SIKHS. The term Sikh, a corruption of the Sanskrit s'ishya, signifying "disciple," is applied to a community of which the Punjab, in northern India, constitutes, sub stantially, the confines. Less commonly, even among themselves, the members of this community are also known as Sikhs (vulgarly Singhs), that is, "lions," a title given them by Govind, the last and most influential of their hierarchs. Every name of aSikif male now terminates with the word Sink Originally a body of mere religionists, the Sikhs, what from the energy which they developed under repression, and the inducements to join them which they offered as proselytizers, grew, by degrees, in strength and numbers, and ended in a formidable nationality. Their originator, Ntlnak, was born in 1469, in the vicinity of Lahore, and died iu 1539, not far from the place of his nativity. To him succeeded, in turn, nine pontiffs, each of whom, like himself, is popularly denominated guru, or "teacher." These were Angad, Amardas, Ramdas, Arjunmall, Hargovind, Harray, Harkrislink Teglibahildar, and, finally, Govind.
The aim of Nilnak was pointedly humanitarian, and designed to combine Hindu,. and Mohammedans, at the cost of what he held to be only unimportant compromise, into one harmonious brotherhood. Sufficient proof of the comprehensive character of his scheme is afforded by the circumstance that he accepted concurrently the incarnations of Neo-Brahmanism and the mission of the Arabian prophet. His three immediate successors, while zealously protecting the interests of the infant sect, avoided secular pursuits, and held themselves aloof from political complications. Arjunmall, however, not content with signalizing himself as compiler of the Adigranth, and as founder of Amritsar, the holy city of the Sikhs, engaged with ardor in trade, and rendered himself conspicuous as a partisan of the rebellious prince Khusrtl, son of Jahangir. Hargovind, who came after Arjunmall, called the Sikhs to arms, led them in person to battle, and though he remitted nothing of his assiduity as a guru, became an active and useful, though sometimes refractory, adherent of the Great Mogul, against whom his prede cessor had plotted. Harrily subsequently espoused the part of Vara Shukoh, when con
tending with his brothers for the throne of India. Harkrishna, son of Mrrfty, died a child, and was only nominally a guru. Teghbahildar, after a career of turbulence, was executed as a rebel, by command of Aurangzeb, at Delhi. However deficient in the qualifications demanded for spiritual leadership, it can scarcely be doubted that he con tributed, to an important degree, in preparing for the complete change of Sikhism which was affected by his son, Govind. The chief motive that instigated Govind, the tenth of the " teachers," to bring about this change was, with some probability, a desire to avenge the ignominious death of his father. He resolved to combat the Mohammedan power and, in deviation from the principles enunciated by Nilnak, the Mohammedan religion as well. But Hinduism, with its social restrictions of caste, its fantastic fictions, and itsirrational idolatry, likewise fell under his ban. God, he inculcated, is not to be 'found save in humility and sincerity. In what measure he was a man of thought is evinced by his legacy to his co-religionists, the second volume of the Sikh scriptures. A Sikh, it is therein taught, is to worship one God, to eschew superstition, and to practice strict morality, but equally is to live by the sword. The purport of this last injunction is unmrstakable. Govind was assassinated, while in the imperial service, in 1708, on the banks of the•Godilvarl. He died, it is true, without beholding the fulfillment of the purpose for which he had striven; but he had, nevertheless, succeeded in stirring his followers to an ambition for political independence—an idea which was ultimately trans 'formed into a reality. His successor, but only as a temporal leader; Banda, suffered a cruel death. He did but little to advantage his sect; and his memory is not held in reverence.