Indian Arts and Culture Sikhism Do Sikhs Believe in the Devil or Demons? Print RUSS ROHDE / Getty Images Indian Arts and Culture Origins Sacred Scriptures Life and Culture Baby Names By Sukhmandir Khalsa Sukhmandir Khalsa Sikhism Expert Sukhmandir Kaur is a Sikh author, educator, and the president of Dharam Khand Sikh Academy. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on July 23, 2018 Sikhism does not have a concept of the devil, or Satan as does Christianity, Islam, or Judaism. Sikhs believe that demons or devils are entities, or spirits which are driven solely by ego. Sikhism teaches that indulgence of ego or homai is the prime cause of evil doing. Ego has five basic components: Pride or AhnkarLust or KaamGreed or LobhAttachment or MohAnger or Krodh These five influences act as clamoring voices to distract, delude, and drive the senses of the individual soul. Sikhs believe that involvement with ego creates a state of vijog or duality that is the cause of all suffering. The soul in duality experiences homai, the disease of egotism resulting in sense of separation from the divine, which is the source of sorrow, and struggling. 13 Descriptions of Demons, Devils, and Evil Spirits in Gurbani The scripture of Siri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) and describes the relationship of the soul to the influences of egoism. Gurbani identifies 13 evil inclinations of devilish, demonic, or satanic behaviors and beings as Asur, Badaphalee, Baetaal, Balaa, Bhoot, Dait, Danav, Daanon, Doot, Dusatt, Jinn, Rakhas, and Saitaan. "Sukhdaataa dukh maettanno satigur asur sanghaar ||3||The peace giving, pain obliterating, True Enlightener demolishes destructive demons." SGGS||59"Asur saghaarann raam jamaaraa ||The demon destroyer is my Lord." SGGS|| ||1028"Badaphalee gaibaanaa khasam na jaannaee ||Foolish is the demonic evil doer whose master is not known." SGGS||142"Sach kaal koorr varathiaa kal kaalakh baetaal ||There is a famine of Truth where falsehood prevails, the blackness of the Dark Age has made men into demons." SGGS|| 468"Oue satigur aagai naa niveh ounaa antar krodh balle ||They bow not before the Ture Enlightener for within them is the demon anger." SGGS||41"Jab tae saadhoo sangat paa-ae|| Gur bhaetatt ho gee balaa-ae ||Since I obtained the Saint's society, and met with the Enlightener, the demon pride departed." SGGS 101"Praet bhoot sabh doojhai laa-ae ||The goblins and demonic beings all are caught in duality." SGGS || 841"Sant janaa kee nindaa kareh dusatt dait chirraa-i-aa ||3||The saintly person was slandered and provoked by the wicked demon." ||3|| SGGS ||1133Daev daanav gan gandhharab saajae sabh likhiaa karam kamaaidaa ||12||Demi gods, demons, heavenly heralds and celestial musicians all act according to the destiny of past deeds. SGGS||1038"Panch doot tae leeou chhaddaa-e ||From the five demons he rescued me." SGGS||331"kaam krodh bikraal doot sabh haariaa ||The dreadful demons of insatiable lustful desire and the wrath of unresolved anger, have all been overpowered and destroyed." SGGS ||854"Bikhai bikaar dusatt kirkhaa karae en taj aatamai hoe dhiaa-ee ||Within weed out evil, wickedness and corruption, leave these to become single minded and meditate." SGGS||23"Ehu sareer maa-i-aa kaa putalaa vich houmai dusattee paa-ee ||This body is mammon Maya's puppet within it is the evil of egotism infused." SGGS||31"Kalee andar naanakaa jinnaan daa aoutaar ||In the dark age O Nanak, the demons have taken birth.Put jinooraa dheea jinnooree joroo jinnaa daa sikdaar ||1||The son is a demon, the daughter a demon, and wife the He and She demon chief." ||1|| SGGS||556"Raakhas daanon daith lakh andar doojaa bhaao duhaelae ||Evil spirits and gigantic demonic beings by the hundred thousands are with duality imbued. Bhai Gurdas || Vaar 5"Chhod kataeb karai saitaanee ||They have forsaken religious scriptures and practice Satanic evil." SGGS||1161Baed kataeb bhulaa-ikai mohae laalach dunee saitaanae ||The Vedic texts and holy scriptures are forgotten, worldly attachments have led them astray in the devil's way." Bhai Gurdas || Vaar 1 Deliverance From Evil Sikhism teaches that contemplation upon naam, the divine name, with each and every breath is the means to deliverance and salvation. Contemplation on the qualities of Ik Onkar, one inseparable creator, and creation calms the voices of ego. Prayer and meditation on Waheguru offer the individual an opportunity to center the focus of the soul inwardly, ultimately achieving the blissful state of sanjog or unity in an awareness of being one with God. Saas giraas sadaa man casai jyam joeh na sakhai tis ||With every breath and morsel of food taken the Lord ever abides in their mind, and the minister of death cannot see them. SGGS||854 Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Khalsa, Sukhmandir. "Do Sikhs Believe in the Devil or Demons?" Learn Religions, Feb. 8, 2021, learnreligions.com/do-sikhs-believe-devil-or-demons-2993497. Khalsa, Sukhmandir. (2021, February 8). Do Sikhs Believe in the Devil or Demons? Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/do-sikhs-believe-devil-or-demons-2993497 Khalsa, Sukhmandir. "Do Sikhs Believe in the Devil or Demons?" Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/do-sikhs-believe-devil-or-demons-2993497 (accessed March 19, 2024). copy citation