From Mystical Movement to Established Religion

1. From Mystical Movement to Established Religion Lesson 1: Social & Relgious Context

2. Sikh: What’s in a Name? • Sikh? • Disciple or Student • Sikhism’= Disciple-ism? • The idea of ‘ism’ is a Western religious construct. So we need an indigenous context to understand this faith… • Disciple of whom? • A Guru • So, Sikhs profess to be disciples of a Guru tradition • …Guru tradition started by Guru Nanak (ਗੁਰੂਨਾਨਕ)

3. What was Nanak responding to? • By 15thC, Mughal political influence in Punjab had increased • Mughal=Muslim rulers with Persian roots from the 10th C • They were political rulers interested in tax revenue, not conversion of Hindu majority • By 15th C, Nanak (and others) concerned that religion and politics had lost their focus on humanism and unity ; • Politics: based too much on greed • Religion: too much on outward ritual, division, discrimination, and arguments about authenticity (I.e. I am a better Muslim than him; I am a more pure Hindu than she) • Socially and religiously Nanak sought answers to these woes ‘Greed and sin have become the king and the minister. Falsehood is the local governor. Lust is the naih (deputy) with whom consultations are held ... The kings are tigers and their officials are dogs who disturb the people without caring for their convenience ...’

4. Religious & Regional Context of Nanak • Regional Context • Rural Punjab • Agricultural • Non-literate • Success & failure of crops, biggest concern • Bhakti movement popular (focus on loving devotion to Vishnu, Krishna) • Song, folk festivals, non-ascetic (so transcendent) devotion • How is this connected to the 3 ideas above? • Focus on ‘popular’ religion, rather than speculative or philosophical religion • Popular religion sought connection to divine forces to achieve positive outcomes • Spiritual Intervention, a huge focus: seek waysto avoid or fix suffering (financial, social, health, etc) • Who was Nanak, what was his religious context, and what ideas did he develop? • Fully embedded in the South Asian Religious world. Born a Hindu, in a Vaishnavite household. • Karma • Atman • Brahman: Nirguna & Saguna • Moksha; many paths; individually achieved • Gurus; 4 stages of life. But also… • SagunaBhakti movement (see article) • Sufi influences

5. Spiritual Intervention in the time of Nanak • (1)Hindu Guru tradition • Gurus=Last stage of life (renunciant) • Taught students, but also guided houeholders in their daily practice • Some Gurus were seen as Miracle saints—their native villages, holy sites, appearance with Vishnu or Shiva at local temples become centres of pilgrimage. Believed prayer to these Guru/saints would help achieve goals and solve problems. • I.e Baba Balaknath today • (2) Sufi (Islamic Mystical) Pir Traditions • Sheikhs= mysic masters, achieved spiritual union with God • Shrines revered (see handout) • Pirs were living Sufi Gurus, who helped people in their suffereing, interceding on behalf of God • Worship at their shrines believe to bring positive destiny. • SakhiSarvar (Lakhdata) • Rohianwala • Lananwala

6. What do we know of Nanak & his message? • The holy scripture of the Guru Granth Sahib tells us nothing about Nanak’s early life • How the previous slides help us understand Nanak better? • Over time, Sikhs recorded oral legends of Nanak, into a form of literature called: JanamSākhīs • Legend of his mystical experience, that started the Sikh Panth (path). [See article] • Most quoted– and misunderstdood- statement: • “There is neither Hindu nor Muslim” • Not a statement of combination of 2 religions • We have already seen, that in terms of popular religion, little distinction between Islam and Hinduism • Uttered from a Nirgunic, mystical perspective, or from the Sufi focus on the mystical union with God [tawid(unity)] • When in the state of divine unity, external labels of religious identity are meaningless • Inner experience, not outward conventions, beliefs, or orthodoxies is what the world needs…