Which statement best describes Sikh worship?

Which statement best describes Sikh worship?

• A. Its members pray together without priests and with little ritual
• B. Their worship is led by a priestly class
• C. They worship in temples only
• D. It uses elaborate rituals

Answer: (A)

Sikh worship centers on communal prayer conducted in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib, who is treated as the eternal Guru. There is no priestly class mediating between worshipers and the divine; a Granthi, a reader or ceremonial assistant, leads the service and performs the readings, but this role isn’t a clerical hierarchy. In worship, the congregation chants and sings hymns (kirtan) from the scripture, listens to readings, and participates in simple prayers, with an emphasis on equality, service, and devotion. The gathering takes place in a gurdwara, and practices like langar (the community meal) reinforce the communal, inclusive spirit. This description fits best because it reflects the lack of a priestly intermediary, the communal and accessible nature of the service, and the relatively simple, devout structure of Sikh worship. The other statements don’t match: there isn’t a priestly class guiding worship, worship isn’t limited to temples (and the proper term is gurdwara), and Sikh worship is not characterized by elaborate rituals but by straightforward devotional practice and service.

Sikh worship centers on communal prayer conducted in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib, who is treated as the eternal Guru. There is no priestly class mediating between worshipers and the divine; a Granthi, a reader or ceremonial assistant, leads the service and performs the readings, but this role isn’t a clerical hierarchy. In worship, the congregation chants and sings hymns (kirtan) from the scripture, listens to readings, and participates in simple prayers, with an emphasis on equality, service, and devotion. The gathering takes place in a gurdwara, and practices like langar (the community meal) reinforce the communal, inclusive spirit.

This description fits best because it reflects the lack of a priestly intermediary, the communal and accessible nature of the service, and the relatively simple, devout structure of Sikh worship. The other statements don’t match: there isn’t a priestly class guiding worship, worship isn’t limited to temples (and the proper term is gurdwara), and Sikh worship is not characterized by elaborate rituals but by straightforward devotional practice and service.