what is sikhi?
The Sikh tradition, known in the Punjabi language as Sikhi, is a relatively young religious tradition that was founded over 500 years ago in the Punjab region of South Asia. There are more than 25 million Sikhs around the world today, which makes Sikhism the world’s fifth largest independent religion. Sikhs first came to the United States in the late 1800s and there are an estimated 500,000 Sikhs living in America today. The founder of the Sikh tradition, Guru Nanak Sahib, was born in the region of Punjab, South Asia, in 1469 CE. He lived a life of spirituality, service, and honesty, and the disciples who began to follow his teachings came to be known as Sikhs. The word Sikh means ‘seeker’ or ‘student.’
The Sikh community grew under the guidance of ten religious leaders — Gurus — the last of whom passed away in 1708 CE. The authority of the community today rests with two entities — the Sikh scriptural text known as the Guru Granth Sahib, and the community of initiated Sikhs, known as the Guru Khalsa Panth. Sikhi teaches equality, justice, liberty, service to humanity, and compassion in practice. The essential message of Sikhi is spiritual devotion and reverence of God at all times while practicing the ideals of honesty, humility and generosity in everyday life. Sikhs structure their daily lives based on three core tenets of their faith which are meditating on the name of the divine, earning an honest livelihood, and sharing what you can with the needy.
The Sikh Empire in early 19th century encompassed the historic Sikh homeland of Punjab | Map of the Indian subcontinent in 1823 | Charles Jappens
what is a gurdwara?
The Gurdwara is the central space of learning for Sikhs, playing a crucial role in the daily lives of local Sikh communities around the world. Etymologically, the word Gurdwara is derived from two words “Gur” and “Dwara.” “Gur” comes from Guru (literally from Gu, darkness, to Ru, light), which in Sikhi is embodied in the institutions of the Ten Guru Sahibs, Guru Granth Sahib, and the Guru Khalsa Panth. In the Sikh tradition, the Guru dispells the Gu, the darkness of ignorance and ignites Ru, the light of wisdom. “Dwara” refers to a door or a gateway through which something is attained. Together, Gurdwara means “through the Guru” or “the Guru’s door.” In the period of Guru Sahiban, the institution of the Gurdwara was also known as a Dharamshala, meaning a place where dharam or righteousness is taught.
In Sikhi, the worldview of a Sikh is centered around the Guru. “Through the Guru” is the lens from which Sikhs strive to see the world. The Sikh scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, which was compiled by the Guru Sahiban during their lifetimes, is at the center of Sikh life, and therefore it is placed at the center of every Gurdwara space as well. The entire Guru Granth Sahib is written in poetic verse and separated by musical meter, dealing with the nature of divine experience and Gurmat-oriented spiritual liberation. Majority of a worship service is hence conducted in song. Community members and musicians lead the congregation in singing, and often an exegetical scholar will later take a moment to explain the ideas, lessons, and history invoked from the selections in Guru Granth Sahib. After the ceremony, the congregants gather together for a meal in the Gurdwara’s free community kitchen which is called Langar. Everyone sits on the floor as a sign of equality, and people of all backgrounds are always welcome to join.
Importantly, a Gurdwara not only embodies an environment in which Sikhs engage in devotional worship of the divine, but it also exemplifies the Sikh doctrine of Miri-Piri (temporal-mental sovereignty), where each individual is trained to become sovereign in all spheres of life. Therefore, from their inception, Gurdwaras have been spaces for both spiritual and political growth, with an emphasis on education, food, shelter, and protection to be provided to all, without discrimination. Even today, visitors of any background who are in need of shelter, comfort, and food can receive it from the precincts of any Gurdwara in the world.
The sanctum sanctorum of Sikh life is the Gurdwara of Sri Darbar Sahib in Amritsar, Punjab where the first manuscript of the sacred Sikh scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, was installed | The Golden Temple at Amritsar | c. 1854 | William Carpenter
A decorated opening folio of a hand written Guru Granth Sahib, produced at the height of the Sikh manuscript tradition during the Sikh Empire | c. 1830 | Dr. Gurpal Singh Bhuller Collection
Our Mission
At Gurdwara Singh Sabha of Washington (GSSW), we aim to empower our community through the cultivation of a Sikh spiritual environment. Guided by the enduring principles of the Sikh faith, our Sangat (congregation) strives to provide a spiritual home that fosters profound connections with Akal Purakh (the timeless being) and emboldens us to improve the world through acts of righteousness. We are committed to lifelong Sikh education, nurturing spiritual growth, and building a vibrant community where everyone is welcome. Together, we join in the pursuit of ethical living, practicing compassion, and upholding justice as we fulfill our sacred obligation to pass on a radiant Sikh legacy to future generations.
The congregation-ran precincts of GSSW have provided community for Sikhs in Seattle for more than three decades
origins of gssw
Since 1993, the precincts of Gurdwara Singh Sabha, located in the city of Renton, have provided a community for Sikhs residing in the greater Seattle area and throughout the Pacific Northwest for more than three decades. Gurdwara Singh Sabha was expanded in 1997 to help accommodate the increasing needs of the Seattle Sikh community and combat the growing issues impacting the Sikh community both locally and globally. Today, GSSW stands as the largest congregation-managed Gurdwara in Washington. Since its formation, the GSSW has engaged the Sikh community through youth education, selfless service, devotional worship, and congregational organization.
Importantly, it has also placed a special emphasis on promoting and bringing to the world’s attention, the continuous human rights violations being committed against the Sikhs in India and other minority groups worldwide. In 1997, the Nishan Sahib, the Sikh flag of sovereignty, which still stands at Gurdwara Singh Sabha today was hoisted in the solemn memory of all Sikh children, women, men, and elders who had lost their lives during the Sikh genocide which began in June 1984 under the mandate of the Indian state. The commemorative plaque on the base of the Nishan Sahib continues to remind the GSSW community of our commitment to advancing the global recognition of the Sikh genocide executed by the Indian state and our pledge to stand in solidarity with the struggle of minority communities globally in their quests for dignity, justice, and freedom.
During the GSSW’s expansion in 1997, the precinct’s Nishan Sahib, the Sikh flag of sovereignty, was raised in honor of the thousands of Sikhs who were killed by the Indian state from 1984 onwards during the Sikh genocide