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Sikhism
Sikhism is the fifth largest religion practiced in the world today. Sikhs worship one universal God, and practice disciplined meditation in the name of God.
2,320 Questions
What did guru Nanak mean when he said 'there is neither Hindu or Muslim'?
Guru Nanak was always thinking about God. Neither looking after cattle nor trade interested him much. So his father was very sad. He thought of his marriage, so Nanak was married when he was 18 years old. A large number of friends and relatives were present and there were grand feasts. Everybody was happy there. Nanak's father and mother were very happy to have their daughter-in-law in the house.
Nanak and his wife lived together. They were happy. After some years they had two sons. Guru Nanak used to spend most of his time in thinking about God and helping the poor. His father thought him idle and was not happy at all. So he made a plan to send Nanak to Sultanpur.
Nanak's only sister, Bibi Nanaki, lived there. Her husband was an officer. Nanaki was very happy to see her brother at Sultanpur. After some time Nanak started work as a store keeper. He worked hard. Everybody liked him. The common people loved him. His family also joined him there. Everything looked fine and his father was happy.
Guru Nanak would spend his mornings and evenings in singing hymns. Both the Hindus and the Muslims came to him. They liked his teaching.
Nanak would get up early in the morning, go out to bathe in the river and pray to God. One day he went out to bathe in the river as usual. He did not come back. His friends went out to find him. Everybody in the house was upset. They couldn't find him anywhere.
Another day passed but still Nanak had not come back. Some people thought he must have drowned in the river. So nothing could be done. But Nanak's sister could not believe that. She was sure Nanak would come back because he still had a lot to do for all men on this earth.
At last, after three days, Guru Nanak appeared. He was sitting outside on the village common. Everybody was surprised and people ran to see him. Nanak sat alone. He was very quiet.
Nanak's wife, his parents and friends were very happy. Their eyes were wet with tears of joy. Soon there was a big crowd of people. An old man came out and asked, "Where have you been all these days, Nanak?"
"Nowhere. Here. I was with God. Now I have to do a lot of work," said Guru Nanak.
"A lot of work! For whom? For the Hindus or the Muslims?" asked the man.
"For none of them. There is no Hindu and no Muslim," replied Nanak.
"What! No Hindu and no Musalman? Aren't we Muslims? We say our Namaz (Prayer) five time a day don't we?" asked the old man angrily.
"I am afraid you are wrong. You think yourselves as Hindus and Muslims first and last. You forget that you are men first and something else. We are the sons of the one GOD. We are all brothers. So there is no Hindu and no Muslim," said Nanak.
"If you think so, are you ready to join us for prayer in the Mosque?" asked the man.
"Yes, gladly. I am always ready to pray to God," replied Nanak.
So they went to the Mosque (Muslim church) and all the people went with them. In the mosque Daulat Khan, the chief of Sultanpur was also present. He was happy to see Nanak there and thought that Nanak had become a Muslim. The prayer started. All bowed and said words of prayer. But Nanak stood silent and only watched what they were doing.
After the prayer, Daulat Khan asked Nanak angrily, "Why did you not follow us in the prayer? You were simply standing and doing nothing."
"Ah, certainly I wanted to join the prayer but I found nobody in the mosque here," said Nanak.
"No, you are lying. Couldn't you see the crowd of people here?" said Daulat Khan.
"Certainly your bodies were here but your minds were far, far away. You were buying horses in Arabia far away from this prayer carpet. How then could I join you?" said Nanak with a smile.
Daulat Khan was surprised that Nanak could know what he was thinking at the time of prayer. Guru Nanak said, "Words alone do not make a prayer. A prayer should come right from the heart. I am always ready to join such a prayer." At this Daulat Khan bowed before the Guru and promised to offer his prayers from the heart. All the people there accepted the Guru's way."When a man wants to become a Hindu, they put a thread of cotton around his neck. But if, after this, his actions are not good, his bathing and washing are useless. The Muslims praise their own creed. "Believe in the 'Pir' or you won't see God," they say. But only a few act upon the words of the 'Pir'. Their actions will speak in God's court. Without good deeds, none will find the way. Very few speak the truth of all truths. Nanak, for them, there will be no tests."
Guru Nanak"Castes are folly, names are folly. All creatures have one shelter, that of God. If a man calls himself good, The truth shall be known O Nanak, When his actions are accounted tor, Under the Guru's instruction Regard all men as equal, Since God's light is contained in every heart."
Guru Nanak
Advocate Harbinder Singh Kalsi,
Guwahati-781005 (Assam)
India.
What is a 'romala' in Sikhism?
A Romala is a special fabric/silk used to cover Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
I have included a picture.
Why do you put the Granth Sahib on a bed --- Why the Chanani or canopy?
Please always treat any Gurbani text with the utmost respect. Never place any Gurbani (in original Gurmukhi) text on the floor or ground. One should keep Gutkas covered in Rumallas. The Full version of Guru Granth Sahib must be treated as eternal Guru.
