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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
Do Sikhs want the caste system?
Sikhism does not want the caste system. They are different from Hindus. They do not believe in the caste system. They believe that everybody is created equal.
First of all please let me correct you, its Gurudwara.
Its the Sikh place of workship. The prayer begins early in the morning at about 2:30 am and it goes up until about 7:30 am as Sikhs continue to come to Gurudwara throughout this time.There are five morning prayers for Sikhs, in the evening they have one prayer.
There is free community kitchen in the Gurudwara. Any Sikh can come by anytime to pray during the day.
Hope this gives some idea.
Caste system in India is quite a vexed issue. Everybody has a claim that his caste is a superior. Warriors in ancient times were called Kshatriya's and their descendants called themselves of being belonging to the caste Rajput, Kathri or Jat. Jats are one of the main agricultural upper castes of North India and had never considered themselves as a part of the caste system (or a caste), they where rather a race (a group of tribes). Most modern historians conclude that Rajputs are the decendants of Jats (those who travelled towards Rajasthan became Rajputs by marking out their Kingdoms). However, Jats where North India's most prominent fighters and where therefore considered warriors (Kshatriya's) as per the vedic caste system.
Superiority of castes is a non-issue here. Because there is no central authority today which will define if one caste is superior over other and ofcourse the Government of India has already outlawed/banned the practice of castism. Only insane people have the time today to judge these issues....which is actually a non issue
In Sikhism food that is good for your mind and body is acceptable.
This includes vegetables, meat and fish. Sikhs however, cannot eat ritually sanctified meat (i.e. Kuttha = Halal, Kosher etc).
Many Sikhs out of respect for their Hindu neighbours do not eat beef, because the Hindu deems the cow to be sacred.
Why is the Guru Granth Sahib important to Sikhs?
Because it is the words of the Sikh gurus (teachers) of what god wants us to do. its like a bible to Sikh's. It tells Sikhs on how to lead a good life. Its the holy scriptures from the final Guru. (Guru gobind singh ji).
and why one should meditate on God's name.
There is no such knowledge who is the first Indian Guru because India as a country has long history of producing saints and gurus In fact, four of the world religions originated from India which are Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism and Sikhism. Thus, there is no information who was the first Indian Guru, though the learned saints and Gurus themselves refereed God as the first Guru of All.
A bit unclear this question but Sikhs eat all kinds of food from vegetarian to meat. Sikhs cannot eat Kuttha meat or meat which is ritually killed like Halal or Kosher.
In the Rehit Marayada (http://www.sgpc.net/rehat_maryada/section_six.html), Section Six, it states:
The undermentioned four transgressions (tabooed practices) must be avoided
1. Dishonouring the hair;
2. Eating the meat of an animal slaughtered the Muslim way(Kutha);
3. Cohabiting with a person other than one's spouse
4. Using tobacco.
Sikh Rehit Maryada
Guru granth sahib each copy has?
Each copy of Guru Granth Sahib has the teachings of Sikh Gurus along with teachings of 15 saints of India who were Hindus and Sufis coming from different socio-economic background.
Langar (Punjabi: ਲੰਗਰ) is the term used in the Sikh religion for the free, vegetarian-only food served in a Gurudwara. At the Langar, only vegetarian food is served to ensure that all people, regardless of their dietary restrictions, can eat as equals. Langar is open to Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike. The exception to vegetarian langar is when Nihangs (in India) serve meat[1] on the occasion of Holla Mohalla, and call it Mahaprashad. There are also variation on the Vegetarian Langar, for example at Hazur Sahib[2][3]. Langar is also a common term used across various units in the Indian Army, when referring to a mess[citation needed], especially when there is no building and the food is served in open air (or through temporary arrangements like tents). == ==
The Sikh Langar or free kitchen was started by the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak. It is designed to uphold the principle of equality between all people of the world regardless of religion, caste, colour, creed, age, gender or social status. In addition to the ideals of equality, the tradition of Langar expresses the ethics of sharing, community, inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind. "..the Light of God is in all hearts."[4] The institution of Guru ka Langar has served the community in many ways. It has ensured the participation of Sikhs in a task of service for mankind, even Sikh children help in serving food to the people (Pangat). Langar also teaches the etiquette of sitting and eating in a community situation, which has played a great part in upholding the virtue of equality of all human beings and provides a welcome, secure and protected sanctuary. People from all classes of society are welcome at the Gurudwara. Food is normally served twice a day, on every day of the year. Recent reports say some of the largest Sikh community dining halls in Delhi prepare between 50,000 and 70,000 meals per day.[5] Each week one or more families volunteer to provide and prepare the Langar. This is very generous, as there may be several hundred people to feed, and caterers are not allowed. All the preparation, the cooking and the washing-up is also done by voluntary helpers, known as Sewadars. Besides the Langars attachment to gurdwaras, there are improvised open-air Langars during festivals and gurpurbs. These langars are among the best attended community meals anywhere in the world; upwards of 100,000 people may attend a given meal during these langars. Wherever Sikhs are, they have established their Langars. In their prayers, the Sikhs seek from the Almighty the favour: "Loh langar tapde rahin-may the hot plates of the langars remain ever in service." Langar
by Kulwant Singh Budwal In this life
fuelled by fleshly pleasures
in the pursuit of
materialistic comfort
I sit on the floor and eat
humbly, with rows of my people
for today I am in my Guru's house # ^www.singhsabha.com/holla_mohalla.htm # ^http://www.worldsikhnews.com/21%20January%202009/Goat%20Sacrifice%20at%20Hazur%20Sahib%20%20Myth%20&%20Truth.htm The Myth of goat Sacrifice and Hazur Sahib # ^http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8G8gUr9fIKc Jhatka at Hazur Sahib Sikh Gurudwara # ^ Guru Granth Sahib pg. 282 # ^Vera, Barry. "Old Delhi". Feast: India. 2005. No. 3, season 1.
The 5Ks, also known as the Five Ks, are worn by Sikhs as a representation of their faith and commitment to their religious principles. They include kes (uncut hair), kara (a steel bracelet), kanga (a wooden comb), kachera (cotton undergarments), and kirpan (a ceremonial sword). Sikhs typically wear these items at all times as a reminder of their spiritual beliefs and responsibilities.
What do Sikhs do on the pilgramige at the golden temple?
Sikhs just pray and worship God and sing hymns from their holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib when they visit the Golden Temple and they do the same when they visit any other Gurudwara(Sikh place of worship). The reason why Sikhs go to Golden Temple is not because of pilgrimage,in fact Sikhism as a religion is opposed to pilgrimage. Sikhs go to Golden Temple as it is among the first Gurudwara built and also among the oldest Gurudwara. Furthermore, Golden Temple was the first Gurudwara where Sikhs holy scripture was first installed by Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Guru of Sikhs. Also Golden Temple is historically the cultural center of Sikhism.
