Question 1

What is the role of the Sikh Gurus?

Accepted Answer

The Sikh Gurus are all manifestations of the One same light, called the SatGuru (True Guru). SatGuru, in turn, is the manifestation of Parmeshar (God).

Therefore, all Gurus are full manifestations of the One God, and not merely prophets. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the present living embodiment of the Satguru-Joti (light).

The purpose of the True Guru is to act as a medium to connect the devotee to God, as per the concept of “Gur-Prasad” (meaning, God is realized through Guru’s Grace).

Question 2

Who or what is "God" in Sikhi?

Accepted Answer

God, commonly referred to as "Akal Purakh" in Sikhi, is the Supreme Being who has created all of creation.

According to Gurbani, Akal Purakh has neither ever been born, nor can He die. He manifests himself in a universal energy called "Naam" but also exists beyond it as well. Therefore, "God" in Sikhi cannot simply be referred to as "Universe" or "Love" as these are limiting qualities, whereas Akal Purakh exists beyond these qualities.

Akal Purakh has both a formless, infinite form that is beyond creation, as well as a form that manifests itself within the creation. Akal Purakh is referred to by many qualitative names in Gurbani, but also only has one "True Name" (SatNaam) which is the only name that is also Akal Purakh's true and complete manifestation, accessed via the "Gurmantar".

Question 3

What is Amrit?

Accepted Answer

Amrit can be roughly translated to "Immortal Nectar". It is received from the True Guru (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji) during the official initiation ceremony to become a Sikh.

Being baptized by Amrit is a rebirth of the individual. Consumption of the holy Amrit cleanses the soul of all past sins and prepares the disciple to receive Naam GurMantar from SatGuru Ji. It can be thought to irrigate the field (the mind and body) before the planting of the seed (the "Beej/Seed Mantar", i.e. Gurmantar).

Question 4

What is Naam?

Accepted Answer

Naam is Vaheguru's name and also His manifestation of His own formless Self.

ਵਾਹੁ ਵਾਹੁ ਬਾਣੀ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਹੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਜੇਵਡੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
The sacred Word, Vaahu Vaahu, is the Formless Lord. There is no other as great.

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji came as a True Saviour and opened up the gateways to Sach Khand by making this one True Name (SatNaam) accessible via the "Guru's Mantar" (Gurmantar).

This Gurmantar is the key of access by which the True Naam can be meditated upon, and can only be recieved from the True Guru.

Naam is the product of Vaheguru’s infinite mind, and contains within it all possibilities and profound hope for peace, fulfillment, and salvation. This is why the most essential mission of a Sikh is to beg for and recieve Naam from SatGuru Ji.

Question 5

Why can’t we choose whichever Name of Vaheguru we want to meditate on?

Accepted Answer

The True Naam holds divine power and spiritual authenticity, which only the True Guru is empowered to give: “Without the True Guru, no one finds the Name. Such is the making which God has made.” (Ang 1045)

Guru Nanak Sahib introduced the Gurmantar form of Naam, which was given by all proceeding Gurus to initiated devotees.

The term "Gurmantar" combines Gur (Guru) and Mantar (sacred word). It is a sacred utterance given directly by the Guru as a access key to the formless Naam.

After the formation of the Khalsa in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh Ji entrusted the responsibility of administering Gurmantar Naam to the Punj Pyare (Five Beloved Ones), ensuring that no single individual could claim this authority. This practice is enshrined in Sikh tradition and recognized in the Sikh Rehat Maryada.

Question 6

Do other names Vaheguru have significance?

Accepted Answer

Gurbani uses many names to describe Vaheguru. These are powerful because they encompass particular qualities of Vaheguru, and are classified as “Kirtam Naams”.

In Gurbani, a distinction is made between Kirtam Naams and SatNaam. SatNaam (meaning the True Name) is distinctly the sum of all Vaheguru’s qualities and is in fact Vaheguru’s own manifestation in the universe, as per Gurbani:

Har Naam Hamara Prabh Abigat Agochar Abinaashi Purakh Bidhaata (“The Lord’s Name is my Lord immortal, unfathomable, and imperishable; it is He the Supreme Being, the architect of destiny”).

The miracle of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is that He made accessible, for the first time, a Name that was not simply for the praise of Vaheguru, but one which would allow us to experience Vaheguru Himself.

Question 7

How do we get salvation?

Accepted Answer

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji came to save the world with SatNaam - the One True Name.  The path he started was a rejection of everything that had come before, a revolutionary moment in human history. While religion had become a tool of oppression, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji came as a True Saviour and opened up the gateways to Sach Khand.

How?

With a Mantar. Not an ordinary Mantar. This GurMantar was a manifestation of The Formless Lord within one Word:

ਵਾਹੁ ਵਾਹੁ ਬਾਣੀ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਹੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਜੇਵਡੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
The sacred Word, Vaahu Vaahu, is the Formless Lord. There is no other as great.

This one True Name, the SatNaam, was the product of Vaheguru’s infinite mind, and contained within it all possibilities and profound hope for peace, fulfillment, and a salvation.

Question 8

What is Rehit?

Accepted Answer

Rehits are the disciplinary lifestyle conducts that one is required to agree to adopt in order to be accepted for the Amrit baptism.

They are mandatory commands of the Guru.

Question 9

Is Ragmala Bani?

Accepted Answer

Shamsher Singh Ashok, Giani Gurdit Singh, and Piara Singh Padam have debunked all claims of Ragmala being Bānī. Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha revealed that no one believed in Ragmala prior to 1917. It was only when Bhai Vir Singh changed direction in that year with his father Dr. Charan Singh, that people started to believe it.

After the Chief Khalsa Diwan began to push Ragmala, the Akal Takht Rehat Maryada was formulated with a middle-ground dictum for the sake of unity.

Question 10

What are the Panj Kakaar? (5 Ks)

Accepted Answer

The 5 Ks are:

1. Kachhera
2. Kirpan
3. Kara
4. Kanga
5. Keski

This is in accordance to Rehitnamay:

ਕੱਛ, ਕੜਾ, ਕਿ੍ਰਪਾਨ, ਕੰਘਾ, ਕੇਸਕੀ, ਇਹ ਪੰਜ ਕਕਾਰ ਰਹਿਤ ਧਰੇ ਸਿਖ ਸੋਇ ॥
“Kachhera, Karha, Kirpan, Kangha, Keski – Whoever keeps the discipline of wearing these 5Ks will be known as my Sikh.”
(Bhai Chaupa Singh Rehatnama)

ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਛਾਪ ਸਿਰ ਕੇਸਕੀ, ਪਾਹੁਲ ਦੇਇ ਉਤਾਰ, ਸੋ ਬੇਮੁਖ ਜਾਨਹੁ ॥ 
“The Guru’s seal is Keski (turban); one who has taken Pahul (Amrit) and removes this, is known as a ‘Bemukh’." 
(Mukatnama, Bhai Sahib Singh)

Sikh Theology

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Recommended Websites

Concept of God

Bhagat Sahibs

Historical

Naam / Gurmantar

Philosophical

Rehit Maryada

Jhatka

Supremacy of Satguru Nanak

Gurbani Vichaar

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Debunking Hindu Mat

Mukti / Liberation

Political Theory