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Sikhism: Almighty God
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Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1538), the founder of Sikhism, was born in the village of Talwandi, now called Nankana Sahib, near Lahore in present-day Pakistan. His father, Mehta Kalu was a Patwari- an accountant of land revenue in the government. Guru's mother was Mata Tripta and he had one older sister, Bibi Nanki. From the very childhood, Bibi Nanki saw in him the Light of God but she did not reveal this secret to anyone. She is known as the first disciple of Guru Nanak. Even as a boy, Nanak was fascinated by religion, and his desire to explore the mysteries of life eventually led him to leave home.
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Sikhism was founded in India (present day Pakistan) in the late 15th Century by Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He received a vision to preach the way to enlightenment and God. He is responsible for the saying "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim". For several centuries, the religious movement was lead by a series of 11 gurus. In 1801, the Sikh state of Punjab was founded in Northern India by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. In 1947 the Indian subcontinent was divided into a mostly Muslim Pakistan and mostly Hindu India.
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Sikhism is not an ethnic religion and welcomes converts and many people from other faiths have converted into Sikhism. Guru Nanak was born in 1469 AD and preached of The One God whose name is True. He condemned idolatry and distrusted all rites and ceremonies. Sikhs believe in one supreme eternal reality, The Ik Omkar, the God who is the Truth that is immanent in all things in creation and that is the creator of all things. This Truth is without fear and without hatred it is not subject to time, it is beyond birth and death and is self-revealing. They believe that God (Waheguru), who is omnipresent, omnipotent and immanent as well as transcendent, is the creator of the universe and everything in it. By recognising divine self-expression and truth one can form a relationship with the Creator because he is formless, inscrutable, and beyond the reach of human intellect.
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Sikhism began with Guru Nanak (1469-1539), a member of a trading caste in Punjab who seems to have been employed for some time as a government servant, was married and had two sons, and at age forty-five became a religious teacher. At the heart of his message was a philosophy of universal love, devotion to God, and the equality of all men and women before God. He set up congregations of believers who ate together in free communal kitchens in an overt attempt to break down caste boundaries based on food prohibitions. As a poet, musician, and enlightened master, Nanak's reputation spread, and by the time he died he had founded a new religion of "disciples" (shiksha or sikh) that followed his example.
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Sikhism accepts the ancient Hindu belief in karma and rebirth. However Sikhism preaches a far simpler way to end transmigration of souls. It is through the grace of God, by constantly repeating the name of God and contemplating upon Him. By leading a life of pure devotion, virtuous living and true humilityone can liberate oneself from the cycle of births and deaths. Good actions do lead to good karma, but there is no place here for ascetic practices or mere performance of superficial rituals. Guru Nanak preached that the birth is due to ones karma, but the final liberation is due to God's grace.
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Sikhism is the youngest of all religions. Guru Nanak ji founded it in the year 1469. The Sikh religion today has a following of over 20 million people worldwide and is ranked as the worlds 5th largest religion. Sikhism preaches a message of devotion and remembrance of God at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind and denounces superstitions and blind rituals. Sikhism is open to all through the teachings of its 10 Gurus enshrined in the Sikh Holy Book and Living Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
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