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https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Chet&diff=37137
Chet
2007-07-26T09:05:22Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* Links */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Months}}<br />
{{IndicText}} <br />
[[Image:Chet.jpg|thumb|300px|right|*Painting Copyright 2003 © Devender Singh]]<br />
<br />
'''Chet''' is a first month in the [[Nanakshahi calendar]], which govern the activities within [[Sikhism]]. This month coincides with March - April of the Western/[[Georgian]]/[[Julian]] Calendar and is 31 days long.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Important Events during this month''':<br />
<br />
<u> March </u>:<br />
<br />
14 = 1 [[Chet]] Nanakshahi New Year<br />
<br />
14 Gur Gadi [[Guru Har Rai]] Ji(??11/12) /1 Chet<br />
<br />
15 Hola Mohalla<br />
<br />
19 Joti Jot [[Guru Hargobind]] Ji 6 Chet<br />
<br />
26 Hola Mohalla* 2005 15 Mar/2006 4 Mar/2007 22 Mar/2008<br />
<br />
<u> April </u>:<br />
<br />
9 Birthday [[Sahibzada Jujhar Singh]] Ji / 27 Chet<br />
<br />
14 = 1 [[Vaisakh]] = [[Vaisakhi]] - Birth of Khalsa<br />
<br />
<br />
Chet is a first month in the [[Sikh Calendar]]. This month of Chet is a Spring month which coincides with March/April of the Western/Georgian Calendar. [[Hola Mahalla]], which is a Sikh festival takes place on the first of the lunar month of Chet which usually falls in March. The word Hola Mahala stands for "mock fight". An organized procession in the form of an army column accompanied by war-drums and standard-bearers and proceeding to a given spot or moving in state from one [[gurdwara]] to another.<br />
<br />
Also during this month, the sixth Guru, [[Guru Hargobind]] Ji took leave for his higher abode and passed the Guruship to [[Guru Har Rai]]<br />
<br><br><br />
<br />
==The Month of Chet ==<br />
from [[SGGS]] page 133<br />
<br />
<font size=4><br />
ਚੇਤਿ ਗੋਵਿੰਦ ਅਰਾਧੀਝ ਹੋਵੈ ਅਨੰਦ ਘਣਾ ॥ <br><br />
ਸੰਤ ਜਨਾ ਮਿਲਿ ਪਾਈਝ ਰਸਨਾ ਨਾਮ ਭਣਾ ॥ <br><br />
ਜਿਨਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਪਰਭ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਝ ਤਿਸਹਿ ਗਣਾ ॥ <br><br />
ਇਕ ਖਿਨ ਤਿਸ ਬਿਨ ਜੀਵਣਾ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਨਮ ਜਣਾ ॥ <br><br />
ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਮਹੀਅਲਿ ਪੂਰਿਆ ਰਵਿਆ ਵਿਚਿ ਵਣਾ ॥ <br><br />
ਸੋ ਪਰਭ ਚਿਤਿ ਨ ਆਵਈ ਕਿਤੜਾ ਦਖ ਗਣਾ ॥ <br><br />
ਜਿਨੀ ਰਾਵਿਆ ਸੋ ਪਰਭੂ ਤਿੰਨਾ ਭਾਗ ਮਣਾ ॥ <br><br />
ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨ ਕੰਉ ਮਨ ਲੋਚਦਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਪਿਆਸ ਮਨਾ ॥ <br><br />
ਚੇਤਿ ਮਿਲਾਝ ਸੋ ਪਰਭੂ ਤਿਸ ਕੈ ਪਾਇ ਲਗਾ <font size=2>॥2॥<br />
([[SGGS page 133]]) <br><br />
<br />
<br />
chaeth govi(n)dh araadhheeai hovai ana(n)dh ghanaa || <br><br />
sa(n)th janaa mil paaeeai rasanaa naam bhanaa || <br><br />
jin paaeiaa prabh aapanaa aaeae thisehi ganaa || <br><br />
eik khin this bin jeevanaa birathhaa janam janaa || <br><br />
jal thhal meheeal pooriaa raviaa vich vanaa || <br><br />
so prabh chith n aavee kitharraa dhukh ganaa || <br><br />
jinee raaviaa so prabhoo thi(n)naa bhaag manaa || <br><br />
har dharasan ka(n)o man lochadhaa naanak piaas manaa || <br><br />
chaeth milaaeae so prabhoo this kai paae lagaa ||2|| <br><br />
<br />
<br />
In the month of Chayt, by meditating on the Lord of the Universe, a deep and profound joy arises. <br><br />
Meeting with the humble Saints, the Lord is found, as we chant His Name with our tongues. <br><br />
Those who have found God-blessed is their coming into this world.<br><br />
Those who live without Him, for even an instant-their lives are rendered useless.<br><br />
The Lord is totally pervading the water, the land, and all space. He is contained in the forests as well.<br><br />
Those who do not remember God-how much pain must they suffer!<br><br />
Those who dwell upon their God have great good fortune.<br><br />
My mind yearns for the Blessed Vision of the Lord's Darshan. O Nanak, my mind is so thirsty!<br><br />
I touch the feet of one who unites me with God in the month of Chayt. ||2||<br><br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
<br />
* [http://www.sikhspirit.com/khalsa/news6.htm www.sikhspirit.com]<br />
* [http://www.sikhitothemax.com/Page.asp?SourceID=G&PageNo=&ShabadID=358&Format=2 www.sikhitothemax.com SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=133&english=t&id=5450#l5450 www.srigranth.org SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.sikhcoalition.org/SikhismCalendar.asp www.sikhcoalition.org]<br />
<br />
<br />
{{SikhCalendar}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Calendar]]<br />
<br />
<br />
Happy Sikh New Year<br />
<br />
New Year?? Yes, it was 1st of Chet on Sunday. March 14, 1999. It is the beginning of Nanakshahi 531. Now Sikhs have our own calendar that is tied to our history.<br />
<br />
The dates for Gurpurab and other days of importance to Sikhs are presently determined according to an outdated calendar based on old Hindu system of measurements. Recently Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) took a bold step to standardize all dates for the Sikh calendar. This article gives details on how this was achieved through complex calculations and years of study by the author.<br />
<br />
It is expected that the new standardized Sikh Calendar will help Sikhs in making arrangements for celebrating or commemorating upcoming events that related to Sikh history. This should lead to a better organization as well as more unified approach to community events of importance. S. Pal Singh Purewal, the author of this article, played a major role in performing calculations and coming up with this Sikh Calendar.<br />
<br />
Full Calendar<br />
NANAKSHAHI SAMAT by Pal Singh Purewal<br />
<br />
The Problem<br />
<br />
Nanakshahi Samat is linked with the Bikrami Samat. Its tithis (sudist vadis) and sangrands are exactly the same as those of the Bikrami Samat. Therefore, it suffers from all the shortcomings of that Samat. The problems with the Bikrami Samat, and with other samats linked to it are as follows:<br />
<br />
1. The length of the solar year of the Bikrami Samat does not conform to the tropical year length. The Bikrami year is sidereal year of 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes and 10 seconds. The tropical year on which the Common Era calendar is based, has its length as 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds. If the months of any given Era are to recur consistently in the same seasons, then the year length has to be that of the tropical year.<br />
<br />
This difference of 20 minutes or so in the two types of years is because of the precession of equinoxes, the yearly retrograde motion of the first point of Aries of the ecliptic. Over a period of time, this difference builds up, and shows in those calendars, which are not based on the tropical year. The seasons in relation to the months begin shifting. This is the reason why Vaisakhi has shifted by 8-9 days from 1469 CE to the present times. The Vaisakhi dates for certain epochs are as follows :<br />
<br />
CE Year Vaisakhi Date<br />
1000 22nd March<br />
1469 27th March<br />
1699 29th March<br />
1752 29th March<br />
1753 9th April (due to change from Julian to Gregorian Calendar)<br />
1799 10th April<br />
1899 12th April<br />
1999 14th April<br />
2100 15th April<br />
<br />
If Nanakshahi calendar is not de-linked from the Bikrami calendar, this shift will continue, and in 13,000 years Vaisakhi would occur in the middle of October. The seasons will be opposite to those, which are mentioned in the Barah Maha Majh, and Tukhari Banis.<br />
<br />
2. The days in the months are not fixed. The number can vary from 31-32 days for the summer months and from 29-30 days for winter months. The rules for determination of Sankrantis, beginning of the months, is complicated and public have to rely on Jantri publishers for such a simple thing as the beginning of a month.<br />
<br />
3. The lunar portion of the calendar, according to which most of the religious festivals are fixed, has its share of peculiarities. Since it is based on 12 months of the lunar cycle (full moon to full moon or new moon to new moon), its year length is about 11 days shorter than that of the solar year. Therefore, its year begins 11 days earlier in the following year in relation to the solar year. This is why the Gurpurb dates shift by about 11 days from one year to the other. This is not the end. To keep the lunar year in step with the solar year, every two or three years an extra month is added to the lunar year. This month is called malmas or intercalary month. That lunar year contains 384 or so days. This makes the Gurpurb dates to occur by about 18 or 19 days later when such a month is introduced. The month of Jeth that will occur in 1999 CE will be intercalated, i.e., there would be two months of Jeth, one Sudha and the other Mal. In the malmas or the extra month religious festivals are not celebrated. This is quite a complicated set up, and is also contrary to the philosophy of Gurbani according to which no month in itself is good or bad.<br />
<br />
The festivals and Gurpurbs that are celebrated according to the lunar calendar are called movable, and those that are celebrated according to the solar calendar are called fixed. The movable festivals are called as such, because their dates are not fixed in relation to the solar year. From year to year they occur on different dates of the solar year, though their lunar date is the same every year. Gurpurbs of the ten Patshahis are all movable. Vaisakhi and Maghi are fixed festivals. An example of movable celebration is the Parkash Gurpurb of Guru Gobind Singh. It is celebrated on the 7th day of the bright half of the lunar month of Poh (Sudi 7). This lunar date occurs on the following dates of the Common Era and Bikrami Era (solar) during the following eleven years:<br />
CE Date Bikrami Date CE Date Bikrami Date<br />
24th Dec., 1990 10th Poh, 2047 12th Jan., 1992 28th Poh, 2048<br />
31st Dec., 1992 17th Poh, 2049 19th Jan., 1994 6th Magh, 2050<br />
7th Jan., 1995 24th Poh, 2051 28th Dec., 1995 13th Poh, 2052<br />
15th Jan., 1997 3rd Magh, 2053 5th Jan., 1998 22nd Poh, 2054<br />
25th Dec., 1998 11th Poh, 2055 14th Jan., 2000 1st Magh, 2056<br />
<br />
This Gurpurb did not occur in the CE years 1991, 1993 and 1996. It will not occur in the year 1999 (the year of 300th anniversary of the creation of the Khalsa). It occurred twice in 1992 and 1995; and it will occur twice in 1998. According to the Bikrami calendar (solar) the date of Parkash of Guru Ji is 23rd Poh, 1723 BK. During the above period Gurpurb does not occur on that date. Rather, it occurs in the month of Magh in three years.<br />
<br />
Suggested Reform<br />
<br />
A committee, under the aegis of the Institute of Sikh Studies Chandigarh, was formed to study this problem. This committee held meetings at Chandigarh and formulated proposals. These were formally accepted, in principle, in a larger meeting in which about 40 eminent scholars, from universities and other institutions, participated. The main proposals given below were submitted to the S.G.P.C.:<br />
<br />
a) Length of the solar year in the Nanakshahi Samat should conform to the more accurate tropical year, instead of the sidereal year, currently being followed.<br />
<br />
b) Begin the year from the month of Chet - as in the Baramahas.<br />
<br />
c) Fix the number of days in the months as follows:<br />
<br />
1. Chet 31<br />
2. Vaisakh 31<br />
3. Jeth 31<br />
4. Harh 31<br />
5. Savan 31<br />
6. Bhadon 30<br />
7. Asu 30<br />
8. Katik 30<br />
9. Maghar 30<br />
10. Poh 30<br />
11. Magh 30<br />
12. Phagun 30/31<br />
<br />
d) Fix the beginning of the months in relation to the Common Era calendar as follows:<br />
<br />
Month Begins On Month Begins On<br />
Chet 14th March Vaisakh 14th April<br />
Jeth 15th May Harh 15th June<br />
Sawan 16th July Bhadon 16th August<br />
Asu 15th September Katik 15th October<br />
Maghar 14th November Poh 14th December<br />
Magh 13th January Phagun 12th February<br />
<br />
<br />
With the above scheme, any given date of any month of the Nanakshahi calendar will always occur on the same date of the Common Era calendar, except in the month of Phagun in a leap year when the corresponding dates of Phagun from March 1 to March 13 will differ by 1 day from those of the same month in non- leap years. This is a simple scheme, easier to remember; and the calendar is good forever so that a particular month will have the same season always.<br />
<br />
e) Celebrate the Gurpurbs according to the solar dates, and not according to the sudis and vadis of the lunar calendar. Vaisakhi, Maghi, and shaheedi purbs of Sahibzadas are already being celebrated according to the solar dates. If all Gurpurbs were celebrated according to the solar dates, then no complicated calculations for fixing the dates would be required. For example, the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji is:<br />
<br />
Poh Sudi 7, 1723 Bikrami (Lunar Calendar)<br />
23rd Poh, 1723 Bikrami (Solar Calendar)<br />
22nd December, 1666 CE (Common Era)<br />
<br />
If the Gurpurb is celebrated according to the solar date of Guru Ji's birth on 23rd Poh instead of Poh Sudi 7, then this date will always occur on 5th January each year according to the Nanakshahi Calendar, with proposed reforms.<br />
<br />
f) The list of Gurpurbs according to the solar dates is as follows :<br />
<br />
Guru Birthdate Gurgaddi Date Jyoti Jot Date<br />
Nanak Dev 1 Vaisakh (14 April) from Birth 8 Asu (22 Sept.)<br />
Angad Dev 5 Vaisakh (18 April) 4 Asu ( 18 Sep.) 3 Vaisakh (16 April)<br />
Amar Das 9 Jeth (23 May) 3 Vaisakh (16 Apr.) 2 Asu (16 Sep.)<br />
Ram Das 25 Asu (9 Oct.) 2 Asu (16 Sep.) 2 Asu (16 Sep.)<br />
Arjun Dev 19 Vaisakh (2 May) 2 Asu (16 Sep.) 2 Harh (16 June)<br />
Hargobind 21 Harh (5 July) 28 Jeth (11 June) 6 Chet (19 March)<br />
Har Rai 19 Magh (31 Jan.) 29 Phagun (12/11Mar) 6 Katik(20 Oct.)<br />
Har Krishan 8 Savan (23 July) 6 Katik (20 Oct.) 3 Vaisakh(16 April)<br />
Teg Bahadur 5 Vaisakh (18 April) 3 Vaisakh (16 Apr.) 11 Maghar(24Nov.)<br />
Gobind Singh 23 Poh (5 Jan) 11 Maghar (24 Nov) 7 Katik (21 Oct.)<br />
<br />
<br />
Completion of Granth Sahib Ji: 1 Bhadon (16 August)<br />
First Parkash Granth Sahib Ji: 17 Bhadon (1 September)<br />
Gurgaddi Guru Granth Sahib Ji: 6 Katik (20 October)<br />
