Sikhism Scavenger Hunt:

1. Sikhism Scavenger Hunt: Fast Facts History / Origins Beliefs and Practices

2. Introduction and Origins: • The word “Sikh” means studentor learner. Today a Sikh is one who follows the teachings of the religion’s founder, Guru Nanak and his successors. • Guru Nanak was born in 1469 C.E. He was born a Hindu in present-day Punjab, Pakistan. • By his late teens Guru Nanak was dissatisfied with formal Hinduism, especially the caste system .

3. Introduction and Origins: • Guru Nanak’s spiritual experience: • One day he failed to return from prayers • He was assumed drowned • When he returned after three (3) days of being missing, he was silent. • When he finally broke his silence, he said “There was neither Hindu nor Muslim . . . I shall follow God’s path. God is neither Hindu nor Muslim, and the path I follow is God’s.”

4. Introduction and Origins: • For Sikhs, a Guru is a source of spiritual guidance from ignoranceto a state of spiritual enlightenment. • Sikhism is a monotheistic(belief in one God) religion. Sikhs believe that the path to onenesswith God can be revealed through the Guru. • Nanak felt compelled to share his newfound insights with those around him. One way he did this was by composing hymns.

5. Introduction and Origins: • Hymns allowed Guru Nanak to spread his message to a wider audience and to read those who could not read or write. • Guru Nanak travelled until 1521, when he settled in a place called Kartarpur, meaning “the abode of the Creator.” There he set up a communal farmwith his sons, and all those who lived on the farm were expected to work in the fields and share the harvest. • He also built a place of worship, which provided a model for the gurdwara, a main structure for worship in present-day Sikh communities.

6. The Gurus / Sikh Leaders: • The Gurus were seen as spiritual guides, with Guru Nanak representing the embodiment of humility. • The ten (10) gurus were known for unique qualities and for accomplishing special feats. • The Guru Granth Sahib is the Sikh’s most holy book, formerly known as the AdiGranth. It is considered to be the last and most holy of the Gurus.

7. The Gurus / Sikh Leaders: • (continued) Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth Guru. He ended the line of Human Gurus by instructing his fellow Sikhs that the holy book should act as the final guru for all who seek oneness with God. • The name Khalistan was given to the proposed independent Sikh country. • As part of India, the Punjab was under Mughal (Muslim) rule for centuries and under British rule for much of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. • When India became independent in 1947, the Punjab region was split between India and Pakistan.Both countries claim autonomy over the territory.

9. Basic Beliefs: • Sikhs believe in one God, who is the creator of the universe and the sovereign ruler. He is known as Waheguru, which means “Wonderful Lord.” • God’s name should be remembered, repeated and meditated upon continually. • Sikhs believe that the best way to honour God is: • To promote equality, live honestly and care for others. • Practice kiratkarni– dignity of one’s labour. A person’s work must be legal and ethical. Cannot use dishonest means to accumulate wealth. • Seva– a belief in charity and in serving others.

10. Basic Beliefs: • Sikhs believe in reincarnation (similar to Hindu concept of Samsara). • They believe they are accountable for their actions and that judgement takes place soon after death. • Judgement determines whether the soul feels pleasure or pain depending on its past actions. • God determines the soul’s next form of life. • Sikhs believe that you can only transcend suffering if you turn to God through listening to the gurbani(special hymns), seva(charity), meditation on the name of God and worship God in the hope of achieving release from rebirth, called mukti.

11. Practices and Rituals: • Key Practices and Rituals: • Gurdwara– the building where Sikhs gather to worship. The word gurdwara means “God’s home.” • BhaiJi– community leader appointed to recite the scriptures, sing the hymns and perform religious rites. He or she is the caretaker of the gurdwara and protector of the Guru Granth Sahib (holy text). • Diwan – The Sikh congregation that gathers on Sundays to worship. There is no official Sabbath day in Sikhism. • Takhat– special platform or throne where the Guru GranthSanhib (holy text) is placed. It is covered with a canopy. In front of the takhat is a place where worshippers can leave offerings of food or money.

12. Practices and Rituals: • Key Practices and Rituals (cont’d): • Sikh worship Service - During the service, Sikhs remove shoes and sit on the floor. Men and women sit separately. Most of the service involves kirtan, the singing of hymns, prayer, and a reading from the Guru Granth Sahib. At the end of the service, worshippers are given karahparshad, a sweet pudding to eat (similar to Catholic Eucharist). • Langar– a vegetarian meal provided for free to all persons attending Sikh worship. Everyone sits on the floor to emphasize equality. Anyone, including visitors to the gurdwara, is welcome to join the langar.

