Ahankar
Encyclopedia
Hankār is the Gurmukhi word originated from a Sanskrit
word Ahankāra (Hindi or Sanskrit: अहंकार) which translates to mean ego or excessive pride due to one's possessions, material wealth
, intelligence
or powers. It gives an individual the feeling that he is superior to others and therefore they are at a lower level than he is. It leads to envy
, feelings of enmity, and restlessness amongst people.
Sikhism
requires that a person serves society and community with Nimrata
or humility. This is obtained by Sewa
and hence, one sees the practise of devotees cleaning the footwear of visitors to a Gurdwara
so that the mind of devout Sikh is made more humble.
This Cardinal Evil is often regarded by Sikh
s as the worst of the Five Evils
.
They feel that pride leads to Haumai
because it makes people believe that they are the most important thing in life and leads to self-centredness.
The following Shabads from Gurbani clarify this cardinal vice:
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
word Ahankāra (Hindi or Sanskrit: अहंकार) which translates to mean ego or excessive pride due to one's possessions, material wealth
Wealth
Wealth is the abundance of valuable resources or material possessions. The word wealth is derived from the old English wela, which is from an Indo-European word stem...
, intelligence
Intelligence
Intelligence has been defined in different ways, including the abilities for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning, emotional intelligence and problem solving....
or powers. It gives an individual the feeling that he is superior to others and therefore they are at a lower level than he is. It leads to envy
Envy
Envy is best defined as a resentful emotion that "occurs when a person lacks another's superior quality, achievement, or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it."...
, feelings of enmity, and restlessness amongst people.
Sikhism
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
requires that a person serves society and community with Nimrata
Nimrata
Nimrata is a virtue that is vigorously promoted by Gurbani. The literal translation of this Punjabi word is "Humility", or "Benevolence". The other four qualities in the arsenal are: Truth , Contentment , Compassion and Love...
or humility. This is obtained by Sewa
SEWA
The Self-Employed Women's Association of India is a trade union for poor, self-employed women workers in India. SEWA was founded in 1972 by the noted Gandhian and civil rights leader Dr Ela Bhatt. SEWA's main office is located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and it works in several states of India. SEWA...
and hence, one sees the practise of devotees cleaning the footwear of visitors to a Gurdwara
Gurdwara
A Gurdwara , meaning the Gateway to the Guru, is the place of worship for Sikhs, the followers of Sikhism. A Gurdwara can be identified from a distance by tall flagpoles bearing the Nishan Sahib ....
so that the mind of devout Sikh is made more humble.
This Cardinal Evil is often regarded by Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
s as the worst of the Five Evils
Five Evils
The Five evils or five thieves are, according to Sikhism, the five major weaknesses of the human personality at variance with its spiritual essence. The common evils far exceed five in number, but a group of five came to be identified because of the obstruction they are believed to cause in man's...
.
They feel that pride leads to Haumai
Haumai
Haumai is the self-centeredness of a human, which can only be overcome through meditation on God’s name , Simran and Sewa in Sikhism....
because it makes people believe that they are the most important thing in life and leads to self-centredness.
The following Shabads from Gurbani clarify this cardinal vice:
- The world is drunk, engrossed in sexual desire, anger and egotism. (Guru Granth SahibGuru Granth SahibSri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
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- Renounce sexual desire, anger, falsehood and slander;
forsake Maya and eliminate egotistical pride. (Guru Granth SahibGuru Granth SahibSri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
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- The duality of Maya dwells in the consciousness of the people of the world. They are destroyed by sexual desire, anger and egotism. ((1)) (Guru Granth SahibGuru Granth SahibSri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
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- They complain about other peoples` faults, while their own self-conceit only increases. (Guru Granth SahibGuru Granth SahibSri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
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- In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, redeem your mind, and adore the Lord, twenty-four hours a day. Sexual desire, anger and egotism will be dispelled, and all troubles shall end. ((2)) (Guru Granth SahibGuru Granth SahibSri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
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