VIEW ALL MANKIND AS ONE
Sexuality & Equality in Sikhism
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Overview of Presentation
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History of Sikhism
Generic Sikh Philosophy
Visit To A Gurdwara
Anglo - Sikh Relationship
UK Laws and Sikh Population Statistics
Sikh Groupings and Sects
Sikh Philosophy on Equality and Sexuality
Insights into Punjabi & Indian Culture
Common Objections to Homosexuality by Sikhs
Concluding Remarks
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History of Sikhism
(1000AD – 1700AD)
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Background to Sikhism
• History of Sufism in the subcontinent
– ‘spiritual’ or ‘mystical’ Islam
• traced back to Ali, Mohammed’s son-in-law
– Mu’innyudin Chishti (1141 – 1240)
• Introduced Sufism to India
• Baba Farid (13th century)
– ‘pir’/saint worship
• tombs of saints revered
• similarity to Hinduism
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Background to Sikhism
• History of the Bhakti Movement in Hinduism
– ‘devotion’ more important than knowledge
• rejection of the caste system
• opposed by Brahmins
– worship of ‘bhagats’/saints
• similar to Sufi ‘pirs’
– Important North Indian bhagats in 15th Century
• Ravidas
• Kabir
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Sikh Gurus (1st to 5th)
1. Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469 – 1539)
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Founder of Sikhism
2. Guru Angad Dev Ji (1504 – 1552)
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Perfected the Punjabi script of Gurmukhi
3. Guru Amar Das Ji (1479 – 1574)
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Strengthened the importance of Langar, abolished Sati
4. Guru Ram Das Ji
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(1534 – 1581)
Founded Amritsar, composed the Laavan (marriage hymns)
5. Guru Arjun Dev Ji (1563 – 1606)
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Sikh martyr, founded Darbar Sahib, compiled Sikh Holy Book
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Sikh Gurus (6th to 10th)
6. Guru Hargobind Ji (1595 – 1644)
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militarised Sikhism, Miri-Piri (temporal-spiritual ) ideals
7. Guru Har Rai Ji
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(1630 – 1661)
maintained the militaristic aspects of Sikhism
8. Guru Har Krishan (1656 – 1664)
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child Guru
9. Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621 – 1675)
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executed whilst protecting Kashmiri pandits (Hinduism)
10. Guru Gobind Singh (1666 – 1708)
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founded the Khalsa, last living Guru
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Sikh Gurus (11th/current)
• Guru Granth Sahib
• Sikh Holy Book
• First compiled in 1604 – became Guru in 1708
• contains compilations of
– first 5 Gurus and the 9th Guru
– 15 Hindu Bhagats and Muslim Pirs, including Farid, Kabir and
Ravidas
• 1430 pages
• treated as a living being
• respected as Guru by all Sikhs
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Generic Sikh Philosophy
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What is Sikhism?
• Sikh means “Learner”
• An individual who strives to understand and
seek knowledge of eternal wisdom is a Sikh
• Sikhism is a philosophy (known as Gurmat)
which can be followed by anyone
• Sikh philosophy explores eternal truth and our
relationship with truth
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Transcendent Nature of God (Nirgun)
as set out in the Mool Mantar
•There is one creative force
•This is the eternal truth
•Doer of everything
•Beyond fear
•Beyond revenge
•Beyond death
•Image of the Infinite, Unborn
•This awareness is the Guru’s gift
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Immanent Nature of God (Sargun)
•God exists throughout and within all
animate and inanimate objects
•The Creation and the Creator are the same
thing.
“From water, He created the three worlds; in
each and every heart He has infused His
Light.” SGGSJ p. 19
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Golden Chain of Teachers
Jesus, Buddha, Hari Krishna, Prophet
Mohammad, Guru Nanak are all part of a golden
chain of teachers.
“There are six schools of philosophy, six teachers, and six
sets of teachings. But the Teacher of teachers is the One,
who appears in so many forms.” SGGSJ p. 12
“You [God] are Mach, Kacch and Bavan Avatar,
Narsingha, Buddha you are the essence of the world.”
Dasam Granth SNM
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Karma, Samsara & Reincarnation
•Karma is the idea that we reap the fruits of our efforts. So
attention is given to ones thoughts, words, deeds
•Samsara is the continual cycle of birth and death of life forms until
merger with God is achieved.
•Reincarnation is the belief system of all Indian religions, gnostic
Christianity, mystical Islam & mystical Judasim
•Aim of life is to break the cycle of birth and death and achieve a
state of eternal freedom (Mukhti)
•With an all-compassionate God there is no space for eternal
damnation.
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3 Golden Lifestyle Principles
• Naam Japna
– Meditation of God’s name
• Kirat Karna
– To earn an honest living and lead an honest life
– Living the life of a householder and raising a family
(Gristi Jeevan)
• Wand Ke Chhakna
– Share one’s wealth and time with others
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Visit To A Gurdwara
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Rooms In A Gurdwara
• Sikh place of is called a “Gurudwara” which means
“Doorway to the Guru”
• Outside Gurdwara – bright orange flag
• Darbar / Prayer Hall is where singing & talks happen.
– scripture placed on a throne
– Individual with Chaur Sahib
• Langar hall – communal kitchen usually serving a
vegetarian indian meals to all visitors from the
morning up until the late evening.
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Rules In A Gurdwara
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Open to people of all backgrounds
Remove shoes
Wear modest clothing
Cover head with a scarf or bandana
Men and women sit on different sides of the prayer
hall but usually mixed in the langar hall
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Anglo - Sikh Relationship
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Sikhism’s relationship with Britain
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780 – 1839)
– Ruler of the Sikh Empire
– stretched from Afghanistan to China, and included Kashmir,
most of modern-day Pakistan, and northern parts of India
– Patron of Sikh Arts
– covered the Darbar Sahib in gold, hence ‘Golden Temple’
– many items now in the V&A Museum, South Kensington
– owned the Koh-i-Noor diamond
– Secular rule
– Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, and Europeans in government and
army
– endowments to gurdwaras, mandirs and mosques
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Sikhism’s relationship with Britain
• First and Second Sikh Wars (1845-6, 1848-9)
• Annexation of Punjab by British Empire (1849)
– Sikh regiments formed within the British Army
• Maharaja Duleep Singh (1838 – 1893)
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exiled to Britain in 1854 – first Sikh settler in Britain
converted to Christianity
court favourite of Queen Victoria
lived near Thetford (Norfolk/Suffolk borders)
reconverted to Sikhism in later years, but buried in Elveden
Church due to fears that return of body to India for cremation
could lead to unrest
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Sikhism during the British Raj
• Development of distinct identity
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Sikh presence in British Army
SGPC/Singh Sabha Movement
Anand Marriage Act 1909 (in India)
Amritsar Massacre of 1919
• Loss of fluidity of religion/beliefs
– Youngest son in Punjabi Hindu families often brought up as
Sikh
– normal to worship at gurdwara, mandirs and pirs’ tombs
– codification of religious identity during British Raj
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UK Laws & Sikh Population
Statistics
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UK Laws Relating to SIkhs
• Definition of a Sikh in UK Law
(Mandla v Dowell-Lee, 1983 case)
• Wearing Turbans on Motorcycles
(Motor-Cycle Crash Helmets (Religious Exemption)
Act 1976)
• Wearing Kirpan (Sword) at the Workplace and in
Society
(Criminal Justice Act 1988 and 1996)
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Global Sikh Population
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Sikh Groupings & Sects
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Mainstream Sikhs
• 80% of Sikhs do not have long hair or wear
turbans
• Some may be recognised by a metal
bracelet on the left or right arm (if they
wear one)
• Do not have any specific dietary
requirements, but may avoid Beef.
• Generally educated people who like to
drink!