Creation of the Khalsa: 1 Vaisakh (14 April)<br />
Hola Mohalla (New Year Day): 1 Chet (14 March)<br />
<br />
It must be noted that the dates given above in the Nanakshahi calendar are the original dates of the solar Bikrami year. The corresponding dates of the Common Era are those of the Gregorian Calendar that is now in use in most countries of the world along with local calendars. The conversion to the Common Era dates has been done not according to the Bikrami Calendar, but according to the proposed modified Nanakshahi Samat.<br />
<br />
The Bikrami calendar has an error of 1 day in about 71 years. The proposed Nanakshahi calendar will reduce this error to one day in about 3,300 years, but in the case of Nanakshahi calendar this error will automatically be corrected, whenever the correction to the Common Era calendar is made. The new Nanakshahi calendar is simple, rational, more accurate than the Bikrami calendar, and conforms to Gurbani. Sankrantis will occur on the same dates in the CE year, every year. All Gurpurbs will also occur on the same dates every year, with one exception noted above. There will not be any need to consult Jantri publishers to find out when a Gurpurb is to occur.<br />
<br />
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee made announcement in October 1997, that S.G.P.C. would adopt this calendar and implement it in the historic year of 1999 CE, when Khalsa Panth celebrates its tercentenary.</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Phagun&diff=37136
Phagun
2007-07-26T09:04:43Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* Links */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Months}}<br />
[[Image:Phagun.jpg|right|300px]]<br />
<br />
'''Phagun''' is the twelfth and final month in the [[Nanakshahi calendar]], which govern the activities within [[Sikhism]]. This month coincides with [[February]] - [[March]] of the Western/[[Georgian]]/[[Julian]] Calendar and is 30 days long except in leap years when its 31 days long.<br />
<br />
'''Important Events during this month''':<br />
<br />
<u>February</u><br />
<br />
12 = 1 Phagun<br />
<br />
21 Saka Nankana Sahib /10 Phagun<br />
<br />
21 Jaito Morcha<br />
<br />
<u>March</u><br />
<br />
14 = 1 [[Chet]] '''Nanakshahi New Year'''<br />
<br />
<br />
== SGGS: This Month ==<br />
<br />
This is what the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] says about this month:<br />
<br />
{{quotation|<big>ਫਲਗਣਿ ਅਨੰਦ ਉਪਾਰਜਨਾ ਹਰਿ ਸਜਣ ਪਰਗਟੇ ਆਇ ॥<br />
ਸੰਤ ਸਹਾਈ ਰਾਮ ਕੇ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਦੀਆ ਮਿਲਾਇ ॥<br />
ਸੇਜ ਸਹਾਵੀ ਸਰਬ ਸਖ ਹਣਿ ਦਖਾ ਨਾਹੀ ਜਾਇ ॥<br />
ਇਛ ਪਨੀ ਵਡਭਾਗਣੀ ਵਰ ਪਾਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ ॥<br />
ਮਿਲਿ ਸਹੀਆ ਮੰਗਲ ਗਾਵਹੀ ਗੀਤ ਗੋਵਿੰਦ ਅਲਾਇ ॥<br />
ਹਰਿ ਜੇਹਾ ਅਵਰ ਨ ਦਿਸਈ ਕੋਈ ਦੂਜਾ ਲਵੈ ਨ ਲਾਇ ॥<br />
ਹਲਤ ਪਲਤ ਸਵਾਰਿਓਨ ਨਿਹਚਲ ਦਿਤੀਅਨ ਜਾਇ ॥<br />
ਸੰਸਾਰ ਸਾਗਰ ਤੇ ਰਖਿਅਨ ਬਹੜਿ ਨ ਜਨਮੈ ਧਾਇ ॥<br />
ਜਿਹਵਾ ਝਕ ਅਨੇਕ ਗਣ ਤਰੇ ਨਾਨਕ ਚਰਣੀ ਪਾਇ ॥<br />
ਫਲਗਣਿ ਨਿਤ ਸਲਾਹੀਝ ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਤਿਲ ਨ ਤਮਾਇ ॥13॥</big><br><br><br />
<br />
falagun ana(n)dh oupaarajanaa har sajan pragattae aae ॥<br />
sa(n)th sehaaee raam kae kar kirapaa dheeaa milaae ॥<br />
saej suhaavee sarab sukh hun dhukhaa naahee jaae ॥<br />
eishh punee vaddabhaaganee var paaeiaa har raae ॥<br />
mil seheeaa ma(n)gal gaavehee geeth govi(n)dh alaae ॥<br />
har jaehaa avar n dhisee koee dhoojaa lavai n laae ॥<br />
halath palath savaarioun nihachal dhitheean jaae ॥<br />
sa(n)saar saagar thae rakhian bahurr n janamai dhhaae ॥<br />
jihavaa eaek anaek gun tharae naanak charanee paae ॥<br />
falagun nith salaaheeai jis no thil n thamaae ॥13॥<br><br><br />
<br />
In the month of Phalgun, bliss comes to those, unto whom the Lord, the Friend, has been revealed. The Saints, the Lord’s helpers, in their mercy, have united me with Him. My bed is beautiful, and I have all comforts. I feel no sadness at all. My desires have been fulfilled-by great good fortune, I have obtained the Sovereign Lord as my Husband. Join with me, my sisters, and sing the songs of rejoicing and the Hymns of the Lord of the Universe. There is no other like the Lord-there is no equal to Him. He embellishes this world and the world hereafter, and He gives us our permanent home there. He rescues us from the world-ocean; never again do we have to run the cycle of reincarnation. I have only one tongue, but Your Glorious Virtues are beyond counting. Nanak is saved, falling at Your Feet. In Phalgun, praise Him continually; He has not even an iota of greed. ((13))<br />
|[[SGGS page 136]]}}<br />
<br />
The above based on article at: [http://immortallight.blogspot.com/ immortallight.blogspot.com] by S.K.<br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
<br />
* [http://www.sikhspirit.com/khalsa/news5.htm www.sikhspirit.com]<br />
* [http://www.sikhitothemax.com/Page.asp?SourceID=G&PageNo=&ShabadID=358&Format=2 www.sikhitothemax.com SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=133&english=t&id=5450#l5450 www.srigranth.org SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.sikhcoalition.org/SikhismCalendar.asp www.sikhcoalition.org]<br />
<br />
{{SikhCalendar}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Glossary of Sikh Terms]]</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Magh&diff=37135
Magh
2007-07-26T09:04:14Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* Links */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Months}}<br />
{{IndicText}}<br />
[[Image:Bedava.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Guru Gobind Singh destroys the "Bedava" of the 40 Sikhs]]<br />
<br />
'''Magh''' is a eleventh month in the [[Nanakshahi calendar]] and governs the activities of the [[Sikhs]] during the Winter period and dictates events within [[Sikhism]]. This month coincides with January - February of the Western/[[Georgian]]/[[Julian]] Calendar and is 30 days long. The month of Marg starts on the 13 of [[January]] and ends on the 11 of [[February]]. <br />
<br />
The Guru tells us that during this month, the Sikh's cleansing bath should be the dust of saintly congregation ([[Sadh Sangat]]) – be humble; be polite. One should meditate and involve others also; By doing this the filth of bad [[karma]]s is removed together with ones ego. Desires and greed will depart when one walks on the path of Truth. During the month be kind to all beings; this is even more important than pilgrimage to sacred shrines and giving to charity; Always remember the Lord within your heart; the Lord will be merciful and Nanak is a sacrifice to them who follow this advice.<br />
<br />
<br />
{|style="width:90%; font-size: 90%; background:#efefef; " border="1" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="0"<br />
|- style="background-color:#FFE4E1; font-size: 90%; font-weight:bold;"<br />
!colspan=2|Important Events during this month<br />
|-<br />
|colspan=2|<u> January </u>:<br />
|-<br />
|13 ||New month begins -1 [[Magh]]<br />
|-<br />
||18 ||-Birthday [[Bhai Himmat Singh]] Ji (1661),(Panj Pyare) /6 Magh<br />
|-<br />
|26 ||-Birthday [[Baba Deep Singh]] Ji (1682) /14 Magh<br />
|-<br />
|31 ||-Birthday [[Guru Har Rai]] Ji (1630) /19 Magh <br />
|- <br />
|colspan=2|<u> February </u>:<br />
|-<br />
|11 ||-Birthday [[Sahibzada Ajit Singh]] Ji (1687) /30 Magh <br />
|-<br />
|12 ||New month begins - 1 [[Phagun]]<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
== SGGS: This Month ==<br />
<br />
This is what the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] says about this month:<br />
<br />
{{quotation|ਮਾਘਿ ਮਜਨ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਾਧੂਆ ਧੂੜੀ ਕਰਿ ਇਸਨਾਨ ॥<br />
ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮ ਧਿਆਇ ਸਣਿ ਸਭਨਾ ਨੋ ਕਰਿ ਦਾਨ ॥<br />
ਜਨਮ ਕਰਮ ਮਲ ਉਤਰੈ ਮਨ ਤੇ ਜਾਇ ਗਮਾਨ ॥<br />
ਕਾਮਿ ਕਰੋਧਿ ਨ ਮੋਹੀਝ ਬਿਨਸੈ ਲੋਭ ਸਆਨ ॥<br />
ਸਚੈ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਚਲਦਿਆ ਉਸਤਤਿ ਕਰੇ ਜਹਾਨ ॥<br />
ਅਠਸਠਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਸਗਲ ਪੰਨ ਜੀਅ ਦਇਆ ਪਰਵਾਨ ॥<br />
ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਦੇਵੈ ਦਇਆ ਕਰਿ ਸੋਈ ਪਰਖ ਸਜਾਨ ॥<br />
ਜਿਨਾ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਪਰਭ ਆਪਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਨ ਕਰਬਾਨ ॥<br />
ਮਾਘਿ ਸਚੇ ਸੇ ਕਾਂਢੀਅਹਿ ਜਿਨ ਪੂਰਾ ਗਰ ਮਿਹਰਵਾਨ ॥12॥<br><br><br />
<br />
maagh majan sa(n)g saadhhooaa dhhoorree kar eisanaan ॥<br />
har kaa naam dhhiaae sun sabhanaa no kar dhaan ॥<br />
janam karam mal outharai man thae jaae gumaan ॥<br />
kaam karodhh n moheeai binasai lobh suaan ॥<br />
sachai maarag chaladhiaa ousathath karae jehaan ॥<br />
at(h)asat(h) theerathh sagal pu(n)n jeea dhaeiaa paravaan ॥<br />
jis no dhaevai dhaeiaa kar soee purakh sujaan ॥<br />
jinaa miliaa prabh aapanaa naanak thin kurabaan ॥<br />
maagh suchae sae kaa(n)dteeahi jin pooraa gur miharavaan ॥12॥<br><br><br />
<br />
In the month of Maagh, let your cleansing bath be the dust of the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy.<br />
Meditate and listen to the Name of the Lord, and give it to everyone.<br />
In this way, the filth of lifetimes of karma shall be removed, and egotistical pride shall vanish from your mind.<br />
Sexual desire and anger shall not seduce you, and the dog of greed shall depart.<br />
Those who walk on the Path of Truth shall be praised throughout the world.<br />
Be kind to all beings-this is more meritorious than bathing at the sixty-eight sacred shrines of pilgrimage and the giving of charity.<br />
That person, upon whom the Lord bestows His Mercy, is a wise person.<br />
Nanak is a sacrifice to those who have merged with God.<br />
In Maagh, they alone are known as true, unto whom the Perfect Guru is Merciful. ((12))<br />
|[[SGGS page 135]]}}<br />
<br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
<br />
* [http://www.sikhspirit.com/khalsa/news4.htm www.sikhspirit.com]<br />
* [http://www.sikhitothemax.com/Page.asp?SourceID=G&PageNo=&ShabadID=358&Format=2 www.sikhitothemax.com SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=133&english=t&id=5450#l5450 www.srigranth.org SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.sikhcoalition.org/SikhismCalendar.asp www.sikhcoalition.org]<br />
<br />
*January:<br />
{{JanuaryCalendar}}<br />
<br />
*February<br />
{{FebruaryCalendar}}<br />
<br />
<br />
{{SikhCalendar}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Glossary of Sikh Terms]]</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Poh&diff=37134
Poh
2007-07-26T09:03:36Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* Links */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Months}}<br />
{{IndicText}} <br />
<br />
Maghar is a ninth month in the [[Nanakshahi calendar]], which govern the activities within [[Sikhism]]. This month coincides with November - December of the Western/[[Georgian]]/[[Julian]] Calendar and is 30 days long.<br />
<br />
'''Important Events during this month''':<br />
<br />
<u>December </u>:<br />
<br />
14 = 1 Poh<br />
<br />
21 Shaheedi [[Sahibzada Ajit Singh]], [[Sahibzada Jujhar Singh]] , and other Shaheeds of Chamkaur Sahib / 8 Poh<br />
<br />
26 Shaheedi [[Sahibzada Zorawar Singh]], [[Sahibzada Fateh Singh]], and [[Mata Gujri]] Ji / 13 Poh<br />
<br />
<u>January</u><br />
<br />
5 Birth [[Guru Gobind Singh]] Ji /23 Poh<br />
<br />
13 = 1 [[Magh]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
== SGGS: This Month ==<br />
<br />
This is what the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] says about this month:<br />
<br />
{{quotation|ਪੋਖਿ ਤਖਾਰ ਨ ਵਿਆਪਈ ਕੰਠਿ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਹ ॥<br />
ਮਨ ਬੇਧਿਆ ਚਰਨਾਰਬਿੰਦ ਦਰਸਨਿ ਲਗੜਾ ਸਾਹ ॥<br />
ਓਟ ਗੋਵਿੰਦ ਗੋਪਾਲ ਰਾਇ ਸੇਵਾ ਸਆਮੀ ਲਾਹ ॥<br />
ਬਿਖਿਆ ਪੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਕਈ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਗਣ ਗਾਹ ॥<br />
ਜਹ ਤੇ ਉਪਜੀ ਤਹ ਮਿਲੀ ਸਚੀ ਪਰੀਤਿ ਸਮਾਹ ॥<br />
ਕਰ ਗਹਿ ਲੀਨੀ ਪਾਰਬਰਹਮਿ ਬਹੜਿ ਨ ਵਿਛੜੀਆਹ ॥<br />
ਬਾਰਿ ਜਾਉ ਲਖ ਬੇਰੀਆ ਹਰਿ ਸਜਣ ਅਗਮ ਅਗਾਹ ॥<br />
ਸਰਮ ਪਈ ਨਾਰਾਇਣੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਰਿ ਪਈਆਹ ॥<br />
ਪੋਖ ਸੋਹੰਦਾ ਸਰਬ ਸਖ ਜਿਸ ਬਖਸੇ ਵੇਪਰਵਾਹ ॥11॥<br><br><br />
<br />
pokh thukhaar n viaapee ka(n)t(h) miliaa har naahu ॥<br />
man baedhhiaa charanaarabi(n)dh dharasan lagarraa saahu ॥<br />
outt govi(n)dh gopaal raae saevaa suaamee laahu ॥<br />
bikhiaa pohi n sakee mil saadhhoo gun gaahu ॥<br />
jeh thae oupajee theh milee sachee preeth samaahu ॥<br />
kar gehi leenee paarabreham bahurr n vishhurreeaahu ॥<br />
baar jaao lakh baereeaa har sajan agam agaahu ॥<br />
saram pee naaraaeinai naanak dhar peeaahu ॥<br />
pokh suoha(n)dhaa sarab sukh jis bakhasae vaeparavaahu ॥11॥<br><br><br />
<br />
In the month of Poh, the cold does not touch those, whom the Husband Lord hugs close in His Embrace.<br />
Their minds are transfixed by His Lotus Feet. They are attached to the Blessed Vision of the Lord's Darshan.<br />
Seek the Protection of the Lord of the Universe; His service is truly profitable.<br />
Corruption shall not touch you, when you join the Holy Saints and sing the Lord's Praises.<br />
From where it originated, there the soul is blended again. It is absorbed in the Love of the True Lord.<br />
When the Supreme Lord God grasps someone's hand, he shall never again suffer separation from Him.<br />
I am a sacrifice, 100,000 times, to the Lord, my Friend, the Unapproachable and Unfathomable.<br />
Please preserve my honor, Lord; Nanak begs at Your Door.<br />
Poh is beautiful, and all comforts come to that one, whom the Carefree Lord has forgiven. ((11))<br />
|[[SGGS page 135]]}}<br />
<br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
<br />
* [http://www.sikhspirit.com/khalsa/news3.htm www.sikhspirit.com]<br />
* [http://www.sikhitothemax.com/Page.asp?SourceID=G&PageNo=&ShabadID=358&Format=2 www.sikhitothemax.com SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=133&english=t&id=5450#l5450 www.srigranth.org SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.sikhcoalition.org/SikhismCalendar.asp www.sikhcoalition.org]<br />
<br />
<br />
{{SikhCalendar}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Glossary of Sikh Terms]]</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Magh&diff=37133
Magh
2007-07-26T09:00:39Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* Links */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Months}}<br />
{{IndicText}}<br />
[[Image:Bedava.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Guru Gobind Singh destroys the "Bedava" of the 40 Sikhs]]<br />
<br />
