By: Alison Dirr
Sikhism
Sikhism began in the northern state of Punjab, India, in the 15th century with Guru Nanak. “Guru” refers to the divine message and translates to “teacher” or “enlightened one.” “Sikh” translates to “student.” The 10 human gurus are thought to have embodied the divine message of the faith, which is also immortalized in the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib.
Three Pillars
- Kirat Karni: Work hard and work honestly.
- Naam Japna: Remember God in everything you do.
- Vand Chakna: Share earnings with others. “Vand” translates to “share,” and “chak” translates to “consume,” so sharing comes before consuming.
Holy place
Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab.
Clothing
Inside the Sikh temple–-gurdwara, in Punjabi—men and women cover their hair. Women use scarves of all colors. Even outside the gurdwara, many Sikh men wear turbans and do not cut their beards or hair, as uncut hair is one of the five articles of faith. The other four are a small wooden comb (Kangha), a certain kind of underwear (Kachhehra), a steel bracelet (Kara) and a small sword (Kirpan).
More information at Sikhcoalition.org
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