Sunday, February 25, 2007

Enlightenment Universe Pvt.Ltd

Global Accumialiation Commitment
The project Enlightenment is a project with the goal of uniting people around the globe to mutual actions in order to not only save what we have , but to transform the planet thru an increase in spiritul awareness. A new consciousness creating a joyfull home of all its inhabitants and sincere respect for all forms of life.The project enlightenment is sychronised to represent Sikhism is Norway. The project is initiated by Pritpaul Singh Kandhari ,Oslo, Norway.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Sikh Guru's

Images of the 1st and 10th Sikh Guru along with Sikh martyrs are commonly found in the streets of Amritsar and in Sikh homes. It would be impossible to speak of Sikhs and not mention their past. Colorful, dramatic, compassionate yet often bloody, Sikh history gives a unique viewpoint on the history of India.

Sikh Identity

Khalsa was founded by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. First Baptism ceremony was organised by Guru Gobind Singh Ji at Anandpur Sahib in 1699. Sikhs are easily identified by five traditional symbols. Since each symbol begins with the letter K they are commonly known as the 5Ks. Pictured is a Kara or iron bracelet, worn around the dominant hand, reminds a Sikh never to do wrong. A Kanga, or small wooden comb, keeps hair and beard tidy. The Kirpan, or small dagger, is a symbol of a Sikh's duty never to turn away from injustice. Not pictured are the Kacchera, long white undergarments, reminding never to give in to lust, and Kesh one's long hair, symbolizing God's perfect being.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

The Pray

High above the Golden Temple a woman prays at the top of the Baba Atal Sahib Ji. The 9 storied, 108-foot tower was constructed between 1778 and 1784 in memory of Atal Rai, a son of Guru Hargobind. The boy was said to have committed suicide at the age of 9 on this spot after being scolded by his father for performing a miracle. The temple's complex is home to several smaller holy sites rarely visited by foreigners.Baba Atal Sahib Ji holds a great place in the Sikh History.We can view all Gurudwara of amritsar city from Baba Atal Sahib Ji 9 storied tower.


Sikh Equality


The great Efforts of Sikh Women can never be forget in Sikh History .It would be impossible to describe Sikhism without woman. Sikh Scripture clearly states that woman is man's equal and gender discrimination is not allowed. "From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married. Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come. When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound. So why call her bad? From her, kings are born. From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all." Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder and first Guru of Sikhism.


Sikh Moral Duties

Sikhism is a practical religion, and one of the basics beliefs is that a good family life is essential for well being. Here the tradition of bathing in the Golden Temple's pool is passed down to the next generation of Sikh. However, many young Sikhs are finding new pressures from today's pop culture both in India and the West and are trading their cultural symbols for acceptance. Several western governments have recently placed bans on religious symbols in the work place directly affecting the Sikh community. For Sikhs, especially men, who are expected to never cut their hair or beards and to wear a turban, being true to their culture and fitting into society is a direct moral conflict.


Golden Temple

The great Temple was founded by Shri Guru Ram Dass Ji.The construction of this temple was completed by 5th Sikh Guru Arjun Dev ji. Sri Harmandar Sahib, better known as the Golden Temple, in Amritsar, India is the Sikh's spiritual and cultural center. Completed in 1601, scriptures from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (The Scripture of Sikhism) are read daily from dawn to dusk. The temple's 4 doors open to the north, south, east and west symbolizing the Sikh's openness to anyone. The temple's compound includes: a free kitchen, which may serve up to 30,000 visitors a day, several housing blocks, offering free accommodation, a museum, and several other historical and spiritual sites. Visiting the temple is a true spiritual experience. No one will try to convert you, and not a soul will ask you for money. Every Sikh is expected to bathe in it's holy waters at least once in his or her lifetime.


Monday, February 12, 2007

Being Sikh

Sikhism is the 5th largest religion in the world with an estimated population of just under 30 million. For over 500 years the teachings of the 10 Gurus have spoken the simple values of truth, universal equality, and justice. Often described as Warrior-Saints, Sikhs have more than once taken to the sword in defending their homeland of Punjab and the whole of India. At a time when other major religions point their fingers and blame each other for the world's problems, the Sikhs continue to welcome anyone whatever their race, religion or creed as an equal into their doors. However, despite the openness and compassion of the Sikhs, few outsiders are aware of even the most basic beliefs held by this religion. Due to their similar appearance to Muslim extremist groups, such as the Taliban, this ignorance has proven to be fatal as the occurrence of hate crimes against Sikhs have risen dramatically in the post September 11th world.



Khalsa

"From Hindus and Muslims have I broken free," wrote Arjan Devi Ji, the fifth Sikh guru in the 1590's. Out of conflictions with the intolerence of Islam and the caste system of the Hindus, Sikhism was born. But geography may haved played as big of role in shaping the Sikh culture as their belief system. Their homeland of Punjab was the last border for Moguhl invaders fighting their way into India. The Sikhs, who see themselves as the protectors of justice, lost up to up to 80 percent of their population stopping the invaders, only to have Punjab split in two during India's 1947 partition. It was the 10th Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh Ji, who gave the name Khalsa, meaning pure, to his people. Holding all people and faiths as equal in the eyes of God, they were to combine self-respect with humility. The 9th Guru said "Never fear, and never inflict fear."

Project Enlightenment

Written by Shri Khuswant Singh
Historical Treasure
I met Surjeet Singh Kandhari in Oslo ( Norway ) about 10 years ago when I was there on a weeklong lecture tour. After visiting a few universities and towns in snow-bound north, I returned to Oslo for a couple of days before proceeding on my journey homewards. Kandhari was away on a business trip but his Norwegian wife invited me over to spend a day in her home, which was in a village over a hundred miles away from the capital. It was a big house full of books and Indian artifacts Surjeet was in Karachi in the 1970s,when someone told him that a dealer in antique books had many ancient manuscripts looted from Hindu and Sikh families when they migrated to India in 1947. Kandhari went to the house of the antique dealer and found a huge pile of hand-written Granths. He had to square Pakistani Custom officials before being allowed to take them out of the country. Back in Norway, he had the Granths examined by oriental scholars. They are two handwritten copies of Adi Granth Sahib, sacred scripture of theSikhs, and a copy of Bhagavata Purana. The most valuable of his collection is Shri Guru Dasam Granth Sahib Ji, compiled by last Sikh Guru GobindSingh ji. The original was lost in floods 1705.A compilation was made again by the, Gurus closest disciple and scribe, Bhai Mani Singh Ji, between 1724-1726. Shri Guru Dasam Granth Sahib Ji is to be considered as Guru Gobind Singh Ji own. Kandhari has deposited Shri Guru Dasam Granth Sahib Ji in the vaults of The Bank of Norway for safe custody. The Tribune 22 September 2001 Shri Guru Dasam Granth will be offered to The Golden Temple in 2009-10. Chosen ones of Project Enlightenment are invited as special guests at this holy event.