1- Identify One Significant Characteristic About the Mughal Empire. ______

Sikhism WHAP/Napp

“In a largely Hindu India, ruled by the Muslim Mughal Empire, several significant cultural departures took shape in the early modern era that brought Hindus and Muslims together in new forms of religious expression. One was the flourishing of a devotional form of Hinduism known as bhakti. Through songs, prayers, dances, poetry, and rituals, devotees sought to achieve union with one or another of India’s many deities. Appealing especially to women, the bhakti movement provided an avenue for social criticism. Its practitioners often set aside caste distinctions and disregarded the detailed rituals of the Brahmin priests in favor of direct contact with the divine. This emphasis had much in common with the mystical Sufi form of Islam and helped blur the distinction between these two traditions in India… Yet another major cultural change that blended Islam and Hinduism emerged with the growth of Sikhism as a new and distinctive religious tradition in the Punjab region of northern India. Its founder, Guru Nanak (1469 – 1539), had been involved in the bhakti movement but came to believe that ‘there is no Hindu; there is no Muslim; only God.’ His teachings and those of subsequent gurus also set aside caste distinctions and untouchability and ended the seclusion of women, while proclaiming the ‘brotherhood of all mankind’ as well as the essential equality of men and women. Drawing converts from Punajbi peasants and merchants, both Muslim and Hindu, the Sikhs gradually became a separate religious community. They developed their own sacred book, known as the Guru Granth (teacher book); created a central place of worship and pilgrimage in the Golden Temple of Amritsar; and prescribed certain dress requirements for men, including keeping hair and beards uncut, wearing a turban, and carrying a short sword. During the seventeenth century, Sikhs encountered hostility from both the Mughal Empire and some of their Hindu neighbors. In response, Sikhism evolved from a peaceful religious movement, blending Hindu and Muslim elements, into a militant community whose military skills were highly valued by the British when they took over India in the late eighteenth century.” ~ Ways of the World 1- Identify one significant characteristic about the Mughal Empire. ______2- Describe the bhakti movement. ______3- How did bhakti differ from traditional Hindu worship? ______4- What was bhakti similar to? Why? ______5- Identify three significant facts about Guru Nanak. ______6- What are the Guru Granth and the Golden Temple of Amritsar? ______7- Identify several requirements for Sikh men. ______8- How did Sikhism change in the seventeenth century? ______Notes: I. Origins A. Guru Nanaka spiritual teachernorthern Indiafifteenth century C.E. B. Followers were called Sikhs, meaning “disciples, students, seekers of truth” C. Succeeded by nine Gurus, ending with Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) D. Little known outside India even though fifth largest of all global religions II. Before Guru Nanak A. Hinduism and Islam had already drawn closer in northern India B. Sants or “holy people,” particularly Sufi mystics and Hindu practitioners of bhakti, shared a common cause in emphasizing devotion to the Beloved III. Guru Nanak A. Born in 1469 in northern India (Punjab)half-Muslim/half-Hindu region B. When Nanak was thirty, life was transformed after immersion in a river, from which it is said he did not emerge for three days 1. Some people now think he was meditating on the opposite side 2. Charged by the Almighty to go back into the tainted world to redeem it C. Nanak said, “I shall follow God’s path. God is neither Hindu nor Muslim.” D. Emphasized three central teachings as the straight path to God 1. Working hard in society to earn one’s own honest living (rather than withdrawing into asceticism and begging) 2. Sharing from one’s earnings with those who are needy 3. Remembering God at all times as the only Doer, the Giver E. Practiced idea of a new social orderequality, justice, and service to all F. After Nanak’s death, appointed a spiritual successor G. Eventually a total of ten Sikh Gurus 1. Fourth Guru founded the holy city of Amritsar 2. Fifth Guru built the religion’s most sacred shrine, the Golden Temple 3. Fifth Guru also compiled the sacred scriptures of the Sikhs 4. Suspicions that Fifth Guru supported a rival successor to Akbar’s throne, tortured and executed by Akbar’s son and successor (1606) H. Sikhism took measures to protect itself and to defend weak of all religions 1. Sixth Guru built a Sikh army, carried two swords (one symbolizing temporal power, otherspiritual power), to defend religion 2. Seventh Guru, pacifist, taught his Sikhs to feed anyone 3. Ninth Guru was approached by Hindu pandits (Brahmin scholars) who were facing forced conversion to Islam by Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb a) Told to tell emperor they would convert to Islam if Sikh Guru would b) Ninth Guru staunchly maintained the right of all people to religious freedom  beheaded 4. Tenth Gurutotal surrender to the master was necessary volunteers escorted into Guru’s tent, from which the Tenth Guru emerged alone with a bloody swordtest of loyaltynot actually harmed a) Five Beloved Ones became models for the Sikhs b) Men were baptized and given surname Singh (“lion”); women were all given the name Kaur (“princess”) and treated as equals c) Formed the Khalsa (“Pure Ones”), a fraternity pledged to a special code of personal discipline d) Sworn to wear five symbols of dedicationlong unshorn hair bound under a turban or a veil, a comb to keep it tidy, a steel bracelet as a personal reminder that one is a servant of God, short underbreeches for modesty, and a sword for dignity and the willingness to fight for justice and protection of the weak could not blend in anymore e) Tenth Guru’s sons martyred in battle against Mughals 5. As he was dying in 1708, he transferred his authority to the Adi Granth (Sikh holy book) rather than to human successorbook now called Guru Granth Sahib (Sahib is an expression of veneration) I. Beliefs A. Sikh Gurus accorded full respect and freedom of participation to women B. Udasis  renunciates but do not withdraw from the world rather practice strict disciple/meditation while at the same time trying to serve humanity C. Loving devotion to one God D. Does not claim to have the only path to God, nor does it try to convert E. Like Hinduism ( karma and reincarnation) – Like Islam (monotheism) F. Sikh-soldiers are pledged to protect the freedom of all religions G. The Sikh purpose of life is to realize God within the world H. All people are to be treated equalrefused to recognize caste system I. The langar is the communal kitchen which is freely offered to all who come J. No priestly class – No servant class K. Center of Sikhism remains the PunjabSikh separatists want independent state called Khalistan1984 Sikh bodyguards assassinated Indira Gandhi after Gandhi ordered storming of Golden Temple Complete the Graphic Organizer Below: Guru Nanak: The Punjab before Guru Nanak:

