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Sikhism

Birth and naming, Amrit Sanskar and the Five Ks

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 1

Overview

These questions explain the Sikh naming ceremony and the names Singh and Kaur, the Khalsa and the Amrit Sanskar, the meaning of the Five Ks, the promises of an amritdhari, and how amritdhari, keshdhari and sahajdhari Sikhs differ.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is the Sikh naming ceremony called?

Key term

How is a Sikh baby's name chosen?

Numbers

What do the names Singh and Kaur mean, and why were they given?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is the Sikh naming ceremony called?

    Model answer

    The Sikh naming ceremony is called Naam Karan. The family brings the baby to the gurdwara as soon as the mother is well enough to travel.

  2. 2

    How is a Sikh baby's name chosen?

    Model answer

    The Guru Granth Sahib is opened at random and the first letter of the hymn on that page is taken. The parents choose a name beginning with that letter, and Singh or Kaur is added to it.

  3. 3

    What do the names Singh and Kaur mean, and why were they given?

    Model answer

    Singh means 'lion' and Kaur is usually translated as 'princess'. Guru Gobind Singh gave the shared names in 1699 so that a Sikh surname could no longer reveal caste.

  4. 4

    How does the name Kaur affect Sikh women?

    Model answer

    A Sikh woman keeps Kaur as her own name and need not take a husband's family name. Sikhs regard this as a sign that a woman belongs to nobody but God.

  5. 5

    What is the Amrit Sanskar?

    Model answer

    Amrit Sanskar is the ceremony of initiation into the Khalsa. A Sikh chooses to take amrit only when old enough to understand the commitment.

  6. 6

    What is the Khalsa?

    Model answer

    The Khalsa is the community of initiated Sikhs founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. Khalsa means 'pure', and members promise to live by a strict code of conduct.

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