Main Page
Welcome to SikhiWiki,a free Sikh Encyclopedia that anyone can edit.
|
Monday May 20, 2024 |
On the 4 June every year, the worldwide Sikh community celebrate the birthday of late Bhagat Puran Singh (1904 - 1992). Bhai Sahib was born at Rajewal, in district Ludhiana, Punjab, India on June 4, 1904. His mother was Mehtab Kaur and his father's name was Chaudhari Chibu Mal. Bhai Sahib was born into a Hindu family and his original name was Ramji Das. He started his education at Khanna, Punjab and then later joined Lahore's Khalsa High School. As a young man, he used to perform "sewa" at Gurdwara Dera Sahib and Gurdwara Shahid Ganj in Lahore. Here, he would help with cleaning, cooking and serving food; he also tended to the aged, infirm and sick who came to the Gurdwaras to pay their respect to Guru Granth Sahib. In an interview with Bhai Patwant Singh, Bhagat Puran Singh discloses how he became a Sikh. In his early life he used to travel a lot from village to village and would stay overnight at a Hindu Temple. One day when he was staying at one such temple, the Brahmins told him to clean the temple and then when he had done that, they sat in front of him and started eating food without offering him anything. The next time, he had to stay at a Gurdwara and the priest there not only gave him food but also a cot and a glass of milk afterwards .....More Seva is the essence of Sikhism. If there is one solitary word to sum up the Sikh religion, I would unhesitatingly pick seva as the operative word. Seva is the voluntary service to fellow beings without any expectation of reciprocation. It is deeply ingrained in the collective psyche of the Sikhs. Seva is what shines in Sikhism above all. I can say it without any exaggeration or the fear of contradiction that the extent of seva that is found among the Sikhs is rarely found in any other religion. The accent is upon the word, `Voluntary'. That makes the Sikhs unique. It has often been seen in India that whenever there is any natural calamity on a large scale, the Sikh organizations are the first to reach there to provide succour to the affected people. After the devastating earth-quake in Katchh in the Gujarat State of India in 2001, the Sikhs had put up some of the biggest camps to provide free food to the quake-affected people. .....More |
Picture Feature:
| ||
Section for Young Sikhs:The following is a brief summary of the conduct expected from a Sikh of the Guru. Full instructions for the Sikh are given in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib which is more than a holy book for the Sikhs - It is their "Living Guru". By reading the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh can learn about the Sikh beliefs and the type of conduct expected from a Sikh. An online text with English translation of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib can be found here. Instructions
Important Links: Learning Gurmukhi/Punjabi | |||
The Guru's Message...Recognize the Shabad in all hearts:- Maharaj guides us thus: "The One who creates and dissolves the world - that Master alone knows His creative power. Do not search for the True Lord far away; recognize the Word of the Shabad in each and every heart. Recognize the Shabad, and do not think that the Lord is far away; He created this creation. Meditating on the Naam, the Name of the Lord, one obtains peace; without the Naam, he plays a losing game. The One who established the Universe, He alone knows the Way; what can anyone say? The One who established the world cast the net of Maya over it; accept Him as your Lord and Master." (page 581)Avoid evil company:- The Guru guides us thus: "When the soul leaves, you shall become dust, O vacant body; why do you not realize your Husband Lord? You are in love with evil people; by what virtues will you enjoy the Lord's Love? ||1||"(page 1097) and also "Kabeer, for the sake of the rice, the husks are beaten and threshed. When one sits in the company of evil people, then he will be called to account by the Righteous Judge of Dharma." (page 965) |
Popular Articles on Sikhi Wiki |
Mool Mantar | Japji | Sikhism | Dasam Granth | Kirtan | Beliefs | Bani | Gurus | SGGS | Bhai Manjh | Vegetarianism | Bhagat Sain | Bhagat Dhanna | Today | Blogs |