fbpx

KidsKonnect

Sikhism Facts & Worksheets

Sikhism is a religion in India that emerged in the 16th century and was founded by Guru Nanak Dev at the height of intolerance between the Hindus and Muslims.

Search for Worksheets

Worksheets /Religion /Sikhism Facts & Worksheets
Premium
Sikhism Worksheets
Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version   Download sample

Sikhism is an Indian religion with its roots in the Punjab area of the Indian subcontinent and dates back to the latter half of the 15th century CE. With roughly 25–30 million devotees (also known as Sikhs) as of the early 21st century, it is the fifth-largest major organized religion in the World and the most recent to be established.

See the fact file below for more information on Sikhism, or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Sikhism worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Terminology

  • They first wrote most Sikh texts in the Gurmukh alphabet, which Guru Angad standardized from the Landa scripts formerly prevalent in modern-day Pakistan and North India.
  • The English Name Sikhism stems from the Punjabi verb Sikhi, which denotes the “temporal route of learning” and is rooted in the phrase sikhana. Followers of Sikhism are referred to as Sikhs, “students” or “disciples” of the Guru (to learn.)

Philosophy and Teachings

  • Indian religions include Sikhism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. The heart of Sikhism is comprised of the teachings of Guru Nanak and his successors.
  • Sikh ethics strongly emphasize the harmony between moral behavior in daily life and spiritual growth. According to its founder Guru Nanak, Truth is the ultimate virtue, but actual life is much greater.

Teachings

  • Sikhism is a monotheistic religion with pantheistic components that promotes the concept of Ik Onkar, or One Universal God. In Sikhism, God is referred to as Waheguru (lit. “wonderful Teacher”) and is understood to be Nirankari (lit. “shapeless”), Akal (lit. “timeless”), Karta purakh (lit. “the creator”), and agam agochar (lit.
  • Despite being non-binary in Sikhism, God is often represented as having a man’s appearance and feminine power. For instance, Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth guru, commonly referred to God as akaal purkh (‘beyond time and space’) and nirankar (‘without form’), yet he also referred to God as his father and God’s creative power as his mother.
  • Ik Oknar (sometimes capitalized) can also be translated more loosely as “the one ultimate reality,” “the one creator,” “the all-pervading spirit,” and other expressions that express a varied yet consistent and distinct understanding of God and creation. God is introduced in Sikh literature as “the formless one,” or ik oknar.
  • The traditional Mul Mantar is eternal and extends from Ik Oknar to Guru Nanak (the first guru of the Sikhs). A guru is always present, and the word “sach” denotes “right,” “truthful,” and “genuine.”

Worldly Illusion

  • One of the principal diversions from pursuing God and redemption is Maya, characterized as a transient illusion or “unreality.” In Maya, earthly pleasures merely provide false, fleeting happiness and suffering that detract from the process of devotion to God.
  • Nanak underlined, however, that Maya did not allude to the World’s unreality but rather to its ideals. The love of and connection to Maya, according to Sikhs, has caused the World to enter the “era of darkness” known as kali yuga.
  • Separation from God is the fate of those who are easy prey for thieves, who can only mend it through intense and unwavering dedication.

Timeless Truth

  • According to Guru Nanak, the ultimate goal of life is to reunite with Akal, also known as “The Timeless One,” however, egotism stands in the way of this goal the most.
  • Guru is identical to Akal and is universally immanent since Ik Oknar is the same. Only a selfless pursuit of Truth may establish a connection with the Guru.
  • At some point, the seeker understands that the devoted Guru is the seeker/follower of the World who resides within the body. The physical body is only a tool to help us reunite with Truth. A person grasps the core of all religions’ present and historical sacred scriptures once Truth shines in their heart.

Liberation

  • Guru Nanak’s teachings are based on a spiritual connection with the Akal, which leads to salvation or jivanmukti (‘enlightenment/liberation during one’s lifetime, a notion also found in Hinduism), rather than on an ultimate destination of paradise or hell. Guru Gobind Singh explains that one must make the most of this life since being born a human is a beautiful blessing.
  • Sikhs should resist Maya’s ills, remember the eternal Truth, engage in Shabad kirtan (musical recitation of hymns), reflect on Naam, and serve others to become nearer to God.
  • One of the most important means of escaping the cycles of rebirth, according to Sikhs, is to spend time with the Sadh Sangat or Satsang (association with sat, or “genuine” people).

