Why Is The Gudwara So Important To Sikh's?
821915
Well it's where they go to worship like churches or mosques\n\nI can't help you further sorry, i've forgotten everything about sikhs coz I did it in year 9 lol xxxx
506858
sikhism teaches that the goal of human life is to break the cycle of birth's and deaths and merge with God. This can be accomplished by following the teachings of the Guru, meditation on the Holy Name and performance of acts of service and charity.\nOur service in the world gets us a seat in the Court of the Lord" (Guru Nanak, Sri Rag) \n\n"One known as disciple of the holy Perceptor must, rising at dawn, on the Name Divine meditate" (Guru Ram Das, Raga Gauri) \n\nThe five cardinal vices are; Kam (lust), Krodh (anger), Lobh (greed), Moh (worldly attachment) and Ahankar (pride). If one can overcome these, they will achieve salvation\n\n Rejection of all forms of blind rituals such as fasting, religious vegetarianism, pilgrimages, superstions, yoga, as well as any form of idol worship. \n\nNormal Family life (Grasth) is encouraged, celibacy or renunciation of the world is not necessary to achieve salvation. The devotee must live in the world yet keep his mind pure. He must be a soldier, a scholar, a saint. \n\nSikhism rejects all distinctions of caste, creed, race or sex. \n\nThe Guru's stressed the full equality of women, rejecting female infanticide, sati (wife burning), permitting widow remarriage and rejects purdah (women wearing veils). \n\nHonest labour and work (Kirat Karna) are the approved way of living ones life. It is considered honourable to earn ones daily bread through honest work and not by begging or dishonest means. \n\nVand Chhakna, sharing with others is also a social responsibility. The individual is expected to help others in need through charity
348719
I'm a Hindu.  To me, all life is sacred.  All sentient beings deserve our respect.  But the cow in particular is of special importance in Indian culture for various historical and cultural reasons.  \n\nThe cow is seen as a symbol of the Mother.  The cow gives, and asks for nothing in return.  It is gentle and itself a vegetarian.\nIndians have used the products of the cow for their livelihood.  They drink its milk, and they use ghee (clarified butter) in much cooking, and paneer (cheese) is an important nutritional element in a predominantly vegetarian diet that most Indians keep.\nBesides these foods, the dung is a traditional source for fuel.  The cow's urine is an antiseptic.\n\nThe cow was an ancient measure of wealth.  When there were no coins, people traded in cows and such.\n\nThe cow is a national emblem for India, and there is much pride associated with it.\n\nThe cow is not really worshipped, in the same sense that one worships God.  But it is definitely respected and appreciated, and protected.
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Although not a Punjabi I do, indeed, pray to God.  And Jesus.\n\nAnd I'm sorry that my private prayer pisses you off.  You really should try to get more comfortable with your own beliefs or else try to figure out why they make you so uncomfortable.
954402
Hindu's worship in Mandir (temple), Sikhs worship in Gurudwara (don't know the name in english). At home worship is very common.
947236
Nanak said God is omnipresent  in all creation and visible everywhere to the spiritually awakened. Nanak stressed that God must be seen from "the inward eye," or the "heart" of a human being: devotees must meditate to progress towards enlightenment. Nanak emphasised the revelation through meditation, as its rigorous application permits the existence of communication between God and human beings.God has no gender in Sikhism.\n\nSounds lovely.
848440
Hindu's Bhappu what are you thinking?\nYou are totally giving inaccurate information, and another thing learn how to spell, it's Sikhism.  People looked to Sikhism as guidence, and at the time it was one of the only monothestic religions in that area.  Sikhs believe that all are equal, and unlike Hindu's that have caste systems.  The founder of Sikhism was Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and he did not take a "little bit" from each religion, Sikhism is a totally seperate religion.  Yes, we do not cut our hair or trim, but we're still normal like everyone else, you should learn how to respect other religions.  The reason we don't cut our hair is because it's God's gift, and it's sacred to us.  The turban is used to cover one's head for respect, and to hold the hair up.  Sikhs don't try to convert people, but if someone wants to convert to Sikhism they can, Sikhism like any other religion has its own beliefs. \n\nPlease make sure you get your facts straight, almost everything you wrote was wrong.  \n\n\nFor the asker of this question sorry I've been explaining this to you because the ignorance of some people giving wrong answers I just have to correct them.  Here's a site that'll help explain Nishan Sahib: http://www.ngfl.ac.uk/re/nishansahib.htm\n\nBut this is what it says "Outside every Gurdwara stands a Nishan Sahib. It is the holy flag which can be seen either near the entrance or on the top of every Gurdwara . Great respect is shown to the flag as it is a symbol of all that the Sikhs believe. It also is a welcome banner for visitors. The flagpole is covered in orange material which is changed at special occasions and every year in April at the festival of Vaisakhi."
