Sikhism

For a Sikh the most important thing is Hair.

a saying : a Sikh will cut his head id the need comes (i.e. die ) but will never cut his hair.

The concept of "Miri Piri" was highlighted by the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind when he was throned Guru on 11 June 1606. At the Guruship (succession) ceremony the Guru asked for two kirpans to be donned on him; one to symbolize the concept of Miri or temporal authority and the second to symbolize the concept of Piri or spiritual authority. The wearing of two swords was a departure from previous Guruship tradition when only the "salli" (for spiritual power) was worn by the preceding Gurus. Sikh army was built by the sixth Guru to to fight for justice if need comes.

For many years now, the Sikh community worldwide have honoured the sixth Guru's vision of Miri and Piri and have celebrated this vision on 21 July every year by calling this day the - Miri Piri Divas or the Miri Piri Day.

Sewa (Voluntary Service)

Whoever has good destiny inscribed on his forehead, applies himself to Sewa - selfless service" (Guru Granth Sahib: Paanaa:1142 Line : 4 )

So it is not only in our acts of service at the Gurdwara, or our involvement in charities, helping the homeless and infirm, housing the earthquake victim, that we perform Sewa. We can worship God, and perform Sewa in our everyday activities. Getting up in the morning, going to work and performing our tasks. Going to college and studying for exams. Coming home and cooking and cleaning. Every single mundane activity can be an act of Sewa. Keeping in mind your intentions, the reasons for living and helping others, you can realise your status as an ambassador for Waheguru, an agent of truth and love. Herein, God is present in our lives, and we can extend the concept of Sewa to include all that we do. Everything is a manifestation of the truth, and our very lives become an affirmation of that. Even if you do not pray every day, and cannot visit the Gurdwara as often as you would like, keep the Guru's name on your lips and perform the best you can. Because those things that keep us busy: our job, our families, our love of football, our passions, our hobbies, our friends, our music: these are things we should pursue to excellence, to the fullest of our abilities, and with Waheguru in our heart. They are all part of the holy life we lead. Help those in your vicinity. You will be touching the Divine.

1. Sewa is a prominent part of Sikh religion. Illustrative models of voluntary service are organised for imparting training, in the Gurdwaras. Its simple forms are : sweeping and plastering the floors of the Gurdwara, serving water to or fanning the congregation, offering provisions to and rendering any, kind of service in the common kitchen-cum-eating house, dusting the shoes of the people visiting the Gurdwara, etc.

a. Guru Ka Langar : The philosophy behind the Langar (Guru's kitchen-cum-eating-house) is two-fold : to provide training to the Sikhs in voluntary service and to help banish all distinction of high and low, touchable and untouchable from the Sikhs' minds.

b. All human beings, high or low, and of any caste or colour may sit and eat in the Langar. No discrimination on grounds of the country of origin, colour, caste or religion must be made while making people sit in rows for eating.

To get guidance is one of the reasons they come into the presence of God by listening to and singing from the holy book.

To be a part of a community is another reason they come to be in company of God's people, of all different ages. Singing lessons and community. Activities will also be held in rooms at the gurdwara.

To serve God and others is also a reason to carry out the Sikh duty of helping others, for example, by sharing in the work of the kitchen. This provides food free to all people both Sikh and non-Sikh

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ANS#2:

Gurudwara is a place of worship, a temple of Sikhs, the followers of Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhism, the main feature of Gurdwara is to sing/listen the praises of Lord God and true Guru in association with the true congregation of devotee worshipers and recite the scripture contained in Guru Granth Sahib and hence learn the teachings of true Guru for implementation in real life of course.

गुर दुआरै हरि कीरतनु सुणीऐ ॥

All the Guru's door one hears the God's praise.

सतिगुरु भेटि हरि जसु मुखि भणीऐ ॥

Meeting with the True Guru, one utters the Lord's praise with honour in the Lord's court.

कलि कलेस मिटाए सतिगुरु हरि दरगह देवै मानां हे ॥४॥

Sorrows and strifes the True Guru effaces and blesses with honour in the Lord's court.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Raag Maaroo 1075

Besides above Gurdwara is used for,

1. Learning Punjabi, 2,Learning Tabla and Keertan, 3. Learning recitation of scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib and other scriptures of 10th Guru and Bhai Gurdassji.4. taking coaching of meaning of the scriptures. 5. Religious books library and 6. Free medical care clinic.etc etc.

Except above Gurudwara is a place where the pupils/disciples/followers Sikhs are baptized, hence given the unique identification of a baptized(Amritdhari) Sikh. Here it is necessary to mention that we may have faith in Sikhism, but the true Guru gives more importance to baptized Sikhs and guides spiritually to His disciples. This is just like the enrollment in some institution and only then that institution issues their I. Card. After baptism all religious practice of a Sikh, like chanting name singing praises etc are suitably accounted for with the Lord God and true Guru.

As a public place Gurudwara is of great importance like meetings for religious resolutions. arranging Guru festivals of Their births and uniting with Lord God days. Langer Hall is there for having lunch or brunch. Personal functions can also be arranged there being economic. Another great importance of Gurdwara is marriage ceremony in way of Sikh custom.

In short a Gurudwara is like the temples of other religions. Temples are like concrete banks on a river facilitating safe baths, where one can worship without disturbance with other similar devotee worshipers.

तितु जाइ बहहु सतसंगती जिथै हरि का हरि नामु बिलोईऐ ॥

Go and sit in the society of saints where Lord God's Name is churned (meditated upon).

सहजे ही हरि नामु लेहु हरि ततु न खोईऐ ॥

Remember thou the God's Name with composure, that thou mayest not lose God, the Essence.

नित जपिअहु हरि हरि दिनसु राति हरि दरगह ढोईऐ ॥

Day and night repeat ever repeats God's Name, that thou myest find protection in God's court.

सो पाए पूरा सतगुरू जिसु धुरि मसतकि लिलाटि लिखोईऐ ॥

He alone obtains the perfect True Guru, on whose forehead and brow such a writ is written since the very beginning.

तिसु गुर कंउ सभि नमसकारु करहु जिनि हरि की हरि गाल गलोईऐ ॥४॥

Let us all pay homage to that Guru who utters the Divine sermon of the Lord.

Guru Amar Daas Ji, Raag Vadhans 587

People of the Sikh faith go to gurudwaras in order to listen to the chants of their holy book, meditate, and wash. Most of these are found in northern India, with the most famous one being in Amritsar, Punjab, India, known as the Golden Temple.

For more information, check out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurdwara

For pictures and detailed information about certain ones, check out:

http://www.geocities.com/gurdwaraworld/gurd1.html

or

http://www.punjabonline.com/directory/gurdwara.html
Gurudwara is sacred place for Sikhs where Sikhs (or any person belonging to any religion) offer prayers and pay obeisance to the holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, placed in gurudwara. They can listen to holy prayers and hymns recited by the holy Sikh priests from Guru Granth Sahib in Gurudwara.

The ninth Sikh guru is: Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.

He was the son of the eighth guru; Shri Guru Hargobind Ji and the father of the tenth guru; Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.