Gurudwaras of World
Gateway to Sikhism proudly launches
Gurudwaras of World @ www.worldgurudwaras.com
Gateway to Sikhism proudly launches Gurudwaras of World @ www.worldgurudwaras.com on auspicious day of Khalsa Sajna Divas , Vaisakhi April 14th 2012. Worldgurudwaras.com will strive to be most comprehensive directory of Historical Gurudwaras and Non Historical Gurudwaras around the world.
The etymology of the term 'gurdwara' is from the words 'Gur (ਗੁਰ)' (a reference to the Sikh Gurus) and 'Dwara (ਦੁਆਰਾ)' (gateway in Gurmukhi), together meaning 'the gateway through which the Guru could be reached'. Thereafter, all Sikh places of worship came to be known as gurdwaras.
It is a work in progress and We strongly urge the Sikh Cyber Community to contribute to this project by submitting contact information, details, images of Gurudwaras around the world to make this a comprehensive directory.
Welcome to Gateway to Sikhism
Introduction to Sikhism
Over twenty million Sikhs follow a revealed, distinct, and unique religion born five centuries ago in the Punjab region of northern India. Between 1469 and 1708, ten Gurus preached a simple message of truth, devotion to God, and universal equality. Often mistaken as a combination of Hinduism and Islam, the Sikh religion can be characterized as a completely independent faith:
Q102. What do you know of Sri Guru Granth Sahib? |
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Guru Arjan compiled the Adi Granth popularly known as the Granth which contain the hymns of the first five Gurus and some of the Bhagats of medieval India. He installed this scripture in the Har Mandar in 1604. This copy got into the hands of Dhirmal, the son of Guru Har Gobind. Subsequently some Sikhs forcibly obtained the copy from Dhirmal and presented it to Guru Tegh Bahadur. He returned it to Dhirmal. Guru Gobind Singh dictated the entire Granth to Bhai Mani Singh and incorporated the hymns of Guru Tegh Bahadur, in 1706 at Damdama Sahib. At the time of his death, Guru Gobind singh conferred permanant Gurudom on the Guru Granth Sahib(1708).
The Guru Granth Sahib contains 5894 hymns. The largest number of hymns (2216) were contributed by Guru Arjan. The 937 hymns of fifteen Bhagats and eleven Bhatts whose compositions tallied with the gospel of Sikhism were also included. Here the Hindu, the Muslim, the Brahmin, and the untouchable, meet on an equal footing. From the linguistic point of view, it is a treasury of old "Hindi dialects".
Music forms the basis of the classification of the hymns. They follow a definite metrical system. The total number of Ragas(Raga in Indian classical music means a pattern of melodic notes) is 31. Under each Raga, the hymns are arranged thus: Chaupadas, Ashtapadas, long poems, Chhands, Vars, and poems of Bhagats. The Guru Granth Sahib is written in the Gurmukhi script and contains 1430 pages.
Guru Arjan commenting on the nature of the Granth said: "In this
dish are placed three things: Truth, Harmony and Wisdom. These are seasoned
with the Name of God which is the basis of all; whoever eats it and relishes
it, shall be saved." It is a work of divine inspiration. It is both
metaphysical and ethical reality and imagination, mysticism and philosophy.
According to Prof. Puran Singh, "it is a scripture for all nations.
it is a lyric of divine love, on which all the people of the earth subsist
of such glowing lyrical power. The Guru Granth Sahib is of one Song, one
Idea and one Life." Guru Arjan wanted the book to be translated into
foreign languages because it is the scripture of universal religion. It
is a unique treasure, a noble heritage for all mankind.
