Sikhism and Sikh CultureHCOM 301- Kierstin Anderson, Chris Holle, Karem Celaya, Gerardo Santiago

Background Context• Originate from India • 23,000,000 followers today.• Headquarters in Amritsar, Punjab,

India.• Traced to Guru Nanak• Nanaka born in the Punjab

(India/Pakistan) in 1469• Same spirit that inhabited Guru

Nanak and also was present in his nine successors.

How it came to be...• Message of devotion and remembrance of

God at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind, social justice and denounces superstitions and blind rituals.

• Sikhism is open to all through the teachings in the Sikh Holy Book and Living Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

• The Sikh Empire was characterized by religious tolerance and pluralism with Christians, Muslims and Hindus in positions of power

Map of Sikhs Worldwide• 23 million• .35%

World Population

Sikhs Today● Manmohan Singh

● Kamaljeet S. Kalsi

● Amrit Singh

Guru• Guru means “enlightener”• According to Sikh beliefs, the same revelatory spirit inhabited Guru

Nanak and his nine successors. Today, this spirit can be found in the teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib, the foundational scripture of the Sikh tradition

• The Divine Spirit • Not meant to be idolized or worshiped

Key Beliefs • Four rites of passage: name giving, amrit initiation, marriage, and

death

• Develop their moral character through generosity, humility and self-reliance

• Wear steel bracelet and keep hair uncut to represent harmony and unity with God

• Naam Japna (Remembering god through meditation)

• Kirat Karo (Earn an honest living)

• Vand Chakko (Selflessly helping others )

Epistemology & Ontology• Epistemology

• Sri Guru Granth Sahib - Foundation of Sikhism• All others truths are tests• SGGB allows us to understand God’s mystery

• Ontology• Nature of reality which is to be realized• What is, is defined by Sri Guru Granth Sahib

Naming Ceremony• Inside the Gurdwara (Place of religious

practice) the Guru Granth Sahib (Holy Book) is randomly opened by the Granthi (priest) and a passage is read out aloud.

• The family will then choose a name by using the first letter of the first word of the first hymn on the page opened.

• The Granthi will also add Singh (lion) as a surname if the baby is a boy, and Kaur (princess) if the child is a girl.

https://youtu.be/SmNZycTTk-s

Baptism or Amrit• In the form of a formal oath and initiation

ceremony by which a Sikh becomes a true Khalsa (purified or chosen one)

• like the Christian at confirmation, acquires full membership of the Sikh brotherhood.

• the ceremony culminates in the drinking of Amrit (specially prepared sweet Holy water) so the term 'Amrit Dhari Sikh' is often used.

Marriage or Anand Karaj (ceremony of bliss)

• 'Anand Karaj' literally means a good deed which is going to bring happiness and contentment.

• An engagement ceremony called the kurmai is not required but is sometimes performed typically one week before the wedding.

• Not regarded as truly complete unless the bride and groom present themselves before the Holy Granth and are blessed by the Guru, as well as by the congregation or the families present.

Death Ceremony• Very simple.• The body is first washed and new clothes put on, carried to the

cremation ground, and the pyre is lit by close family

• Later, the cooled ashes are collected and immersed into or presented to natural running water- a river.

• To complete the ceremony, then either in the home or in the Gurdwara, the daily reading of the Holy Granth begins. This takes about ten days. When all the 1430 pages have been read, the final service is held. Relatives and friends gather to join in the final prayers.

• The Parshad (holy food) is served and the people disperse. This marks the end of the period of mourning.

Cultural Patterns• Gurus encouraged the creation of wealth, but categorically rejected

unethical means to accumulate wealth• Encouraged to have uncut hair • All Sikhs should be meat free • Gurmukhi is used as a sacred language • Sikh Holy Book (Guru Granth Sahib)• Sikh Art • Gender Equality

Current Issues and Concerns• Sikhs are constantly persecuted (both in US and abroad)

• Islamophobia• Under fire after Paris attacks • Conflicting ideals on grooming• Babbar Khalsa - Terrorist group

Resources● http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/ritesrituals/babyrites.shtml● http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/sikhism4.html● Google Images● http://www.sikhs.org/