Page 199 - รวมเล่มศาสนาในประเทศไทย ภาคภาษาอังกฤษ

The Religion of Sikhism

The Sikh religion, or Sikhism, was founded by Guru Nanak who was born, in the Punjab
of northern India in the year 1469. The religion is monotheistic; it believes in the unity and omnipotence
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of God and equates God with truth. God created the earth and His power is the Utmost.

“Sikh” in Punjabi language is the same word as “śiṣya” in Sanskrit, meaning “learner”
or “disciple.” Every Sikh follows the teachings of a “Guru” which means “Enlightener” in the Sikh
tradition. The Sikhs do not have a priestly class. All Sikhs are competent to perform a religious ceremony.
In Sikhism, there are two main divisions: The Khalsa and the Sahijdhari Sects. The Khalsa
or the Singh Sect follows the principle teachings of Guru Gobind Singh. A follower of this sect has to
undergo a ceremony of baptism by drinking the sacred Amrit and accepting the 5 religious symbols,
called 5 Articles of Faith. These are uncut hair, wooden comb, special cotton underwear, a steel bracelet,
and a strapped-on curved sword. The Sahijdhari Sect follow the same teachings but differ in that they
usually cut their hair, and do not follow as strictly as the Khalsa sect. The Namdharis is another more
austere group, but all Sikh sects believe in the Sacred One or God.

There is no clear evidence of when the Sikhs arrived in Thailand, but it is speculated from
historical papers that they may have settled in Thailand during the reign of King Rama V.

The first settlement of Sikhs in Bangkok was in the area of Phahurat. The Sikh
community quickly spread throughout the neighborhood from Ban Moh Road to Phahurat Road. In 1898,
when King Rama V initiated the construction of row houses along the Phahurat Road to be available
for a variety of purposes, the Sikhs made reservations for the purchase of those buildings to start their
business in fabric and imported goods from Indian stores. Those fabric businesses made Phahurat a
famous commercial area in Bangkok that still continues today.

After the religious practice is completed,
the Giani and adherents stand up to
make the Ardas prayer. The Ardas will
be performed at end of the Gurmantra
prayer

4 A calendar counting from the birth year of Guru Nanak, the first prophet of the Sikh Religion

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