869969
Dance brings you into alignment with The Great Spirit,.....all that is.......is God.  They believe in remaining close to The Great Spirit, so ceremonial dance brings well-being to mind and body.  They dedicate a share of their efforts to the greater good......rain dance to defer drought conditions.  They also treat the earth and all that dwell thereon with respect.\n\nI have attended a Native Amercial dance at our Melbourne Indiginous Culture Fair, and met with 'Blue Feather' a very large Indian man, whom was a 'guest of honor' on that day, invited and flown over by friends of mine from America for this event.  He in turn has extended invitations to us to come to visit him.  I wish I could go.......\n\nBlessings be yours in light and peace,\nHarriett Potty ;)
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Sikhism, the youngest of the world religions, is barely five hundred years old. Its founder, Guru Nanak, was born in 1469. Guru Nanak spread a simple message of "Ek Ong Kar": we are all one, created by the One Creator of all Creation. This was at a time when India was being torn apart by castes, sectarianism, religious factions, and fanaticism. He aligned with no religion, and respected all religions. He expressed the reality that there is one God and many paths, and the Name of God is Truth, "Sat Nam".   \n \n\nGuru Nanak's followers were Sikhs (seekers of truth). He taught them to bow only before God, and to link themselves to the Guru, the Light of Truth, who lives always in direct consciousness of God, experiencing no separation. Through words and example, the Guru demonstrates to followers how to experience God within themselves, bringing them from darkness into light. Guru Nanak was a humble bearer of this Light of Truth. He opposed superstition, injustice, and hypocrisy and inspired seekers by singing divine songs which touched the hearts of the most callous listeners. These songs were recorded, and formed the beginnings of the Sikhs' sacred writings, later to become the "Siri Guru Granth Sahib".\n\nGuru Nanak taught his way of life:\nNam Japa - To get up each day before sunrise, to clean the body, meditate on God’s Name and recite the Guru’s hymns to clean the mind. Throughout the day, continuously remember God’s Name with every breath.\nDharam di Kirat Karni - To work and earn by the sweat of the brow, to live a family way of life, and practice truthfulness and honesty in all dealings.\nVand Ke Chakna - To share the fruits of one’s labor with others before considering oneself. Thus, to live as an inspiration and a support to the entire community.\n\nThe Golden Chain\nThe foundation of Sikhism was laid down by Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak infused his own consciousness into a disciple, who then became Guru, subsequently passing the light on to the next, and so on. The word "Guru" is derived from the root words "Gu", which means darkness or ignorance, and "Ru", which means light or knowledge The Guru is the experience of Truth (God).\n\nEach one of the ten Gurus represents a divine attribute: \n\nGuru Nanak - Humility\nGuru Angad - Obedience\nGuru Amar Das — Equality\nGuru Ram Das - Service\nGuru Arjan - Self-Sacrifice\nGuru Hargobind - Justice\nGuru Har Rai - Mercy\nGuru Harkrishan - Purity\nGuru Tegh Bahadur - Tranquility\nGuru Gobind Singh - Royal Courage\nGuru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Guru, exemplified the Sikh ideal of the Soldier-Saint. He was also an inspired and prolific writer, courageous warrior, and a source of Divine Wisdom to his Sikhs. "When all other means have failed," he said, "only then is it righteous to take up the sword." He was the defender of the poor, the meek, and the oppressed masses of India.\n\nThe Making of the Khalsa\nGuru Gobind Singh was the last Guru of the Sikhs in human form. He created the Khalsa, a spiritual brotherhood and sisterhood devoted to purity of thought and action. He gave the Khalsa a distinctive external form to remind them of their commitment, and to help them maintain an elevated state of consciousness. Every Sikh baptized as Khalsa vows to wear the Five "K's":\n\nKesh - uncut hair and beard, as given by God, to sustain him or her in higher consciousness; and a turban, the crown of spirituality.\n\nKangha - a wooden comb to properly groom the hair as a symbol of cleanliness.\n\nKatchera - specially made cotton underwear as a reminder of the commitment to purity.\n\nKara - a steel circle, worn on the wrist, signifying bondage to Truth and freedom from every other entanglement.\n\nKirpan - the sword, with which the Khalsa is committed to righteously defend the fine line of the Truth.\n\n\nKhalsa also vows to refrain from any sexual relationships outside of marriage, and