'''Magh''' is a eleventh month in the [[Nanakshahi calendar]] and governs the activities of the [[Sikhs]] during the Winter period and dictates events within [[Sikhism]]. This month coincides with January - February of the Western/[[Georgian]]/[[Julian]] Calendar and is 30 days long. The month of Marg starts on the 13 of [[January]] and ends on the 11 of [[February]]. <br />
<br />
The Guru tells us that during this month, the Sikh's cleansing bath should be the dust of saintly congregation ([[Sadh Sangat]]) – be humble; be polite. One should meditate and involve others also; By doing this the filth of bad [[karma]]s is removed together with ones ego. Desires and greed will depart when one walks on the path of Truth. During the month be kind to all beings; this is even more important than pilgrimage to sacred shrines and giving to charity; Always remember the Lord within your heart; the Lord will be merciful and Nanak is a sacrifice to them who follow this advice.<br />
<br />
<br />
{|style="width:90%; font-size: 90%; background:#efefef; " border="1" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="0"<br />
|- style="background-color:#FFE4E1; font-size: 90%; font-weight:bold;"<br />
!colspan=2|Important Events during this month<br />
|-<br />
|colspan=2|<u> January </u>:<br />
|-<br />
|13 ||New month begins -1 [[Magh]]<br />
|-<br />
||18 ||-Birthday [[Bhai Himmat Singh]] Ji (1661),(Panj Pyare) /6 Magh<br />
|-<br />
|26 ||-Birthday [[Baba Deep Singh]] Ji (1682) /14 Magh<br />
|-<br />
|31 ||-Birthday [[Guru Har Rai]] Ji (1630) /19 Magh <br />
|- <br />
|colspan=2|<u> February </u>:<br />
|-<br />
|11 ||-Birthday [[Sahibzada Ajit Singh]] Ji (1687) /30 Magh <br />
|-<br />
|12 ||New month begins - 1 [[Phagun]]<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<br />
== SGGS: This Month ==<br />
<br />
This is what the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] says about this month:<br />
<br />
{{quotation|ਮਾਘਿ ਮਜਨ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਾਧੂਆ ਧੂੜੀ ਕਰਿ ਇਸਨਾਨ ॥<br />
ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮ ਧਿਆਇ ਸਣਿ ਸਭਨਾ ਨੋ ਕਰਿ ਦਾਨ ॥<br />
ਜਨਮ ਕਰਮ ਮਲ ਉਤਰੈ ਮਨ ਤੇ ਜਾਇ ਗਮਾਨ ॥<br />
ਕਾਮਿ ਕਰੋਧਿ ਨ ਮੋਹੀਝ ਬਿਨਸੈ ਲੋਭ ਸਆਨ ॥<br />
ਸਚੈ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਚਲਦਿਆ ਉਸਤਤਿ ਕਰੇ ਜਹਾਨ ॥<br />
ਅਠਸਠਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਸਗਲ ਪੰਨ ਜੀਅ ਦਇਆ ਪਰਵਾਨ ॥<br />
ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਦੇਵੈ ਦਇਆ ਕਰਿ ਸੋਈ ਪਰਖ ਸਜਾਨ ॥<br />
ਜਿਨਾ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਪਰਭ ਆਪਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਨ ਕਰਬਾਨ ॥<br />
ਮਾਘਿ ਸਚੇ ਸੇ ਕਾਂਢੀਅਹਿ ਜਿਨ ਪੂਰਾ ਗਰ ਮਿਹਰਵਾਨ ॥12॥<br><br><br />
<br />
maagh majan sa(n)g saadhhooaa dhhoorree kar eisanaan ॥<br />
har kaa naam dhhiaae sun sabhanaa no kar dhaan ॥<br />
janam karam mal outharai man thae jaae gumaan ॥<br />
kaam karodhh n moheeai binasai lobh suaan ॥<br />
sachai maarag chaladhiaa ousathath karae jehaan ॥<br />
at(h)asat(h) theerathh sagal pu(n)n jeea dhaeiaa paravaan ॥<br />
jis no dhaevai dhaeiaa kar soee purakh sujaan ॥<br />
jinaa miliaa prabh aapanaa naanak thin kurabaan ॥<br />
maagh suchae sae kaa(n)dteeahi jin pooraa gur miharavaan ॥12॥<br><br><br />
<br />
In the month of Maagh, let your cleansing bath be the dust of the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy.<br />
Meditate and listen to the Name of the Lord, and give it to everyone.<br />
In this way, the filth of lifetimes of karma shall be removed, and egotistical pride shall vanish from your mind.<br />
Sexual desire and anger shall not seduce you, and the dog of greed shall depart.<br />
Those who walk on the Path of Truth shall be praised throughout the world.<br />
Be kind to all beings-this is more meritorious than bathing at the sixty-eight sacred shrines of pilgrimage and the giving of charity.<br />
That person, upon whom the Lord bestows His Mercy, is a wise person.<br />
Nanak is a sacrifice to those who have merged with God.<br />
In Maagh, they alone are known as true, unto whom the Perfect Guru is Merciful. ((12))<br />
|[[SGGS page 135]]}}<br />
<br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
<br />
* [http://www.sikhspirit.com/khalsa/news6.htm www.sikhspirit.com]<br />
* [http://www.sikhitothemax.com/Page.asp?SourceID=G&PageNo=&ShabadID=358&Format=2 www.sikhitothemax.com SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=133&english=t&id=5450#l5450 www.srigranth.org SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.sikhcoalition.org/SikhismCalendar.asp www.sikhcoalition.org]<br />
<br />
*January:<br />
{{JanuaryCalendar}}<br />
<br />
*February<br />
{{FebruaryCalendar}}<br />
<br />
<br />
{{SikhCalendar}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Glossary of Sikh Terms]]</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Poh&diff=37132
Poh
2007-07-26T09:00:01Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* Links */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Months}}<br />
{{IndicText}} <br />
<br />
Maghar is a ninth month in the [[Nanakshahi calendar]], which govern the activities within [[Sikhism]]. This month coincides with November - December of the Western/[[Georgian]]/[[Julian]] Calendar and is 30 days long.<br />
<br />
'''Important Events during this month''':<br />
<br />
<u>December </u>:<br />
<br />
14 = 1 Poh<br />
<br />
21 Shaheedi [[Sahibzada Ajit Singh]], [[Sahibzada Jujhar Singh]] , and other Shaheeds of Chamkaur Sahib / 8 Poh<br />
<br />
26 Shaheedi [[Sahibzada Zorawar Singh]], [[Sahibzada Fateh Singh]], and [[Mata Gujri]] Ji / 13 Poh<br />
<br />
<u>January</u><br />
<br />
5 Birth [[Guru Gobind Singh]] Ji /23 Poh<br />
<br />
13 = 1 [[Magh]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
== SGGS: This Month ==<br />
<br />
This is what the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] says about this month:<br />
<br />
{{quotation|ਪੋਖਿ ਤਖਾਰ ਨ ਵਿਆਪਈ ਕੰਠਿ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਹ ॥<br />
ਮਨ ਬੇਧਿਆ ਚਰਨਾਰਬਿੰਦ ਦਰਸਨਿ ਲਗੜਾ ਸਾਹ ॥<br />
ਓਟ ਗੋਵਿੰਦ ਗੋਪਾਲ ਰਾਇ ਸੇਵਾ ਸਆਮੀ ਲਾਹ ॥<br />
ਬਿਖਿਆ ਪੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਕਈ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਗਣ ਗਾਹ ॥<br />
ਜਹ ਤੇ ਉਪਜੀ ਤਹ ਮਿਲੀ ਸਚੀ ਪਰੀਤਿ ਸਮਾਹ ॥<br />
ਕਰ ਗਹਿ ਲੀਨੀ ਪਾਰਬਰਹਮਿ ਬਹੜਿ ਨ ਵਿਛੜੀਆਹ ॥<br />
ਬਾਰਿ ਜਾਉ ਲਖ ਬੇਰੀਆ ਹਰਿ ਸਜਣ ਅਗਮ ਅਗਾਹ ॥<br />
ਸਰਮ ਪਈ ਨਾਰਾਇਣੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਰਿ ਪਈਆਹ ॥<br />
ਪੋਖ ਸੋਹੰਦਾ ਸਰਬ ਸਖ ਜਿਸ ਬਖਸੇ ਵੇਪਰਵਾਹ ॥11॥<br><br><br />
<br />
pokh thukhaar n viaapee ka(n)t(h) miliaa har naahu ॥<br />
man baedhhiaa charanaarabi(n)dh dharasan lagarraa saahu ॥<br />
outt govi(n)dh gopaal raae saevaa suaamee laahu ॥<br />
bikhiaa pohi n sakee mil saadhhoo gun gaahu ॥<br />
jeh thae oupajee theh milee sachee preeth samaahu ॥<br />
kar gehi leenee paarabreham bahurr n vishhurreeaahu ॥<br />
baar jaao lakh baereeaa har sajan agam agaahu ॥<br />
saram pee naaraaeinai naanak dhar peeaahu ॥<br />
pokh suoha(n)dhaa sarab sukh jis bakhasae vaeparavaahu ॥11॥<br><br><br />
<br />
In the month of Poh, the cold does not touch those, whom the Husband Lord hugs close in His Embrace.<br />
Their minds are transfixed by His Lotus Feet. They are attached to the Blessed Vision of the Lord's Darshan.<br />
Seek the Protection of the Lord of the Universe; His service is truly profitable.<br />
Corruption shall not touch you, when you join the Holy Saints and sing the Lord's Praises.<br />
From where it originated, there the soul is blended again. It is absorbed in the Love of the True Lord.<br />
When the Supreme Lord God grasps someone's hand, he shall never again suffer separation from Him.<br />
I am a sacrifice, 100,000 times, to the Lord, my Friend, the Unapproachable and Unfathomable.<br />
Please preserve my honor, Lord; Nanak begs at Your Door.<br />
Poh is beautiful, and all comforts come to that one, whom the Carefree Lord has forgiven. ((11))<br />
|[[SGGS page 135]]}}<br />
<br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
<br />
* [http://www.sikhspirit.com/khalsa/news6.htm www.sikhspirit.com]<br />
* [http://www.sikhitothemax.com/Page.asp?SourceID=G&PageNo=&ShabadID=358&Format=2 www.sikhitothemax.com SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=133&english=t&id=5450#l5450 www.srigranth.org SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.sikhcoalition.org/SikhismCalendar.asp www.sikhcoalition.org]<br />
<br />
<br />
{{SikhCalendar}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Glossary of Sikh Terms]]</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Maghar&diff=37131
Maghar
2007-07-26T08:58:27Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* Links */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Months}}<br />
{{IndicText}} <br />
<br />
Maghar is a ninth month in the [[Nanakshahi calendar]], which govern the activities within [[Sikhism]]. This month coincides with November - December of the Western/[[Georgian]]/[[Julian]] Calendar and is 30 days long.<br />
<br />
'''Important Events during this month''':<br />
<br />
<u> November </u>:<br />
<br />
14 = 1 Maghar<br />
<br />
15 Birth Anniversary of [[Guru Nanak Dev]] Ji* 2005 5 Nov/2006 24 Nov/2007 13 Nov/2008<br />
<br />
24 Shaheedi [[Guru Tegh Bahadur]] Ji / 11 Maghar<br />
<br />
24 Shaheedi [[Bhai Mati Das]] and [[Bhai Sati Das]] ji<br />
<br />
24 Gur Gadi [[Guru Gobind Singh]] Ji <br />
<br />
28 Birthday [[Sahibzada Zorawar Singh]] Ji /15 Maghar<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>December </u>:<br />
<br />
12 Birthday [[Sahibzada Fateh Singh]] Ji / 29 Maghar<br />
<br />
14 = 1 [[Poh]]<br />
<br />
<br />
== SGGS: This Month ==<br />
<br />
This is what the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] says about this month:<br />
<br />
{{quotation|<big>ਮੰਘਿਰਿ ਮਾਹਿ ਸੋਹੰਦੀਆ ਹਰਿ ਪਿਰ ਸੰਗਿ ਬੈਠੜੀਆਹ ॥<br />
ਤਿਨ ਕੀ ਸੋਭਾ ਕਿਆ ਗਣੀ ਜਿ ਸਾਹਿਬਿ ਮੇਲੜੀਆਹ ॥<br />
ਤਨ ਮਨ ਮਉਲਿਆ ਰਾਮ ਸਿਉ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਾਧ ਸਹੇਲੜੀਆਹ ॥<br />
ਸਾਧ ਜਨਾ ਤੇ ਬਾਹਰੀ ਸੇ ਰਹਨਿ ਇਕੇਲੜੀਆਹ ॥<br />
ਤਿਨ ਦਖ ਨ ਕਬਹੂ ਉਤਰੈ ਸੇ ਜਮ ਕੈ ਵਸਿ ਪੜੀਆਹ ॥<br />
ਜਿਨੀ ਰਾਵਿਆ ਪਰਭ ਆਪਣਾ ਸੇ ਦਿਸਨਿ ਨਿਤ ਖੜੀਆਹ ॥<br />
ਰਤਨ ਜਵੇਹਰ ਲਾਲ ਹਰਿ ਕੰਠਿ ਤਿਨਾ ਜੜੀਆਹ ॥<br />
ਨਾਨਕ ਬਾਂਛੈ ਧੂੜਿ ਤਿਨ ਪਰਭ ਸਰਣੀ ਦਰਿ ਪੜੀਆਹ ॥<br />
ਮੰਘਿਰਿ ਪਰਭ ਆਰਾਧਣਾ ਬਹੜਿ ਨ ਜਨਮੜੀਆਹ ॥10॥<br><br></big><br />
<br />
ma(n)ghir maahi soha(n)dheeaa har pir sa(n)g bait(h)arreeaah ॥<br />
thin kee sobhaa kiaa ganee j saahib maelarreeaah ॥<br />
than man mouliaa raam sio sa(n)g saadhh sehaelarreeaah ॥<br />
saadhh janaa thae baaharee sae rehan eikaelarreeaah ॥<br />
thin dhukh n kabehoo outharai sae jam kai vas parreeaah ॥<br />
jinee raaviaa prabh aapanaa sae dhisan nith kharreeaah ॥<br />
rathan javaehar laal har ka(n)t(h) thinaa jarreeaah ॥<br />
naanak baa(n)shhai dhhoorr thin prabh saranee dhar parreeaah ॥<br />
ma(n)ghir prabh aaraadhhanaa bahurr n janamarreeaah ॥10॥<br><br><br />
<br />
In the month of Maghar, those who sit with their Beloved Husband Lord are beautiful.<br />
How can their glory be measured? Their Lord and Master blends them with Himself.<br />
Their bodies and minds blossom forth in the Lord; they have the companionship of the Holy Saints.<br />
Those who lack the Company of the Holy, remain all alone.<br />
Their pain never departs, and they fall into the grip of the Messenger of Death.<br />
Those who have ravished and enjoyed their God, are seen to be continually exalted and uplifted.<br />
They wear the Necklace of the jewels, emeralds and rubies of the Lord's Name.<br />
Nanak seeks the dust of the feet of those who take to the Sanctuary of the Lord's Door.<br />
Those who worship and adore God in Maghar, do not suffer the cycle of reincarnation ever again. ((10))<br />
|[[SGGS page 135]]}}<br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
<br />
* [http://www.sikhspirit.com/khalsa/news14.htm www.sikhspirit.com]<br />
* [http://www.sikhitothemax.com/Page.asp?SourceID=G&PageNo=&ShabadID=358&Format=2 www.sikhitothemax.com SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=133&english=t&id=5450#l5450 www.srigranth.org SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.sikhcoalition.org/SikhismCalendar.asp www.sikhcoalition.org]<br />
<br />
{{SikhCalendar}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Glossary of Sikh Terms]]</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Katik&diff=37130
Katik
2007-07-26T08:57:50Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* Links */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Months}}<br />
{{IndicText}} <br />
<br />
Katak is a eight month in the [[Nanakshahi calendar]]. This month coincides with October/November of the Western/[[Georgian]]/[[Julian]] Calendar and is 30 days long.<br />
<br />
'''Important Events during this month''':<br />
<br />
<u>October</u>:<br />
<br />
15= 1 Katik<br />
<br />
20 [[Joti Jot]] [[Guru Har Rai]] Ji / 6 Katik<br />
<br />
20 [[Gur Gadi]] [[Sri Guru Granth Sahib]] Ji<br />
<br />
20 [[Gur Gadi]] [[Guru Har Krishan]] Ji<br />
<br />
21 [[Joti Jot]] [[Guru Gobind Singh]] Ji / 7 Katik<br />
<br />
<u>November</u>:<br />
<br />
1 Bandi Chorr Divas (Diwali)* 2005 & 21 Oct /2006 9 Nov/2007 28 Oct/2008<br />
<br />
11 [[Joti Jot]] [[Baba Deep Singh]] 1757<br />
<br />
14 = 1 [[Maghar]]<br />
<br />
== SGGS: This Month ==<br />
<br />
This is what the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] says about this month:<br />
<br />
{{quotation|<big>ਕਤਿਕਿ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਵਣੇ ਦੋਸ ਨ ਕਾਹੂ ਜੋਗ ॥<br />
ਪਰਮੇਸਰ ਤੇ ਭਲਿਆਂ ਵਿਆਪਨਿ ਸਭੇ ਰੋਗ ॥<br />
ਵੇਮਖ ਹੋਝ ਰਾਮ ਤੇ ਲਗਨਿ ਜਨਮ ਵਿਜੋਗ ॥<br />
ਖਿਨ ਮਹਿ ਕਉੜੇ ਹੋਇ ਗਝ ਜਿਤੜੇ ਮਾਇਆ ਭੋਗ ॥<br />
ਵਿਚ ਨ ਕੋਈ ਕਰਿ ਸਕੈ ਕਿਸ ਥੈ ਰੋਵਹਿ ਰੋਜ ॥<br />
ਕੀਤਾ ਕਿਛੂ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਧਰਿ ਸੰਜੋਗ ॥<br />
ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਮੇਰਾ ਪਰਭ ਮਿਲੈ ਤਾਂ ਉਤਰਹਿ ਸਭਿ ਬਿਓਗ ॥<br />
ਨਾਨਕ ਕਉ ਪਰਭ ਰਾਖਿ ਲੇਹਿ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਬੰਦੀ ਮੋਚ ॥<br />
ਕਤਿਕ ਹੋਵੈ ਸਾਧਸੰਗ ਬਿਨਸਹਿ ਸਭੇ ਸੋਚ ॥9॥</big><br><br><br />
<br />
kathik karam kamaavanae dhos n kaahoo jog ॥<br />
paramaesar thae bhuliaaa(n) viaapan sabhae rog ॥<br />
vaemukh hoeae raam thae lagan janam vijog ॥<br />
khin mehi kourrae hoe geae jitharrae maaeiaa bhog ॥<br />
vich n koee kar sakai kis thhai rovehi roj ॥<br />
keethaa kishhoo n hovee likhiaa dhhur sa(n)jog ॥<br />
vaddabhaagee maeraa prabh milai thaa(n) outharehi sabh bioug ॥<br />
naanak ko prabh raakh laehi maerae saahib ba(n)dhee moch ॥<br />
kathik hovai saadhhasa(n)g binasehi sabhae soch ॥9॥<br><br><br />
<br />
In the month of Katak, do good deeds. Do not try to blame anyone else.<br />
