Religions of India Field Trip

Leader: Prof. Afroz Taj (NCSU) and Prof. Lauren Leve (UNC)

 

Sunday, November 12, 2006

 

 

We will be visiting places of worship for three of India’s major religions: The Sikh Gurudwara, the Hindu Bhavan, and the Raleigh Islamic Center (directions below). 

 

Please keep the following points in mind as you prepare for the trip:
1. Participants are *strongly* urged to attend all three segments and come with an open mind. This is a unique opportunity to learn about three major world faiths and observe first-hand how they are practiced.
2. Friends, family, and children are welcome.
3. At each site everyone is asked to remove their shoes before entering the place of worship. At the Gurudwara, EVERYONE will be asked to cover his/her head with a scarf. Scarves are provided but you may choose to bring your own scarf or bandana.
4. At each place you may be asked to sit cross-legged on the floor for extended periods of time. If you cannot sit on the floor please let us know so we can arrange a chair for you.

 

As you visit each place of worship, use your senses to observe and learn. 
For each faith, think about the following questions:

 

1. Look at the place of worship from the outside.  What do you notice about it architecturally?

2. What preparations do people make before entering the hall of worship? 

3. How do people greet each other? (gestures, words)

4. Look around the hall of worship.  What seems to be the focus of worship?  What images do you see?

5. What are people doing in the hall of worship?  How do they seem to be worshipping/praying?

6. Are the worshippers alone?  In groups?  Are the sexes segregated?

7. Is there a leader?  A priest? What does he/she do?

8. Who is worshipping?  Can you tell where they are from?  National origin?  Language?

9. What sounds are associated with worship?

10. Is incense or any other religious material used? 

11. Is food found in the place of worship?  How is it eaten?

12. Do you see any books in the place of worship?  Which ones?

13. You may have had some prior conceptions about each faith.  What was different than you expected?

 

If you are going from Raleigh: We will rendez-vous at 12:00 noon in front of the Witherspoon Student Center across from the Student Health Center on the NC State Campus (map below).  From there we will proceed to the Sikh Gurudwara,

 

If you are going from Chapel Hill or Durham, meet us at the Gurudwara by 1:00 PM.   You can wait for us in the foyer, or you can remove your shoes, put on the head cloth, and go upstairs to sit in the service.  They are expecting us.

 

At the Gurudwara we will observe the worship service, followed by langar (lunch).  Then we will proceed to the Hindu Bhavan and The Raleigh Islamic Center. 

 

Call Afroz at 851-1119 or 749-4395 (cell) at any time if you need a ride or have any questions. If you want to receive class credit for participating in this field trip, you must attend ALL THREE segments. We will be done by approximately 6:00 PM.

 

Map of rendez-vous point for NC State: meet in front of Witherspoon Student Center, no. 81 on the map:

 

 

The directions are given below; carpooling is encouraged.  You are urged to attend ALL THREE SEGMENTS of the trip.

 

Directions to the Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) from Raleigh (arrive at 1:00 PM)

Take I-40 West toward Durham.  Take Exit 279 for the Durham Expressway ( HWY 147).

Take 147 into Durham. Take the Roxboro Street Exit.  Turn right off the ramp.

Continue straight on Roxboro Street through downtown Durham.

Pass under I-85, then continue North on Roxboro Street.

Look for the 3^rd church on the right. The first two churches are small, but the third, the Braggtown Baptist Church, is quite large.

The Gurudwara is behind the Braggtown Baptist Church (you can't see the Gurudwara from Roxboro Street).

Turn into the Church driveway, go around behind the church, and turn into the Gurudwara parking lot. 

Park and meet at the downstairs entrance.

The Gurudwara telephone numbers are: 220-9917, 220-0630

 

Directions to the Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) from Chapel Hill (arrive at 1:00 PM)

Take 15-501 North toward Durham.

Take Interstate 85 North.

Take the Roxboro Rd. exit and turn left (north) away from downtown Durham (Roxboro Rd. is also 501 north and NC 55 north). 

Look for the 3^rd church on the right. The first two churches are small, but the third, the Braggtown Baptist Church, is quite large.

The Gurudwara is behind the Braggtown Baptist Church (you can't see the Gurudwara from Roxboro Street).

Turn into the Church driveway, go around behind the church, and turn into the Gurudwara parking lot. 

Park and meet at the downstairs entrance.

The Gurudwara telephone numbers are: 220-9917, 220-0630

 

 

Directions to the Hindu Bhavan (arrive at 3:00 PM)

Take I-40 East (back toward Raleigh). Take Exit 285 for Aviation Parkway.