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Sikhism is a branch of hinduism , though influenced by sufism. Sikhs are very much hindus otherwise. Most of them follow all hindu beliefs. They may not practice sun practice specially but they celebrate sun related festivals and rever it this way. Sankrati , lohari all are related with sun.\n\nAdded:\nAnswerer below me is ignorant about sikhism even if he belongs to it. \n\n"Hinduism is a generic name given to all the faiths which have roots in India and believe in Parmatma (God), Prarthana (prayer), Punerjanma (reincarnation), Purushartha (Karma) and Prani Daya (kindness to all living beings)." Sikhism believes in all of these.\n\n The Granth contains specific references to Hindu gods such as Rama and Krishna. The gurudwaras, or Sikh temples, have always been decorated with pictures of Hindu devas and devis. The first desecration of these pictures was in 1906 at Harmandir, and this was the first action taken by separatist Sikhs.\n\nReference is made to the avatars of Vishnu in the Granth Sahib. The Dasma Granth deals with all the avatars beginning on page 169. Volume two of the Dasma Granth is exclusively based on Krishna. It is accepted that Guru Gobind Singh was a staunch believer in Durga Mata (Mother Goddess). In the entire Guru Granth Sahib, the Vedas are respected and referred to as sacred. Guru Gobind Singh states that the Vedas originated from Brahma and the path of the Vedas is the only path for the people to follow. Sikhism heavily bases itself on Karma yoga (the science of actions) and states that if an individual acts only on good deeds, selfless acts with a pure devotion to God, they can achieve the ultimate state of existence.\n\nThe speech of one of the greatest modern Sikh leaders, Master Tara Singh, at a meeting in Bombay on August 19, 1964, who declared:\n\n"Sikhs and Hindus are not separate. Sikhs will survive only if Hindus survive. Sikhs are part and parcel of the Hindu Society. Guru Govind Singhji brought in Gurumukhi the wisdom and philosophy from our scriptures and Puranas. Are we going to give up this heritage?"\n\n\n\nTaha hum adhik tapasya sadhi\nMahakal kalika aradhi\n~ Guru Govind Singh\n(There I worshipped and did penance to seek Kali.) \n\nRam katha jug jug atal\nSab koi bhakhat net Suragbas Raghuver kara\nSagri puri samet Jo en Katha sune aur gaave\nDukh pap tah nikat na aave\n~ Guru Govind Singh\n(The story of Ram is immortal and everyone should read it. Ram went to heaven along with the whole city. Whoever listens to or sings His story, will be free of sin and sorrow.) \n\nKahaiya Hinduan daro na ab tum\nIm likho pathon dil sain Guru Nanak ki gadi par\nAb hain Tegh Bahadur Unko jo Muhummadi kar lihoon\nTo ham hain sab sadar Arya Dharma rakhak pragatiyo hain\n~ Guru Tegh Bahadur\n(Hindus, do not fear, Guru Tegh Bahadur is Guru Nanak's successor. If Muslims bother you, I'll take care of them. For I am the protector of Hinduism.) \n\nTin te sun Siri Tegh Bahadur\nDharam nibaahan bikhe Bahadur Uttar bhaniyo, dharam hum Hindu\nAtipriya ko kin karen nikandu Lok parlok ubhaya sukhani\nAan napahant yahi samani Mat mileen murakh mat loi\nIse tayage pramar soi Hindu dharam rakhe jag mahin\nTumre kare bin se it nahin\n~ Guru Tegh Bahadur's reply to Aurangzeb's ordering him to embrace Islam.\n(In response, Shri Tegh Bahadur says, My religion is Hindu and how can I abandon what is so dear to me? This religion helps you in this world and that, and only a fool would abandon it. God himself is the protector of this religion and no one can destroy it.) \nSakal jagat main Khalsa Panth gaje\nJage dharam Hindu sakal bhand bhaje\n~ Guru Govind Singh\n(The Khalsa sect will roar around the world. Hinduism will awaken, its enemies will flee.) \n\nSikh Guru always called themselves  Hindus. \n\nSikh Sect was formed deliberately to create a martial branch of Hinduism to fight agaist oppression of Hindus by Muslim rulers.\n\nSikh do worship Goddess Durga and her other forms. They re
