Sikhism: A Very Short IntroductionThe Sikh religion has a following of over 20 million people worldwide. However,events such as the verbal and physical attacks on Sikhs just after September 11, where Sikhs were being mistaken for Muslims, suggest that the Sikh faith still remains mysterious to many. This Very Short Introduction introduces newcomers to the meaning of the Sikh religious tradition, its teachings, practices, rituals and festivals. Eleanor Nesbitt highlights and contextualizes the key threads in the history of Sikhism, from the first Gurus to martyrdom, militarization, and the increasingly significant diaspora. Examining gender, caste, and the changes that are currently underway in the faith, Nesbitt considers contemporary Sikh identities and their role in our world. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. |
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Very helpful for studying but doesn't quite include much detail which is explainable because the title of the book is "Sikhism: A Very Short Introduction". touching on the "Very Short Introduction". Overall, a pretty interesting book that I rate a 3
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Guru Nanak and his first successors | 12 |
Guru Granth Sahib | 31 |
Turban Khalsa and codes of conduct | 45 |
The shaping of modern Sikhism | 62 |
Sikhism outside India | 83 |
Attitudes to caste gender and other faiths | 102 |
Sikhism and the third millennium | 120 |
Timeline | 139 |
Glossary | 141 |
147 | |
151 | |
Very Short Introduction | 157 |
Online Catalogue | 158 |
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Common terms and phrases
20th century Adi Granth Akal Takhat Akali Akhand Kirtani Jatha amrit amritsanskar Amritsar Bhagat Bhai Bhatra Brahmins British caste celebrated Chapter Christian compositions contemporary Dasam Granth David death diaspora Sikhs distinct divine English faith Five Ks followers God’s Golden Temple gurdwaras gurmata Gurmukhi Guru Amar Guru Amar Das Guru Arjan Guru Gobind Singh Guru Granth Sahib Guru Hargobind Guru Nanak Guru Ram Guru Tegh Guru’s hair Harmandir Sahib Hindu Hindu tradition Hinduism hukam-nama hymns initiation Islam janam-sakhi Jathedar jati Kaur Khalsa discipline Khalsa Sikh khande di pahul kirpan langar language literally lives Maharaja Ranjit marriage misal Mughal mul mantar Namdharis Nirankaris non-Sikh oankar one’s panj piare Panth political Punjab rahit-namas Ramgarhia Ravidassia religion religious rite sangat Sants scholars script SGPC shabads Sikh community Sikh Rahit Maryada Sikh scriptures Sikh studies Sikhi Sikhism Singh Sabha social spiritual sword Tat Khalsa turban Vaisakhi Vikrami woman women word worship