul ultimately becomes one with God.

Another facet of the Sikh religion that is particularly refreshing is its belief in the equal status of women. They were encouraged to learn and read by the second Guru, Angad, and a later guru "made a law against women covering their faces. He also told his followers not to believe in the evil ceremony of 'sati,' where a wife had to jump alive into the funeral pyre of her husband."

I would definitely recommend this book, as long as the reader balances this author's treatment of Sikhism with, say, a history of the Sikh Wars.