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Components of Gurduwara Service
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Exposition of Gurbani (Sikh Holy Scriptures)
(a)
- The exposition of the Gurbani in a congregational gathering should
be carried out only by a Sikh.
(b)
- The object of the exposition should only be promoting the
understanding of the Guru’s tenets.
(c)
- The exposition can only be of the ten Gurus writings or utterances,
Bhai Gurdas’s writings, Bhai Nand Lal’s writings or of any
generally accepted Panthic book or of books of history (which are in
agreement with the Guru’s tenants) and not of a book of any other
faith. However, for illustration, references to a holy person’s
teachings or those contained in a book may be made.
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Expository Discourse
No discourse contrary to the Guru’s tenets should be delivered
inside a gurduwara |
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Gurduwara Service
In the gurduwara the schedule of the congregational service
generally is :
Ceremonial opening of the Guru Granth Sahib, Kirtan, exposition of
scriptures, expository discourses, recitation of Anand Sahib, the
Ardas , the raising of Fateh slogan and then the slogan Sat Sri
Akal and taking the Hukam. |
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Voluntary Service
(1) Voluntary service is a prominent part of Sikh religion.
Illustrative models of voluntary service are organized, for
imparting training, in the gurduwaras. Its simple forms are :
sweeping and plastering the floors *
of the gurduwara, serving water to or fanning the congregation,
offering provisions to and rendering any kind of service in the
common kitchen-cum-eating house, dusting the shoes of the people
visiting the gurduwara, etc.
(a)
- Guru’s kitchen-cum-Eating House. The philosophy behind the
Guru’s kitchen-cum-eating house is two fold : to provide
training to the Sikhs in voluntary service and to help banish
all distinction of high and low, touchable and untouchable
from the Sikhs minds.
(b)
- All human beings, high or low, and of any caste or colour
may sit and eat in the Guru’s kitchen-cum-eating house. No
discrimination on grounds of the country of origin, colour,
caste or religion must be made while making people sit in rows
for eating. However, only baptized Sikhs can eat off one
plate.
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