Turn right (away from the Airport). Continue on Aviation Parkway across the lake.

About one mile past the lake, on the right, is the Hindu Bhavan.

The Temple is the smaller building close to Aviation Parkway.

Park in the lot, enter from the front door (facing Aviation Parkway) and assemble in the foyer.

The Hindu Bhavan telephone number is: 481-2574

 

Directions to the Raleigh Islamic Center (arrive at 4:30 PM):
Retrace your steps back to I-40 and go East toward Raleigh.

Take exit 289 for Wade Avenue.

At the third light, turn right on Faircloth Street, which continues across Hillsborough St. as Gorman St.

At the first light after Hillsborough St. turn right on Ligon Street.

Turn right again on Atwater Street.

Turn left into the Islamic Center Parking lot.

Meet us in the lobby.

Contact number: 834 9572

HINDUISM

Arose: Prehistoric past Adherents: 800 million Scriptures: Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita Related Faiths: Buddhism, Jainism

Scripture Excerpts (translation from Sanskrit):

The Blessed Lord spoke: Truly there was never a time when I was not, Nor thou, nor these lords of men; Nor will there be a time when we shall cease to be; All of us exist from this time onward... Material sensations... Causing cold, heat, pleasure or pain, Come and go and are impermanent. Do manage to endure them... Know that that by which all this universe Is pervaded is indeed indestructible; No one is able to accomplish The destruction of this imperishable.... For the born, death is certain; For the dead there is certainly birth. Therefore, for this, inevitable in consequence, Thou shouldst not mourn. (Bhagavad Gita, II)   Of many mouths and eyes, Of many wondrous aspects, Of many divine ornaments, Of many uplifted divine weapons, Wearing divine garlands and garments, With divine perfumes and ointments, Made up of all marvels, the god, Endless, facing in all directions. If there should be in the sky A thousand suns risen all at once, Such splendor would be Of the splendor of that Great Being. (Bhagavad Gita, XI)

 

 

ISLAM

Arose: 7th Century CE Adherents: 1 billion Scriptures: Qur'an Related Faiths: Judaism, Christianity

Scripture Excerpts (translation from Arabic):

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds, The Beneficent, the Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgement. Thee alone we worship; Thee alone we ask for help. Show us the straight path, The path of those whom Thou hast favored; Not the path of those who earn Thy anger nor of those who go astray. (Qur'an: Surat Al-Fatihah, 1-7)   And of His signs is this: He created you of dust, and behold, you are human beings, dispersed widely. And of His signs is this: He created for you mates from yourselves that ye might find rest in them, and He ordained between you love and mercy.  Lo, herein indeed are portents for those who reflect. And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colors.  Lo, herein indeed are portents for the wise. And of His signs is your sleep by night, and by day your seeking of His bounty. Lo, herein indeed are portents for those who heed. And of His signs is this: He showeth you the lightning for a fear and for a hope, and sendeth down water from the sky, and thereby quickeneth the earth after her death.  Lo, herein indeed are portents for those who understand. And of His signs is this: the heavens and the earth stand fast by His command, and afterward, when He calleth you, lo, from the earth ye will emerge. Unto Him belongeth whosover is in the heavens and in the earth.  All are obedient unto Him.  (Qur'an: Surat Al-Rum, 20-26)

 

 

 

SIKHISM

Arose: c. 1500 CE Adherents: 20 million Scriptures: Adi Granth (Guru Granth Sahib) Related Faiths: Hinduism, Islam

Scripture Excerpts (translation from Punjabi):

There is one being, Truth by Name Primal Creator, Without fear Without enmity, Timeless in form, Unborn, Self-existent, By the grace of the Guru. Meditate: Truth before time, Truth throughout time, Truth here and now, Says Nanak, Truth is evermore.   Any merit from pilgrimage, austerity, mercy and charity, Is barely worth a sesame seed. Hearing, remembering and loving the Name Immerses us in the sacred fount within. Every virtue rests in you, I have none in me, Without virtue, devotion is impossible.  You are the World, the Word, the Creator, You are Truth, You are Beauty, You are Joy Eternal. What was the time, what was the hour, What was the date, what was the day, What was the season, what was the month, When creation was born? Had Pundits the answer, it would be written in the Puranas; Had Qazis the answer, it would be written in the Qur'an, No ascetic knows the date or day, no one knows the month or season. The Creator who designed this creation alone knows.  How can I speak of You? How can I praise You? How can I describe You?  How can I know You? Nanak says, many speak of You, each outdoing the other.  Great is the Sovereign, great is Its Name, all that happens is Its doing.  (Guru Granth Sahib, Japji 21)