The Role & Importance of Sangat (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Note

What is the sangat?

• Sat sangat means true congregation and is the community of people who meet and worship in the gurdwara in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib

  • The sangat sings hymns together (kirtan), meditates on God’s name (Nam Japna) and listens to musicians (ragis)

Origins of the sangat

• The sangat originated with Guru Nanak, who founded the first community of Sikhs

• As Guru Nanak travelled, he started to gather people together to sing hymns, worship and learn about the oneness of humanity and the one true God Waheguru

  • He referred to these groups as the sangat and believed that being part of a community would help individuals become closer to Waheguru

  • Sikhs believe that the community is a vital part of their personal journey towards God

• Guru Nanak established several practices that led to Sikhs’ belief in the importance of community:

  • Guru Nanak rejected the caste system and taught about the oneness of humanity

    • This means that everyone should be treated equally at all times

  • Guru Nanak invited all people — regardless of caste, religion or gender — to his home for religious singing (kirtan) and collective worship

    • Everyone sat together in the same room

    • Members of different castes sat next to one another, which was something many people had not done before

  • Guru Nanak urged people to join this group of individuals, who were all seen as equal, to find God and become gurmukh

What is the role of the sangat today?

• The sangat is formed by any religious people who come together in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib

  • This can happen anywhere, but it mainly takes place in the gurdwara

• The sangat has a variety of roles in today’s society and has an especially important role in Sikhs working together and performing sewa

• The role of the sangat includes:

  • Providing a community for Sikhs

  • Enabling Sikhs to worship together collectively in the gurdwara or in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib in other locations

  • Helping with the running of the gurdwara

  • Helping to teach children the Punjabi language

  • Discussing spiritual matters

  • Meditating on God’s name (Nam Japna)

  • Helping to provide financial support to both the community and to individuals who need financial help

  • Performing sewa

  • Helping in the langar

  • Learning and teaching about the history of Sikhism

Why is the sangat important to Sikhs?

• The importance of the sangat is written in the Guru Granth Sahib

• Sikhs believe that being part of the sangat is a very important part of life

• It is essential if they are to move through the five stages of liberation (the Five Khands)

• Being part of the sangat allows people to develop spiritually and become more gurmukh

• The sangat is important because:

  • It helps Sikhs develop spiritually

  • It brings Sikhs closer together as a community, showing the belief in the oneness of humanity

  • It provides opportunities for sewa (selfless service) — helping others in the sangat helps Sikhs keep God in mind at all times

  • It helps Sikhs learn about the history of Sikhism

  • It provides financial support for individuals