Forgetting the Transcendent Lord, all sorts of illnesses are contracted.<br />
Those who turn their backs on the Lord shall be separated from Him and consigned to reincarnation, over and over again.<br />
In an instant, all of Maya's sensual pleasures turn bitter.<br />
No one can then serve as your intermediary. Unto whom can we turn and cry?<br />
By one's own actions, nothing can be done; destiny was pre-determined from the very beginning.<br />
By great good fortune, I meet my God, and then all pain of separation departs.<br />
Please protect Nanak, God; O my Lord and Master, please release me from bondage.<br />
In Katak, in the Company of the Holy, all anxiety vanishes. ((9))<br />
|[[SGGS page 135]]}}<br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
<br />
* [http://www.sikhspirit.com/khalsa/news6.htm www.sikhspirit.com]<br />
* [http://www.sikhitothemax.com/Page.asp?SourceID=G&PageNo=&ShabadID=358&Format=2 www.sikhitothemax.com SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=133&english=t&id=5450#l5450 www.srigranth.org SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.sikhcoalition.org/SikhismCalendar.asp www.sikhcoalition.org]<br />
<br />
{{SikhCalendar}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Glossary of Sikh Terms]]</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Assu&diff=37129
Assu
2007-07-26T08:56:32Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* Links */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Months}}<br />
{{IndicText}} <br />
<br />
'''Assu''' is a seventh month in the [[Nanakshahi calendar]], which governs the [[Sikh]] tradition. This month coincides with September/October of the Western/[[Georgian]]/[[Julian]] Calendar and is 30 days long.<br />
<br />
'''Important Events during this month''':<br />
<br />
<u> September </u>:<br />
<br />
15 = 1 Assu<br />
<br />
16 Joti Jot [[Guru Amar Das]] Ji / 2 Assu<br />
<br />
16 Gur Gadi [[Guru Ram Das]] Ji<br />
<br />
16 Joti Jot [[Guru Ram Das]] Ji<br />
<br />
16 Gur Gadi [[Guru Arjan Dev]] Ji<br />
<br />
18 Gur Gadi [[Guru Angad Dev]] Ji / 4 Assu<br />
<br />
22 Joti Jot [[Guru Nanak Dev]] Ji / 8 Assu<br />
<br />
<u>October</u>:<br />
<br />
9 Birth [[Guru Ram Das]] Ji / 25 Assu<br />
<br />
15= 1 [[Katak]] <br />
<br />
<br />
== SGGS: This Month ==<br />
<br />
This is what the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] says about this month:<br />
<br />
{{quotation|<big>ਅਸਨਿ ਪਰੇਮ ਉਮਾਹੜਾ ਕਿਉ ਮਿਲੀਝ ਹਰਿ ਜਾਇ ॥<br />
ਮਨਿ ਤਨਿ ਪਿਆਸ ਦਰਸਨ ਘਣੀ ਕੋਈ ਆਣਿ ਮਿਲਾਵੈ ਮਾਇ ॥<br />
ਸੰਤ ਸਹਾਈ ਪਰੇਮ ਕੇ ਹਉ ਤਿਨ ਕੈ ਲਾਗਾ ਪਾਇ ॥<br />
ਵਿਣ ਪਰਭ ਕਿਉ ਸਖ ਪਾਈਝ ਦੂਜੀ ਨਾਹੀ ਜਾਇ ॥<br />
ਜਿੰਨ”ੀ ਚਾਖਿਆ ਪਰੇਮ ਰਸ ਸੇ ਤਰਿਪਤਿ ਰਹੇ ਆਘਾਇ ॥<br />
ਆਪ ਤਿਆਗਿ ਬਿਨਤੀ ਕਰਹਿ ਲੇਹ ਪਰਭੂ ਲੜਿ ਲਾਇ ॥<br />
ਜੋ ਹਰਿ ਕੰਤਿ ਮਿਲਾਈਆ ਸਿ ਵਿਛੜਿ ਕਤਹਿ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥<br />
ਪਰਭ ਵਿਣ ਦੂਜਾ ਕੋ ਨਹੀ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਸਰਣਾਇ ॥<br />
ਅਸੂ ਸਖੀ ਵਸੰਦੀਆ ਜਿਨਾ ਮਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ ॥8॥</big><br><br><br />
<br />
asun praem oumaaharraa kio mileeai har jaae ॥<br />
man than piaas dharasan ghanee koee aan milaavai maae ॥<br />
sa(n)th sehaaee praem kae ho thin kai laagaa paae ॥<br />
vin prabh kio sukh paaeeai dhoojee naahee jaae ॥<br />
ji(n)nhee chaakhiaa praem ras sae thripath rehae aaghaae ॥<br />
aap thiaag binathee karehi laehu prabhoo larr laae ॥<br />
jo har ka(n)th milaaeeaa s vishhurr kathehi n jaae ॥<br />
prabh vin dhoojaa ko nehee naanak har saranaae ॥<br />
asoo sukhee vasa(n)dheeaa jinaa maeiaa har raae ॥8॥ <br><br><br />
<br />
In the month of Assu, my love for the Lord overwhelms me. How can I go and meet the Lord?<br><br />
My mind and body are so thirsty for the Blessed Vision of His Darshan.<br> Won't someone please come and lead me to him, O my mother.<br><br />
The Saints are the helpers of the Lord's lovers; I fall and touch their feet.<br><br />
Without God, how can I find peace? There is nowhere else to go.<br><br />
Those who have tasted the sublime essence of His Love, remain satisfied and fulfilled.<br><br />
They renounce their selfishness and conceit, and they pray, ""God, please attach me to the hem of Your robe.""<br><br />
Those whom the Husband Lord has united with Himself, shall not be separated from Him again.<br><br />
Without God, there is no other at all. Nanak has entered the Sanctuary of the Lord.<br><br />
In Assu, the Lord, the Sovereign King, has granted His Mercy, and they dwell in peace. ((8))<br />
<br />
|[[SGGS page 135]]}}<br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
<br />
* [http://www.sikhspirit.com/khalsa/news12.htm www.sikhspirit.com]<br />
* [http://www.sikhitothemax.com/Page.asp?SourceID=G&PageNo=&ShabadID=358&Format=2 www.sikhitothemax.com SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=133&english=t&id=5450#l5450 www.srigranth.org SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.sikhcoalition.org/SikhismCalendar.asp www.sikhcoalition.org]<br />
<br />
{{SikhCalendar}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Glossary of Sikh Terms]]</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Sawan&diff=37128
Sawan
2007-07-26T08:55:43Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* Links */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Months}}<br />
{{IndicText}} <br />
<br />
'''Sawan''' is a fifth [[month]] in the [[Nanakshahi calendar]], which govern the activities within [[Sikhism]]. This month coincides with July - August of the Western/[[wikipedia:Georgian|Georgian]]/[[wikipedia:Julian|Julian]] Calendar and is 31 days long.<br />
<br />
'''Important Events during this month''':<br />
<br />
<u> July </u>:<br />
<br />
16 = 1 Sawan<br />
<br />
23 Birth [[Guru Har Krishan]] Ji / 8 Saawan<br />
<br />
<u> August </u>:<br />
<br />
16 = 1 [[Bhadon]]<br />
<br />
== SGGS: This Month ==<br />
<br />
This is what the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] says about this month:<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|<big>ਸਾਵਣਿ ਸਰਸੀ ਕਾਮਣੀ ਚਰਨ ਕਮਲ ਸਿਉ ਪਿਆਰ ॥<br />
ਮਨ ਤਨ ਰਤਾ ਸਚ ਰੰਗਿ ਇਕੋ ਨਾਮ ਅਧਾਰ ॥<br />
ਬਿਖਿਆ ਰੰਗ ਕੂੜਾਵਿਆ ਦਿਸਨਿ ਸਭੇ ਛਾਰ ॥<br />
ਹਰਿ ਅੰਮਰਿਤ ਬੂੰਦ ਸਹਾਵਣੀ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਪੀਵਣਹਾਰ ॥<br />
ਵਣ ਤਿਣ ਪਰਭ ਸੰਗਿ ਮਉਲਿਆ ਸੰਮਰਥ ਪਰਖ ਅਪਾਰ ॥<br />
ਹਰਿ ਮਿਲਣੈ ਨੋ ਮਨ ਲੋਚਦਾ ਕਰਮਿ ਮਿਲਾਵਣਹਾਰ ॥<br />
ਜਿਨੀ ਸਖੀਝ ਪਰਭ ਪਾਇਆ ਹੰਉ ਤਿਨ ਕੈ ਸਦ ਬਲਿਹਾਰ ॥<br />
ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਜੀ ਮਇਆ ਕਰਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਵਾਰਣਹਾਰ ॥<br />
ਸਾਵਣ ਤਿਨਾ ਸਹਾਗਣੀ ਜਿਨ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਉਰਿ ਹਾਰ ॥6॥</big><br><br><br />
<br />
saavan sarasee kaamanee charan kamal sio piaar ॥<br />
man than rathaa sach ra(n)g eiko naam adhhaar ॥<br />
bikhiaa ra(n)g koorraaviaa dhisan sabhae shhaar ॥<br />
har a(n)mrith boo(n)dh suhaavanee mil saadhhoo peevanehaar ॥<br />
van thin prabh sa(n)g mouliaa sa(n)mrathh purakh apaar ॥<br />
har milanai no man lochadhaa karam milaavanehaar ॥<br />
jinee sakheeeae prabh paaeiaa ha(n)o thin kai sadh balihaar ॥<br />
naanak har jee maeiaa kar sabadh savaaranehaar ॥<br />
saavan thinaa suhaaganee jin raam naam our haar ॥6॥<br><br><br />
<br />
In the month of Saawan, the soul-bride is happy, if she falls in love with the Lotus Feet of the Lord.<br><br />
Her mind and body are imbued with the Love of the True One; His Name is her only Support.<br><br />
The pleasures of corruption are false. All that is seen shall turn to ashes.<br><br />
The drops of the Lord's Nectar are so beautiful! Meeting the Holy Saint, we drink these in.<br><br />
The forests and the meadows are rejuvenated and refreshed with the Love of God,<br> the All-powerful, Infinite Primal Being.<br><br />
My mind yearns to meet the Lord. If only He would show His Mercy, and unite me with Himself!<br><br />
Those brides who have obtained God-I am forever a sacrifice to them.<br><br />
O Nanak, when the Dear Lord shows kindness, He adorns His bride with the Word of His Shabad.<br><br />
Saawan is delightful for those happy soul-brides whose hearts are adorned with the Necklace of the Lord's Name. ॥6॥<br />
|[[SGGS page 134]]}}<br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
<br />
* [http://www.sikhspirit.com/khalsa/news10.htm www.sikhspirit.com]<br />
* [http://www.sikhitothemax.com/Page.asp?SourceID=G&PageNo=&ShabadID=358&Format=2 www.sikhitothemax.com SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=133&english=t&id=5450#l5450 www.srigranth.org SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.sikhcoalition.org/SikhismCalendar.asp www.sikhcoalition.org]<br />
<br />
{{SikhCalendar}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Glossary of Sikh Terms]]</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Harh&diff=37127
Harh
2007-07-26T08:54:56Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* Links */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Months}}<br />
{{IndicText}} <br />
Harh is a fourth month in the [[Nanakshahi calendar]]. This month coincides with June/July of the Western/[[Georgian]]/[[Julian]] Calendar and is 31 days in length. <br />
<br />
During this month, the fifth Sikh Guru, [[Guru Arjan]] was Martyred by the Mughals. <br><br><br />
<br />
==Important Events during this month==<br />
<br />
<u> June </u><br />
<br />
11 Gur Gadi [[Guru Hargobind]] Ji / 28 Jeth<br />
<br />
15 = 1 Harh<br />
<br />
16 Shaheedi [[Guru Arjan Dev]] Ji / 2 Harh<br />
<br />
<u> July </u><br />
<br />
2 Foundation of Sri [[Akal Takhat]] / 18 Harh<br />
<br />
5 Birth [[Guru Hargobind]] Ji / 21 Harh<br />
<br />
16 = 1 [[Sawan]] <br />
<br />
==The Month of Aasaarh (Harh) ==<br />
from [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=134&punjabi=t&id=5489#l5489 SGGS page 134]<br />
<br />
<font size=4> <font color=orange> <br />
ਆਸਾੜ ਤਪੰਦਾ ਤਿਸ ਲਗੈ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਹ ਨ ਜਿੰਨਾ ਪਾਸਿ ॥ <br><br />
ਜਗਜੀਵਨ ਪਰਖ ਤਿਆਗਿ ਕੈ ਮਾਣਸ ਸੰਦੀ ਆਸ ॥ <br><br />
ਦਯੈ ਭਾਇ ਵਿਗਚੀਝ ਗਲਿ ਪਈਸ ਜਮ ਕੀ ਫਾਸ ॥ <br><br />
ਜੇਹਾ ਬੀਜੈ ਸੋ ਲਣੈ ਮਥੈ ਜੋ ਲਿਖਿਆਸ ॥ <br><br />
ਰੈਣਿ ਵਿਹਾਣੀ ਪਛਤਾਣੀ ਉਠਿ ਚਲੀ ਗਈ ਨਿਰਾਸ ॥ <br><br />
ਜਿਨ ਕੌ ਸਾਧੂ ਭੇਟੀਝ ਸੋ ਦਰਗਹ ਹੋਇ ਖਲਾਸ ॥ <br><br />
ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਪਰਭ ਆਪਣੀ ਤੇਰੇ ਦਰਸਨ ਹੋਇ ਪਿਆਸ ॥ <br><br />
ਪਰਭ ਤਧ ਬਿਨ ਦੂਜਾ ਕੋ ਨਹੀ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੀ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ॥ <br><br />
ਆਸਾੜ ਸਹੰਦਾ ਤਿਸ ਲਗੈ ਜਿਸ ਮਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਚਰਣ ਨਿਵਾਸ ॥5॥ <br><br />
<br />
<br><font size=2><font color=green><br />
aasaarr thapa(n)dhaa this lagai har naahu n ji(n)naa paas || <br><br />
jagajeevan purakh thiaag kai maanas sa(n)dhee aas || <br><br />
dhuyai bhaae vigucheeai gal pees jam kee faas || <br><br />
jaehaa beejai so lunai mathhai jo likhiaas || <br><br />
rain vihaanee pashhuthaanee out(h) chalee gee niraas || <br><br />
jin ka saadhhoo bhaetteeai so dharageh hoe khalaas || <br><br />
kar kirapaa prabh aapanee thaerae dharasan hoe piaas || <br><br />
prabh thudhh bin dhoojaa ko nehee naanak kee aradhaas || <br><br />
aasaarr suha(n)dhaa this lagai jis man har charan nivaas ||5|| <br><br />
<br />
<br><font color=blue><br />
The month of Aasaarh seems burning hot, to those who are not close to their Husband Lord. <br><br />
They have forsaken God the Primal Being, the Life of the World, and they have come to rely upon mere mortals. <br><br />
In the love of duality, the soul-bride is ruined; around her neck she wears the noose of Death. <br><br />
As you plant, so shall you harvest; your destiny is recorded on your forehead. <br><br />
The life-night passes away, and in the end, one comes to regret and repent, and then depart with no hope at all. <br><br />
Those who meet with the Holy Saints are liberated in the Court of the Lord. <br><br />
Show Your Mercy to me, O God; I am thirsty for the Blessed Vision of Your Darshan. <br><br />
Without You, God, there is no other at all. This is Nanak's humble prayer. <br><br />
The month of Aasaarh is pleasant, when the Feet of the Lord abide in the mind. ||5||<br></font color><br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
<br />
* [http://www.sikhspirit.com/khalsa/news9.htm www.sikhspirit.com]<br />
* [http://www.sikhitothemax.com/Page.asp?SourceID=G&PageNo=&ShabadID=358&Format=2 www.sikhitothemax.com SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=133&english=t&id=5450#l5450 www.srigranth.org SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.sikhcoalition.org/SikhismCalendar.asp www.sikhcoalition.org]<br />
<br />
{{SikhCalendar}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Glossary of Sikh Terms]]</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Jeth&diff=37126
Jeth
2007-07-26T08:54:05Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* Links */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Months}}<br />
{{IndicText}} <br />
[[Image:jethu.jpg|thumb|250px|right|<small>*Painting Copyright 2003 © Devender Singh</small>]]<br />
<br />
Jeth/Jayth is a third month in the [[Sikh Calendar]], the [[Nanakshahi calendar]]. This month coincides with May/June of the Western/Georgian/Julian Calendar and is the month after the harvest festival in [[Punjab]]. This year (2006), the first day of this month falls on the 15 May.<br />
<br />
[[Guru Amar Das]] was born this month on the 23 May (9 Jeth) and on the 11 June (28 Jeth) [[Guru Hargobind]] became the sixth Sikh Guru.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Important Events during this month''':<br />
<br />
<u> May </u>:<br />
2 Birth [[Guru Arjan Dev]] Ji / 19 Vaisakh<br />
<br />
15 = 1 Jeth<br />
<br />
23 Birth [[Guru Amar Das]] Ji / 9 Jeh<br />
<br />
<u> June </u>:<br />
<br />
11 Gur Gadi [[Guru Hargobind]] Ji / 28 Jeth<br />
<br />
15 = 1 [[Harh]]<br />
<br />
==The Month of Jeth ==<br />
from [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=KeertanPage&K=134&L=2&id=5480 SGGS page 134]<br />
<br />
<font size=4> <font color=orange> <br />
ਹਰਿ ਜੇਠਿ ਜੜੰਦਾ ਲੋੜੀਝ ਜਿਸ ਅਗੈ ਸਭਿ ਨਿਵੰਨਿ ॥<br />
ਹਰਿ ਸਜਣ ਦਾਵਣਿ ਲਗਿਆ ਕਿਸੈ ਨ ਦੇਈ ਬੰਨਿ ॥<br><br />
ਮਾਣਕ ਮੋਤੀ ਨਾਮ ਪਰਭ ਉਨ ਲਗੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਸੰਨਿ ॥<br />
ਰੰਗ ਸਭੇ ਨਾਰਾਇਣੈ ਜੇਤੇ ਮਨਿ ਭਾਵੰਨਿ ॥<br><br />
ਜੋ ਹਰਿ ਲੋੜੇ ਸੋ ਕਰੇ ਸੋਈ ਜੀਅ ਕਰੰਨਿ ॥<br />
ਜੋ ਪਰਭਿ ਕੀਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਸੇਈ ਕਹੀਅਹਿ ਧੰਨਿ ॥<br><br />
ਆਪਣ ਲੀਆ ਜੇ ਮਿਲੈ ਵਿਛੜਿ ਕਿਉ ਰੋਵੰਨਿ ॥<br />
ਸਾਧੂ ਸੰਗ ਪਰਾਪਤੇ ਨਾਨਕ ਰੰਗ ਮਾਣੰਨਿ ॥<br><br />
ਹਰਿ ਜੇਠ ਰੰਗੀਲਾ ਤਿਸ ਧਣੀ ਜਿਸ ਕੈ ਭਾਗ ਮਥੰਨਿ ॥4॥<br><br />
<br />
<br><font size=2><font color=green><br />
har jaet(h) jurra(n)dhaa lorreeai jis agai sabh niva(n)n ||<br />
