Interesting Facts About Sikhism

[sparklekaz]

• Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world.
  
  
• Sikhism is a distinct religion with its own unique, divine scriptures and beliefs.
  
  
• Sikhism is a 500 year old religion.
  
  
• The Sikh religion originated in India.
  
  
• There are over 26 million Sikhs worldwide.
  
  
• There are over 1 million Sikhs in the United States and Canada.
  
  
• About a half million Sikhs are estimated to live in the United Kingdom.
  
  
• Sikhs have lived in North America for over 100 years. The first Sikh migration to the United Kingdom was in the 1950s.
  
  
• Sikhs DO NOT believe in terrorism or hurting innocent people.
  
  
• Sikh men and women cover their heads at all times as an expression of respect to their Gurus.
  
  
• The Sikh turban symbolizes discipline, integrity, humility, and spirituality. The turban is a mandatory part of Sikh faith, not a social custom, or a hat that can be easily taken on or off.
  
  
• Most people in North America and the United Kingdom with turbans are Sikhs.
  
  
• The universal symbol of Sikhism is the khanda, the double-edged sword flanked by two daggers (representing worldly and spiritual powers, bound by the oneness of God).
  
  
• The traditional greeting used by Sikhs is "Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh" which means "The Khalsa belongs to God, Victory belongs to God".
  
  
• Another traditional greeting is "Sat Sri Akal" which means "Immortal God is Truth"
  

[jesusrose]

Thank you for posting this Kaz! For me, growing up in a Sikh family, the thing that stood out most was how inclusive the faith is. Everyone is welcome and even non-turbaned Sikhs are not judged. It has always been with the thought that everyone is on their own path and the symbol 'Ek Onkar' meaning "God is One" is something that has always had a strong meaning for me.

There is nothing in the Sikh faith that indicates pain for one who is not Sikh. This faith is one that allows individuals to grow and find their own path - something that has allowed me to open my self up to explore other faiths and the universe without fear of rejection from my community.