This is to express our regards and our respect for the Holy Scripture, the True King. The king commanded the greatest power, hence also the maximum respect and honor, in the olden days. Guru Nanak said that the true kings are those who love God and help others to do that. They are the rulers of the hearts of the people. The political kings are temporary kings and their authority ends with their death. The Gurus are the true kings; they teach Truth and rule our hearts. The Guru Granth Sahib is the embodiment of the spirit of all the Sikh Gurus and many other holy men whose hymns are included in it. We respect them as the true kings.
The king sat on a throne under a canopy. He used to have a fanlike structure to be waved over his head as a symbol of his royalty. The Guru Granth Sahib, being the true emperor, is provided all these regal paraphernalia in the Gurdwara. We install the scripture on a throne (called Manji Sahib) with pillows around for supporting it. A canopy (Chanani) is provided above the scripture in the same way as it was put over the head of a king while he attended his court. During the session (Diwan), a person, with Chaur in his hand, is always in attendance on the scripture installed respectfully in the hall. For maintaining due regards and respect, we carry this holy scripture to another room when the hall is to be cleaned or when the session is over for the day. Before we bring the Guru Granth Sahib in the hall, we set everything in the hall properly. This is the court of the Guru. You will understand the whole ceremony better if you bring into mind the scene of the courtroom where everything is set and made ready before a judge enters his court. The Guru Granth Sahib is the Emperor of Emperors, hence all these ceremonial decorations.
Why are the 5 ks important to Sikhs?
The 5k's are important to Sikhs as when they wear them they can be easily identified as Sikhs in a crowd. It also shows the uniqueness of the religion and how it is proud to stand out from the rest.
How do you show respect in a gurdwara?
Any devotee entering Gurudwara must put on turban or cloth over head as a respect to gurugranth.
Is jatt Sikh belongs to general caste?
yes jatt sikh is a general caste although the demanding obc status for long time.
As of my last update, the Sikh population in Greenland is very small, with estimates suggesting that there may only be a few dozen individuals. The Sikh community is not officially documented, and due to Greenland's remote location and small population, specific demographic data on religious affiliations is limited. Overall, Sikhism is not one of the predominant religions in Greenland.
Is Sikhism monotheistic or polytheistic?
Sikhism is monothesistic
Polytheistic means you believe in more than one gods or goddesses.*
Monotheistic means you believe in one God or Goddess.*
Sikhism is monothesistic
What Does The Word Langer Mean?
Langar is where you eat food in the Gurdwara. A Gurdwara is the temple of Sikh's. You eat Langar in the kitchen in the Gurdwara.
What is the light behind guru nanak's head?
Usually when we see picture of any Saints or Guru or any Divine Incarnation we see a halo drawn behind head.In real there is nothing but in the picture there is a halo drawn to signify the knowledge,divinity,spirituality etc. In the same way, we see halo drawn on the painting of Guru Nanak just to emphasize the knowledge.
Hope this helps.
Thank you
Where did guru tegh bahadur die?
Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded on the 11th November 1675 in Chandani Chowk, India now there stands a Gurdwara called Sees Ganj. Aurangzeb the mughal was king at the time an he ordered all hindus to be murdered when Guru Tegh Bahadur heard this he told aurangzeb that he was ready to die in order for the hindus to live therefore he was given the name Hind Di Chadar which means saviour of the hindus.
What happens in a langar hall in a gurdwara?
A Langar Hall is an open hall positioned with all Sikh Gurdwara's where Langar (free vegetarian food) is served. The Sikhs have to sit on the carpeted floor in straight lines which is called "pentaa" as a sign that everyone is equal before God and that no one has a higher or lower status in Waheguru's domain.
What is the meaning of having the canopy when Sikhs read thr Guru Granth Sahib?
The reason they have a canopy is so that when they are reading the Guru Granth Sahib they r higher than everyone else. Because the book is much more important than everyone else. from Alice Bebb
What happens at a Sikh funeral?
in a Sikh funeral they wear white suits for respect then the men take body to a place and then have prayers and then they cover the dead person with wood and put it on fire after it is burned they take the ashes and put it in a ocean,river or lake.
No, not allowed by clergy. However just like people of other faiths heresy is common.
The modern name for a boy beginning with j is JASVINDER
What was strange about Guru Nanak's birth?
it is to rule out the false teachigs from diff religions and get the true way to live. u can now abt it by listening translation of japji sahib by maskeen ji.which was written by guru nanak dev g.waheguru ji ka khalsa waheguru ji ki fateh.
What sort of clothing do Sikhs wear?
In gurbani mention - "Baba aisa pehnana khushi khawar, jis pehandiya na tan pidiye na mann mein aaye vikar" Its meaning that the Sikh should wear such clothes happily which are not harmful for his body and mind.