har sajan dhaavan lagiaa kisai n dhaeee ba(n)n || <br><br />
maanak mothee naam prabh oun lagai naahee sa(n)n ||<br />
ra(n)g sabhae naaraaeinai jaethae man bhaava(n)n ||<br><br />
jo har lorrae so karae soee jeea kara(n)n ||<br />
jo prabh keethae aapanae saeee keheeahi dhha(n)n ||<br><br />
aapan leeaa jae milai vishhurr kio rova(n)n ||<br />
saadhhoo sa(n)g paraapathae naanak ra(n)g maana(n)n ||<br><br />
har jaet(h) ra(n)geelaa this dhhanee jis kai bhaag mathha(n)n ||4||<br><br />
<br />
<br><font color=blue><br />
In the month of Jayt'h, the bride longs to meet with the Lord. All bow in humility before Him.<br><br />
One who has grasped the hem of the robe of the Lord, the True Friend-no one can keep him in bondage.<br><br />
God's Name is the Jewel, the Pearl. It cannot be stolen or taken away.<br><br />
In the Lord are all pleasures which please the mind.<br><br />
As the Lord wishes, so He acts, and so His creatures act.<br><br />
They alone are called blessed, whom God has made His Own.<br><br />
If people could meet the Lord by their own efforts, why would they be crying out in the pain of separation?<br><br />
Meeting Him in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, O Nanak, celestial bliss is enjoyed.<br><br />
In the month of Jayt'h, the playful Husband Lord meets her, upon whose forehead such good destiny is recorded. ||4||<br />
</font color><br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
<br />
* [http://www.sikhspirit.com/khalsa/news8.htm www.sikhspirit.com]<br />
* [http://www.sikhitothemax.com/Page.asp?SourceID=G&PageNo=&ShabadID=358&Format=2 www.sikhitothemax.com SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=133&english=t&id=5450#l5450 www.srigranth.org SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.sikhcoalition.org/SikhismCalendar.asp www.sikhcoalition.org]<br />
<br />
{{SikhCalendar}}<br />
[[Category:Calendar]]</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Vaisakh&diff=37125
Vaisakh
2007-07-26T08:53:16Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* Links */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Months}}<br />
{{IndicText}}<br />
[[Image:Vaisakh.jpg|thumb|300px|right|<small>*Painting Copyright 2003 © Devender Singh</small>]]<br />
<br />
Vaisakh is a second month in the [[Nanakshahi calendar]]. This month coincides with April/May of the Western/Georgian/Julian Calendar and is when the crop is harvested in [[Punjab]]. [[Vaisakhi]] is the most important festival in the Sikh calendar and it takes place on the first of the lunar month of Vaisakh, which falls this year on April 14. On this day the [[Khalsa]] was created and much celebration takes place worldwide in the form of [[Samagam]]s, Nagar [[Kirtan]], [[Gatka]] Exhibition, Akand Paaths, etc<br />
<br />
Also during this month, the second son of [[Guru Gobind Singh]], [[Sahibzada Jujhar Singh]] was born on 9 April 1691. On the 18, the Sikhs celebrate the birthday of [[Guru Angad Dev]], the second Sikh Guru and [[Guru Tegh Bahadur]] the ninth Sikh Guru.<br />
<br />
On the 16 of this month [[Guru Angad]] and [[Guru Har Krishan]] took leave for their higher abode and passed the Guruship to [[Guru Amar Das]] and [[Guru Tegh Bahadur]] respectively. <br><br><br />
<br />
==Important Events during this month==<br />
<br />
<u> April </u>:<br />
<br />
14 Vaisakhi = 1 [[Vaisakh]] = Birth of Khalsa<br />
<br />
16 Joti Jot [[Guru Angad Dev]] Ji / 3 Vaisakh<br />
<br />
16 Gur Gadi [[Guru Amar Das]] Ji <br />
<br />
16 Joti Jot [[Guru Har Krishan]] Ji<br />
<br />
16 Gur Gadi [[Guru Tegh Bahadur]] Ji<br />
<br />
18 Birth [[Guru Angad Dev]] Ji / 5 Vaisakh<br />
<br />
18 Birth [[Guru Tegh Bahadur]] Ji <br />
<br />
<u> May </u>:<br />
<br />
2 Birth [[Guru Arjan Dev]] Ji / 19 Vaisakh<br />
<br />
15 = 1 [[Jeth]]<br />
<br />
==The Month of Vaisakh ==<br />
from [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=KeertanPage&K=133&L=15&id=5471 SGGS page 133/4]<br />
<br />
<font size=4> <font color=orange> <br />
ਵੈਸਾਖਿ ਧੀਰਨਿ ਕਿਉ ਵਾਢੀਆ ਜਿਨਾ ਪਰੇਮ ਬਿਛੋਹ ॥<br />
ਹਰਿ ਸਾਜਨ ਪਰਖ ਵਿਸਾਰਿ ਕੈ ਲਗੀ ਮਾਇਆ ਧੋਹ ॥<br />
ਪਤਰ ਕਲਤਰ ਨ ਸੰਗਿ ਧਨਾ ਹਰਿ ਅਵਿਨਾਸੀ ਓਹ ॥<br />
ਪਲਚਿ ਪਲਚਿ ਸਗਲੀ ਮਈ ਝੂਠੈ ਧੰਧੈ ਮੋਹ ॥<br />
ਇਕਸ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨ ਅਗੈ ਲਈਅਹਿ ਖੋਹਿ ॥<br />
ਦਯ ਵਿਸਾਰਿ ਵਿਗਚਣਾ ਪਰਭ ਬਿਨ ਅਵਰ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥<br />
ਪਰੀਤਮ ਚਰਣੀ ਜੋ ਲਗੇ ਤਿਨ ਕੀ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਸੋਇ ॥<br />
ਨਾਨਕ ਕੀ ਪਰਭ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਪਰਭ ਮਿਲਹ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਹੋਇ ॥<br />
ਵੈਸਾਖ ਸਹਾਵਾ ਤਾਂ ਲਗੈ ਜਾ ਸੰਤ ਭੇਟੈ ਹਰਿ ਸੋਇ ॥3॥<br />
</font color><br />
<font size=2><br />
<br />
<br />
<font color=green><br />
vaisaakh dhheeran kio vaadteeaa jinaa praem bishhohu|| har saajan purakh visaar kai lagee maaeiaa dhhohu|| <br><br />
puthr kalathr n sa(n)g dhhanaa har avinaasee ouhu|| palach palach sagalee muee jhoot(h)ai dhha(n)dhhai mohu|| <br><br />
eikas har kae naam bin agai leeahi khohi|| dhay visaar viguchanaa prabh bin avar n koe||<br><br />
preetham charanee jo lagae thin kee niramal soe|| naanak kee prabh baenathee prabh milahu paraapath hoe||<br><br />
vaisaakh suhaavaa thaa(n) lagai jaa sa(n)th bhaettai har soe ||3|| <br><br><br />
</font color><br />
<br />
<font color=blue><br />
In the month of Vaisaakh, how can the bride be patient? She is separated from her Beloved. <br><br />
She has forgotten the Lord, her Life-companion, her Master; she has become attached to Maya, the deceitful one. <br><br />
Neither son, nor spouse, nor wealth shall go along with you-only the Eternal Lord. <br><br />
Entangled and enmeshed in the love of false occupations, the whole world is perishing. <br><br />
Without the Naam, the Name of the One Lord, they lose their lives in the hereafter. <br><br />
Forgetting the Merciful Lord, they are ruined. Without God, there is no other at all. <br><br />
Pure is the reputation of those who are attached to the Feet of the Beloved Lord. <br><br />
Nanak makes this prayer to God: ""Please, come and unite me with Yourself.""<br />
The month of Vaisaakh is beautiful and pleasant, when the Saint causes me to meet the Lord. ||3||<br><br />
</font color><br />
[[SGGS page 136]]<br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
<br />
* [http://www.sikhspirit.com/khalsa/news7.htm www.sikhspirit.com]<br />
* [http://www.sikhitothemax.com/Page.asp?SourceID=G&PageNo=&ShabadID=358&Format=2 www.sikhitothemax.com SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=133&english=t&id=5450#l5450 www.srigranth.org SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.sikhcoalition.org/SikhismCalendar.asp www.sikhcoalition.org]<br />
<br />
<br />
{{SikhCalendar}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Calendar]]</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Bhadon&diff=37124
Bhadon
2007-07-26T08:49:20Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* Links */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Months}}<br />
{{IndicText}} <br />
<br />
'''Bhadon''' is a sixth month in the [[Nanakshahi calendar]]. This month coincides with August/September of the Western/[[Georgian]]/[[Julian]] Calendar and is 31 days long.<br />
<br />
'''Important Events during this month''':<br />
<br />
<u>August</u>:<br />
<br />
16 = 1 Bhadon<br />
<br />
30 Completion of Sri [[Guru Granth Sahib]] (Adi Granth) / 15 Bhadon<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>September</u>:<br />
<br />
1 First Parkash [[Sri Guru Granth Sahib]] Ji / 17 Bhadon<br />
<br />
12 [[Battle of Saragarhi]] / 28 Bhadon<br />
<br />
15 Beginning of the month of [[Assu]]<br />
<br />
<br />
== SGGS: This Month ==<br />
<br />
This is what the [[Guru Granth Sahib]] says about this month:<br />
<br />
{{quotation|<big>ਭਾਦਇ ਭਰਮਿ ਭਲਾਣੀਆ ਦੂਜੈ ਲਗਾ ਹੇਤ ॥<br />
ਲਖ ਸੀਗਾਰ ਬਣਾਇਆ ਕਾਰਜਿ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੇਤ ॥<br />
ਜਿਤ ਦਿਨਿ ਦੇਹ ਬਿਨਸਸੀ ਤਿਤ ਵੇਲੈ ਕਹਸਨਿ ਪਰੇਤ ॥<br />
ਪਕੜਿ ਚਲਾਇਨਿ ਦੂਤ ਜਮ ਕਿਸੈ ਨ ਦੇਨੀ ਭੇਤ ॥<br />
ਛਡਿ ਖੜੋਤੇ ਖਿਨੈ ਮਾਹਿ ਜਿਨ ਸਿਉ ਲਗਾ ਹੇਤ ॥<br />
ਹਥ ਮਰੋੜੈ ਤਨ ਕਪੇ ਸਿਆਹਹ ਹੋਆ ਸੇਤ ॥<br />
ਜੇਹਾ ਬੀਜੈ ਸੋ ਲਣੈ ਕਰਮਾ ਸੰਦੜਾ ਖੇਤ ॥<br />
ਨਾਨਕ ਪਰਭ ਸਰਣਾਗਤੀ ਚਰਣ ਬੋਹਿਥ ਪਰਭ ਦੇਤ ॥<br />
ਸੇ ਭਾਦਇ ਨਰਕਿ ਨ ਪਾਈਅਹਿ ਗਰ ਰਖਣ ਵਾਲਾ ਹੇਤ ॥7॥ </big><br><br><br />
<br />
bhaadhue bharam bhulaaneeaa dhoojai lagaa haeth ॥<br />
lakh seegaar banaaeiaa kaaraj naahee kaeth ॥<br />
jith dhin dhaeh binasasee thith vaelai kehasan praeth ॥<br />
pakarr chalaaein dhooth jam kisai n dhaenee bhaeth ॥<br />
shhadd kharrothae khinai maahi jin sio lagaa haeth ॥<br />
hathh marorrai than kapae siaahahu hoaa saeth ॥<br />
jaehaa beejai so lunai karamaa sa(n)dharraa khaeth ॥<br />
naanak prabh saranaagathee charan bohithh prabh dhaeth ॥<br />
sae bhaadhue narak n paaeeahi gur rakhan vaalaa haeth ॥7॥ <br><br><br />
<br />
In the month of Bhaadon, she is deluded by doubt, because of her attachment to duality.<br />
She may wear thousands of ornaments, but they are of no use at all.<br />
On that day when the body perishes-at that time, she becomes a ghost.<br />
The Messenger of Death seizes and holds her, and does not tell anyone his secret.<br />
And her loved ones-in an instant, they move on, leaving her all alone.<br />
She wrings her hands, her body writhes in pain, and she turns from black to white.<br />
As she has planted, so does she harvest; such is the field of karma.<br />
Nanak seeks God's Sanctuary; God has given him the Boat of His Feet.<br />
Those who love the Guru, the Protector and Savior, in Bhaadon, shall not be thrown down into hell. ((7))<br />
|[[SGGS page 134]]}}<br />
<br />
==Links==<br />
<br />
* [http://www.sikhspirit.com/khalsa/news11.htm www.sikhspirit.com]<br />
* [http://www.sikhitothemax.com/Page.asp?SourceID=G&PageNo=&ShabadID=358&Format=2 www.sikhitothemax.com SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=133&english=t&id=5450#l5450 www.srigranth.org SGGS Page 133]<br />
* [http://www.sikhcoalition.org/SikhismCalendar.asp www.sikhcoalition.org]<br />
<br />
{{SikhCalendar}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Sikhism]]<br />
[[Category:Glossary of Sikh Terms]]</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Sikh_Basic_%26_Misconceptions&diff=26569
Sikh Basic & Misconceptions
2007-03-21T12:33:26Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* 16 What is the traditional dress of a Sikh ? */</p>
<hr />
<div>Considering that the Sikhs are one of the most visible of communities there is a surprising lack of knowledge and understanding about them. Let us look at the basics and dispel some common mistakes and misconceptions about Sikhs and Sikhism.<br />
A Sikh is a person who believes in the ten Gurus – the lineage that begins with Guru Nanak Dev Ji born in 1469, and concludes with Guru Gobind Singh Ji who ascended the heavens in 1708. The teaching of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his successors concerning liberation through remembrance of the divine Name are incorporated in the holy scriptures known as the Aadh Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Sikhs also acknowledge the practice of naam-simram to be mandatory, though for some the acknowledgment may be implicit and the actual practice rudimentary.<br />
<br />
The building which houses the Guru Granth Sahib Ji is called a Gurdwara and all Sikhs acknowledge the sanctity that the scriptures confers on it. They also recognise the role of the gurdwara in expressing the anti-caste ideals of the Gurus. This is done through the distribution of karah-parshaad and the institution of langar.<br />
<br />
Those who acknowledge allegiance to Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his successors constitute the community originally known as Nanak-panth but now is simply called Panth. During the time of Guru Gobind Singh Ji members of the Panth were summoned to accept initiation into the Khalsa order and therefore to observe its code of discipline, the Rehat. Prominent among the many features of the Rehat are a series of obligations which include the Five K’s. Two particularly conspicuous items are the prohibition of hair -cutting and a rigorous ban on smoking.<br />
<br />
Shortly before the ascension of Guru Gobind Singh Ji to heaven, Guru Ji declared the line of personal Gurus to be at an end and transferred the authority to Aath Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the Guru Panth. Orthodox Sikhs believe that the Guru Panth consists exclusively of initiated members of the Khalsa. All orthodox Sikhs accept these statements as the authentic commandments of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and although a proportion do not actually undergo initiation into the Khalsa they will at least observe the basic requirements of the Rehat.<br />
<br />
Those who have undergone initiation are known as amrit-dhari Sikhs. If they have not been initiated but still accept at least the fundamentals of the Rehat they are regarded as Kes-dhari Sikhs. Acceptance must include the ban of cutting hair. Those Sikhs who are not kes-dhari and who do not follow the Rehat are known as Sahaj-dhari Sikhs, slow learners.<br />
<br />
Sikhs reject the claim that they are a variety of Hinduism.<br />
<br />
Sikhs are heirs to a history and a fund of tradition which they regard as a continuing source of guidance and inspiration. Although most Sikhs are Punjabis, the Panth is open to any who accept its doctrines and practices. Sikhism is not a religion of “you are either with us or against us.” It is a faith where we are all brothers and sisters and can sit down together in peace.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
There are four castes of Hindus and four sects of Muslims in the world<br />
The members of both religions are selfish, jealous, proud, bigoted and violent.<br />
The Hindus make pilgrimage to Hardvar and Banaras, the Muslim to the Kaaba of Mecca.<br />
Circumcision is dear to the Muslims, sandal mark (tilak) and sacred thread to the Hindus.<br />
The Hindus invoke Ram, the Muslims, Rahim, but in reality there is only One God.<br />
Since they have forgotten the Vedas and the Katebas, worldly greed and devil have led them astray.<br />
Truth hidden from both; the brahmins and maulvis kill one another by their animosities.<br />
Neither sect shall find liberation from transmigration. (Guru Nanak dev Ji.)<br />
<br />
<br />
