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'''Sikhism''' (International Phonetic Alphabet: {{Audio-IPA|Seekism.ogg|['siːkɪz(ə)m]}} or {{Audio-IPA-nohelp|Sikism.ogg|['sɪk-]}}; {{lang-pa|ਸਿੱਖੀ}}, ''{{IAST|sikkhī}}'', IPA: {{Audio-IPA-nohelp|Sikkhi.ogg|['sɪk.kʰiː]}}) is a religion that began in 15th century Northern India with the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev and nine successive human Sikh Gurus. This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the Gurmat (literally ''the teachings of the gurus'') or the Sikh Dharma. ''Sikhism'' comes from the word ''Sikh'', which in turn comes from the Sanskrit root ''{{IAST|śiṣya}}'' meaning "disciple" or "learner", or ''{{IAST|śikṣa}}'' meaning "instruction."<ref>{{cite book | last=Singh | first=Khushwant | authorlink=Khushwant Singh | year=2006 | title=The Illustrated History of the Sikhs | publisher=Oxford University Press | location=India | id = ISBN 0-19-567747-1 | pages=15}}</ref><ref>{{pa icon}} {{cite book | last=Nabha | first=Kahan Singh | year=1930 | language=Punjabi | title=Gur Shabad Ratnakar Mahan Kosh/{{lang|pa|ਗੁਰ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਰਤਨਾਕਰ ਮਹਾਨ ਕੋਸ਼}}| url=http://www.ik13.com/online_library.htm#mahankosh | accessdate=2006-05-29 | pages=720}}</ref> Sikhism is the Major religious groups religion in the world, and is generally considered the fifth largest organized religion, depending on how one defines an "organized religion".
The principal belief in Sikhism is faith in ''Waheguru''—represented using the sacred symbol of ''{{unicode|Ek Onkar}}''. Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God. The followers of Sikhism are ordained to follow the teachings of the ten The Sikh Gurus, or enlightened leaders, as well as the holy scripture—the ''Guru Granth Sahib''—which includes the selected works of many authors from diverse socioeconomic and religious backgrounds. The text was decreed by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru, as the final guru of the Khalsa Panth. Sikhism's traditions and teachings are distinctly associated with the history, society and culture of the Punjab region. Adherents of Sikhism are known as Sikhs (''students'' or ''disciples'') and number over 23 million across the world. However, most Sikhs live in the Punjab (India) in India; prior to Partition of India, millions of Sikhs lived in what is now the Punjab (Pakistan) of Pakistan.
The principal belief in Sikhism is faith in ''Waheguru''—represented using the sacred symbol of ''{{unicode|Ek Onkar}}''. Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God. The followers of Sikhism are ordained to follow the teachings of the ten The Sikh Gurus, or enlightened leaders, as well as the holy scripture—the ''Guru Granth Sahib''—which includes the selected works of many authors from diverse socioeconomic and religious backgrounds. The text was decreed by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru, as the final guru of the Khalsa Panth. Sikhism's traditions and teachings are distinctly associated with the history, society and culture of the Punjab region. Adherents of Sikhism are known as Sikhs (''students'' or ''disciples'') and number over 23 million across the world. However, most Sikhs live in the Punjab (India) in India; prior to Partition of India, millions of Sikhs lived in what is now the Punjab (Pakistan) of Pakistan.
