Sikhs follow the teaching of Sikhs follow the teaching of GurusGurus. The word . The word GuruGuru is a is a title which is often used in title which is often used in India for India for religious religious teachersteachers. .

Ten Gurus were important to the foundation of Sikhism, the first Guru was called Guru Nanak, he was born in India in 1469. All of the gurus lived in a part of India called

Punjab.

In 1708 the tenth Guru said that there would In 1708 the tenth Guru said that there would be no more human Gurus after him – in be no more human Gurus after him – in future the teacher of the Sikhs would be future the teacher of the Sikhs would be their holy book. This is why their holy book their holy book. This is why their holy book is called is called Guru Granth Sahib. Granth Guru Granth Sahib. Granth is a is a word which means a word which means a large booklarge book. . Sahib Sahib is a is a title which title which shows respectshows respect..

The The GurdwaraGurdwara is the Sikh place of is the Sikh place of worship. Gurdwara means ‘ worship. Gurdwara means ‘ Guru’s Guru’s doordoor’ or God’s house. It need not be a ’ or God’s house. It need not be a special building – it can be an ordinary special building – it can be an ordinary house. The important thing is that the house. The important thing is that the

holy book is there.holy book is there.

Har Mandir Saheb, known as the Golden Har Mandir Saheb, known as the Golden temple is the holiest shrine for the temple is the holiest shrine for the Sikhs, so called because the entire Sikhs, so called because the entire upper half was inlaid with copper upper half was inlaid with copper covered over by gold plate. covered over by gold plate.

The The Khalsa Khalsa is a name given to the is a name given to the membership of the brotherhood of membership of the brotherhood of Sikhs, but not all Sikhs are members. Sikhs, but not all Sikhs are members. The male members of the Khalsa take The male members of the Khalsa take the name the name SinghSingh which means which means lionlion, , the female members take the name the female members take the name KaurKaur which means which means princessprincess. These . These names describe how Sikh members of names describe how Sikh members of the Khalsa should behave and be the Khalsa should behave and be treated. The men, like lions, should be treated. The men, like lions, should be strong and brave but also gentle and strong and brave but also gentle and caring. They should be treated with caring. They should be treated with respect. The women should behave respect. The women should behave and be treated like princesses. and be treated like princesses.

Just as Christians have a cross as Just as Christians have a cross as their symbol, Sikhs have a symbol their symbol, Sikhs have a symbol called a Khanda.called a Khanda.