America is the first nation in the modern world whose Constitution espouses the democratic values of freedom and equality, ideas which came to the fore during the French Revolution. But much before that, Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539), the founder of Sikhism, made a fervent appeal for equality, including gender equality.
Guru Nanak, whose 555th birth anniversary is being celebrated this year on November 15, said, ‘Awwal Allah noor upaaya, kudrat ke sab bande…’ First God created light, then by his creative power, he made all mortal beings, from the one light the entire universe welled up. So who is higher and who is lower? The Creation is in the Creator and the Creator is in the Creation, all-pervading.”
The sole Sikh scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, opens with an alphanumeric, 1Oankar, combining the first numeral with the first Gurumukhi language alphabet, which stands for Oankar, or Creator. Thus, it postulates One God that embraces all creation ‐- not a partisan Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu or Sikh God. And, then, as the Sikh scripture says, ‘I see no stranger’.
Equality, liberty, fraternity and justice are inherent in the oneness professed by Sikhism – the same fundamental values of American society imagined and institutionalized by “We the People.”
Steeped in interfaith thought
The First Amendment of the US Constitution protects freedom of religion. Sikhism is steeped in interfaith thought. Guru Granth Sahib is a compilation of about 6,000 shabads or hymns from 32 saints and evolved beings of different sects and castes. Among them, Baba Farid, a Muslim, and Ravidas, born low caste.
I am not a Sikh, but a Hindu hailing from Punjab, the northern Indian state where a majority of the 30 million Sikhs live. Here in America, I had an opportunity to learn more about Sikhism when I was entrusted by a Sikh philanthropist to edit an interfaith journal titled ‘One World Under God’ before Covid struck.
This popular Sikh verse can be considered the anthem of interfaith: ‘Koi bole raam raam, koi khuday…..’ (God is remembered by different names by different people). Indeed, if God is one and we all are his children, then where is the scope for conflict? Respect for other religions is common in Indic religions. Hinduism phrases it as ‘Ekam sat vipraha bahuda vadanti’ (There is one Truth, related differently by the wise.”
3 core teachings
The three key teachings of Sikhism to imbibe in our life are: kirat karo, vand chhako, and naam japo. The first recommends you work to earn a living. Notably, all 10 Sikh gurus were householders, and renouncing the world is not encouraged for the followers. Vand chhako implores you to share with the poor and needy the fruits of what you have justly earned. Lastly, pray to God.
Vand chhako, literally meaning share a meal, has been institutionalized in Sikhism as langar or free kitchen. The Golden Temple, their holiest site in India, has a round the clock langar, serving up to a hundred thousand hot meals a day. I also remember attending the Parliament of the World’s Religion in Chicago last year, where the Sikh community served free lunch to the 7,000 attendees for all 5 days of the conclave.
Free kitchen tradition
Last week, on November 9, I attended the ‘Oneness: A light for humanity’ event celebrating Guru Nanak’s 555th anniversary at the 2800-seat New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, NJ. It was held by the nonprofit ‘Let’s Share A Meal’ organization. They serve free meals in homeless shelters and old age homes, do food drives and other aid activities. Based in New Jersey, they are on a mission to replicate the effort in all US states and Canada.
An appreciative audience cheered the star performers like Harshdeep Kaur who had traveled from India for the devotional event. Those who spoke from the stage included Indian American hotelier Sant Chatwal, and celebrity chef Vikas Khanna, whose Bungalow restaurant in Manhattan has opened to rave reviews.
The Oneness event to raise funds was organized by Onkar Singh, a successful builder. He and many others have been inspired by the story of ‘Sacha Sauda’ from Guru Nanak’s life. When Guru Nanak was young, his father gave him 20 rupees to start and grow the money in some trade. On the way to town, the guru met some mendicants and spent the money feeding them. When reprimanded by his father, he said the money was well spent.
While we celebrate Guru Nanak as the founder of Sikhism, the 5th guru, Guru Arjan Dev, compiled the Guru Granth Sahib. And it was their 10th and last preceptor, Guru Gobind Singh, who gave a unique identity to the followers of the faith. You can spot Sikh men in turbans wherever their large diaspora is, including in America. The baptized Sikhs keep unshorn hair. In a caste-ridden Indian society at the time, Guru Gobind Singh gave the common surname ‘Singh’ to men and ‘Kaur’ to women.
Guru Nanak also promoted gender equality, ahead of his times. Women should be given respect due to them, he argued. “So kyon manda aakhiye jit jamme rajan” (Why should the woman who gives birth to kings be called inferior?) He added that there will be no human race without women to bear children.
Guru Nanak was not just the founder of a religion but a beacon of humanity, compassion, and social justice. His teachings reverberate through the annals of time, transcending centuries to inspire and guide humanity toward a path of righteousness, equality, and enlightenment. Guru Nanak’s philosophy encompasses a profound humanism that remains remarkably pertinent in today’s world.
Guru Nanak’s anthem for the universe
A story from the life of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore points to Guru Nanak’s universal vision. Somebody asked him, “You have written India’s national anthem (Jan Gan Man…). Did you ever think about writing an anthem for the entire universe?” Tagore replied, “Guru Nanak has already written the universal anthem.”
What Tagore referred to was the hymn or aarti Guru Nanak sang after witnessing the famous aarti ceremony at the Jagannath temple in Puri, India. Aarti is a Hindi term meaning benediction or offering in reverence.
The lyrics of Guru Nanak’s aarti start with the line: Gagana mai thālu ravi candu dīpaka banē tārikā maṇḍala janaka mōtī. The hymn was the Guru’s reverent commendation of nature’s arrangement in the universality of its presentation. His words of appreciation and gratitude were his aarti, devotional poetry of enlightenment describing God’s luminous lila (play).
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