Maarg Manthan · Topic 8.7

Sikhism

Art & Culture › Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism · Topic 8.7

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded in Punjab by Guru Nanak (1469 to 1539), born at Talwandi, now Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, and carried on by nine more Gurus down to Guru Gobind Singh. It teaches one formless God, Ik Onkar, and three duties: Naam Japna, Kirt Karni and Vand Chakna. Guru Arjan compiled the Adi Granth in 1604 and built the Harmandir Sahib; Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa at Anandpur in 1699 and made the Guru Granth Sahib the eternal Guru. Sikhs were about 1.7 percent of Indians in Census 2011.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism

At a Glance

Founder Guru Nanak, 1469 to 1539
Scripture Guru Granth Sahib
Khalsa Founded 1699, Anandpur
Core idea Ik Onkar, one God
Population About 1.7 percent, Census 2011
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism

Where Does It Fit?

This is the seventh topic of the macro on religion and philosophy. It follows the topics on Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism and is one of the later religions that grew in India in the medieval period. Previous topic: Jain Councils. Next topic: Islam.

What Did Each of the Ten Sikh Gurus Contribute?

Guru	Dates	Main contribution
Guru Nanak	1469 to 1539	Founder. Taught Ik Onkar, naam, equality and rejected caste and ritual. Made four long journeys called Udasis. Settled at Kartarpur, where langar began
Guru Angad	1504 to 1552	Standardised the Gurmukhi script and spread the langar and akhadas
Guru Amar Das	1479 to 1574	Set up manji and piri districts for preaching, strengthened langar, opposed sati and purdah. Akbar is said to have visited
Guru Ram Das	1534 to 1581	Founded Ramdaspur, now Amritsar, on land granted by Akbar
Guru Arjan	1563 to 1606	Compiled the Adi Granth in 1604, built the Harmandir Sahib. Executed under Jahangir, the first Sikh martyr
Guru Hargobind	1595 to 1644	Wore two swords for miri (temporal) and piri (spiritual) power. Built the Akal Takht and the fort of Lohgarh
Guru Har Rai	1630 to 1661	Known for charity and care of the sick
Guru Har Krishan	1656 to 1664	The child Guru who served the sick in Delhi
Guru Tegh Bahadur	1621 to 1675	Executed in Delhi under Aurangzeb at Chandni Chowk, where Gurdwara Sis Ganj stands; defended religious freedom
Guru Gobind Singh	1666 to 1708	Created the Khalsa on Baisakhi 1699 at Anandpur, ended the line of human Gurus, wrote the Zafarnama to Aurangzeb

What Are the Core Teachings and Institutions of Sikhism?

Ik Onkar and the Mool Mantar: the opening of the Guru Granth Sahib, declaring one God
Three duties: Naam Japna (remember God), Kirt Karni (honest labour) and Vand Chakna (share with others)
Langar: community kitchen where all sit together irrespective of caste or creed, started by Guru Nanak
Sangat and Pangat: holy congregation and sitting in a row to eat together
Khalsa: the order of the pure created in 1699, with the first five members called the Panj Pyare
Five Ks: kesh (uncut hair), kangha (comb), kara (steel bracelet), kachera (short breeches) and kirpan (sword)
Guru Granth Sahib: of 1430 pages, with hymns of Sikh Gurus and saints such as Kabir, Ravidas and Sheikh Farid, written in Gurmukhi
Five Takhts: Akal Takht at Amritsar, Kesgarh Sahib at Anandpur, Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo, Patna Sahib in Bihar and Hazur Sahib at Nanded in Maharashtra

What Else Should You Remember?

Alternate names: Sikh Dharm, Sikhi and Gurmat; Sikh means disciple, from the Sanskrit shishya; Gurdwara means door of the Guru
Panj Pyare: Daya Singh, Dharam Singh, Himmat Singh, Mohkam Singh and Sahib Singh
Banda Singh Bahadur: led the first Sikh rule in Punjab after the death of Guru Gobind Singh and founded a capital at Lohgarh
Sikh Empire: Maharaja Ranjit Singh united the Misls and ruled from Lahore from 1799 until his death in 1839; the empire ended in 1849 after the Anglo-Sikh wars
Singh Sabha movement: started in 1873 for religious and educational reform
Akali movement: the Gurdwara reform movement led to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in 1920 and the Sikh Gurdwaras Act 1925
Gurmukhi: the script standardised by Guru Angad and used for the Guru Granth Sahib and Punjabi
Kartarpur Corridor: opened on 9 November 2019 to connect Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur in Pakistan, where Guru Nanak spent his last years
Festivals: Baisakhi, Gurpurabs on Guru anniversaries, Hola Mohalla at Anandpur and Bandi Chhor Divas
Architecture: Gurdwara design features are covered in Sikh Style of Architecture
Links with Bhakti: Nanak is placed with the Sant tradition of Bhakti, as in Nayanars Two streams Saguna and Nirguna Language Regional…">Bhakti Movement
Martial tradition: Gatka and the Nihang order are linked, as in Forms of Traditional Martial Arts (Kalaripayattu, Silambam, Thang-Ta, Gatka, Mardani Khel, Musti Yuddha)

