How did the Gurus call their religion?

greenjuice · #1 (**permalink**) 09-Jun-2009, 20:16 PM

i came accross this lines from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

The true Vaishnaav, the devotee of Vishnu, is the one with whom God is thoroughly pleased.
He dwells apart from Maya.
Performing good deeds, he does not seek rewards.
Spotlessly pure is the religion of such a Vaishnaav;
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/25332-how-did-gurus-call-their-religion.html
he has no desire for the fruits of his labours.
He is absorbed in devotional worship and the singing of Kirtan, the songs of the Lord's Glory.
Within his mind and body, he meditates in remembrance on the Lord of the Universe.
He is kind to all creatures.
He holds fast to the Naam, and inspires others to chant it.
O Nanak, such a Vaishnaav obtains the supreme status. ||2||
Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gauree p274

for instance, in the Quran there is a line where Islam is given it's name, so i was wandering if there is something like that in the Gurbani?

Narayanjot Kaur · #2 (**permalink**) 09-Jun-2009, 20:19 PM

Sikh identity: an exploration of ... - Google Book Search

Narayanjot Kaur · #3 (**permalink**) 09-Jun-2009, 20:22 PM

The first time the word Sikh is used in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Jap ji Sahib Ang 3, pauree 10

ਮੰਨੈ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਮੋਖੁ ਦੁਆਰੁ ॥
mannai paavehi mokh dhuaar ||
The faithful find the Door of Liberation.

ਮੰਨੈ ਪਰਵਾਰੈ ਸਾਧਾਰੁ ॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25332
mannai paravaarai saadhhaar ||
The faithful uplift and redeem their family and relations.

ਮੰਨੈ ਤਰੈ ਤਾਰੇ ਗੁਰੁ ਸਿਖ ॥
mannai tharai thaarae gur sikh ||
The faithful are saved, and carried across with the Sikhs of the Guru.

ਮੰਨੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਭਵਹਿ ਨ ਭਿਖ ॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25332
mannai naanak bhavehi n bhikh ||
The faithful, O Nanak, do not wander around begging.

ਐਸਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
aisaa naam niranjan hoe ||
Such is the Name of the Immaculate Lord.

Narayanjot Kaur · #4 (**permalink**) 09-Jun-2009, 20:27 PM

Greeenjuice ji

An interesting question. And your example from Islam also. I would like to consider whether this is unique in Islam. Christians did not call themselves Christians in the Christian Testament. This was a label given to them by others, by-standers and followers of other faiths during their early history. They were adherents of Jesus of Nazareth - the Greek name given to him as Christos.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25332
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25332

Again, with Roman Catholics, the name as a designation of adherents of the religion was given to distinguish the Roman rite from Eastern rites. Later they were known as "papists" to distinguish them from protestant faiths.

Sometimes the way of labeling a religion grows up in a culture of discourse, not always found in a scripture.

greenjuice · #5 (**permalink**) 09-Jun-2009, 20:43 PM

i'm going to offtopic on my own topic

but are here in Bani that you quoted "faithgful" referred to as to something different that Sikhs?

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25332

yea, i know that about Christianity and it's groups.. Jesus called his teaching "good-news" (eyangelion), that is- gospel, like in his sentance "repent and believe the Gospel"..
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25332

i've read in some places "Sikhee" or "Sikhi", and although it's not an "-ism", i'd say it's only an improvised alternative..

anyway, back to the main question, is there a specific name for Sikhism that the Gurus used?

Narayanjot Kaur · #6 (**permalink**) 09-Jun-2009, 20:46 PM

Just answered
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25332

Sikhs of the Guru! gur Sikh It appears many more times in Gurbani. "ism" is a construction from European languages. No?

Narayanjot Kaur · #7 (**permalink**) 09-Jun-2009, 20:52 PM

-ism

• suffix forming nouns: 1 denoting an action or its result: baptism. 2 denoting a state or quality: barbarism. 3 denoting a system, principle, or ideological movement: Anglicanism. 4 denoting a basis for prejudice or discrimination: racism. 5 denoting a peculiarity in language: colloquialism. 6 denoting a pathological condition: alcoholism.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25332
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=25332
— ORIGIN Greek -ismos.

The suffix comes from the Greek. So the Gurus would not have used Sikhism because ism is not part of the Indic languages that they spoke/wrote in their time. Follower, disciple, student are meanings for Sikh. The called themselves Gur Sikhs.

greenjuice · #8 (**permalink**) 09-Jun-2009, 21:08 PM

Sikh is a name for a follower of a religion, not the religion, you're answering the question that i didn't ask.

religion of a MUSLIM is ISLAM

religion of a SIKH is what? SIKHISM?

and again, i'm fooking for a Guru-given name for Sikhism, if there is such..

Randip Singh · #9 (**permalink**) 09-Jun-2009, 23:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenjuice

Sikh is a name for a follower of a religion, not the religion, you're answering the question that i didn't ask.

religion of a MUSLIM is ISLAM

religion of a SIKH is what? SIKHISM?

and again, i'm looking for a Guru-given name for Sikhism, if there is such..

I think aad has done an admirable job in citing that the mention of "Guru ka Sikh" hence a Sikh would follow Sikhi, in English Sikhism.

Here is a link see for yourself:

Sri Granth: Search Results