13. Practices and Rituals: Top left: The takhat inside the prayer hall of a gurdwara. Top right: The Ontario Khalsa Durbar, the largest gurdwara in Ontario. Bottom left: a langar meal in the gurdwara basement.

14. Practices and Rituals: • Key Practices and Rituals (cont’d): • Sikh Daily Life – There are certain religious customs and codes of behaviour that all Sikhs must follow: • Lead honest lives • Remain faithful in relationships • Show respect for all living things (vegetarianism) • Abstain from smoking, drinking, taking drugs, gambling and stealing. • All Sikhs recited daily prayers, called the nit nem. These prayers are said in the morning, evening and before bed. • Sikhs read from the Guru Granth Sahib and many have a copy of the holy book in their homes.

15. Festivals: • Baisakhi • The festival of Baisakhiusually occurs on either April 13th or 14th. • Its purpose is to remind Sikhs of the saint-soldiers who were prepared to fight against injustice. • On this holiday, the story of the formation of the Khalsa is told. • It is also a day of thanks to God. • Commemorates the Amritsar Massacre in 1919, when the British rulers of India forbade Sikhs from gathering together to celebrate Baisakhi. Hundreds of Sikhs who defied the British authorities were massacred by the army.

16. Khalsa and the Five Ks: • The Khalsais a specially dedicated group within the Sikh faith. • They are seen as the “orthodox” group within Sikhism. • Resulted from persecution for refusing to convert to Islam and refusal to abide by the Hindu caste system. • Vowed to protect the faith. Men are given the name Singh which means “lion;” women adopt the name Kaur which means “princess.” • Wear five (5) symbols of faith known as the “Five Ks”. • Not all Sikhs choose to join the Khalsa.

17. Khalsa and the Five Ks:

18. Khalsa and the Five Ks: • The Five Ks are visible signs of the Sikh faith and of membership to the Khalsa: • Kesh – “uncut hair”, including all body hair. Cutting and styling hair was seen as a sign of vanity. Sikhs grow and protect their hair by wearing turbans or covering their head. • Kangha – a comb used to keep hair clean and tidy. • Kara – plain steel bracelet worn as a sign of strength. • Kirpan– ceremonial dagger that serves as a symbol of dignity and self-respect, as well as a reminder to defend the truth. It is not a weapon and should not be drawn unless your life is threatened. • Kaccha – short pants or undergarments

20. Holy Places and Symbols: • The Golden Temple at Amritsar is the holiest site for Sikhs around the world. • The Golden Temple has four (4) entrances to indicate that people from all over the world are welcome there. • It contains some of the earliest writings of Sikhism • A special procession takes place inside the temple everyday whereby the Guru Granth Sahib is carried into the worship room.

21. Holy Places and Symbols: • The Khanda is the primary symbol of Sikhism. It consists of three (3) parts: • Two Swords (kirpan) – represents service to God by teaching the truth and fighting for what is right. • Circle (chakkar)– stands for God and the unity of people. • Double-edged Sword – a symbol of the power of God.

22. Sacred Writings: • The sacred text of Sikhism is known as the Guru Granth Sahib. • It is a collection of over 3000 hymns. • Includes writings from several non-Sikhs, notably Hindus and Muslims, demonstrating the Sikh belief of listening to the wisdom of others. • All Guru Granth Sahibs are printed identically (i.e. same number of pages so that particular hymns always appear on the same page.) • The Guru Granth Sahib is the “final Guru” because it is the embodiment of the authority of God and the ten Gurus. It is therefore treated with respect and reverence.

23. Sacred Writings: • Practices associated with the Guru Granth Sahib: • Before a Sikh enters into the room where the Guru Granth Sahib is present, he / she must cleanse their hands, remove their shoes and cover their head. • The book is always kept with a special cloth covering it when not in use. • When in use, it is placed on a cloth and three cushions. The granthi(reader of the holy book) waves a fan over the Guru Granth Sahib to ensure that it kept free from dust. • At the end of the day, the Guru Granth Sahib is removed from the takhat and put to “sleep” in a separate room.

24. Sacred Writings: