Sikhism
The basic creed of Sikhism is its belief that there is one universal God and is present everywhere. God’s name is Truth. God is the Creator. Without fear. Without enemies. God is timeless. Never born and never dies. Self-existent. God is realized by the grace of the Guru.
Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469 – 1539) and was the first of ten Gurus, over a period of 200 hundred years. Guru Nanak Dev Ji taught that all religions show different paths to the one true God. Guru Ji denounced superstitions. The main teachings of Guru Nanak are to purge oneself of ego and pride, to serve people is to serve God, opposes distinctions of caste as all are equal, and restored women to equal status as men.
The teachings of the Sikh Gurus are written in the Sikh Holy Book, the Guru Granth Sahib. Besides the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, the Guru Granth Sahib also contains teachings of some Muslim and Hindu saints.
In 1706, the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, installed the Guru Ganth Sahib as the Guru. Sikhs bow to it in respect and submit to its teachings.
In the daily Sikh prayer called Ardaas, apart from directing devotees to be respectful of all religions, devotees pray for the welfare and goodwill of all mankind; Sarbat Da Bhalla.
The Sikh temple, or Gurdwara, is open to everyone without discrimination of religion, caste, gender, economic status or ethnicity.
The “langgar” or communal food prepared and served in a gurdwara is vegetarian so as to allow anyone and everyone to partake in a meal.