Yahoo News Headlines
Turbaned Sikhs will serve in Washington police 17 May 2012 | 5:51 am Bucking a disturbing trend of bias against ethnic minorities in some parts of the U.S., the nation's capital made history this week when its police department announced a decision to explicitly an... --Read more... |
Sikhs in turbans can now serve Washington police 17 May 2012 | 12:01 am Washington, May 17 (IANS) Sikh police officers in the American capital will be allowed to wear turbans, beards and other religious items while on the job. --Read more... |
DC police adopt new uniform accommodations for Sikhs to don turbans, beards 16 May 2012 | 11:32 pm The Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is now the first major American police department to adopt a uniform policy allowing Sikhs to wear beards and turbans while serving in uniform as law enforcement officers. --Read more... |
Kirpans now allowed in Ontario courts 16 May 2012 | 8:15 pm Sikhs will now be allowed to bring their ceremonial daggers into Toronto courthouses following a landmark settlement between the Ontario Human Rights Commission and three law enforcement bodies. --Read more... |
Toronto courts allow Sikhs to wear daggers 16 May 2012 | 5:19 pm TORONTO, May 16 (UPI) -- Toronto and provincial officials announced Wednesday Sikhs may legally wear their religious daggers, or kirpans, into courthouses under certain conditions. --Read more... |
Sikh Siyasat
Hindutva party opposes Sikh memorial for June 1984 22 May 2012 | 1:38 am  Amritsar, Punjab (May 21, 2012): Bhartiya Janta Party, BJP, known for it’s Hindutva ideology has opposed the Sikh memorial for June 1984, known as “third Ghallughara (holocaust) of Sikh history”. In June 1984 Indian army attacked Sri Darbar Sahib, commonly known as Golden Temple of Amritsar. Thousands of civilian Sikh pilgrims were killed by Indian forces and Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, eternal seat of Sikh sovereignty was targeted with tanks, bombs and rockets and was badly damaged. It was followed by various phases of genocidal violence against Sikh population in Punjab and India,... | AISSF & SFJ Launched “1984 Yes It’s Genocide” Campaign To Collect Signatures In Support of Petition 20 May 2012 | 9:08 am  Bhai Daljit Singh talking to 1984 Sikh genocide survivor Bibi Jagdish Kaur, who is prime witness against Congress (I) leader Sajjan Kumar in genocide related case Amritsar, Punjab (May 20, 2012): While Damdami Taksal laid the foundation stone in the memory of Shaheed Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Shaheed Bhai Amrik Singh former President AISSF, Shaheed General Shubeg Singh and countless others Sikhs who were martyred in June 1984, All India Sikh Students Federation (PeerMohammad) and “Sikhs for Justice” (SFJ) a human rights group, Under the directions and patronage of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, has launched “1984 Yes It’s Genocide” campaign... |
Karseva of June 1984 memorial begin at Darbar Sahib complex 20 May 2012 | 8:48 am  Amritsar, Punjab (May 20, 2012): The karsewa began today at Sri Darbar Sahib complex in Amritsar in memory of martyrs of Armed attack on Darbar Sahib in June 1984. The Indian Army’s attack was code named as “Operation Bluestar” in 1984. Thousads of civilian Sikh were killed during this attack. Baba Harnam Singh (head of Mehta faction of Damdami Taksal), jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh and and SGPC head Avtar Singh Makkar began the karsewa. A large number of Sikh devotees and representatives of various Sikh religious organizations gathered at the Darbar Sahib complex to participate in the karsewa. Shiromani... | Poster narrating a decade long journey to raise the memorial released 19 May 2012 | 10:38 pm  Amritsar, Punjab (May 20, 2012): Dal Khalsa today released a poster narrating a decade long journey to raise the memorial of June 1984 martyrs marking its inauguration ceremony at Akal Takht. |
The cold-blooded murder of Jaspal Singh 17 May 2012 | 11:33 pm  [Note: Sirdar Gurtej Singh is a well known Sikh scholar and author of various scholarly works. He has shared following write-up on his blog: singhgurtej.blogspot.com. Readers/Visitors of Sikh Siyasat may visit the blog to find more artilcles etc of Sirdar Gurtej Singh.] Thursday, May 17, 2012 On an earlier occasion, I had written to more than two newspapers of the region protesting against the distortion that has almost become second nature of the Indian Media when it carries news and views pertaining to the Sikhs and the Sikh issues. I am compelled to write... | Fact finding report of LFHRI in the incident of police firing which took place in Gurdaspur on 29th March 2012 17 May 2012 | 11:35 am  Ludhiana, Punjab (May 17, 2012): Lawyers for Human Rights International is a Human Rights body. It has recently released a fact-finding report regarding 29 March, 2012 Gurdaspur incident where Punjab police opened fire on Sikhs and a Sikh Youth Jaspal Singh was received fatal bullet injuries while another Ranjeet Singh was badly injured. Sikh Siyasat has received the copy of this report that is reproduced below in verbatim:
Dated: 16th May... |