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Gurus and deeds: Guru with contribution, such as Amritsar with Ram Das
Concepts: Khalsa, Panj Pyare, Five Ks, langar and miri-piri
Text: Guru Granth Sahib and Adi Granth compilation
Places: five Takhts and Kartarpur
Common errors: crediting the Khalsa to Guru Hargobind, or the Adi Granth to Guru Nanak

As an analytical point, Sikhism joined spiritual equality with social service and a defence of conscience. The langar and seva traditions remain a working model of community welfare, and the gurdwara has become a public space for relief in disasters.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Gurus Matching questions
Terms Khalsa and Five Ks
Mains Equality and seva

What Came Next?

The next topic covers Islam in India. Next topic: Islam.

Key People and Terms

Langar Free community kitchen
Khalsa Order of the pure
Miri-piri Temporal and spiritual power
Takht Seat of authority
Gurmukhi Script of the Gurus
Panj Pyare The five beloved

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Founder: Guru Nanak; Khalsa: 1699.
Adi Granth: 1604, Guru Arjan.
Amritsar: Guru Ram Das.
Miri-piri: Guru Hargobind.
Kartarpur Corridor: 9 November 2019.

Do Not Confuse With

Adi Granth and Guru Granth Sahib Guru Arjan’s compilation versus the final text made eternal Guru by Guru Gobind Singh
Khalsa and Sikh Initiated order versus all followers
Takht and Gurdwara Seat of authority versus place of worship

Memory Hook

Nanak found, Angad script, Amar langar, Ram city, Arjan book, Hargobind sword, Gobind Khalsa.

Mains Angle

Questions ask about equality, seva and the Sikh contribution to Indian society. These points give a balanced frame.

Equality Rejection of caste
Seva Langar and relief
Politics Sikh Empire and reform

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the teachings of Guru Nanak and the role of the Sikh Gurus in building a distinct religious community.”

How to Answer

Teaching One God, equality.
Institutions Langar, Granth, Khalsa.
Resistance Martyrdoms.
Legacy Seva and reform.

GS Relevance

Prelims: Sikh Gurus, institutions, texts, Khalsa, Gurdwaras. GS Paper 1: Indian culture, religion, medieval history.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sikhism?

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded in Punjab in the late fifteenth century by Guru Nanak. It teaches belief in one God called Ik Onkar, equality of all people, honest living and sharing. Its scripture is the Guru Granth Sahib and its community order is the Khalsa.

Who founded Sikhism?

Guru Nanak founded Sikhism. He was born in 1469 at Talwandi, now Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, travelled widely in four journeys called Udasis, and settled at Kartarpur, where he died in 1539. Nine Gurus followed him, ending with Guru Gobind Singh.

What are the main teachings of Sikhism?

Sikhism teaches belief in one God, Ik Onkar, and three duties: Naam Japna or remembering God, Kirt Karni or honest work, and Vand Chakna or sharing. It rejects caste, idol worship and empty ritual, and stresses equality, community kitchen and service called seva.

What is the Khalsa and what are the Five Ks?

The Khalsa is the order of initiated Sikhs founded by Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur on Baisakhi in 1699, beginning with the Panj Pyare. Its members wear the Five Ks: kesh or uncut hair, kangha comb, kara steel bracelet, kachera breeches and kirpan sword.

Why is Sikhism important for UPSC?

Sikhism is asked in Prelims through the Gurus and their contributions, the Guru Granth Sahib, Takhts and festivals, and in Mains in medieval history, religious reform and social equality. The Sikh Empire, Singh Sabha and Akali movements also link it to modern history.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Guru Arjan compiled the Adi Granth in 1604.

True

He also built the Harmandir Sahib.

2 The Khalsa was founded by Guru Hargobind.

False

Guru Gobind Singh founded it in 1699.

3 Amritsar was founded by Guru Ram Das.