Sikhism

Question 1

Sikh

Answer 1

In Punjabi means student/disciple

Question 2

Amrit

Answer 2

God’s nectar or God’s elixir

Question 3

Sikh philosophies are broadly speaking assimilation of elements from

Answer 3

Hinduism: Bhakti Movement and Nath Traditions
Islam: Sufi Traditions

Question 4

1st Guru

Answer 4

Guru Nank: Initiated Sikhism in 1519 (Inspired by Sufi, Bhakti, and Nath traditions)

Question 5

2nd Guru

Answer 5

Guru Angad: Gurmukhi script; Chosen by Guru Nank to lead the community

Question 6

3rd Guru

Answer 6

Guru Amar Das: Shrine tradition began under his leadership and Gender Equality

Question 7

4th Guru

Answer 7

Guru Ram Das: Town of Ramdaspur and built tank at Amritsar; Identified Amritsar as important seat of Sikh tradition

Question 8

5th Guru

Answer 8

Guru Arjan: Built Golden Temple in tank and executed by Mughals

Question 9

6th Guru

Answer 9

Guru Hargobind: Addition to GOlden Temple and picked up arms

Question 10

7th Guru

Answer 10

Guru Har Rai: Peace prevailed

Question 11

8th Guru

Answer 11

Guru HarKrishan: Peace prevailed

Question 12

9th Guru

Answer 12

Guru Tegh Bahadur: Opposed Islamic religious authority by Aurangzeb and executed

Question 13

10th Guru

Answer 13

Guru Gobind Singh: Established Khalsa in 1699, ended lineage of Guru as person and established Adi Granth as Guru

Question 14

Adi Granth

Answer 14

literally “original book” after 10th Guru passing identified as Guru Granth Sahib/Saheb

Question 15

Granthi

Answer 15

Reader of Adi Granth

Question 16

Guru

Answer 16

Teacher/divine perceptor

Question 17

Gurdwara

Answer 17

(literally from Guru’s mouth) a script developed by Guru Angad

Question 18

Bani

Answer 18

divine word (“verbal”)

Question 19

Shabad

Answer 19

Divine Word

Question 20

Nanak Panthi

Answer 20

follower of Guru Nanak’s teachings, before word Sikhs was coined

Question 21

Rahit

Answer 21

rah=path, therefore people walking on a path laid for khalsa

Question 22

Khalsa

Answer 22

literal “pure” order of Sikhs bound by common identity and discipline

Question 23

5 symbols of Khalsa

Answer 23

Kesh: unclipped hair and beard
Kanga: wooden comb
Katchera: special cotton undergarment
Kara: iron bracelet
Kirpan: steel dagger or sword

Question 24

Singh

Answer 24

mean lion, last name took by male after initiation into khalsa

Question 25

Kaur

Answer 25

princess, similarly for initiated female

Question 26

Kirtan

Answer 26

hymn singing

Question 27

Katha

Answer 27

discourse

Question 28

Ardas

Answer 28

prayers, marking the culmination of any Sikh liturgical event

Question 29

Raga

Answer 29

a series of notes on which melody is based the progression of notes imparts a certain character to the composition (love, longing, or devotion)

Question 30

Langar

Answer 30

communal kitchen/meal (integrated into Sikh liturgical practice under Guru Angad, 2nd Guru)

Question 31

Akal Purakh

Answer 31

timeless being

Question 32

Nirankar

Answer 32

the Supreme being is consider formless

Question 33

Nam

Answer 33

the divine name

Question 34

Hukum

Answer 34

command

Question 35

Sants

Answer 35

Mystics, poets-saints, philosophers; male and female; some smilaitlity to “saints” in Christianity

Question 36

Kabir

Answer 36

A saint from the medieval period (1398-1518?, respected by Hindus and Muslims, some works incorporated in “Sikh Canon”

Question 37

Baisakh

Answer 37

first day of second month in Hindu calendar, Vaishakh month, falls mid April, Imp day to Sikhs as Khalsa initiated by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699

Question 39

Diwali

Answer 39

Incorporated in Sikh religion bu Guru Amar Das (3rd) gained further importance when 6th guru related from prison by Mughals