1. Beginnings.

Sikhism was brought into being at the turn of the 16th century by Guru Nānak in the Punjab (Pakistan/northern India). At that time the community called itself Nānak-panth (“path of Nānak”) or gurmat (“teaching of the guru”). As the community grew more complex, subgroups with various names emerged. Within the North Indian bhakti of the Sants, Sikhism represents a regional variant, which nevertheless is aware of its ties to both the Sant tradition and in par…