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Khalsa Sikhs
• Baptised Sikhs, as initiated by the 10th Guru
• Wear 5Ks/articles of faith:
– Kara (bracelet); Kesh (uncut hair); Kachera
(shorts/underwear); Kanga (comb); Kirpan
(short dagger)
• Dietary lifestyle includes: tee totalling,
vegetarianism or avoid halal/kosher meat/Beef
• Perform 5-7 meditations per day
• Constitute small % of Sikh community
• Control 99% of all Gurdwaras in the world
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Namdhari Sikhs
• Recognised by their all white clothing
(usually) and distinctive white turban style
with folds at the front
• Follow a living master His Holiness Sri
Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji
• Focus is on living a simple and pure
lifestyle
• Strict vegetarians, teetotalers and keep
long hair
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3HO Yogi Sikhs
• Healthy-Happy-Holy org started by a
living master called “Yogi Bhajan”
• Practise Kundalini Yoga
• Many work as yoga teachers, alternative
health therapists
• Tend to be from non-Indian backgrounds
• Strict vegetarians, teetotalers and most
follow 5K discipline of Khalsa Sikhs
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Asian Sikh Organisations
• Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee
(SGPC)
– Best known Sikh organisation
– Mini ‘Sikh Parliament’ in India
– Controls gurdwaras in 3 states of India including
Punjab , Haryana and Himachal Pradesh
• Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee
– Controls gurdwaras in Delhi
• Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee
– Controls gurdwaras in Pakistan
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Western Sikh Organisations
• Network of Sikh Organisations
– Indarjit Singh OBE CBE
• Guru Nanak Nishkam Sevak Jatha (UK)
– Organised food at the 4th Parliament of World
Religions in Barcelona
• Sikh American Legal Defense & Education
Fund (SALDEF) & United Sikhs
• British Organisation of Sikh Students (BOSS)
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Sikh Philosophy On
Equality & Sexuality
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Humanity is One Family
• Manas ki jat sabhe ikhe pehchanbo
– Quote of 10th Guru – ‘Recognise all of mankind as one’
• Na koi Hindu, na koi musalman
– Quote of 1st Guru – ‘There is no Hindu, there is no
Muslim’
– All are the same, all religions are merely different ways
to God
• Janu jot na pucho jati agai jaat na hi
– ‘Acknowledge the light of God in all and do not think of
class or caste as there is no class or caste in the next
world’ SGGSJ p.349
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All Religions Are Valid
• 1st Guru - universalist approach to God
• 9th Guru - gave his life to protect Hinduism
• Interfaith Scripture - Mystical works of Hindus,
Muslims and Sikhs incorporated
• Bhai Ghaniya - disciple of 10th Guru who
administered water and aid to all injured
soldiers following battles between Sikhs and
Moghuls, regardless of religion
Equal Opportunities
• Langar
– Free kitchen open to all
• Disregard of Caste System
– Golden Temple has four entrances, showing it is
open to all
• Gender Equality
– Opportunity for women to be involved with all
aspects of service
– Sikhism had 4 women “bishops” in the 15th
century under the ‘Manji’ system of dioceses
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5 Thieves
• ‘Five thieves’
– Similar to the 7 Deadly Sins of Christianity
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Kaam – Lust
Krodh – Anger
Lobh – Greed
Moh – Attachment
Hunkar – Egotism
• Expectation is to manage these ‘thieves’
rather than remove them completely
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Kaam / Lust
• ‘Excessive sexual interest’
• Vices to be kept in check, to prevent it becoming an
all-consuming passion
• References to ‘kaam’ found in Buddhism, Hinduism
and Jainism
– Hindu belief of sanyasi, or renouncement of the
world, includes celibacy
– Buddhist monks practice celibacy
– Jains aspire to celibacy as part of spiritual progress
• No such prohibitions within Sikhism
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Marriage in Sikhism
• Laavan
• Sikh Marriage Hymn, consisting of four stanzas
• Written by 4th Guru
• Describes two souls (the ‘Bride’) being married to God
(the ‘Groom’), rather than of a man to a woman
• Sikh Marriage Act 1909 (India)
• Legalised the use of the Lavaan as a means of Sikh
marriage
• Hindu circumambulation of fire was used prior to this
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Punjabi and Indian
Cultural Beliefs
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Distinguishing Religion and Culture
• Sikhism
– liberal religion/belief system
• Punjabi society/culture
– highly conservative
– agrarian/feudal society
– misogynistic and patriarchal
– almost all Sikhs are ethnically Punjabi, leading to
confusion as to the distinction between religion
and culture
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Punjabi Attitudes to Equality
• Caste System
– Rife in Punjabi society, with most marriages taking place along
caste lines
– Gurdwaras sometimes based on caste lines, with low caste
Sikhs having formed a distinct religion due to discrimination
