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Summary of Question:	The Importance Of The #5 In Sikhism
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Sunday, 6/01/2003 8:39 AM MDT

After doing some research, I've noticed that the Number 5 plays an important role in Sikhism:

-5 Beloved Ones
-5 K's
-5 Takhats
-5 Bhannia (Jap Ji Sahib etc.)
-The City of Punjab (land of 5 rivers)
-The 5 Theives (lust, greed, anger, attatchment, pride)
- The 5 stages:
Dharam Khand (realisation of spiritual duty)
Gian Khand (divine knowledge)
Saram Khand (wisdom and effort)
Karam Khand (divine grace)
Sach Khand (truth)
-Each Guru offered his successor five paise with a coconut or bel fruit followed by five circumbulations around him, in token of his becoming the next Guru.
-During baptism of the Sikh child, which is presided over by FIVE Sikh men known for their wisdom and devotion, the sanctified water (amrit) is placed on the head of the neophyte, and sprinkled in his eyes, FIVE times, and FIVE times he is given this amrit to drink.

I was wondering whether this was a coincidence that the number 5 is reoccuring, or is there a deeper reason for having the #5? I understand this question will require some research on your part, so I await very patiently for your answer. Thank you.


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Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh.

Back in the days of the Gurus, the prevelant cosmology was that everything was created out of Five Tattwas or Five Elements. Earth, water, fire, air and ether. Everything that is created, according to this cosmology, begins with Ether and then attracts more and more density to it - certain amount of air, fire, water, and finally earth to give it form. This is back in the days before anyone knew about the atom-oriented "elements" of Carbon, Hydrogen, helium, etc. :) But in the system of Five Tattwas, the elements don't just refer to physical characteristics - but emotional, mental and spiritual characteristics, as well.

So - the number five is part of the unconsicous cosmology of the Gurus' time and, if you meditated on it, you might find correlations between the Five Thieves and the Five Elements. Or the Five Banis and the Five Elemtns. In this day and age, it's much less intuitive because we don't see the world as coming from Five Elements. But back in the Guru's day, this was the prevelent consciousness and for many people who practice Ayurveda or other traditional Indian sciences, the Tattwas are still very important.

In the Native American and other ancient traditions, the number five is important because it represents the four directions and the center. Plus there's the fact that we have five fingers on each hand and five toes on each foot. So - the number five is just something that we live with as humans beings and different cultures give it a certain weight for different reasons.

Why is five important? God alone knows. As for us, we can link it to the Five Tattwas or just consider it some form of unknowable Cosmic poetry. It's beautiful no matter how you look at it.

Much love and many blessings.

Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh.

GPK