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Punjab is a Persian word which mean five rivers. Punj= five and aab= water/ river.\nThe plains between the Indus and Ganges river are called Punjab as they were irrigated naturally by the fiver rivers: Ravi, Chenab, Bias, Sutlej, Jhelum, and Sindh has seen one of the oldest civilizations in the world, The Indus valley civilization along the banks of river Indus (sindh) in present day Pakistan you can still see its ruins which were first discovered in 1922 by a team of British archeologists.\nIn 1947 the British divided Punjab between Pakistan and India. The Eastern (Indian Punjab) became the land of Sikhs (the religion of Guru Nanak who was born at Nankana (Pakistan) and preached against idol worship of Hindus. Sikhs are a martial race and they made Amritsar (India) as their holy city. Jats are the people (Punjabi) who are known tradititonally to have larger built, taller in height and slightly lower in I. Q. (its a tradition to call them as having lower I.Q, there is no proof of any Punjabi Sikh or Muslim to have I.Q lower than any other ethnic people of Pakistan and India. Large number of Pujabis have also settled in Canada, UK, USA and elsewhere even before 1947. There is tendency among Hindus to make fun of Sikhs while referring to their homeland, the Indian Punjab. There is no truth in these beliefs however. Punjabi is a peace loving people and have been the place for mystiques, hospitality and bravery. During the two world wars, British recruited maximum number of troops from Punjab, Jhelum and Photohar plataeu areas in particular (both in Pakistan).
800185
It saves on the cost of vanadlism. Seriously. Because it's a place of worship and well. Some people just can't help themselves. \n\nThere are other reasons as well, but I don't know them.
776870
Given that so many wars have started, and continue because of religious beliefs, I would say religion is extremely important in society.  Anything that can evoke the kind of passion necessary to maintain the level of intensity needed to sustain a war is important.
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KHALSA DIWAN SIKH TEMPLE\n\n1350 UNITED INTERNATIONAL AVENUE\nMANILLA
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According to a site I found its also known as Kanamara Marsuri Festival and they take it quite serious.  A festival to celebrate fertility.  http://www.2camels.com/destination92.php3\nFrom what I am understanding here it involves Shinto statues and temples and for the most part it is important to even devout Shinto Families and Shinto Priests.\nhttp://www.answers.com/pink%20phallus%20festival?ff=1
426271
well being a hindu and indian, my relegion matters to me because its my cultural heritage . some of the beliefs,  the philosophies date back upto more than 5000 years. it tells me about my ancesters and their ideals and moral values. and most of it still relevant. why  the most tolerant and rich cultural heritage should not matter.
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"The 5 items (k'S) are: Kesh (uncut hair), Kanga (small comb), Kara (circular heavy metal bracelet), Kirpan (ceremonial dagger), and Kacha (long underwear)."\n\n"Practicing Sikhs are bound to wear five Kakaars, or articles of faith, known as The Five Ks, at all times. It is done either out of respect for the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, or out of sense of duty or from understanding of their function and purpose and relevance in daily life. It is important to note that The Five Ks are not merely present for symbolic purposes. The tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, ordered these Five Ks to be worn so that a Sikh could actively use them to make a difference to their own spirituality and to others' spirituality."