Rama In Sikhism

Rama (Punjabi: ਰਾਮ ), known as Ram Avatar (ਰਾਮ ਅਵਤਾਰ)Rama is described as ''Ram Avatar'' in the '' Dasam Granth'' by the 10th Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh. or Raja Ram (ਰਾਜਾ ਰਾਮ), has an important place in Sikhism. Rama is mentioned as one among the 24 incarnations of Vishnu in the Chaubis Avtar, a composition in the '' Dasam Granth'' traditionally and historically attributed to Guru Gobind Singh. The discussion of Rama and Krishna is the most extensive in this section of the secondary Sikh scripture. The composition is martial, stating that the avatar of Vishnu appears in the world to restore good and defeat evil, but asserts that these avatars are not God, but agents of the God. God is beyond birth and death.SS Kapoor, Dasam Granth, Hemkunt Press, pages 68-74

There have been claims that the ''Ram'' in Sikhism is not related to the Rama described in the ''Ramayana''. In Guru Granth Sahib, there are differences between ''Ram Chander'' (ਰਾਮ ਚੰਦਰ), the king of Ayodhya, and ''Ram'', the all-prevailing God.

Sources

Guru Granth Sahib

The word Rama () appears in the Guru Granth Sahib more than . Guru Nanak rejected the concept of divine incarnation as present in Hinduism but used words such as Ram, Mohan, Hari & Shiv as ways of referring to the divine together with Islamic words like Allah & Khuda. Bhagat Kabir makes it clear that there is a difference between Ram Chander (King of Ayodhya) and Ram (the all prevailing God).

Dasam Granth

Rama is mentioned as one among the 24 incarnations of Vishnu in the Chaubis Avtar, a composition in '' Dasam Granth'' traditionally and historically attributed to Guru Gobind Singh.Beesvan Ram Avtar Kathan or Ram Avtar is a composition in the second sacred Granth of Sikhs i.e. Dasam Granth, which was written by Guru Gobind Singh, at Anandpur Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh was not a worshiper of Sri Rama, as after describing the whole Avtar he cleared this fact that ਰਾਮ ਰਹੀਮ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਕੁਰਾਨ ਅਨੇਕ ਕਹੈਂ ਮਤ ਏਕ ਨ ਮਾਨਯੋ॥. Ram Avtar is based on Ramayana, but a Sikh studies the spiritual aspects of this whole composition.J Deol (2000), Sikh Religion, Culture and Ethnicity (Editors: AS Mandair, C Shackle, G Singh), Routledge, , pages 31-33 Although the compositions of the Dasam Granth are traditionally accepted to be written by Guru Gobind Singh, there have been questions of the authenticity of the entirety of Dasam Granth from time of compilation.

Importance

Rama is considered an important figure in Sikhism and depicted as a source of inner peace, inspiration and bravery.

Ram Mandir

As per Rajinder Singh, a Sikh expert who was consulted by the five-member bench Court in the Ram Mandir case and was described in the judgement as “a person having an interest in the study of religious, cultural and historical books of a Sikh cult”, the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, took a pilgrimage to the Ram Janmabhoomi in . The judgement also states that Rajinder Singh attached various ''janam sakhis'' to support his statements. Others have discredited the statements of Rajinder Singh on the basis of the ''janam sakhis'' attached dating from 18th century and later, which is stated to be a time period when Brahminical revivalism became evident in such works. The SGPC passed a resolution condemning this verdict. Sikh scholars have the view that Guru Nanak went to religious sites like Mecca & Ayodhya to preach and spread his message rather than for piligrimage.

See also

* Hinduism and Sikhism
* Rama in Jainism

Notes

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External links

Rama: Sikh encyclopedia

Raja Rama in Sikhism
{{Sikhism
Rama
Hinduism and other religions
Dasam Granth