1.Outline of the lecture
1. History of Sikhism
Sikhism is the youngest of the world ‘s 4 great monotheistic religions. It was founded in the 15 century by Guru Nanak. There are 18-20 mln. Sikhs in the world, 80% of them live in the Punjab state in Northwest India, where the faith began. There are about 500,000 Sikhs in Britain, 225,000 in Canada and 100,000 in the USA.
The word “ Sikh” in Punjabi means “ disciple” (of the Gurus).
Basic Sikhs teachings
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Sikhism emphasizes social and gender equality, and stresses the importance of behaving altruistically.
· Equality
· God is accessible without priests
· Accept other faiths
· Live in the world
· Devotion can take the form of action as well as prayer.
· A good world is just and fair to all: Social justice is to be supported. The use of force as a last resort is justified to uphold it.
· Death is not the end.
The Sikhs code of conduct
The Sikh place of worship is called a Gurdwara or temple. The principal Sikhs scripture is the Adi Granth, often called the Guru Granth Sahib.
Sikhs history. Sikhs in the contemporary world.
In the end of the 17 century the Sikhs were persecuted in the state of Moguls and when the Mogul ruler ordered to cut the 10-th Guru into parts, the Sikhs rebelled under the leadership of the 10-th Guru Govind. In 1699 Govind formed a powerful military detachment of Sikhs- Halsa and they began the struggle for the formation of their own state. Govind in 1708 was killed but the first Sikhs’ state was formed in Punjab (later it was abolished by the British)
In 1966 the government of India permitted the foundation of the Sikhs’ administrative region in Punjab, but the struggle went on, the main demand- formation of Sikhs state Khalistan. They are condemned in terrorist acts (I. Gandhi, R. Gandhi)
2. Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a small religion with about 140,000-200,000 members. Yet its importance is great because
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History
The religion was founded by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster in Greek). Conservative Zoroastrians assign a date of 6000 B.C. to the founding of religion, other- 600 B.C. Zarathushtra lived in Persia, he preached monotheism. Z. became the official religion of various Persian Empires.
A form of Z. was the chief religion of pre-Christian Armenia. By the 6 century, Z. had spread to Northern China via Silk Road.
In the 8 century a large number of Iranian Z. fled to India.
Beliefs.
Z. combines elements of monotheism and dualism. Central to Z. is the world’s constant struggle between Good and Evil. The cosmic dualism between good and evil stands in contrast to the Abrahamic faith of Judaism, Christianity and Islam when Satan is no way equal of God and is a creation of God.
The resulting cosmic conflict involves the entire universe, including humanity, which is required to chose one path of the two to follow.
Z. gave 3 commandments to his followers:
1) Humata- good thought
2) Hukhta-good word
3) havarshta- good deeds
The holy book is the Avesta.
Practices.
2. Questions for test
1. Origin of Sikhism. Its political direction
2. Sikhism in history of India
3. Main beliefs and rituals of Sikhism
4. Main beliefs of Zoroastrianism
3. Glossary
Disciple –ученик, последователь- ізбасар
4. Task for IWS – Sikhism and political life in India
5. Task for office hours- Zoroastrianism in Kazakhstan
6. Reference
Музафарова Н.И. История религий, М. 2004. стр. 86-93
www. pyracantha.com/Zoroastrianism.html
XV. Religions in Central Asia
1.Outline of the lecture
1.Islam in Central Asia
Shiits live in Corno-Badahshan autonomous province of Tadjikistan, sectarians called Ismailites. Groups of followers of varieties of mystical and ascetic Moslem teaching of Suphism (Muridism) are active in Chechnya and Ingushetuya, and in some districts of Dagestan and Kazakhstan.
The affairs of Moslem communities in Central Asia are managed by Religious Administration of Moslems of Maverounahr having its head office in Tashkent.
The Administration Presidium appoints its representatives having the rank of Kazy in the regions (provinces, republics). To keep a close link with Moslem communities, the Administration and its representatives control ritual services of mosques as well as manage teaching and popularization (teaching of the religion). The Religious Administration develops phetvs (precepts, recommendations) on the most important issues of religious life.
Phetvs are issued to the notice of the congregation in mosques. Everyday affairs of communities, such as keeping assets of the cult, maintaining prayer rooms, spending money are dealt with by the elected body called "mutavalliat" comprising the members of the congregation. There is Mir-Arab Madrassehs in Bukhara where students are taught to be Muslim clergy. Mir-Arab Madrassehs has also a school where Shiit clergy students are taught. Madrassehs are opening in other towns, particularly in Samarkand. There is Al-Bukhari Moslim Institute in Tashkent.