==1. Sikhs are the same as Muslims or Arabs.==<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sikhs must not be confused with muslims, it is difficult for people from the west to distinguish between different ethnic groups of people from the east. Due to recent events and to the great dismay of Sikhs all over the world they have been mistaken for muslims with tragic consequences, two Sikhs have been shot dead in the USA and many many more harassed. This is due to images of muslims wearing beards and turbans. The reality is that 95% of all men with turbans and beards are Sikhs. While it is true that some Muslims wear turbans, the majority of people in the world wearing a turban are Sikhs. Sikh males, and some females, wear a turban to keep their long, uncut hair neat. Muslims, even those who wear turbans cut their hair. While orthodox Muslim males wear a particular style of trimmed beard, an adult Sikh male's beard is full and uncut. In addition, Sikhs do not profess the Muslim religion.<br />
<br />
Guru Nanak Dev Ji said "There is no Hindu, there is no Mussulman." By this Guru Sahib was not belittling these faiths, but saying that in the eyes of God all are the same.<br />
<br />
<br />
The Q'uran holds no significance for a Sikh.<br />
Fasting holds no relevance to a Sikh.<br />
Circumcision holds no relevance to a Sikh.<br />
Sikhs do not go in for ritual slaughter of innocent animals.<br />
Sikhs do not face in any particular direction, east or west, when praying.<br />
<br />
<br />
Sikhs do not hold any significance in ritual shaving of the head, in fact removing of hair is forbidden in Sikhism.<br />
<br />
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One commonly encounters the insistent claim that Sikhism owes much to Islam and specifically to the Sufi tradition. Some have carried this theory to the point of claiming that Sikhism can be treated as an example of conscious syncretism, one which deliberately tried to blend Hindu and Muslim ideals. This claim can be dismissed, it is true there are parallels of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s teaching and Sufism but that can be traced to Bhaghti sources. Guru Nanak Dev Ji certainly chose Muslim terminology in a few shabads, but only because the shabads were addressed to a Muslim audience.<br />
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji viewed both Hindu traditions and Islam in a typical Sant manner. In there conventional form, both offered systems of belief and practices which largely relied on external authorities and outward responses. As such both were to be condemned. Only those who perceived the inner reality of truth could achieve deliverance and this end could be attained regardless of whether one was a Hindu or Muslim. Those who follow this inner path are the true believers as opposed to the false believers who continue to put trust in ritual and pilgrimage, Barhamins and Mullas.<br />
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Guru Ji used this true false theme in many shabads, one being in a shalok from Var Manjh :<br />
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Make mercy your mosque and devotion your prayer mat, righteousness your Qur’an.<br />
Meekness your circumcising, goodness your fasting, for thus the true Muslim expresses his faith.<br />
Make good works your Ka’bah, take truth as your pir, compassion your creed and your prayer.<br />
Let service to God be the beads which you tell and God will exalt you to glory.<br />
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This is classic Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s approach, typical both in terms of its insistent interior emphasis and its striking use of imagery.<br />
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Sikhs do not believe in a last prophet. There have been many men of God who have put people on the path of the Almighty and there will be many more. Who are we to put a stop on the Almighty’s will? If He wishes he will send down as many prophets as he likes.<br />
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Sikhs do not believe in a judgement day when all dead people will rise and be judged. We are judged every single day, every single second of every minute of every hour and meted out judgement as appropriate. If a person dies and is buried in the ground his decomposed body will release it's material into the earth. That material may get into the food chain and be consumed by another person. On this ‘judgement day’ who will rise from the dead to be judged? The first person or the second person and how can the first person rise if he is now part of the second person?<br />
First Mehl:<br />
The clay of the Muslim's grave becomes clay for the potter's wheel.<br />
Pots and bricks are fashioned from it, and it cries out as it burns.<br />
The poor clay burns, burns and weeps, as the fiery coal fall upon it.<br />
O Nanak, the Creator created the creation; the Creator Lord alone knows. ||2|| Guru Nanak Dev Ji<br />
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What Sikhism teaches and what other faiths teach are separate paths. The aim of most other faiths is to reach heaven and avoid hell with devils and Shaitans to way lay you and put you off your path. ‘They’ are the only people who will reach heaven and non else. Some promise hourries, fairy maidens to satisfy your every whim with wine to drink, golden palaces to reside in and servants at your beck and call. Sikhism neither wants nor needs any of these enticements. All Sikhs want is to merge with the one True Lord from whence we have come, as a drop of water merges with the ocean. Merging with the almighty liberates one from the circle of life and death and salvation is achieved by the grace of Waheguru.<br />
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As for Christianity, Sikhs do not believe that the Almighty sent down his son who will take all your sins upon himself only if you believe in him. You are the perpetrator of your sins and only you will have to answer for them. Of course if you submit to the will of God and ask for forgiveness then God as your true father will forgive all your misdemeanours. There is no one person or faith that has a monopoly on salvation.<br />
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==2 . Did Guru Nanak Dev Ji not have a robe with quotes from the Q'uran ?==<br />
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji traveled east to Nepal and the Himalayas visiting sacred centers of the Hindus on the way like Benaras and Hardwar. On an another udassi (journey) Guru Ji traveled south to Sri Lanka again visiting many places of learning. On a separate journey to the west Guru Nanak Dev Ji with Mardana traveled to Bhagdad and Mecca, not as a pilgrimage as some would suggest but on Gods mission to spread Gods word and to put people on the path of righteousness.<br />
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On Guru Ji's travels through Bhagdad, Mardana would play the rabab and Guru Sahib Ji would sing about the infiniteness of God and His Creation, wherein occurred the following expression: “ patala patal, lakha aghasa aghaas” - there are countless patals (earths) and innumerable akashs (sky). Which goes contrary to Muslim belief, as they only know of 7 earths and skys, When some Muslim who was listening to it and understood its purport went and reported the blasphemy of the utterance - inasmuch as the Qu'ran had mentioned only seven earths and seven skies - to the Sajjdanashin of the Shrine of Pir Dastagir, Abdul Qadir Jilani an agitated crowd gathered on the spot. The people were on the verge of throwing stones when they heard the Guru’s divine invocation. The sweet words of God entered their ears and the people in remorse of their actions went to their Pir and told him of the presence of a holy man.<br />
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The Pir, having reached the place, enquired from Mardana who the holy man was. He was told that he was Nanak who had rejected all others except one God who was all pervading on earth, sky and in all four directions. Guru Nanak Dev Ji stayed for a number of days and the people flocked to his side eagerly listening to the word of God. Guru Sahib Ji had many discourses with the local holy men.<br />
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One day Guru Sahib Ji was sleeping and his feet were towards the Kaaba. When challenged by the local Imam, Guru Ji replied “point my feet where God is not.” The local Imam ashamed of his actions asked Guru Sahib Ji to do kalma with him. As the Imam started his kalma Guru Ji did not. Guru Ji asked him “What is the use of meaningless ritual when your mind is somewhere else trying to work out how to get the best price for your horses.” Guru Ji had no need for kalma for he sang the Almighty's name 24/7.<br />
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Before his departure from there he was presented a chola (robe) as a token of respect on which verses in arabic were inscribed. This chola lies preserved in the Gurdwara at Dera Baba Nanak, in Pakistan. The chola was given to Guru Sahib Ji by his devotees in Bagdhad and there was no alterier motive, Guru Sahib Ji took it in the spirit in which it was given. Pir Babhol, a Sufi saint was deeply influenced by Guru Nanak Dev.<br />
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==3. Sikhs are Hindus or Sikhism is a Hindu sect.==<br />
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Sikhism and Hinduism are distinctly separate religions. Hinduism believes in caste distinctions, worships idols, and astrologic divination. Most Hindus are not monotheist, that is, they worship a god or goddess from a large array of deities. Sikhs on the other hand believe in the equality of all persons of both genders, do not believe one day to be more auspicious than another, and worship One, timeless God who is beyond birth and death.<br />
Although respected, the Vedas, Puranas, Shastras (Hindu scriptures) hold no relevance to Sikhs.<br />
Sikhs do not believe in fasting<br />
Sikhs do not believe in the tilak and jineu, marks of the Hindu<br />
Sikhs do not believe in high caste or low, all are one in the eyes of the Lord.<br />
Sikhs do not hold any significance in ritual shaving of the head, in fact removing of hair id forbidden in Sikhism.<br />
Sikhs reject of Idol worship<br />
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Although Sikhs respect great deities like Brahama, Shivji and Vishnu there belief in the One almighty God is unshakable.<br />
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You may bathe and wash, and apply a ritualistic tilak mark to your forehead, but without inner purity, there is no understanding. ||6|| Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Raag Raamkalee. p903<br />
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji explores the austerities carried out mostly by Hindus and concludes that they are of no avail unless you have the True Lord in your heart.<br />
Swine eats filth, elephants and donkeys bespatter themselves with dust.<br />
Jackals live at places of cremation.<br />
Owls live in tombs, deer wander alone in the forests, trees ever die in silence;<br />
The man who re-straineth his seed should only have the credit of the hermaphrodite<br />
Monkeys ever wander bare-footed.<br />
They who eat grass and renounce the desire of wealth are no more then calves and oxen.<br />
They who engage in meditation resemble cranes, cates and wolves<br />
For grazing on akk, eating fruits and flowers, and ever wandering in the forests, there is no animal like the goat.<br />
In the cold season the jackal barketh five times. and the elephant and donkey utter various cries<br />
If anyone were by repeating Gods name to obtain God (who cannot be obtained just by lip-worship), then the warbler ever uttereth "Tu hi ! Tu hi ! (would have obtained salvation)" <br />
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The Akal Ustat from Dasam Granth<br />
The Lord Akal creates millions of Krishna, annihilates them and recreates them.<br />
Some hang stones as gods around their necks, while others erroneously call Mahesh 'God'<br />
I have discarded all these false religions and am of the firm view that He who is the creator of the Universe, is the only Lord.<br />
Everyone is caught in the noose of Death, no Rama or prophet can escape from it. All of them who made grand claims of being Avtars of God died repentant. Why doest not thou, O, hapless being seek the shelter of the One Lord. (15th swayya) Dasam Granth<br />
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Even the ancient Hindu books only deal with those in the varn jati. Anyone outside this so called fluidity is a malesh. No matter if a Muslim has been a pious person all his life, never lied and always remembered Allah, in Hindu scriptures he/she will be a malesh. Punjabis are malesh just for residing in punjab according to the gita because they never accepted a Brahmin’s superiority.<br />
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==4 . Did the Gurus not write about Hindu deities ?==<br />
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It is indeed correct that Hindu deities are mentioned many times in Guru Granth Sahib Ji and Dasam Granth Ji and it is true that in many shabads (hymns) they are shown great respect, but it does not follow that the Hindu deities are revered in any way. In fact the deities – Brahman, Vishnu, Shiv Ji, Parvati, Hanuman – are shown to be spiritually higher life forms but who have flaws and are influenced by Maya/illusion, ego and the vices.<br />
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Guru Granth Sahib Ji and Dasam Granth Ji both mention Avtar/incarnations of past ages. God who is Nirgun (He has all qualities so He is without any single quality, hence Nir(no) Guna(Quality)) to restore order in his manifestation, the whole universe(s), from time to time will take the form of mighty men and women, who display some of his qualities, which is called Saguna - Sa(with) Guna (Qualities). So as per Dasham Granth Ji Saguna forms were described to show the might of Nirguna. The ultimate power is God - AkalPurkh, Waheguru, Paarbrahm, Ram, Allah - what ever you want to call Him, He has many names, and only Sikhism respects all great Saguna Saroops (forms) of God in all faiths.<br />
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First and foremost the Gurus remind us that the deities were all created (and will be destroyed) by the Almighty. This shows clearly that the Gurus had respect but in no way revered the deities.<br />
