What is Sikhism

?

Learning objectives• To be able to understand the basic history of Sikhism

• To know what the five K’s are at the end of the lesson

• To understand what a Gurdwara is

• To understand the main Rites of passenger of Sikhs

• Around 1500 CE• Punjab area of South Asia (Now parts of India and Pakistan)•Guru Nanak started teaching Sikhism• At the time the area was distinctly Hindu and Islamic

How did Sikhism begin?

• There have been 10 human Gurus• The Guru is seen as an enlightened teacher, not a God• Each Guru would appoint his successor• The last human Guru (Guru Gobind Singh) appointed the Sikh sacred texts as the final and enduring Guru (Referred to as Sri Guru Granth Sahib)

What are the Gurus?

What are the 5 K’s? What do they Represent?

This is called the Khanda.

This Symbol represents

some of the concepts of Sikhism.

The Khanda is made up by

some of the 5 K’s.

So what are the 5

K’s?

What are the 5 K’s?• The 5 K’s are objects that most Sikhs carry to represent different aspects of their religion.• The reason they are called the 5 K’s is because the name of all 5 objects begin with a ‘K.’• Sikhs who carry these 5 K’s are called Khalsa. Khalsa meaning “pure.”• Both men and women can carry the 5 K’s.• Each one of the 5 K’s has a different significance, but they all just as important as each other.• The 5 K’s are………

KeshKesh

means uncut hair.

Uncut hair symbolizes

holiness and strength.

Hair is part of God’s creation, by having uncut

hair it shows the acceptance

of God’s gift.

This applies for all body hair, women

and men.

KaraThe Kara is a steel bracelet.

The Kara symbolizes

eternity, showing God

has no beginning or

end.

The Kara also represents

restrained and not doing anything

against the Guru’s wishes.

The Kara is worn on the right wrist.

Kachehra/KacchaThe

Kachehra is a pair of

underwear.

The Kachehra symbolizes

chastity.

The Kachehra should not go

below the knees.

The Kachehra helps to stop

one from making the

wrong moves, and remind

them of their duty.

KangaThe

Kanga is a wooden comb.

The Kanga symbolizes

a clean body and a clean mind.

The Kanga is used to brush the uncut hair,

keeping it neat and tidy.

It is important to

look after God’s

creation (our body).

KirpanThe Kirpan is a sword.

The Kirpan represents

courage and defence.

The Kirpan symbolizes self-

defense, defense of God and defense of

the weak.

The rule is “never do

injustice and never let

anyone else do injustice”

What are the Temples and its Procedures?

What is the place of worship?

The Gurdwara is the Sikh place of worship. Gurdwara means gateway to the guru.

Services• Services are based

on the writings in the Guru Granth Sahib. A scripture of a collection of teachings. Together with chants and prayers from the gurus known as keertan.

Services• The service ends with

a shared meal known as langar. • Langar is served to

everyone who attends the Gurdwara. • The food is shared out

by the Granthi, which is the person who looks after the Gurdwara.

Rites of Passage in Sikhism

• When both the mother and child are ready to move about, they are taken to the Gurdwara along with the rest of the family.

• They recite hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib.

• Karah Prashad and Amrit are prepared.

• The new-born's name is chosen from the Hukam. The Granthi randomly opens a page from the Guru Granth and recites the hymn on that page. The name is chosen by the first letter of the first word on that hymn.

What is a Nam Karan?

• A Sikh marriage is called Anand Karaj.

• The Guru Granth Sahib is present during the wedding ceremony.

• While reciting the Lavan the couple must walk around the Guru Granth Sahib four times.

• Wedding ceremonies can be performed by any Sikhs who has gone through the Armit initiation.

• Sikhs believe in monogamy.

• Widows and widowers may remarry.

• Child marriage is forbidden.

What is an Anand Karaj?

• Death is considered a natural process.

• Public displays of grief at a funeral is discouraged and so is worshipping the dead with gravestones.

• Cremation is what Sikhs prefers.

• Before cremation the body is cleaned and clothed by a family member.

• Hymns are recited, while being cremated they recite a night time prayer and Ardas is performed.

• Non continuos reading of the whole Guru Granth Sahib takes place and concludes on the 10th day.

Funeral Rites

What have you learntanything today?

How many human Gurus were there?

A) 15

B) 2

C) 10

Try again

What does Khalsa mean?

A) Pure

B) Holy

C) Spiritual

Try again

What is a Gurdwara?

C) A temple where Sikhs go for prayers

B) A sacred bangle

A) A house full of Holy people

Try again

What is Armit?

C) Sacred water

B) Sweet water

A) Holy salt water

Try again