2. Suphism in Central Asia
Suphism (Sufism) is a religious and philosophical Muslim teaching developed in the Arab countries in the 8thc. century. The cause for developing Suphism was the state of social conditions in Muslim countries. Suphism contains elements of New Platonism, Judaism, Christianity, Zoroastrism, and particularly Buddhism. Basically Suphism propagates asceticism, pantheism, and mysticism.
According to Suphism there are 4 steps leading to the state of perfection.
The first step is Sharia, the Muslim law, which requires unquestionable compliance with it.
The second step called "tarikat" requires complete obedience of apprentices to their teachers and strengthening the will-power by rejecting material welfare. Having gone through this step,
the third step, "marifat", can be reached, when a man must use his heart and soul, not his brains, to cognize that the entity of the universe is in God, that the World is the God's emanation and that the meanings of goodness and evil are relative, not absolute.
The fourth step called "khakikat" (truth) can be reached only after the previous three have been mastered. "Achieving, knowing the truth" means "the end of the Suphist as a personality", his reaching the Cod, merging with God into one, which provides eternal existence. Suphists have to do special exercises (meditations) to attain these goals.
3. Buddhism in Central Asia
During the Kushan period different religious systems were widely spread in Central Asia. Those were the local cult of Mitra and Anahit, Zoroastrian pantheon (Ormuzd, Veretzanga, etc.) the Greek pantheon (Jupiter, Heliosis, Celen, etc.) the cult of local heroes (Siyavush in Khorezm and Sogd). The followers of Buddhism had been banished from Iran in the 2nd - 3rd and found support in Central Asia, where Buddhism became widely practiced. According to Chinese chronicles Buddhism came to China in 147 from the country of "big yuedzhi", thanks to the Kushan missionaries Buddhism was adopted as official religion at the court of the Chinese emperor Khuan-Di (147-167).
During the archeological excavations in Khorezm (Bazaar-Kala, Gyaur-Kala, Gyaz-Kala) and Sogd (tali-barzu, Zohak-i-Maron castle, Er-Kurgan and others) it was found out that many settlements and castles dated back to Kushan period. But the largest number of traces of Buddhist culture during Kushan period was found in Tolharistan.
Architectural fragments dating back to Kushan period were found in "Old Termez". Some Buddhist monuments date back to the period of Great Kushans.
4. Zoroastrianism in Central Asia
Zoroasterianism is a system of religious beliefs spread on the territory of ancient Iran and Central Asia in the 7thc.-6thc. BC.
Zoroaster, or Zardusht, Zaraustra, Zardust, is the prophet of Zoroasterianism. Zoroaster lived approximately in the 1st half of the 6th c BC. He wrote the most ancient part of the holy book of Zoroasterianism "Avesta" It is assumed that Zoroaster began preaching in Eastern Iran and Central Asia. He opposed worshiping chiefs of the tribes, priesthood, and old gods. According to the oriental legends Zoroaster lived and preached in Bactria when the king Vishtasp ruled there. The king was the first who adopted Zoroasterianism.
In the following chapters of Avesta Zoroaster was described as a legendary fighter who had not only used words and miracles, hut also material weapons against evil spirits.
Uzbekistan and holy places of Zoroasterianism are inseparable: in Samarkand we find the ancient settlement called Afrosiab which is the name of the hero from "Avesta"; Bukhara is one of the most ancient Uzbek towns. It was founded on the sacred hill of spring offerings put by ancient Zoroasterians on the tomb of the saint Siyavush.
During the centuries Zoroasterianism changed both in the sense and in form. During the rule of the Arshakids and the Sasanids in Central Asia Zoroasterianism was official religion.
The most ancient place in Bukhara is Ark fortress which was built not later than the 1st millennium BC. The fortress dates back to the time when Afrosiab and Siyavush, the legendary hero mentioned in Avesta, ruled. According to the legends Siyavush was buried inside the fortress beside its eastern gate where Bukhara Zoroasterians put their offerings.
In Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, Chilanzar Ak-Tepa was the cult centre of Zoroasterians.
The mystery of Zoroasterianism having a few millennium history is the key to the knowledge of the origins of Central Asian land.
2. Questions for test
1. What religions are spread in Central Asia? What are the major ones?
2. Role of Islam in Central Asia
3. How Suphism was spread in the region?
4. Historical roots of Zoroastrianism in the region
3. Task for office hours- Sunni Islam in Central Asia
4. Task for IWS- Christianity in Central Asia
5. Reference
Analytic, Информационно-аналитический журнал, № 4-5, 2001
Golikova V.I.
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