Glimpses Of World Religions

SR No.: 032397
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Navbharat Sahitya Mandir
Publication Year: 2003
Total Pages: 228
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 26 MB

Page 104

The Shikh Dharma
85
follow the tradition of being a Sati or burn herself on the funeral pyre after the death of her husband. Not to beg alms from others, to give in charity the ten percent of his earnings, to earn livelihood by honest ways, not to steal, not to misuse or misappropriate money reserved for charity by an institution. Man is also expected to have lunch or dinner, sitting together with one-another, leaving aside distinctions of caste and creed, to speak and behave politely and respectfully with others, to regard men and women as equal, to speak sweet and truth, to begin doing all deeds with a remembrance of God's name etc. are the commands. We are also advised to abolish the vices like Kam, Krodh, Lobh, Moha and Ahankar (viz. wishes, anger, greed, infatuations and pride) by means of the development of virtues.
In Sikh Dharma, the feelings of devotion are expressed in the form of prayers of morning, evening and night, the darshan of Guru Granthsaheb (book), the holy company of Sikh Samaj, singing the devotional songs (Keertan) and repeating the names as remembering to God. There are no intricate and hard rituals in this religion. The Sikh religion regards a holy life of an householder more valuable than the life of a recluse.
'Sing' or 'Sinh' alias followers of Khalsa sect may have their hair long. They keep 5 'K's viz. Kesh (hair), Kachcha (loins), Kadun (thick, heavy, bangle like ring), Kantha (comb), Kirpan (a dagger). It is customary to confess the guilt in the presence of sages and saints and to accept the punishments they declare for the purposes of repentence, in which, generally, one is asked to render services to the saints as an alternative to sing devotional songs praising the words of Gurus. To swing the fans to the saints (to remedy heat), to offer them water, to grind the grains for Guru's 'lunger' - these and such other services are considered as very holy acts. By rendering such services, it is believed, virtues of mind like humility develop.