Who is a Sikh?: The Problem of Sikh IdentityWhat is Sikhism and who is a Sikh? This book surveys the history of the sect, showing how various circumstances influenced the criteria by which people could be identified. One belief is that Sikhism is the complete acceptance of the teachings of the tenth Guru, Gobind Singh. According to the tradition, a true Sikh must be of the Khalsa, the community founded by Guru Singh; yet, there are many who belong to families with a Khalsa heritage but no longer observe the tradition in its full rigor. And, there are many others who regard themselves as Sikhs but do not follow the discipline of the Khalsa, such as the so-called Sahaj-dhari Sikhs. McLeod examines these discrepansies and disagreements, offering a new discussion and analysis of who and what defines Sikhism. |
Contents
What is Sikhism? | 1 |
The Khalsa and its Rahit | 23 |
The Khalsa in the Eighteenth Century | 43 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
accept actual Adi Granth Akal Purakh Akal Takhat Akali amongst amrit Amrit-dhari Amritsar Baba Bhai Gurdas British caste certainly chap claim concerning definition Delhi developed distinctive divine Name doctrine Early Sikh Tradition eighteenth century eternal Guru Five Ks followers Ganda Singh Golden Temple gurdwara Guru Amar Das Guru Arjan Guru Gobind Singh Guru Granth Sahib Guru Nanak Guru's Hindu History Ibid ideal India interpretation issue janam-sakhis Jats Kahn Singh Kapur Kes-dhari Khalsa identity Khalsa Sikhs Khalsa tradition Khatri Khushwant Singh Lahore masands McLeod trans Mughal Muslim nām Namdharis Nanak-panth Nand Lal nineteenth century Nirankaris non-Khalsa observe orthodox pañj Panth particular Patiala Patit period political practice problem Punjab rahit-nama Ranjit Singh regarded ritual samp sangat Satsang SGPC Sikh identity Sikh Rahit Maryādā Sikh Separatism Sikhism Singh Sabha movement Singh Sabha reformers Study of Sikhism Tat Khalsa Teja Singh Textual Sources Udasi W. H. McLeod word