sikhism

where was sikhism founded

in the punjab region in pakistan and india - amritsar

founder of sikhism

guru nanak dev ji when he was 30 he went to the river - there is no hindu, there is no muslim

what century was sikhism founded

1500 C.E.

what two major religions is sikhism related to

hinduism and islam

what type of religion is sikhism (theism)

monotheistic religion

one shapeless eternal god

commonly referred to as vahi guru

it is present in all people and all things on earth

three pillars of sikhism

1. naam simran: focusing on Vahi Guru and his hukam (living in natural order)

2. kirat karni: living and working in an ethical way - includes seva (selflessness)

3. vand ke chakna: sharing one’s wealth with others - donating to charity and paying dasvandh

goal of life

live in harmony with the divine order of things (hukam)

practice hukam —> achieve mukti (union with the divine on earth)

mukti = following the divine order of things, living in harmony w/ the world

what are the two names that guru gobind singh gave to all sikhs

singh for men (lion)

kaur for women (lion)

match guru to accomplishment

guru nanak: founded sikhism

guru anghad dev: invented gurmukhi script (language used in guru granth sahib) and collected guru nanak hymns

guru amar das: introduced langar, dasvandh, and anand karaj

guru ram das sahib: established amritsar as the holy city, founded the harmandir (gold temple)

guru arjan dev: compiled the adi granth (first book), brought guru granth sahib to the harmandir

guru har gobind: introduced miri-piri, created a sikh army, brought wearing the kirpan (knife)

guru har rai sahib: maintained the standing army and made hospital/research centre

guru har krishan sahib: age 5 - 8, purity and truth

guru tegh bahadur sahib: founded the city of anandpur

guru gobind singh sahib: last human guru - founded khalsa, made guru granth sahib / community the final guru

match panj kakaar to their image

kesh: uncut hair

kanga: wooden comb

kirpan: dagger

kaccha: special underwear

kara: steel bracelet

match major milestones to their description

NAAM KARAN (birth)

- guru granth sahib opened at random - first letter of first word on page = child name

AMRIT SANSHKAAR

- initiation - sikhs commit to their faith and become a member of the khalsa

ANAND KARAJ (marriage)

- ceremony of bliss, the couple bows to the guru granth sahib

ANTAM SANSKAR (funeral)

- family mourns privately and recites akhand path

match daily prayers to description

japji sahib: statement of sikh philosophy

jaap sahib: praise to vahi guru

tav prasad: sawaiya: 10 core Sikh principles

rehras sahib: everning prayer

sohila sahib: prayer of praises

explain significance of panj kakaar

kesh: uncut hair and beard honours natural will of God. should be kept intact

kanga: comb used to maintain hair, keeping hair clean and tidy = sigificance of order

kirpan: double edged dagger - duty to defend sikism and uphold justice

kara: steel bracelet on right arm, symbolizes (neverending) unity with god

kaccha: undergarment shorts, symbol of modesty, purity, self-restraint

city for sikh pilgrimage

amritsar - known as the holiest sacred city - people go to connect spiritually/to their faith

sikhs gather in the sacred city to celebrate vaisakhi (celebrate formation of the khalsa)

amritsar has the golden temple - founded by the 4th guru

define naam simran and nitnem

1. naam simran: form of meditation that focuses on hukam (natural order) and becoming gurmukh (guru oriented)

• involves repetition of mantras like vahi or nam sat

2. nitnem: five prayers and three different times of day - three prayers in the morning (japji sahib), jaap sahib, tav prasad sawaiya, rehreas sahib (evening) and sohila sahib

explain khalsa

a collective body of intiated sikhs to show devotion to their faith

1699 Guru Gobind Singh (tenth guru) started it because Sikhs were being persecuted for refusing to convert to islam

5 sikhs volunteered to die for their faith, became the cherished ones —> given names of singh and kaur —> told to wear 5 special signs showing that they’re sikh (5 K’s)

SIGNIFICANCE: gives a clear sikh identity (new last names), established a new sikh leadership structure - introduced a new higher level of devotion for sikhs

significance of gurpurb

holy day associated with birth or death of a guru

guru nanak’s birthday is the most important (november)

• guru granth sahib is continuously read for 48 hours

• lectures to explain guru’s significance

sikhism similarities to other religions

HINDUISM:

1. similar spiritual practices, including the life milestones rituals like naming, marriage, and funeral

HINDU/BUDDHISM:

1. same goal of life: cycle of death and rebirth (sansar) > achieve their own idea of enlightenment (hukam)

BUDDHISM:

1. both emphasize the idea of rejecting negative human behaviour (haumai (egoism)/ dukkha (suffering) > and overcoming it by meditating and becoming closer to your guru/buddha

DAOISM:

1. goal of life is to live in harmony with the divine order of things: dao/hukam

2. hindu and dao: believe in a natural order to the world: dao/dharma/hukam

which guru is most important to sikhism and why

1. guru angaad dev: invented gurmuki script > important because that is how the guru granth sahib is understood

   • opened sikh schools/literacy: necessary to continue sikh legacy

2. guru gobind singh: turned guru granth sahib and sikh community to be the final guru, founded khalsa

NOT IMPORTANT: guru har krishan: died at age 8 helping with smallpox and cholera - too young to make significant contributions, seen as more of a symbol rather than his legacy

ULTIMATELY: guru gobind singh - his legacy of introducing the Khalsa was significantly shaped sikh identity more than anyone else - he has transformed it the most (esp. 5 K’s)

2 things you learned

langar: free community meals offered in any gurdwara - served to anyone regardless of religion status etc

every home that owns a copy of the guru granth sahib becomes a gurdwara and needs someone to take care of it + do the rituals