🤝 Together
Sikhs believe that being part of the sangat helps a person grow in faith. Sitting on the floor together, singing together and eating together shows that all people are equal and part of one community.
Sikhism: Worship and Practice » Worship in the Gurdwara: Nam Japna, Kirtan, Ardas and the Akhand Path
What you'll learn this session
Study time: 30 minutes
Edexcel spec: Paper 2 Sikhism (4RS1/2F), 3.2
- What happens in a Sikh act of worship in the gurdwara, and why each part matters
- Nam Japna, kirtan and Ardas, and what the hukam, karah prashad and langar add
- What the Akhand Path is and why Sikhs say it must be read with understanding
- Why Sikhs value worshipping together with the sangat
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You already know that the Guru Granth Sahib is the living Guru, that kirtan means singing its hymns, and that the sangat is the Sikh community. You know that ragis are the musicians who sing them, that taking a hukam means opening the scripture at random, and that an Akhand Path is the continuous reading of the whole scripture, held at festivals. You know what langar and karah prashad are, and that nam simran means remembering God by repeating his name. This lesson puts these together to show what Sikh worship in the gurdwara is like and why it matters.
Coming together for worship
A main act of worship in a gurdwara is called a diwan. Sikhs cover their heads and take off their shoes at the door. Inside, they walk to the Guru Granth Sahib and bow so that their foreheads touch the floor, to show respect to the Guru. Then they sit on the floor together, with nobody higher than anyone else. There is no priest to lead a set service. Any Sikh may take part, and the granthi looks after the Guru Granth Sahib.
The order of a diwan can differ between gurdwaras, but most include the same parts: hymns, prayer, a reading from the Guru Granth Sahib and shared food.
Key terms:
- Diwan: a gathering of the sangat for worship in the gurdwara.
- Nam Japna: meditating on God's name, especially by repeating it; one of the three duties of a Sikh.
- Ardas: the set prayer of the Sikh community, said standing.
- Hukamnama: the reading taken from the Guru Granth Sahib as the Guru's message for the day.
- Akhand Path (recap from Gurpurbs, Melas and Sikh Attitudes to Festivals): the continuous reading of the whole Guru Granth Sahib, without a break.
Nam Japna, kirtan and Ardas
🙏 Nam Japna
Nam Japna means meditating on God's name and repeating it. Sikhs call God Waheguru. In the gurdwara the sangat may chant the name aloud together, or each person may repeat it silently. It is one of the three duties of a Sikh, with earning an honest living and sharing with others.
🎵 Kirtan
Kirtan is the heart of the service. Musicians called ragis sing hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, often with a harmonium and tabla, and the sangat listens and may join in. Because the hymns are the Guru's own words, singing them is a way of hearing the Guru and of remembering God.
🙌 Ardas
Ardas is a set prayer said by the whole sangat standing, with hands together, facing the Guru Granth Sahib. One person leads it. It remembers the Gurus and the Sikhs who suffered and died for their faith, and it asks for God's help. It ends by asking for the good of all people (sarbat da bhala). Ardas is said at the end of every service and every ceremony, so it ties each occasion to the whole history of the community.
The hukam, karah prashad and langar
- The hukamnama (often just called the hukam). After Ardas, the Guru Granth Sahib is opened at random and the hymn at the top of the left-hand page is read out. Sikhs take this as the Guru's word, or order, for that day. It is not fortune-telling. It is advice to think about and follow. This is not the same as hukam meaning God's will, which you met in the Paper 1 lesson on Hukam, Karma and Free Will.
- Karah prashad. This sweet food is blessed during the service and then given to everyone in cupped hands. Everyone receives the same, whoever they are. This shows that all are equal in front of the Guru.
- Langar. After the diwan, the sangat eat the free vegetarian meal together on the floor. Cooking and serving it is sewa (selfless service), so worship is followed by putting the Guru's teaching into practice.
The Akhand Path
The Akhand Path is the continuous reading of the whole Guru Granth Sahib, all 1,430 pages, from beginning to end. It takes about 48 hours. A team of readers takes turns, so that the reading never stops by day or night. One reader steps in as the last one steps out. It begins and ends with Ardas, and a closing ceremony follows.
