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Sikhism

The gurdwara and its religious features

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 1

Overview

The subtopic covers the meaning of gurdwara and its outside signs, the Khanda, the diwan hall, takht, palki, chaur and rumala, the granthi, karah parshad and golak, and why worshippers remove shoes and bow.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What does the word gurdwara mean?

Key term

How can a Sikh recognise a gurdwara from the outside?

Key term

What is shown on the Khanda emblem?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What does the word gurdwara mean?

    Model answer

    Gurdwara means 'the doorway to the Guru'. A building becomes a gurdwara only when the Guru Granth Sahib is installed inside it.

  2. 2

    How can a Sikh recognise a gurdwara from the outside?

    Model answer

    A gurdwara flies the Nishan Sahib, a saffron triangular flag on a tall pole. The flag carries the Khanda emblem and marks the building as Sikh.

  3. 3

    What is shown on the Khanda emblem?

    Model answer

    The Khanda emblem shows a double-edged sword in the centre inside a circle called the chakkar. Two curved swords stand on either side.

  4. 4

    What is the diwan hall?

    Model answer

    The diwan hall is the main worship room of a gurdwara. The Guru Granth Sahib sits at the front and worshippers sit on the floor facing it.

  5. 5

    What is the takht in a gurdwara?

    Model answer

    The takht is the raised platform, or throne, on which the Guru Granth Sahib rests. The height shows that the Guru sits above the congregation.

  6. 6

    What is the palki?

    Model answer

    The palki is the canopied structure that houses the Guru Granth Sahib. The canopy above shows respect, in the way a royal person would be shaded.

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