Starter Activity ~ Important

Books
I would like to consider the
answer to this question:
What is the most important
book that you have ever read?
What book has had the most
impact on your life?
Be ready to share your
thoughts with the rest of the
class.

Work on your own.

.B.
G.W

Thinking exercise.

Lesson
6
To find out about the lives and events linked to the
Gurus.
To understand who/what is the Sikh guru now.

What can a picture tell you about Guru Gobind

Singh?

Guru Gobind
Singh
The 10th living guru, Guru
Gobind Singh, decided that
after his death, there would
be no further living gurus.
He declared that from his
death onwards, the living
guru would be the Sikh
holy book, the Guru Granth
Sahib.
The Sikhs place a great
deal of emphasis on this
book in their religion.

What do these things have in

common?

Bowing to the queen

when you meet them.

A throne.

The Pope carried in a

grand procession.

A red carpet

Saluting

Medals

The Guru Granth

Sahib
The Guru Granth Sahib is the Sikh holy book.
To Sikhs, it is more than just a book. It represents the
actual word of God and is considered to be the modern
day equivalent of the living Guru. It plays a central role in
many areas of a Sikhs life.

The Adi
Granth
Most Sikhs themselves
do not have a copy of
the Guru Granth Sahib
but rather a copy of the
key hymns from the
book.
This summary book is
called the Adi Granth.
As it is not the actual
book, it does not need
to be treated in quite
the same way as the full
book.

About the Guru Granth

Sahib
Every copy of the book has
exactly the same number of
pages, 1430 in total. Every
page of the book is the
same in every copy.
The original copy of the book
still exists and it from this
that every copy is taken.
The book is written in a
special language called
gurmukhi (which was
invented by the second guru).

About the Guru Granth

Sahib
Most of the content are
hymns written by the 10
gurus.

Each section starts with the

Mool Mantra which sums up
the central beliefs of Sikhs.

The book also contains some

writings by Hindu and Muslim
leaders.

Respecting the Guru Granth

Sahib
Sikhs respect the book very highly as it is looked upon
as the actual living word of God.

If a house has a copy of

the Guru Granth Sahib, it
should have its own room
where it is kept when not
in use. It is often covered
in special clothes called
romallas.

Respecting the Guru Granth

Sahib
Sikhs respect the book very highly as it is looked upon
as the actual living word of God.
In a gurdwara, the room often
has a bed that the book is put in
when it is not in use. This room
is often very lavish and has
sheets of silk and gold leaf on
objects around the room.

Respecting the Guru Granth

Sahib
Sikhs respect the book very highly as it is looked upon
as the actual living word of God.
It is kept on a special raised platform in the prayer hall
of the gurdwara and should be higher than everyone
else except the person reading it.

Respecting the Guru Granth

Sahib
Sikhs respect the book very highly as it is looked upon
as the actual living word of God.
It is always carried above head height so that it is never
lower than the people around it.

Respecting the Guru Granth

Sahib
Sikhs respect the book very highly as it is looked upon
as the actual living word of God.
It has its own fan (called a chauri) that is waved
over the top of the book to keep flies away.

Respecting the Guru Granth

Sahib
Sikhs respect the book very highly as it is looked upon
as the actual living word of God.
The book is kept on a cushion to make sure that it is
comfortable and well looked after.

Respecting the Guru Granth

Sahib
Sikhs respect the book very highly as it is looked upon
as the actual living word of God.
People may bring gifts to the book (such as new sheets,
romallas or pillows) as a way of thanking God for good
fortune or luck in their lives.

How is the Guru Granth Sahib

used?
It is used at the naming service for a new baby. It helps
to decide the babies name.

A building
becomes a
gurdwara if
it has a
copy of the
book.

It is read
on
important
festival
days.

The wedding service takes place in front of the book

and walking around it shows your married.

Question 1
How many pages does every copy of the Guru
Grathn Sahib contain?

1420

1430

1440

Question 2
Which Guru decided that there would be no
more living gurus?

Guru

Guru

Guru

Tegh Bahadur

Nanak

Gobind Singh

Question 3
Which Guru created the language that the
book is written in?

The second
guru

The third
guru

The fifth
guru

Question 4
Where is the Guru Granth Sahib kept when it
is not in use?

In public for
people to
read

In a secure
locked
cupboard

In a special
room of its
own