(1507- )
Born in Punjab, India
Founded by Guru Nanak Dev
Nanak followed by nine other gurus
Created a Sikh confederacy (1707-99) and empire (1799-1849) in India
Monotheistic, with a non-anthropomorphic concept of God
Scriptures are the Guru Granth Sahib and Dasam Granth
Devotees required to meditate to pursue enlightenment
Goal is spiritual union with God
25 million followers
75% live in the Indian state of Punjab
Spiritual and cultural center is the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India

Male followers do not cut their hair or beards.
All boys are given the middle name or surname Singh, while all girls are given the middle name or surname Kaur.
Their morning and evening prayers take two hours
Although Guru Nanak taught that religious rituals were of little use, later gurus introduced various ceremonies and rites.
Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards.

Male followers are required to keep their hair clean and combed at least twice a day.
They believe in the equality of all humans and reject discrimination on the basis of race, gender, creed or caste.
Non-Sikhs can take part fully in their prayer meetings and social functions.
By the end of WW II, the Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army had won more Victoria Crosses for valor on a per capita basis than any other regiment in the British Empire.
Following the Indira Gandhi assassination, over 3,000 Sikhs were killed in retaliatory attacks.
Since 9/11, Sikhs in Western countries have been targets of hate crimes by idiots mistaking them for Muslims.

Credit: C. Fishel

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