Religious Tenets:

Significant Sikh Gurus:

Sikhism Questions:  Discuss the religious influences on northern India during the time of Guru Nanak.  Describe the interactions between Hindus and Muslims in India (but recognize the complexities of these interactions – not one interaction rather many).  Discuss the life and beliefs of Guru Nanak.  How did the subsequent Gurus influence the Sikh religion?  Discuss the beliefs of Sikhs in the world today. 1. Guru Nanak’s life changed at the 6. The five symbols of the faith Khalsa age of 30 after or “Pure Ones” in the Sikh religion (A) A meditative trance. wear include (B) A pilgrimage to a holy site. (A) A steel bracelet worn as a (C) Immersion in a river. reminder that one is God’s (D) Any of these. servant. (B) A sword for dignity and the 2. Guru Nanak presented three central willingness to fight for justice. teachings as leading to God: working (C) Long unshorn hair bound under to earn one's own living, sharing a turban or veil. from one's earnings, and (D) Any of these. (A) Offering one’s time to do for others as a sacrifice to God. 7. Guru Gobind Singh, the last of the (B) Remembering God as the only Sikh Gurus, passed his authority not true doer and giver. to an individual human but to (C) Taking care of nature. (A) The Sikh congregation, the sangat. (D) Any of these. (B) God. (C) The Udasis, Sikh followers who 3. Which of the following Gurus practice strict discipline and founded the holy city of Amritsar? meditation. (A) The Fourth Guru. (D) The Sikh scripture, from then on (B) The Third Guru. called the Guru Granth Sahib. (C) The Second Guru. (D) The Fifth Guru. 8. The major focus of Sikhism is (A) Devotion to worship. 4. The most sacred shrine of the Sikh (B) Devotion to Guru Granth Sahib, religion is the ______built by the scripture. the Fifth Guru. (C) Devotion to the community. (A) Ka’bah (D) Devotion to God. (B) Golden Temple (C) Golden Tabernacle 9. Sikhs have these beliefs in common (D) Holy of Holies with Hindus. (A) The caste system and 5. The ______Guru was martyred reincarnation rather than convert to Islam. (B) Meditation and the caste system (A) Sixth (C) Karma and reincarnation (B) Eighth (D) Reincarnation and polytheism (C) Ninth (D) Seventh

Thesis Statement: Continuity and Change: Sikhism from Guru Nanak to Present ______