Support Us
This site is a labor of love. We have created it to share the knowledge of Sikhi with the world.
If you would like to help, please consider buying beautiful museum quality collectible art from our Art Store, or making a donation using one of the forms below.
How your Donations help us:
Your donation helps us spread awareness of Sikhism to the world.
BRONZE: Your Bronze tier donations pay for building and maintaining this website.
SILVER: Silver Tier donations go towards creating content for our free Online School.
GOLD: Your Gold Tier donations will help us to build our own Video Production Studio and Editing Suite.
Donor who opt for monthly donations of $12/month or more will receive beautiful digital art by email as members of our INDIA ART CLUB. (See link in footer for more details).
Sikh boy in car, in a town called Phagwara, Punjab, India. (Photo © Jasper Johal)
Donations: Bronze Tier
Your Bronze Tier Donations help us to maintain this website, and to add new photography and well researched, authentic content to it. No donation is too small, and each donation is deeply appreciated. Thank you!
Explanation of Sikh terms in our Donation forms:
On the forms we decided it would be fun to add some Punjabi phrases referring to Sikh philosophy to the different levels of donations.
It is not necessary to know the meanings of these phrases before making a donation. But reading the translations provides a chance to learn a little bit more about the culture and values of Sikhs.
Matha Taykna:
When people enter a Gurdwara (Sikh temple) they first go and bow to the Granth Sahib (holy book of the Sikhs), followed by the placement of a small cash donation into a collection box that usually sits in front of the book. This entree ritual is called “Matha Taykna”. (ਮੱਥਾ ਟੇਕਨਾ - मथा टेकना)
Sikhi Daan:
“Daan” (ਦਾਨ - दान) is the Punjabi word for “giving”, while “Sikhi” (ਸਿੱਖੀ - सीखी) is the term used by Sikhs to refer to the teachings of their Gurus. So “Sikhi Daan” means donating to help spread the teachings of Sikhism.
Vivek Daan:
“Vivek” (ਵਿਵੇਕ - विवेक) is a Sanskrit term meaning “to discern” or “to know”. So “Vivek Daan” means giving the gift of “wisdom”, or “understanding.”
A child is fascinated by a Nihang Sikh (a nomadic warrior clan among the Sikhs). Photograph taken within the Akal Takht at the Golden Temple. (photo © Jasper Johal)
Donations: Silver Tier
The most important part of this site is our free Online School, through which we share the knowledge of Sikh history, philosophy and culture with the rest of the world. Your Silver Tier Donations help pay for the research and creation of lessons for our school. Thank you!
Naam Japo, Kirat Karo, Vand Chhako:
The holy book of Sikhs is a book of poetry, so it is not surprising that many of the teachings expressed within its pages are spoken in rhyming terms. These 3 rhyming phrases, usually spoken together, are called the 3 pillars of Sikhism.
“Naam Japo” (ਨਾਮ ਜਪੋ - नाम जपो) instructs us to meditate on the name of God. (Naam = name, Japo = repeat or chant).
”Kirat Karo” (ਕਿਰਤ ਕਰੋ - किरत करो) asks us to work honestly, and refrain from engaging in exploitation or deceitfulness. (Kirat = honest work, Karo = do, or engage in)
“Vand Chhako” (ਵੰਡ ਛਕੋ - वंद छको) means share with others the fruits of our labor, or live with generosity. (Vand = together, Chhako = consume).
Two Sikh girls dressed in traditional clothing at a langar (free meal service) in Kolkata, India. (photo © Jasper Johal)
Donations: Gold Tier
Our long term goal is to build our own Video Production Studio, with a dedicated Editing Suite, so we can create high quality video lessons for our Online School. We would love to have the resources to invite well known Sikh scholars and writers to share their wisdom with us, and to record them for posterity.
For those who have the means to support us on this level, your Gold Tier Donations will help us to build and run our studio. Thank you!
Sangat Seva:
Engaging in service to community is a major part of Sikh identity. “Sangat” (ਸੰਗਤ - संगत) means community or congregation. “Seva” (ਸੇਵਾ - सेवा) is the Punjabi word for service.
Mann Neeva, Matt Uchi:
This phrase “Mann Neeva, Matt Uchi” (ਮੱਨ ਨੀਵਾਂ ਮੱਤ ਉੱਚੀ - मन नीवां मत्त उची) means to stay humble in our mind, but to hold ourselves to a high moral standard. (Mann = mind, Neeva = low, Matt = Intellect, Uchi = high)
Sarbat Da Bhala:
This is the closing line of a Sikh prayer called Ardas which is recited every morning and evening. (ਸਰਬੱਤ ਦਾ ਭਲਾ - सरबत दा भला). It translates to “I pray for prosperity and wellness for everyone.” It expresses the Sikh ideal of striving for success and wellness of everyone around you, instead of thinking of only your own self. (Sarbat = all, Da = of, Bhala = wellness or prosperity).