Sikhs hold an Akhand Path at festivals, such as Baisakhi, and at family events, such as the birth of a child, a wedding or moving into a new home. It may take place in the gurdwara or in a home that has a room for the Guru Granth Sahib. Family and friends come to listen in turns, and the langar is served throughout. Sikhs value it because the whole of the Guru's teaching is heard, and because the community and the family join together in devotion to mark an important moment.
Empty ritual?
Sikhs teach that reading the scripture matters only if people take in what it says. If an Akhand Path is arranged without anyone listening to the words or trying to understand them, many Sikhs say it is empty ritual: the form is there but the meaning is missing. This fits Guru Nanak's teaching, which you met in the lesson on Pilgrimage in Sikhism and the Harmandir Sahib, that outward acts without devotion are worth little. Many Sikhs therefore say that readers should read clearly, that the family should listen, and that the teaching should change how they live.
Why the sangat matters
📚 Learning and support
In the sangat, people learn from each other, hear the Guru's words and support one another in times of difficulty.
Sikhs do not all agree on which part of worship matters most. Some stress kirtan and nam simran, and some groups, such as the Akhand Kirtani Jatha, give them a special emphasis. Others value the Akhand Path for big family occasions. Many Sikhs go to the gurdwara every week, while others go only at festivals, and many say private prayer at home is just as important. Most would say, though, that worshipping with the sangat is the way to keep the faith strong.
Common mistakes
- Saying Sikhs worship the Guru Granth Sahib as a god. They show it great respect as the Guru, but they worship only God.
- Describing Ardas, kirtan or the Akhand Path without saying why it matters. Always add the reason.
- Saying the hukam tells the future. It is the Guru's advice for the day.
- Saying the Akhand Path is done by one person. It is a team of readers taking turns.
- Forgetting the Sikh view that worship without understanding is empty ritual.
Exam-style question
(a) Outline two forms of worship in a gurdwara. [4 marks, Paper 2, AO1]
Model answer (a)
One form of worship is kirtan, the singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib (1), which is led by musicians called ragis and listened to by the sangat (1). A second form is Ardas, the set prayer (1), which is said standing at the end of the service and asks for the good of all people (1).
(b) Explain why kirtan is important for Sikhs. [6 marks, Paper 2, AO1 and AO2]
Model answer (b)
Kirtan is important because the hymns are the words of the Gurus in the Guru Granth Sahib, so singing them is a way of hearing the Guru. This matters because Sikhs follow the living Guru. It is also important because it helps Sikhs remember God, which is the aim of nam simran,. Kirtan also brings the sangat together, because everyone sits on the floor as equals and listens or sings as one community, which makes the service shared rather than individual. Finally, it is the heart of the service, so the other parts, such as Ardas and the hukam, follow from it. For these reasons it is central to Sikh worship.
(c) 'The Akhand Path is the most important form of worship in the gurdwara.' Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include reference to teachings, other points of view, and your own opinion. [10 marks, Paper 2, AO1 and AO2]
Plan for (c)
For (teaching): the Guru Granth Sahib is the living Guru, so hearing all of it is a mark of respect; it is the whole Guru Granth Sahib read in full; it marks festivals and family events; the whole community joins in for 48 hours; it brings the Guru's teaching into the home. Against: it is held only on special occasions, while kirtan, Ardas and the hukam happen at every diwan; Sikhs say reading without understanding is empty ritual; Nam Japna and sewa are daily duties; groups such as the Akhand Kirtani Jatha stress kirtan and nam simran; Guru Nanak taught that outward acts without devotion are worth little. Different views: some Sikhs value the Akhand Path greatly; others stress understanding the words over the form of the reading. Possible conclusion: the Akhand Path is very important for big occasions, but it is not the most important form of worship overall, because Sikhs say that devotion and understanding matter more than any one form, and Ardas and kirtan are part of every service.
Exam tip
In a 'Discuss' question, name a Sikh teaching and give a different Sikh view as well as your own. Then say which side is stronger and why.