Holy Days and Seva Flashcards
Hola Mohilla (military)
Gobind made it this day to celebrate and practice military for Sikhs. Take part in martial arts parades, led by Nishan Sahibs. Poetry and music.
Gurpurbs
Festivals celebrating gurus. Celebrate with akhand path. Akhand originated in India where there were few ggs, Sikhs at war and gathered to hear sacred text. Gurdwaras decorated with flowers and prettiness, hymns sung. Scriptures paraded, 5 people to represent Khalsa. Singers, martial arts. food, parshad, langar.
Diwali (hargobinds release)
Emp. Jahangir imprisoned them because of GGS. REMEMBER CLOAK! Sikhs celebrate this by lighting golden temple. Houses etc. decorated with oil lamps, and in Ganges. Fire works. Buying Gifts. Redecorate houses, buy clothes and celebrate harvest.
Sewa. “You shall find peace, doing Seva.” GGS, p. 25.
Peace obtained. Make effort to preform Seva. Achieve salvation, follow gurbani. Serve, render obedience and worship and pay homage. IMPORTANT FOR SPIRITUALITY. Arjan=”I beg to serve those who serve you.” GGS 43. True Seva must be without desire. Those who want oneness with god must serve. LANGAR ETC. Seva is prime duty, and to render Seva to poor. “Poor mans mouth depository of the guru.”
Types of Seva. Corporal instrument (tan), mental apparatus (man), material with withal (dhan)
Tan important = gurus establish corporal labour, dignity as it was originally meant for lower castes, serving the sangat.
Man = talents, creativity towards sangat. Shares pain with others. Sikh prayer ardas: “welfare of all.”
Dhan = non personal. Offering made to gurus and dasvandh contributed by Sikhs. Seva carried out to dissolve ego and lead to self transcendence.