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So many winds, waters and fires; so many Krishnas and Shivas. Guru Nanak Dev Ji Japji.<br />
He created air, water and fire, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - the whole creation. Guru Nanak Dev Ji<br />
The realm of Shiva, the realms of Brahma and Indra as well - no place anywhere is permanent.<br />
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Guru Arjun dev ji.<br />
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The Gurus remind us time and again that the gods and goddesses have meditated for eons but still have not understood the secret of the Almighty.<br />
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Shiva, Brahma and all the silent sages cannot understand the state of the Lord. Guru Arjun Dev Ji<br />
The wise one, Shiva, remains absorbed in himself, but he is engrossed in dark passions and excessive egotism. ||2|| Guru Amar Daas Ji Raag Vadhans p559<br />
Shiva meditates through lakhs of methods (postures) but still could not recognise the form, hue and guise of the Lord.<br />
Vishnu incarnated himself through lakhs of creatures but he could not recognise even a bit of that Lord. Var18.<br />
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Beings like Sanak, Sanand, Shiva and Shaysh-naaga - none of them know Your mystery, Lord. ||1|| Bhagat Kabeer Ji Raag Dhanaasree p691<br />
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In the following shabad Guru Arjun Dev Ji describes Maya – illusion. Maya has the whole world in her embrace and even the mighty gods and goddesses cannot escape her.<br />
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Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:<br />
A frown creases her forehead, and her look is evil.<br />
Her speech is bitter, and her tongue is rude.<br />
She is always hungry, and she believes her Husband to be far away. ||1||<br />
Such is Maya, the woman, which the One Lord has created.<br />
She is devouring the whole world, but the Guru has saved me, O my Siblings of Destiny.<br />
Administering her poisons, she has overcome the whole world.<br />
She has bewitched Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.<br />
Only those Gurmukhs who are attuned to the Naam are blessed. ||2||<br />
Performing fasts, religious observances and atonements, the mortals have grown weary.<br />
They wander over the entire planet, on pilgrimages to the banks of sacred rivers.<br />
But they alone are saved, who seek the Sanctuary of the True Guru. ||3||<br />
Attached to Maya, the whole world is in bondage.<br />
The foolish self-willed manmukhs are consumed by their egotism.<br />
Taking me by the arm, Guru Nanak has saved me. ||4||2||96||<br />
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Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Aasaa p394<br />
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The deities are chastised for not putting people on the path of the one Almighty but rather making them their own devotees.<br />
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Those who serve Shiva and Brahma do not find the limits of the Lord. Guru Amar Daas Ji. Raag Gujri p516<br />
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This is not to say that the Gurus did not write about the deities with warmth and affection.<br />
The true Vaishnaav, the devotee of Vishnu, is the one with whom God is thoroughly pleased.<br />
He dwells apart from Maya.<br />
Performing good deeds, he does not seek rewards.<br />
Spotlessly pure is the religion of such a Vaishnaav;<br />
he has no desire for the fruits of his labours.<br />
He is absorbed in devotional worship and the singing of Kirtan, the songs of the Lord's Glory.<br />
Within his mind and body, he meditates in remembrance on the Lord of the Universe.<br />
He is kind to all creatures.<br />
He holds fast to the Naam, and inspires others to chant it.<br />
O Nanak, such a Vaishnaav obtains the supreme status. ||2||Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gauree p274<br />
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji describes the wonders of Akal Purkh and mentions that even Vishnu and Brahma could not comprehend the vastness of the Lord.<br />
Gujari, First Mehl:<br />
From the lotus of Vishnu's navel, Brahma was born; He chanted the Vedas with a melodious voice.<br />
He could not find the Lord's limits, and he remained in the darkness of coming and going. ||1||<br />
Why should I forget my Beloved? He is the support of my very breath of life.<br />
The perfect beings perform devotional worship to Him. The silent sages serve Him through the Guru's Teachings. ||1||Pause||<br />
His lamps are the sun and the moon; the One Light of the Destroyer of ego fills the three worlds.<br />
One who becomes Gurmukh remains immaculately pure, day and night, while the self-willed manmukh is enveloped by the darkness of night. ||2||<br />
The Siddhas in Samaadhi are continually in conflict; what can they see with their two eyes?<br />
One who has the Divine Light within his heart, and is awakened to the melody of the Word of the Shabad - the True Guru settles his conflicts. ||3||<br />
O Lord of angels and men, infinite and unborn, Your True Mansion is incomparable.<br />
Nanak merges imperceptibly into the Life of the world; shower Your mercy upon him, and save him. ||4||2|| Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Raag Gujri. Pannaa 489<br />
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'''Bhagat Kabir Ji whose hymns are found in Guru Granth Sahib Ji says :'''<br />
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Raag Dhanaasaree, The Word Of Devotee Kabeer Jee:<br />
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:<br />
Beings like Sanak, Sanand, Shiva and Shaysh-naaga - none of them know Your mystery, Lord. ||1||<br />
In the Society of the Saints, the Lord dwells within the heart. ||1||Pause||<br />
Beings like Hanumaan, Garura, Indra the King of the gods and the rulers of humans - none of them know Your Glories, Lord. ||2||<br />
The four Vedas, the Simritees and the Puraanas, Vishnu the Lord of Lakshmi and Lakshmi herself - none of them know the Lord. ||3||<br />
Says Kabeer, one who falls at the Lord's feet, and remains in His Sanctuary, does not wander around lost. ||4||1|| Bhagat Kabeer Ji in Raag Dhanaasree on Pannaa 691<br />
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Only Sikhism acknowledges that there are many paths to the Almighty and respect other faiths.<br />
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The followers of the Vedas, the Bible and the Koran, standing at Your Door, meditate on You.<br />
Uncounted are those who fall at Your Door.<br />
Brahma meditates on You, as does Indra on his throne.<br />
Shiva and Vishnu, and their incarnations, chant the Lord's Praise with their mouths,<br />
as do the Pirs, the spiritual teachers, the prophets and the Shaykhs, the silent sages and the seers.<br />
Through and through, the Formless Lord is woven into each and every heart.<br />
One is destroyed through falsehood; through righteousness, one prospers.<br />
Whatever the Lord links him to, to that he is linked. ||2||Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gujri on Pannaa 518<br />
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji in his Dasam Granth has written many compositions that tell the lives of deities worshipped by Hindus. It is their misunderstanding (intentional or unintentional) that the Guru Ji revered or worshipped the deities.<br />
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji had faith in the one almighty God and him alone. The opening of every composition in the Dasam Granth is a homage in praise of the one formless God, in the case of his autobiography, Bachittar Natak, the first quarter of the composition is in praise of God. The compositions Jaap Sahib and Akal Ustat (Eulogy to God), which being the Dasam Granth, are totally in praise of the Amlighty. As for the compositions Var Bhagauti Ki (Chandi di Var – composition re-telling the story of the goddess Durgas battle with the demons) and Chaubis Avtar ( the telling of the twenty four incarnations of Vishnu which include Bhagwan Krishan Ji, Sri Ram Chandar Ji, Macch Avatar, Kacch Avatar and Kalki Avatar) again the first part is in praise of the Almighty. So the notion that somehow Guru Sahib Ji revered or worshiped these deities is totally false.<br />
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'''Here is the start of Var Bhagauti Ki.'''<br />
Var Bhagauti Ki<br />
First and foremost I remember Bhauguti Ji (God) and then set my mind on Guru Nanak.<br />
Then I seek the help of Guru Angad, Guru Amar Das and Guru Ram Das. Arjan, Hargobind and (Guru) Har Rai be remembered.<br />
Sri Harkrishan be meditated upon whose mere glimpse removes all sorrows. (Guru) Tegh Bahadur be remembered as it causes the home to flourish.<br />
They all help me at all times.<br />
The Lord first created Khanda, the double edged sword and then his manifest world. Having created Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, He created the entire play of Kudrat (manifest world).<br />
He created the oceans, mountains, earth and sky which stands above, unsupported by any pillars.<br />
He created both gods(deities) and demons and then created polemic.<br />
It was You who created Durga so as to destroy the demons.<br />
Rama also took strength from you to kill Ravan with his arrow.<br />
Krishan also got strength from You and thus threw down Kansa by his hair.<br />
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Many great deities and ascetics underwent hard austerities, but none could fathom thy greatness. <br />
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==5 . Was the Singh Sabha Movement just a front for the British government ?== <br />
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In the mid ninteenth century the Christian missionaries were gaining ground within the Sikhs with the partonage of the British rulers. The Hindus under the Arya Samaj Movement were also making rapid strides into the Punjab. To counter these threats the enlightened section of the sikh community launched from Amritsar a revivalist movement known as the Singh Sabha Movement in 1873 to counter the conversions of of Sikhs. There were two sections one in Lahore and the original in Amritsar. Notable Sikh thinkers included Professor Gurmukh Singh, Bhai Ditt Singh, Bhai Kanh Singh (of Nabha), Sunder Singh and Bhai Vir Singh Ji. With the efforts of these Sikhs the Sikh faith was restored to its original Khalsa tradition and pristine purity. The movement battled against British rule and to think that these Sikhs colluded with the British is untrue.<br />
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==6. Sikhism is a derivative religion from Islam and Hinduism.==<br />
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Sikhism originated from the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Guru Ji obtained his message direct from the One Timeless Lord and sought to put the masses on to the righteous path towards realisation of God through meditation, sharing the fruits of your honest work and loving your fellow man, it is in no way derivative of any philosophy or religious thought. Guru Ji, on one hand sought to show the people the futility of the Caste system, of idol worship of inequality of the genders so inherent in Hinduism, and on the other, the cruelty of aggressive and forcible conversions and the inhumane treatment of ones fellow man.<br />
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==7. Sikhism was created to defend the downtrodden Hindus and Hinduism.==<br />
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Sikhism was not created to defend any religious group, Sikhism is a path to realisation of God. Pressure from government sources during the times of the last six Gurus led to the development of a Sikh army for self-defense. A Sikh is taught to stand against injustice from whatever source and to defend the weak and downtrodden, no matter what their religious affiliation. In the armies of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji there were many from a whole spectrum of religious beliefs, from Muslims to Hindus.<br />
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==8. Sikhs are a martial race, that they are a violent people.==<br />
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The "martial race" theory is a colonial construct that was created and propagated by the British who recruited large numbers of so called "martial races," the Sikhs, Gurkhas, Rajputs, etc., for service in the British army. Sikhs by and large are a very hard working law abiding group. [[Guru Gobind Singh]] famously stated that only after all other means are exhausted it is right to take to the sword. During the struggle to gain independence from the British Raj it was the Sikhs who lead peaceful, unarmed demonstrations such as the [[Jaito Morcha]] in 1924, even though they were fired upon by British forces. Many believe that Ghandi was inspired to start his demonstrations after seeing the effectiveness of these peaceful marches by the Sikhs.<br />
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==9. What type of names do Sikhs have ?==<br />
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Most Sikh names apply equally to men and women, the distinguishing feature is 'Singh' after a mans first name and 'Kaur' after a woman's. Traditional Sikh names normally end in the suffix<br />
- inder , as in Rajinder, Jatinder and Sukhinder.<br />
- pal , as in Kirnpal, Pritpal and Rajpal.<br />
- deep , as in Kirndeep, Jasdeep and Mandeep.<br />
- preet , as in Harpreet, Jaspreet and Sukhpreet.<br />
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There are names that do not fall into this pattern, for example - Kushvant, Keertan, Prishant and Bhavanjot.<br />
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==10. Khalsa means "pure".==<br />
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The word Khalsa means both "pure" and "belonging only to God". The Khalsa was created by the tenth master, Guru Gobind Singh Ji on Vaisakhi day 1699.When a committed Sikh is initiated he or she becomes a member of a spiritual order called Khalsa. A Khalsa belongs only to God.<br />
