What is sacred to Sikhs?

Key Questions:

What is the Guru Granth Sahib and how do Sikhs show that the Guru Granth Sahib is a holy book?

How do Sikhs express their beliefs about God in the Mool Mantra?

Why is the Gurdwara a special place for the Sikh community?

What can we learn about Sikh beliefs by visiting/learning about a Gurdwara?

What are the features of a Gurdwara?

Why are they important to Sikhs?

In the video below notice the importance of the Guru Granth Sahib, which contains hymns of praise to God.

Can you spot the different ways in which Sikhs show that the Guru Granth Sahib is sacred/holy, eg how Sikhs bow before the holy book, the raised platform, the canopy, use of the chauri?

(The chauri is a ceremonial whisk which is made from the tail hair of a white horse or yak set in a wooden or silver handle. It is a traditional Indian symbol of authority.)

Notice the musical instruments (the harmonium and tabla) which accompany the singing.

Do other religions worship in similar ways?

Sikhism - Activities

• Find out 5 key facts about the Guru Granth Sahib, eg that it is treated as a Living Guru, that it contains hymns of praise to God, that it is read continuously from beginning to end before a major festival, that it is ‘put to bed’ at the end of the day.

• What can we learn about Sikh beliefs from visiting a Gurdwara?  Make a model to show the Guru Granth Sahib in the Gurdwara, ie on a platform with a canopy overhead. Around the model, illustrate and explain the different ways in which the Guru Granth Sahib influences Sikh life, eg it is read before every major festival, it determines a child’s name.  

Other ideas:

• Research and make a Nishan Sahib (Sikh flag with khanda)
• Research and make some kara parshad (using sugar, water, semolina, ghee or clarified butter)
• Research the langar and the reasons for it
• Research some stories about Guru Nanak and his teaching (see links below)
• Research the concept of ‘sewa’, devotional service to others, and why this is important to Sikhs
• Find out about the worship hall: what it looks like, what it contains and how people worship there

Each section of the Guru Granth Sahib begins with the Mool Mantra.  

Can you count the number of beliefs about God in the Mool Mantra?

Choose one belief which you think is the most important.  Why did you choose that one?

Write down any questions that you have about the Mool Mantra.

Have a go at writing down a list of your beliefs - what might you include?  

IDEA FOR REFLECTION:

Where have you been that is special to you? What makes it special?

Draw and write about your special place.