COMPONENT 3 A Study of a World Faith

Option 6: Sikhism

1 hour exam

25%

Reference to relevant sources of wisdom and authority are expected, including scripture and/or sacred texts.

Candidates are expected to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of beliefs, teachings and practices within a world faith.

Areas of Study • Ceremonies • Festivals • The Sangat • Amritsar

Area of Study: God

Areas of Study • The Nature of God • God as Creator • God’s relationship with human

life

Area of Study: Central Concepts

Area of Study: Sikh Lifestyle

Area of Study: Central Practices

Areas of Study • The Oneness of Humanity • Gurmukh • The Afterlife • Sewa • The Sangat

Areas of Study • The Gurdwara • Worship

Guru Gobind Singh

The 10th living guru, Guru Gobind Singh, decided that after his death, there would be no further living gurus.

He declared that from his death onwards, the living Guru would be the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib.

The Sikhs place a great deal of emphasis on this book in their religion.

The Guru Granth Sahib

GURU means teacher who leads you from darkness

(ignorance) to light..

GRANTH means large book

SAHIB is a title of RESPECT

As you watch the DVD clip, note down the ways in which Sikhs show their respect to the

Guru Granth Sahib.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/the

-sikh-holy-book-the-guru-granth-

sahib/4825.html

The Guru Granth Sahib

The Guru Granth Sahib is the Sikh holy book.

To Sikhs, it is more than just a book. It represents the actual word of God and is considered to be the modern day equivalent of the living Guru. It plays a

central role in many areas of a Sikh’s life.

About the Guru Granth Sahib

Every copy of the book has exactly the same number of pages, 1430 in total. Every

page of the book is the same in every copy.

The original copy of the book still exists and its from this

that every copy is taken.

The book is written in a special language called gurmukhi (which was invented by the second guru ~ Guru Angad).

The Guru Granth Sahib & Akand Path

Akand Path is when the WHOLE of the Guru Granth Sahib is read non stop. It takes 48 hours of continual reading to complete the 1430 pages.

Akhand Paths are carried out on special occasions such as festivals / gurpurbs. Families may request an Akhand Path when they move house, an 18th Birthday

or before a wedding.

Respecting the Guru Granth Sahib

Sikhs respect the book very highly as it is looked upon as the actual living word of God.

If a house has a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib, it should have its own room where it is kept when not in use. It is

often covered in special clothes called romallas.

Respecting the Guru Granth Sahib

Sikhs respect the book very highly as it is looked upon as the actual living word of God.

In a gurdwara, the room often has a bed that the book is put in when it is not in use. This room Sach Khand “the realm of truth” is often very lavish and has sheets of silk and gold leaf on objects around the room.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/what-s-important-to-a-sikh/5944.html

Respecting the Guru Granth Sahib

Sikhs respect the book very highly as it is looked upon as the actual living word of God.

It is kept on a special raised platform in the prayer hall of the gurdwara and should be higher than

everyone else except the person reading it.

Respecting the Guru Granth Sahib

Sikhs respect the book very highly as it is looked upon as the actual living word of God.

It is always carried above head height so that it is never lower than the people around it.

Respecting the Guru Granth Sahib

Sikhs respect the book very highly as it is looked upon

as the actual living word of God. It has its own fan (called a chauri) that is waved over the top

of the book to keep flies away. The maharaja’s in India had fans waved over them to keep them cool, but mainly as a sign

of respect.

Respecting the Guru Granth Sahib

Sikhs respect the book very highly as it is looked upon

as the actual living word of God.

The book is kept on a cushions and a small bed (Manji Sahib) to make sure that it is comfortable

and well looked after.

Respecting the Guru Granth Sahib

Sikhs respect the book very highly as it is looked upon as the actual living word of God.

People may bring gifts to the book (such as new sheets, romallas or pillows) as a way of thanking God

for good fortune in their lives.

The Granthi may be a man or woman, they sit behind the Guru Granth Sahib, facing the worshippers. They will often give a KATHA ~ a talk / sermon explaining key teaching from the Guru Granth Sahib.

Have you managed to fill this in?

Chandoa A canopy above the Guru Granth Sahib – important people would have sat beneath a canopy to keep them out of the sun, so it became a symbol of respect.

Chauri A fly-whisk – a handle with hair or feathers protruding from one end, waved over the Guru Granth Sahib as a sign of respect.

Granthi The man or woman who reads out the Guru Granth Sahib to the congregation.

Guru Granth Sahib The Sikh holy book.

Harmonium A small keyboard instrument similar to a piano accordion.

Ik Onkar A Sikh symbol – the first words of the Guru Granth Sahib in Gurmukhi letters that mean, “God is One”.

Karah Prashad A sweet food made of flour, sugar, milk and butter. It is mixed in a bowl and offered to the Guru Granth Sahib before being shared around the congregation.

Khanda A Sikh symbol made up of a two edged sword (a khanda), a circle (a chakra) and two single edged swords (kirpans).

Kirpan A single-edged sword, often slightly curved.

Manji Sahib A pile of cushions that the Guru Granth Sahib is placed on.

Offerings Various offerings of money, flowers, food etc are placed before the Guru Granth Sahib as a sign of respect.

Pictures of the Gurus These are placed around the Gurdwara to remind the congregation of the Gurus’ example.

Ragis Musicians who sing and accompany hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib.

Rumalla A cloth used to cover the Guru Granth Sahib in order to keep it clean.

Tabla A small drum played with the fingers.

Takht This means “Throne” and is the name given to the raised platform on which the Guru Granth Sahib is placed.

The Guru Granth Sahib Look at the picture below. It shows the front of a Diwan (worship) Hall in a Gurdwara with all the people and objects you would find around the Guru Granth Sahib. Read these descriptions and then have a go at labelling the picture.

https://www.truetube.co.uk/film/holy-cribs-gurdwara

Watch this video … this will show you some of the

things that we have learnt about.