What accounts of the origins of the universe are found in Sikhism?
The Guru Granth SahibThe Guru Granth Sahib is the most important Sikh holy book. It is a collection of songs, prayers and hymns from the Sikh Gurus and other holy men, as well as teachings from other faiths. It is treated as a living Guru. gives little detail about the origins of the universe although it says that:
- the universe was created by WaheguruSikhs believe in one God called Waheguru which means ‘Wonderful Lord’ or ‘Wonderful Teacher’.
- before creationThe act of bringing something into existence. In religion, this refers to the creation of the world by God., only Waheguru existed and he created the universe with a single word
- no one knows the date, season or year of creation
With His single order whole creation came into existence...What was that season, and what was that month, when the Universe was created? The Creator who created this creation - only He Himself knows.
Is the Big Bang theory compatible with Sikhism?
There is little detail about the creation of the universe in Sikh thought. This makes it challenging for Sikhs to decide how it fits in with the Big Bang theory. The Guru Granth Sahib is more interested in the wonder of God's creation rather than its possible origins. However, the belief is that there would be no mention of the rapid expansion of matter that caused the universe to begin, unless it was Waheguru who caused the expansion.
So many times He has expanded his expansion.
Creation
There is no creation story in the Sikh tradition. Guru NanakGuru Nanak was the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Gurus, who lived from 1469 to 1539. states that as no-one was present when creation occurred, no-one can know exactly what took place:
What was that time, and what was that moment? What was that day, and what was that date? What was that season, and what was that month, when the Universe was created? The Pandits, the religious scholars, cannot find that time, even if it is written in the Puraanas. That time is not known to the Qazis, who study the Koran. The day and the date are not known to the Yogis, nor is the month or the season. Only that which created creation-only that knows.
Rather than focusing on when creation started, the Sikh GuruCan mean God, teacher or guide. Usually means a teacher of religion. In Sikhism, it also refers to the ten human messengers of God. teach the importance of helping to ensure that creation is sustained. The Sikh Gurus emphasise the oneness of humanity and the oneness of creation. Since all aspects of creation are linked, humans must respect all of creation.
The Guru Granth Sahib says that the purpose of human life is to achieve a blissful state in harmony with everything around them including other people, animals and nature.
A number of Sikh organisations have been established to highlight the focus on environmental responsibilities as taught in the Guru Granth Sahib. In their vision statement, EcoSikh, an international Sikh organisation focusing on the environmentThe immediate surroundings in which people live, or the natural world such as the land, air or water. states:
"Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first embodiment of Divine Light in the Sikh tradition, laid the foundation for a sacred vision for the environment:
Air is the Guru, Water the Father, and the Earth is the Great Mother.
We honor our Gurus' wisdom by believing that all humans have an intrinsic sensitivity to the natural world, and that a sustainable, more just society is possible, where water, air, land, forests, and biodiversity remain vibrant, living systems for our generation and future generations."
