Describe and explain a Sikh’s private devotions.

Religious Studies coursework R1: Describe and explain a Sikh's private devotions. According to the rules of Sikhism, a Sikh's personal life should include three things, I. Meditation on Nam (Divine substance) and the scriptures. II. Leading life according to the Gurus teachings. III. Public spirited voluntary service. It is on these rules that Sikh's base their private lives and devotions. There are a number of daily rituals that may be practised by members of the Sikh faith. All practices are dependent on the member's religious order within Sikhism and none of these practices are compulsory. A Sikh should wake up three hours before the dawn (also known as the ambrosial hours) take bath and, concentrating their thoughts on One Immortal Being, repeat the name Waheguru which means "wondrous destroyer of darkness" or "truth is God's name." This is symbolic because by concentrating their thoughts on God whilst bathing, they are "washing away" their sins from the day before. Then this the person might sing the "Bani" at sunrise. After this they might recite particular prayers and hymns. According to the rules of Sikhism, a Sikh should recite the following scriptural compositions every morning: * The Japji * The Jaapu * The Ten Sawayyas (Quartets) - beginning "Sarawag sudh" Then they might bow down to a picture of the Gurus or just bow down and ask God to be by

  • Word count: 1061
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Gurdwaras at work - Gurdwaras mission?

Satpal Singh Dhesi Business at work (Gurdwaras at work.) Gurdwaras mission? The mission of all Gurdwaras are the same, which is to provide for the community, to help others, to do seva, provide guidance to follow the correct path, and it is the place where we can all find refuge and salvation in times that we either need or want. The Gurdwara is established so that we the community can congregate together as followers of Guru Ji. Gurdwaras objective? The main objective for Gurdwaras is to bring together all the sangath and treat them as equals. Bringing all the sangath together is needed for when doing the ardaas, as Sikhs together are more powerful than a single voice. Its target is to provide the place where all people no matter what race, colour, or religion, are able to find refuge. Not only is a Gurdwara a place where the sangath joins together, but it is where the sangath have made little donations which have led to thousands and thousands of pounds where charities such as Khalsa Aid where formed to help the less able, poor, starving, and other victims such as tragedies of war. Market Share? The market share that the Gurdwara can be associated within could such as charitable organisation like The Red Cross. Gurdwaras all over the world have been recognised for its charity of Langar, which is known as the free kitchen. Khalsa Aid brought together by the Gurdwara

  • Word count: 634
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Importance of Hair and Dastaar (Turban).

Guru Gobind Singh ji says; "kangha dono vakt kar, paag chune kar bandhai" "Comb your hair twice a day and tie your Turban carefully, turn by turn". Muslim men and women in many countries still wear Turban. It is said that Egyptians removed their Turban during mourning and even in Punjab removing a Turban from person's head was considered a sign of mourning. Bhai Gurdas, a sikh savant writes in is vars: Tthande khuhu naike pag visar(i) aya sir(i) nangai! Ghar vich ranna(n) kamlia(n) dhussi liti dekh(i) khudhange! (Var(n) Bhai Gurdas, Var 32, Pauri 19 in GURU GRANTH SAHIB JI) A person, after taking a bath at the well during wintertime, forgot his Turban at the well and came home bareheaded. When the women saw him at home without a Turban, they thought someone had died and they started to cry. Turban and Sikh military life All the Sikh army fought their last major battle against the British in 1845 wearing Turbans. Shah Mohammed a great Punjabi poet and historian, who witnessed that war, write: "Pishe baitth Sardara(n) Gurmatta kita, koi akal da karo ilaj yaro. Sherh burshia(n) di sade pesh ayee, Pag Dahrhia(n) di rakho laj yaro". Sikh soldiers refused to wear helmets during World War 1 and World War 2 because wearing helmet is admitting fear of death and a Sikh (Khalsa) is supposed to be fearless. Therefore, many receive Victoria cross (a most prestigious Gallantry

  • Word count: 875
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Explain the importance of music in the Sikh community.

Religious Studies coursework R2: Explain the importance of music in the Sikh community. Music is a very important part of Sikh worship. This is because Sikhs find that music is a good way for one to learn and absorb scriptures and Sikh beliefs. Shabads (hymns) are sung in a slow and steady tone so that the message contained is clearly understood by the worshippers. Music is used to magnify the emotional appeal of the lyrics sung. The scriptures even encourage music, Guru Arjan said: "Day and night sing Kirtan of God and you will never go into the cycle of transmigration" (Adi Granth 861/9) Kirtan is the singing of hymns to the accompaniment of music and is considered as a means of salvation. A lot of Sikh prayers are said to music as it is a way of remembering and understanding the words. The morning prayer, the Japji Sahib, is usually sung and Sikhs usually keep a recording in their car and play it during long journeys. Music is also a way of introducing people to Sikhism. There is a story of a man who was converted to Sikhism, through the power of the words in the music. The story is: A man named Saijan had created a shelter for pilgrims. He had even provided a mosque and mandir, for the Muslims and Hindus respectively to pray and sleep. In the middle of the night he would kill them and take the possessions that they had. Sometimes they would be carefully

  • Word count: 363
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Why Indra Ghandi attacked the Golden Temple.

