How do you pronounce “Sikh”? I have heard it pronounced multiple ways?
The word Sikh means “learner” in Punjabi.
In Punjabi, Sikh is pronounced with a short “i”, similar to the word “sick”, with a slight emphasis or aspiration of the “h” at the end. However, some people use the long “i”, as in “seek”, for clarity when speaking with someone who is not familiar with the Sikh tradition or simply because that is what they are used to because of the Anglicanization of the word.
I see the work Sikhi used in some of your materials. What does Sikhi mean?
Sikhi (sick-ee) is Punjabi word for the Sikh religion. Sikhs generally prefer to use the word Sikhi instead of Sikhism. Sikhi is the name of the religion and a Sikh is a person who is a member of the religion (Similarly, Christianity is the name of the religion and a Christian is a member of the religion).
We use both Sikhi and Sikhism in our materials because we understand that not everyone recognizes “Sikhi” right away and many people are more familiar with “Sikhism.” We want to meet people where they are in their educational journey.
How do you pronounce Kaur?
Kaur is pronounced like the word “core.” Learn more about the significance of Kaur
What is the significance of certain religious symbols, chiefly the importance of keeping one’s hair, wearing a kirpan, and the khanda?
The significance of the five articles of the Sikh faith (often called the 5Ks) is as follows:
a. Kesh – Unshorn hair is part of the Sikh identity
b. Kanga: A small wooden comb to keep the unshorn hair neat and tidy.
c. Kirpan: A small sword is a symbolic reminder that a Sikh will stand up against oppression of any sort directed towards him/her personally or other members of society.
d. Kara: A steel bracelet is a symbolic reminder to walk the path of righteousness.
e. Kacherra: an undergarment like shorts or breaches, worn for personal hygiene and as a symbol of modesty
How are religious services typically conducted in a Gurdwara – are there religious officials who lead services, can both men and women become religious leaders, and can women sing hymns and be part of all aspects of worship?
a. There is no priestly class amongst Sikhs.
b. Sikh men and women can conduct religious services.
c. Both Sikh men and women can participate in congregations.
d. Both men and women can lead the prayer.
e. Both men and women can sing hymns and provide religious commentary.
More generally, I have often received lots of questions asking about the emphasis on equality in Sikhism and in what ways this is represented in the services and in the faith as a whole.a. The Sikh Gurus have mandated gender equality.
b. This is visible in the active participation of women in religious services, the Sikh institution of Langar (the community meal), and other socio-cultural events in which Sikh women take lead.
c. Sikh women were prohibited from wearing the veil or purdah.
d. Sati, the Indian custom of women burning themselves on the pyre of their husband was condemned and forbidden. Widow remarriage was encouraged.
Why was the Sikh religion created? How is Sikhism distinct from Hinduism and Islam?
Sikhi is a sovereign faith and its distinct beliefs are:
a. The Sikh religion is monotheistic.
b. Sikhi’s 3 core beliefs are; earning an honest living, remembering the creator, and sharing resources with the less fortunate.
c. Sikh religion was established to create an egalitarian society with equality and freedom of worship for all.
d. The Creator is considered both immanent in the creation and transcendental.
e. Sikh Gurus combated social injustices, violation of human rights, prohibited child marriage and encouraged widow remarriage. Valor and courage was instilled in the Sikhs so that they always have the fortitude to stand up against inequality and oppression.
f. Sikhi does not believe in celibacy or renunciation of the world. Life of a householder is advocated while following the tenets of the faith.
g. A strong belief in optimism and respect for all faiths is at the core of Sikhi.
What defines a Sikh? Why do some Sikhs keep their hair and others don’t?
a. A Sikh believes in one Creator who is the creator of all beings and the entire Universe.
b. A Sikh believes in the ten Gurus (messengers of the Creator) and the Sikh scripture, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
c. Sikhs do not cut their hair.
d. Very often there is a gap between the ideals of a faith and the practice of the followers. Sikhs are no different. This is what best explains why some Sikhs cut their hair.