Power and Devotion (Miri and Piri)

  • Since the seventeenth century, the Sikh religion has followed the concept known as Miri-Piri. The first Sikhism guru, Guru Nanak, conveyed the idea of the “Mir” (social and political facets of life) and the “Pir” (guides to the spiritual facets of life). Still, Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikhism guru, articulated it on June 12, 1606.
  • The combination of both is regarded as the greatest because the two kirpans of Miri and Piri are connected with a khanda in the middle. One’s purpose and significance in the realm of action are completed when activity is informed by or springs from the spiritual heart.
  • The Sikh gurus emphasized Bhakti while also teaching that secular householder life and spiritual life are entwined and not distinct. The panentheistic basis of Sikh philosophy logically justifies this.
  • According to Guru Nanak, “monotheism becomes nearly redundant in the movement and crossings of love,” and the notion of humanity refines and rejects the “monotheistic concept of self/God.”
  • According to the Sikh gurus, the purpose of existence is to achieve the “attendant balance of separation-fusion, self-other, action-inaction, attachment-detachment” and eliminate all dualities of “self and other, I and not-I.”

Singing and Music

  • The hymns of the gurus are known as Gurbani (literally, “Gurus speech”) among Sikhs. The singing of Gurbani is known as Shabad Kirtan. The lines of the Guru Granth Sahib are composed in poetry and rhyme and are intended to be chanted in the designated 31 Ragas of classical Indian music.
  • The Shabad Kirtan tradition was established by Guru Nanak, who also professed that meditation might be significantly aided by kirtan music. The best approach to entering into communion with the Supreme Timeless One (God) is to sing the praises of the Supreme Timeless One with devotion.

Remembrance of the Divine Name

  • Recalling the Naam (divine Name), Waheguru is a crucial Sikh ritual. Through Nam Japna (repetition of the holy Name) or Naam Simran, one can engage in this contemplation (remembrance of the divine Name through recitation.)
  • In India’s religious traditions, it is a long-standing custom to repeat aloud the Name of God or a sacred phrase. On the other hand, Naam-Simran emerged in Sikhism as a crucial Bhakti practice.
  • The ultimate union of the spirit with God is in Sach Khand (The Realm of Truth), the final of them. Nanak described the result of the disciplined practice of Nam Simran. He described this long process of five phases—which he called “Divine Order”—as “developing towards and into God.”

Service and Action

  • The Sikh gurus propagated the idea that a devotee may conquer egotism by the repeated recitation of the holy Name (Naam Simran) and the performance of selfless service (seva) (Haumai). It claims that the cycle of birth and death and five destructive impulses have their primary roots in this.
  • In Sikhism, there are three types of service: Tan (physical assistance or work), Man (mental benefit, or putting your heart into serving others), and Dhan (material service, including financial support.)
  • Sikh teachings also emphasize the idea of sharing, or vand chakko, or giving to the poor to help the community. Sikhism emphasizes Kirat Karo, which means “honest effort.”

Justice and Equality

  • According to Sikhism, God is the true monarch of all kingdoms and administers justice via the law of karma, a system of retribution, and divine grace.
  • Its defense against suffering and vices is the holy Name. Sikhism promotes forgiveness as a virtue, but it also urges its adherents to avoid those who have bad intentions and to take up the sword in the face of injustice and religious persecution.
  • Religious demands based on gender are not differentiated in Sikhism. Women are not excluded from any positions or groups in the Sikh scripture, and Sikhism maintains that there is no intercourse with God. Women had executive responsibilities in Sikhism, including generalship of armies and hukamnamas.

Scripture

  • The Guru Granth Sahib serves as the Sikhs’ sole sacred text and is also known as the Adi Granth in some contexts. But in terms of time, the Adi Granth, which is Sanskrit for “First Volume,” designates the version of the book that Guru Arjan produced in 1604.
  • The Dasam Granth is an essential religious document in Sikhism but is not regarded by all Sikhs as a primary source, whereas the Guru Granth Sahib is an undisputed scripture.

