 A footprint in stone, believed to be that of Guru Nanak. Chungtang, North Sikkim In his lifetime Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion travelled to distant places and one such place was Tibet. Guru Nanak is well respected by Tibetan Buddhists who consider him a saint; the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Buddhists in Tibet, has confirmed it in his discussions with some Sikh leaders that Tibetans revere Guru Nanak as a Buddhist saint under the name of Guru Gompka Maharaj.
According to the local legends of North Sikkim, some people approached Guru Ji with an appeal for help. The lake had remained frozen during most of the year and rendered it incapable as a source of water. Guru Nanak Dev ji is said to have touched the lake with his foot, and it has never frozen since. Guru Nanak's footprints, a robe and a water-carrying utensil are preserved in a nearby place called Lachen Gompha. Here the locals refer to Guru Ji as Rimpoche Nanak Guru who on his way to Tibet had rested there. ....Continued
During the late 1800's and the early part of 1900's, Daulat Rai, an Arya Samajist living in India, was so disturbed by the publication of books by some Hindu activists whose writings maligned the Sikh Gurus that he was forced to pick up the pen himself to author the book: “Sahib-e-Kamal” - (Par Excellent Master Guru Gobind Singh). In his book he reminded Punjabi and Hindus of the humiliation and degradation to which their ancestors were subjected under Mughal rule before the Khalsa liberated them. Quoting various historical sources, he wrote:
- Not only did Mughal invaders kill Hindus by the thousands, looted their properties and carried away men and women as slaves in the thousands, but also under some Muslim rulers Hindus were not allowed even the comforts of life like -- good clothes, good food, ride horses, wear turbans or keep good homes or valuables or even beautiful children or wives. They were allowed to have minimum of possessions for their mere survival. Often they were given two alternatives: either conversion to Islam or pay Jizya (The jizya was a so called 'protection tax' (ed. often said to be 60%) inflicted upon non-believers). .....More
- .... that Bhagat Sain whose Bani is included in the Guru Granth Sahib was an Indian saint who was influenced by the Bhagti Movement; He was barber at the court of King Raja Ram of Rewa and one of 12 main disciples of Bhagat Ramanand. He promoted Ram Naam (The name of God) and the abolishment of the caste system.
After Guru Ramdas had taken the gurgaddi he still continued doing lot of physical sewa. Once Baba Sri chand , son of Guru Nanak decided to meet Guru Ramdas. As soon as the word travelled to Ramdas ji, Guru Ramdas sent his followers to meet Sri Chand ji at the edge of the city and himself left his sewa to meet him.
When Baba Sri Chand saw Guru Ramdas he was shocked because with his yogic eyes he saw his father Guru Nanak in Guru Ramdas ji. He proclaimed you are the image of my father; you have the light of my father, but your beard is much longer than my father! why is your beard so long?
Guru Ramdas ji answered - my beard is so long so that I can wipe the feet of the saints like you and he actually bent over to rub over Sri Chand's feet with his beard. ....More
When Farid ji was just a few years old, his mother taught him his prayers. The boy asked what was gained by his prayers. His mother replied 'sugar'. Accordingly, she used to hide some sugar under his prayer-carpet, and when he had finished his prayers, she would draw the mat forth, and give the sugar to Farid as a reward for his devotion.
On one occasion, when his mother was absent, he prayed a great deal, and, it is said, a great supply of sugar - a miraculous gift from God - was found under his carpet. Some he ate himself and the rest he gave to his playfellows. He related the circumstance to his mother on her return. It was then his mother gave him the surname Shakar Ganj, meaning a "treasury of sugar".
There are 134 hymns of Sheikh Farid incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib. Many Sikh scholars ascribe them to Farid Shakarganj (1173 – 1265) of Pak Pattan, a disciple of the Sufi Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki. .....More
|
My Papa, the perfect Sikh of the Guru
|
| Once I had gone to a village in Maharashtra for some work, when I was pleasantly and tearfully astonished to witness the love for a Sikh. I had spent an hour or so with my contacts, when a young Marathi lady of the village .....read more
|
Summary Judgment at the Akal Takht
|
| The recent decision of the Akal Takht to ex-communicate Prof. Darshan Singh, a legendary exponent of Gurbani through kirtan and Katha. Is this judgment sound? Can the trial be deemed procedurally correct?..... → read more
|
A Sikh in Greece
|
| This we believe, is an inspiring story. Every time we read it, we get new emotions. I have read it once, twice, thrice, perhaps, even more times. This true story motivates the reader to be a true Sikh...... → read more
|
Sikh-Canadians Reach Out to Haiti
|
| Within 48 hours of the earthquake, "United Sikhs were in Haiti, where volunteers set up a set up a base camp and community kitchen in Port-au-Prince," said Ramandeep Kaur. A group from Toronto, including her father, Sarvinder Singh Pandher..... → read more
|
Recent Articles
|
Popular Articles
|
|