What is the Khalsa? How does the ceremony compare with other baptism rituals? How old do you have to be in order to get baptized?
1. Khalsa is a term that refers to Sikhs who have gone through an initiation (Amrit Ceremony) and made a commitment (among other vows) to abide by a code of conduct that mandates keeping five articles of faith including unshorn hair, beard and turban.
2. The Amrit Ceremony is conducted by any 5 practicing Sikhs who have already gone through initiation and are abiding by their vows.
3. No particular age is specified for the Amrit Ceremony.
What does the Sikh faith speak to about homosexuality and issues of gender identity and sexual orientation?
The Sikh scripture Sri Guru Granth Sahib addresses the soul of the individual rather than gender identity or sexual orientation. Equality and respect for all is mandated. Discrimination towards any and all is condemned in strong terms.
There is often a lot of interest surrounding some of the issues Sikhs face in the US, and speaking to daily personal experiences, as much as the history of the faith.
Sikhs are struggling with discriminatory behavior lashed out at their community which in many instances turns violent, and in worst cases has resulted in fatalities. Nationwide Cultural and Religious Literacy, and educational materials embedded in the curriculum from K-12 are necessary and imperative issues for the visible Sikh identity and community.
How do Sikhs view the concept of God and the many diverse religious paths toward God? How does Sikhism view other religions?
God is viewed as One Creator from whom all existence and the entire creation emanate. There are many paths to God. All must be respected. All religions are to be honored.
Given the significance of keeping one’s hair, how do Sikhs view the cosmetic removal of hair, especially for women? In light of the recent story of Balpreet Kaur, questions addressing this issue as well as other aspects of body modification, such as piercings and tattoos, have come up.
Sikhs face these challenges just like other communities. Social pressures and cultural mores have a significant influence. Such decisions are made at a personal level. Women like Balpreet Kaur are respected for their steadfastness.
The word Sikh means “learner” in Punjabi.
In Punjabi, Sikh is pronounced with a short “i”, similar to the word “sick”, with a slight emphasis or aspiration of the “h” at the end. However, some people use the long “i”, as in “seek”, for clarity when speaking with someone who is not familiar with the Sikh tradition or simply because that is what they are used to because of the Anglicanization of the word.
I see the work Sikhi used in some of your materials. What does Sikhi mean?
Sikhi (sick-ee) is Punjabi word for the Sikh religion. Sikhs generally prefer to use the word Sikhi instead of Sikhism. Sikhi is the name of the religion and a Sikh is a person who is a member of the religion (Similarly, Christianity is the name of the religion and a Christian is a member of the religion).
We use both Sikhi and Sikhism in our materials because we understand that not everyone recognizes “Sikhi” right away and many people are more familiar with “Sikhism.” We want to meet people where they are in their educational journey.
How do you pronounce Kaur?
Kaur is pronounced like the word “core.” Learn more about the significance of Kaur
What is the significance of certain religious symbols, chiefly the importance of keeping one’s hair, wearing a kirpan, and the khanda?
The significance of the five articles of the Sikh faith (often called the 5Ks) is as follows:
a. Kesh – Unshorn hair is part of the Sikh identity
b. Kanga: A small wooden comb to keep the unshorn hair neat and tidy.
c. Kirpan: A small sword is a symbolic reminder that a Sikh will stand up against oppression of any sort directed towards him/her personally or other members of society.
d. Kara: A steel bracelet is a symbolic reminder to walk the path of righteousness.
e. Kacherra: an undergarment like shorts or breaches, worn for personal hygiene and as a symbol of modesty
How are religious services typically conducted in a Gurdwara – are there religious officials who lead services, can both men and women become religious leaders, and can women sing hymns and be part of all aspects of worship?
a. There is no priestly class amongst Sikhs.
b. Sikh men and women can conduct religious services.
c. Both Sikh men and women can participate in congregations.
d. Both men and women can lead the prayer.
e. Both men and women can sing hymns and provide religious commentary.