Why Indra Ghandi attacked the Golden Temple Sant Jarnail Singh Bhinderwale was a saint who believed in the idea of Khalistan. In 1983 Bhinderwale begun to preach to young Sikhs in Villages across Punjab to return to the being true Sikhs and not to do drugs, alcohol and other bad habits. His preaching transformed gave new hope to Sikhs and gave them renewed energy to feel secure and good about their faith. But the spies of the Indian Government were monitoring his activities and they set out a campaign to discredit Bhinderwale as being a terrorist. And the whole of India was fed disinformation concerning Bhinderwale and his followers they claimed his was an agent of Pakistan trying to split India in little Pieces. By 1984 Sant Jarnail Singh's followers were labelled as criminals and from that day all Sikh's were stereotyped as being criminals. And on the anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Arjun Dev Ji the 1984 the Indian Army launched a major attack on the Holiest of Shrines 'The Golden Temple'. She attacked because she wanted Bhinderwale dead and because she believed they were terrorists she attacked and also because of the followers of Bhinderwale carried guns and weapons she feared they might also attack some day. The separatist's and followers of Bhinderwale who carried guns were caught unaware of the attack and began to fight back in panic and over 600 innocent

  • Word count: 695
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Guru Nanak.

Guru Nanak Guru Nanak was born in the western Punjab village of Talwandi on October 20th, 1469. Guru Nanak was gifted with spiritual powers when he was very young. When Guru Nanak was a boy he was very intellectual. His father's name was Siri Kalyan Das Mehta. His mother's name was Mata Tripta. A shining star shone amongst his head since his very early childhood. The older Guru Nanak had got, the more religious and the more wise he got. When Guru Nanak was at the age of 16 he was to get married. His wife's name was Sulakhni. She was the daughter to Bhai Mula. She gave birth to two sons. Their names were Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das. When Guru Nanak once went to bathe in the neighbouring river called Baeen her was disappeared in the water for three days. During those three days he was with God. He was given Amrit. God gave Guru Nanak his Divine name. After Guru Nanak had come back some people saw hallow around his head. Guru Nanak travelled around the world by foot and he met all kind of cultures and races. Guru Nanak was the founder of the Sikh religion and his messages were: * Share their earnings with others who are less fortunate - "Vand Chakna" * Always remember God - "Naam Japna" * Live a honest Life and to earn their living with honest labour - "Kirat Karna" How is Guru Nanak's Birthday celebrated? Guru Nanak's birthday is celebrated every November. They celebrate

  • Word count: 585
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Golden Temple, Amritsar

Golden Temple, Amritsar The Golden Temple in Amritsar serves as the most important house of worship for the Sikhs. Originally built in 1604, the temple sustained repeated damage from attacks by Afghan invaders. During the early 19th-century reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the temple was rebuilt using marble, copper, and an overlay of gold foil. The temple sits on a small island and connects with land on the west by way of a marble causeway, foreground. Amritsar, city in northern India, in Punjab State, near Lahore, Pakistan. The city, surrounded by a fertile region where grain, sugarcane, and cotton are produced, is an important trade, transportation, and manufacturing center with extensive textile and chemical industries. Amritsar was founded in 1574 by Ram Das, a guru, or teacher, of the Sikh religion. In the city is the principal shrine of Sikhism, the Golden Temple, surrounded by the sacred Amrita Saras (Pool of Immortality), in which Sikhs bathe to become spiritually purified. Amritsar was a center of Indian resistance to British rule; in 1919 nearly 400 demonstrators were killed when British troops fired upon a political gathering. The city was a center of protest against the 1947 partition of Punjab between India and Pakistan. Amritsar was again an arena of conflict in June 1984, when the Indian government, in an effort to check terrorism by Sikhs demanding greater

  • Word count: 877
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Sikh Worship

Amit Wangoo 29/04/2012 2.2 Sikh Worship Sikh worship, like many other religions is very important and it is has very specific aspects to its worship. Sikhism is considered to be a modern religion as it was founded in 15th and 16th century, despite this they have similar ways to much older religions like Hinduism. The place of worship for Sikhs is the Gurdwara. Gurdwara means ‘the doorway of the Guru’. The Sikh holy book ‘The Guru Granth Sahib’ is kept in the Gurdwara. The Gurdwara is like a community centre where other Sikhs meet each other and pray together. Outside every Gurdwara there is usually a flag that tells people this is a Sikh place of worship. The flag is called the Nishan sahib and the symbol on the flag is known as the khanda that consists of 2 curved Kirpans and a Kara (bangle). When in a Gurdwara, shoes should not be worn in the main place of worship. There are also sinks so that people can wash their hands before worship and a box of head coverings for non-Sikhs, because people must cover their heads as a sign of respect. In a Gurdwara anyone and everyone are welcome. In the main hall there is a large carpet and there are no chairs or seats so the congregation sit on the floor cross-legged. Men and women sit apart from each other in the Gurdwara; this is so they don’t distract each other. At one end of the hall there is a raised

  • Word count: 1323
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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The Sikh Religion and Charity

Sikhism and charity This essay is going to talk about the Sikhs views of charity and also charity itself, furthermore I will be discussing about the Sikh teachings of equality and principles and also some of the different viewpoints that different religions have of charity. What are human rights? Human rights are the rights that every living person is obliged to and must be given and acted as an act of humanity. Human rights belong to every person in this world and cannot be taken away from us regardless of gender place of residence or status and some of our human rights are: . We all have the right to life 2. We all have the freedom of opinion and speech 3. These rights belong to everyone 4. Clean water and food 5. Nobody has the right to hurt or torture us 6. The law applies to everyone What are charities and why are they important? Charities are groups of people or foundation who as an act of humanity help other people across the globe by supplying funds, supplies, medical support and many more ways and make our planet a better place for everyone. Furthermore charities show love and generosity towards others or humanity and are helping those who are less fortunate and in need. Furthermore the reason why charities are important is because without charities those who are suffering would never been able to live because they do not have any support from their

  • Word count: 484
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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