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Guru Nanak Dev founded Sikh Dharam or Sikhism. Guru Nanak Dev was the first Guru of the Sikhs. He had preached the people (his followers) to remember only one Akal Purukh (Eternal, Almighty God). Sikhism believes in the existence of only one God. He is far above the concepts of time, place, birth and death. Sikhism also believes that to recite the name of God or to seek salvation, one does not need to give up his household, and go to the forest donning ochre or hermitic robes. A human being can seek salvation living right in his household and discharging his duties for his family. As per the beliefs of Sikh Dharam or Sikhism, Paramatma (the supreme spirit) stays in Atma (the human spirit) . Even Guruvani says:
'ATM MAN RAMA, RAMA MAN ATM
CHINAS GURU VICHARA'
That is, the supreme spirit stays in the individual spirit . Every human being is an element of God. Every human being is omnipotent in him, but he is not aware of his potentials because he is caught in the worldly illusions, he has forgotten himself. He understands that the world is all that he sees. But he does not know that whatever he sees is no more than a dream. All illusion. Guru Nanak Dev hence says: O Man, remember the supreme spirit, because only Akal Purakh can save you from falling into the cycle of eighty-four lac incarnations.
A Sikh knows well that just remembering and reciting the name of the Supreme Spirit remove all of his sorrows. Mool Mantra (the basic hymn) of the Sikhs is:
EK OMKAR, SATNAM KARTA PURAKH
NIRBHAVNIRVAIR AKAL MURAT
AJUNI SAI BHANG GURU PRASAD
Meaning : He is the one Akal Purakh. Only his name is true. He fears none, nor does He have enemity with anyone. He is the eternal, far above the cycles of life and death. 'VAHE GURU' is the Guru Mantra of the Sikhs.
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