More generally, I have often received lots of questions asking about the emphasis on equality in Sikhism and in what ways this is represented in the services and in the faith as a whole.a. The Sikh Gurus have mandated gender equality.
b. This is visible in the active participation of women in religious services, the Sikh institution of Langar (the community meal), and other socio-cultural events in which Sikh women take lead.
c. Sikh women were prohibited from wearing the veil or purdah.
d. Sati, the Indian custom of women burning themselves on the pyre of their husband was condemned and forbidden. Widow remarriage was encouraged.
Why was the Sikh religion created? How is Sikhism distinct from Hinduism and Islam?
Sikhi is a sovereign faith and its distinct beliefs are:
a. The Sikh religion is monotheistic.
b. Sikhi’s 3 core beliefs are; earning an honest living, remembering the creator, and sharing resources with the less fortunate.
c. Sikh religion was established to create an egalitarian society with equality and freedom of worship for all.
d. The Creator is considered both immanent in the creation and transcendental.
e. Sikh Gurus combated social injustices, violation of human rights, prohibited child marriage and encouraged widow remarriage. Valor and courage was instilled in the Sikhs so that they always have the fortitude to stand up against inequality and oppression.
f. Sikhi does not believe in celibacy or renunciation of the world. Life of a householder is advocated while following the tenets of the faith.
g. A strong belief in optimism and respect for all faiths is at the core of Sikhi.
What defines a Sikh? Why do some Sikhs keep their hair and others don’t?
a. A Sikh believes in one Creator who is the creator of all beings and the entire Universe.
b. A Sikh believes in the ten Gurus (messengers of the Creator) and the Sikh scripture, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
c. Sikhs do not cut their hair.
d. Very often there is a gap between the ideals of a faith and the practice of the followers. Sikhs are no different. This is what best explains why some Sikhs cut their hair.
What is the Khalsa? How does the ceremony compare with other baptism rituals? How old do you have to be in order to get baptized?
1. Khalsa is a term that refers to Sikhs who have gone through an initiation (Amrit Ceremony) and made a commitment (among other vows) to abide by a code of conduct that mandates keeping five articles of faith including unshorn hair, beard and turban.
2. The Amrit Ceremony is conducted by any 5 practicing Sikhs who have already gone through initiation and are abiding by their vows.
3. No particular age is specified for the Amrit Ceremony.
What does the Sikh faith speak to about homosexuality and issues of gender identity and sexual orientation?
The Sikh scripture Sri Guru Granth Sahib addresses the soul of the individual rather than gender identity or sexual orientation. Equality and respect for all is mandated. Discrimination towards any and all is condemned in strong terms.
There is often a lot of interest surrounding some of the issues Sikhs face in the US, and speaking to daily personal experiences, as much as the history of the faith.
Sikhs are struggling with discriminatory behavior lashed out at their community which in many instances turns violent, and in worst cases has resulted in fatalities. Nationwide Cultural and Religious Literacy, and educational materials embedded in the curriculum from K-12 are necessary and imperative issues for the visible Sikh identity and community.
How do Sikhs view the concept of God and the many diverse religious paths toward God? How does Sikhism view other religions?
God is viewed as One Creator from whom all existence and the entire creation emanate. There are many paths to God. All must be respected. All religions are to be honored.
Given the significance of keeping one’s hair, how do Sikhs view the cosmetic removal of hair, especially for women? In light of the recent story of Balpreet Kaur, questions addressing this issue as well as other aspects of body modification, such as piercings and tattoos, have come up.
Sikhs face these challenges just like other communities. Social pressures and cultural mores have a significant influence. Such decisions are made at a personal level. Women like Balpreet Kaur are respected for their steadfastness.