Relation to Hinduism and Islam

  • The Sikh texts contain references to the Vedas and names of Hindu gods and goddesses associated with the bhakti movement, including Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma, Parvati, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Rama, and Krishna. However, they do not call for devotion.
  • Although the Veda, Puranas, and Qur’an are acknowledged in the Guru Granth Sahib, it does not suggest that Hinduism and Islam may coexist together. However, it stresses attention on nitnem banis such as Japu (repeating the mantra of the holy Name of God – Waheguru) rather than Hindu or Muslim rituals such as wearing a thread or engaging in Muslim rites such as circumcision.

Dasam Granth

  • Writings attributed to Guru Gobind Singh are supposed to be included in the Dasam Granth, a Sikh text. Despite not having the same significance as the Guru Granth Sahib, the Dasam Granth is significant in the eyes of many Sikhs.
  • The Dasam Granth is a sizable compilation of Hindu mythology drawn from the Puranas and secular tales known as Charitro Pakhyan—stories meant to shield men from the dangers of love.
  • There are five different copies of the Dasam Granth, and in recent times, the legitimacy of the Dasam Granth has emerged as one of the most contentious issues within Sikhism. The poem was essential to Sikh history, but in recent times, specific passages have sparked debate and hostility among Sikhs.

Ceremonies and Customs

  • The main pilgrimage traditions to holy locations like Harmandir Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patna Sahib, Hazur Nanded Sahib, Hemkund Sahib, and others have also been encouraged and helped flourish by Khalsa Sikhs.
  • There are Sarovars at significant Sikh temples where some Sikhs regularly bathe. Some people bring the tank’s holy water home, especially for ailing friends and family members, since they believe it has healing properties and can cleanse one’s karma.
  • The Guru Granth Sahib is opened randomly when a child is born, and the child’s Name is written using the first letter in the top left-hand corner of the left page. The Last Name Singh is given to all boys, whereas Kaur is given to all females (this was once a little, which conferred on an individual upon joining the Khalsa.)
  • The Anand Karaj ceremony is a part of the Sikh marriage process. A baptized Khalsa, the Gurdwara Granthi, officiates at the wedding in front of the Guru Granth Sahib.
  • The body of a Sikh is often cremated after death. If this is not practicable, they may use any dignified method of body disposal. At the funeral service, kirtan sohila and ardas prayers are said (known as antim sanskar.)

Historical Influences

  • The Bhakti movement impacted the growth of Sikhism, but Sikhism was not only a continuation of the Bhakti movement. For instance, some of the beliefs of the Bhakti saints Kabir and Ravidas were rejected by Sikhism.
  • The Khalsa was established as an order for religious and moral freedom in response to the oppression of Sikhs during the Islamic period. The characteristics of a “Saint-Sipahi”—a saint-soldier—are required of a Sikh.

Sikhism Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Sikhism across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Sikhism worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Sikhism, which is a religion in India that emerged in the 16th century and was founded by Guru Nanak Dev at the height of intolerance between Hindus and Muslims. Today, it is the world’s fifth-largest religion, with over 30 adherents worldwide.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

  • Sikhism facts
  • Knowing Sikhism
  • Religious India
  • Truth About Sikhism
  • The Five Ks
  • Sikhism in Letters
  • The Three Duties
  • I’m Telling the Truth!
  • The Five Vices
  • Sikh Festivals
  • Status of Women

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sikhism?

Sikhism is an Indian religion with its roots in the Punjab area of the Indian subcontinent and dates back to the latter half of the 15th century CE. With roughly 25–30 million devotees (also known as Sikhs) as of the early 21st century, it is the fifth-largest major organized religion in the World and the most recent to be established.

What is the philosophy of Sikhism?

Sikh ethics strongly emphasize the harmony between moral behavior in daily life and spiritual growth. According to its founder Guru Nanak, Truth is the ultimate virtue, but actual life is much greater.

Who is the founder of Sikhism?

Indian religions include Sikhism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. The heart of Sikhism is comprised of the teachings of Guru Nanak and his successors.

What is the ultimate goal of life to reunite with Akal, according to Guru Nanak?

According to Guru Nanak, the ultimate goal of life is to reunite with Akal, also known as “The Timeless One,” however, egotism stands in the way of this goal the most.

What are the three types of service in Sikhism?

In Sikhism, there are three types of service: Tan (physical assistance or work), Man (mental benefit, or putting your heart into serving others), and Dhan (material service, including financial support.)

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Sikhism Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 1, 2018

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

Related Resources