(the Ravidasia religion)
• Gender Equality
– High level of female infoeticide by way of selective abortion
– 876 female births to 1000 male births (Punjab census of 2001)
– Dowry system still practiced, despite being illegal
– Honour killings (extremely rare)
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Punjabi Attitudes to Sexuality
• Homosexuality illegal in India
– Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code of 1860 prohibits
“carnal intercourse against the order of nature”
• Male dominated society
– Machismo/ Patriarchal society
– Homosexuality considered an affront to Punjabi machismo
• Homosexuality as a ‘Western condition’
– Viewed as such, despite history of homosexuality in the
Subcontinent
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Common Objections To
Homosexuality by Sikhs
and Rebuttals
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Objection 1
• “A Sikh can’t be gay because the ‘panth’
has specifically outlawed it”
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Homosexuality Edict by Akal Thakat
• Akal Takht
– Established by 6th Guru as the temporal equivalent to the
Darbar Sahib in Amritsar – ‘the throne of the eternal one’
– Issued edicts during the time of the living Gurus
• Edict of 2005
– Head Priest issued edict forbidding same-sex marriages
– Edict issued in response to the Canadian Same-Sex Marriage
Act which was going through Canadian Parliament and which
stated that same-sex marriages would be allowed in places of
worship where the religion does not object to same-sex
marriages
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Other Edicts of Akal Takht
• Partaking of Langar by sitting in lines on the
floor only
– Not followed by all gurdwaras, especially those outside of
India – issue has led to violence in gurdwaras in USA
• Nanakshahi calendar
– Implemented by SGPC in 2003 – solar calendar, similar to the
Gregorian calendar
– Previous calendar was the Northern Indian ‘Bikrami’ calendar,
a solar calendar with lunar-based dates for festivals
– Bikranti still used by some sections of Sikh community, leading
to different festival dates, most notably the recent 300th
anniversary of the Sikh Holy Book becoming the present Guru
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Rebuttal to Objection 1
• The Guru Granth Sahib says NOTHING about
homosexuality – it only mentions excessive lust
• The edicts of the Akal Takht are disputed by
many Sikhs, and not all Sikhs follow those
edicts, leading to a split in the religion
• The 2005 edict was made in the absence of
consultation of learned Sikhs and without
reference to scripture – it was a knee-jerk
reaction to the issue of homosexuality
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Objection 2
• “A Sikh can’t be gay because its unnatural
and Sikhism teaches to lead a ‘natural’
life”
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Rebuttal to Objection 2
• The premise that homosexuality is unnatural is
wrong
• Homosexuality is common in the animal kingdom,
especially among herding animals and observed in
1,500 animal species
• The types of species include everything from
mammals like lions and killer whales to crabs and
worms
• Four to five percent of the ducks and geese couples
are homosexual and are often better at raising the
young than heterosexual couples.
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Objection 3
• “A Sikh is only allowed sex for procreation. Homosexuals have sex for
‘pleasure’ and that is wrong”
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Rebuttal 3
• Indian philosophy recognises that a human has 4
major needs (char padarath) including
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Dharma - Faith
Aartha - Weath
Kaama - Fulfilment of sexual desires
Moksha – Salvation
• If it was only permissible to have sex for pro-creation
then what of couples who cannot conceive? Does
that invalidate the marriage or partnership?
• If a husband and wife cannot have a child for any
reason, but continue trying to conceive, does that
mean that they are not Sikh?
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Rebuttal 3 (cont.)
• Excessive lust is not permitted within Sikhism, but
there are no problems with sexual activity in
moderation.
• If sexual activity without the purpose of pro-creation
were forbidden in Sikhism, then Guru Nanak would
not have stressed the importance of Gristi Jeevan
• The concept of ‘Gristi Jeevan’ (life of a householder)
is compatible with same-sex marriages as the
parents can adopt children or have children by way
of artificial insemination
• Non-fertile couples are not precluded from Sikh
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marriage.
Concluding Remarks
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Sikh Attitudes to Homosexuality
outside of India
– Depends on personal attitudes of Sikhs, and whether
consider Jathedar of Akal Takht as supreme authority
on Sikh issues
– Progressive attitudes held by the following Sikh
groups:
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Sarbat.Net
Project Naad
3HO
Sher Vancouver
– Canadian Sikh leader’s apology for homophobic
comments (2008) – evidence of progress being made
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