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==11. Sikhs don't eat beef.==<br />
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Some Sikhs eat any type of meat, some do not eat beef and some believe that Sikhs should not eat any meat or meat products. Sikhs who have been initiated into the order of the Khalsa by the Amrit ceremony are strictly forbidden to eat any type of meat which has been ritually slaughtered (e.g. Halal or Kosher)<br />
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==12. Sikhs are allowed to drink alcohol.==<br />
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The Sikh Code of Conduct states, "A Sikh must not take hemp, opium, liquor, tobacco, or any intoxicant." At the time of initiation, a Sikh vows not to use any intoxicant. Drinking alcohol is forbidden for Sikhs.<br />
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==13. The Sikh kirpan is a weapon. Sikh men hide kirpans in their turbans==<br />
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The kirpan is one of the five articles of Sikh faith. It is mandatory for Khalsa to wear the kirpan. The kirpan is a symbol of a Sikhs' commitment to protect the weak and to promote justice. Sikh men DO NOT hide the kirpan in their turban. The kirpan is commonly worn in a cloth holster on the right shoulder under ones clothing.<br />
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==14. Women are subservient to men.==<br />
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Sikhism recognizes the complete equality between men and women in all spheres of life. In order that Sikhs would not follow the prevailing system which divided people into immutable castes, the 10th Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, gave all Sikh women the last name "Kaur" (meaning princess) and all Sikh men the last name "Singh" (meaning lion).<br />
It is through woman that order is maintained. Then why call her inferior from whom all great ones are born. Guru Granth Sahib Ji, p 473<br />
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At birth a Sikh girl is immediately “our darling” to her mother and father.<br />
Later, she becomes admired by her brothers and sisters and favoured by her relatives.<br />
On attaining to “ the bloom of youth” she is wedding with costly gifts and presents.<br />
Now, respected by her husbands family and deemed lucky in her new household, she<br />
regarded as the equal of her spouse in both virtue and wisdom.<br />
She becomes as a doorway to salvation. Such is the verbal portrait of a Guru-inspired<br />
And blessed, faithful Sikh woman. Var Bhai Gurdas Ji(5.16)<br />
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==15. Sikhs are required to practice yoga. Yoga is an integral part of Sikhism.==<br />
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Yoga is not an inherent or required Sikh religious practice. Some American followers of Sikhism do practice yoga, which, they believe aids their practice of Sikhism.<br />
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==16 What is the traditional dress of a Sikh ?==<br />
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Female.<br />
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The traditional dress of a Sikh is Salwaar Kameez - loose fitting top and bottoms - with a chunni (a large rectangular piece of cloth) to cover the head and draped around the shoulders. This traditional dress is also worn by others from the Indian subcontinent. Therefore the most obvious sign of a Sikh is unshorn hair kept in a bun or platt's, the other being the Kara ( the steel bracelet which forms part of the five K's) worn on the left wrist. All Sikhs, including women are enjoined to wear the five K's including the [[kirpan]] at all times.<br />
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Amritdhari Sikhs, those that have been baptised by partaking in the Amrit ceremony and are now part of the brotherhood of the Khalsa, may wear a Kasekee (small turban) also.<br />
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Male.<br />
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Traditional dress in northern India is usually the Kurta Pyjama - Loose fitting top and bottoms worn by men. However there is no dress code for Sikhs apart from that they should dress modestly.<br />
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'''Turban.'''<br />
Sikh men who keep the [[Kesh]], uncut hair wear a Turban and keep a full uncut beard. <br />
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Some Sikhs, often referred to as "Sehajdhari Sikhs" choose not to keep uncut hair and generally will not wear a turban. However, most will still wear the Kara on their wrist.<br />
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Turban Styles:<br />
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African style. <br />
Pointed apex at the front. Style started by those Sikhs living in Kenya and Uganda. <br />
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Indian style. <br />
Blunt rounded apex at the front. Style of the Sikhs of India.<br />
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Dhamala. <br />
A very rounded style altogether. Favoured by [[Nihangs]].<br />
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'''Turban Colour.'''<br />
Turban style or colour has no spiritual significance:<br />
White. Favoured by older Sikhs.<br />
Black. Favoured by the younger generation.<br />
Saffron. The traditional colour of the Sikhs.<br />
Red. Normally worn by the groom at the Anand Karaj (wedding) ceremony.<br />
Others No significance.<br />
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==17. Going to visit a Sikh home?==<br />
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Never take any cigarettes or tobacco to a Sikh house, and never ever ask to smoke. Sikhs are prohibited from smoking and consider smoking as unsociable and dirty. Sikhs are also not allowed to drink alcohol and eat meat, but some do not adhere to these principles. If a Sikh is Amritdhari, then he/she will definitely not consume alcohol, so best not to take a bottle of wine.<br />
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When it comes to food Sikhs are very hospitable , so be warned!<br />
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If you do not require second helpings of food refuse politely but firmly, but this will generally be ignored and samosa's and onion bhaji's will be piled up on your plate accompanied with "Don't by shy, consider this your home" or "You have hardly started eating, here have some more, and don't by shy."<br />
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Asked if you would like to watch an Indian video, politely refuse as you will have to watch the whole three hours. Same applies to wedding videos or else another three hours of your life will be wasted.<br />
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==18. Going to the Sikh Gurdwara?==<br />
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The proper name for the Sikh place of worship is the Gurdwara, not temple.<br />
Never enter a Gurdwara if you have consumed alcohol or if you have any cigarettes or tobacco on your person. Before entering the Darbar or main hall shoes and socks must be removed and head covered. Heads can be covered with a hat or material shaped like a handkerchief which is available from the Gurdwara. When approaching Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the holy scriptures, one can bow and place offering of money as a sign of respect then join the Sangat (congregation) seated on the carpeted floor. Most people are not used to sitting cross legged on the floor but be aware that sitting with legs stretched out with feet pointing at the Guru Granth Sahib is disrespectful.<br />
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A service at the Gurdwara normally consists of a combination of sermons and singing of shabads (hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib), unless it is a wedding you are attending in which case there is also the Anand Karaj (wedding) ceremony. All ends with the Ardaas, this is a special prayer that is spoken by the Giani (priest) while the Sangat stands with folded hands. This ends with a "Bolay sone hall, sat siri Akal" said by all at the tops of their voices. The blessed pudding of Parsad, is then distributed to all the Sangat who eat with their hands. It is important that no part of the parsad (consisting of floor, semolina, butter, sugar and water) falls on the floor as it has been blessed. It is then off to the dining hall for Langar (blessed lunch). Again it is important that you get only what you intend to eat, as leaving food that is blessed is frowned upon.</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Sikh_Basic_%26_Misconceptions&diff=26568
Sikh Basic & Misconceptions
2007-03-21T12:18:57Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* 12. Sikhs are allowed to drink alcohol. */</p>
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<div>Considering that the Sikhs are one of the most visible of communities there is a surprising lack of knowledge and understanding about them. Let us look at the basics and dispel some common mistakes and misconceptions about Sikhs and Sikhism.<br />
A Sikh is a person who believes in the ten Gurus – the lineage that begins with Guru Nanak Dev Ji born in 1469, and concludes with Guru Gobind Singh Ji who ascended the heavens in 1708. The teaching of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his successors concerning liberation through remembrance of the divine Name are incorporated in the holy scriptures known as the Aadh Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Sikhs also acknowledge the practice of naam-simram to be mandatory, though for some the acknowledgment may be implicit and the actual practice rudimentary.<br />
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The building which houses the Guru Granth Sahib Ji is called a Gurdwara and all Sikhs acknowledge the sanctity that the scriptures confers on it. They also recognise the role of the gurdwara in expressing the anti-caste ideals of the Gurus. This is done through the distribution of karah-parshaad and the institution of langar.<br />
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Those who acknowledge allegiance to Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his successors constitute the community originally known as Nanak-panth but now is simply called Panth. During the time of Guru Gobind Singh Ji members of the Panth were summoned to accept initiation into the Khalsa order and therefore to observe its code of discipline, the Rehat. Prominent among the many features of the Rehat are a series of obligations which include the Five K’s. Two particularly conspicuous items are the prohibition of hair -cutting and a rigorous ban on smoking.<br />
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Shortly before the ascension of Guru Gobind Singh Ji to heaven, Guru Ji declared the line of personal Gurus to be at an end and transferred the authority to Aath Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the Guru Panth. Orthodox Sikhs believe that the Guru Panth consists exclusively of initiated members of the Khalsa. All orthodox Sikhs accept these statements as the authentic commandments of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and although a proportion do not actually undergo initiation into the Khalsa they will at least observe the basic requirements of the Rehat.<br />
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Those who have undergone initiation are known as amrit-dhari Sikhs. If they have not been initiated but still accept at least the fundamentals of the Rehat they are regarded as Kes-dhari Sikhs. Acceptance must include the ban of cutting hair. Those Sikhs who are not kes-dhari and who do not follow the Rehat are known as Sahaj-dhari Sikhs, slow learners.<br />
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Sikhs reject the claim that they are a variety of Hinduism.<br />
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Sikhs are heirs to a history and a fund of tradition which they regard as a continuing source of guidance and inspiration. Although most Sikhs are Punjabis, the Panth is open to any who accept its doctrines and practices. Sikhism is not a religion of “you are either with us or against us.” It is a faith where we are all brothers and sisters and can sit down together in peace.<br />
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There are four castes of Hindus and four sects of Muslims in the world<br />
The members of both religions are selfish, jealous, proud, bigoted and violent.<br />
The Hindus make pilgrimage to Hardvar and Banaras, the Muslim to the Kaaba of Mecca.<br />
Circumcision is dear to the Muslims, sandal mark (tilak) and sacred thread to the Hindus.<br />
The Hindus invoke Ram, the Muslims, Rahim, but in reality there is only One God.<br />
Since they have forgotten the Vedas and the Katebas, worldly greed and devil have led them astray.<br />
Truth hidden from both; the brahmins and maulvis kill one another by their animosities.<br />
Neither sect shall find liberation from transmigration. (Guru Nanak dev Ji.)<br />
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==1. Sikhs are the same as Muslims or Arabs.==<br />
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Sikhs must not be confused with muslims, it is difficult for people from the west to distinguish between different ethnic groups of people from the east. Due to recent events and to the great dismay of Sikhs all over the world they have been mistaken for muslims with tragic consequences, two Sikhs have been shot dead in the USA and many many more harassed. This is due to images of muslims wearing beards and turbans. The reality is that 95% of all men with turbans and beards are Sikhs. While it is true that some Muslims wear turbans, the majority of people in the world wearing a turban are Sikhs. Sikh males, and some females, wear a turban to keep their long, uncut hair neat. Muslims, even those who wear turbans cut their hair. While orthodox Muslim males wear a particular style of trimmed beard, an adult Sikh male's beard is full and uncut. In addition, Sikhs do not profess the Muslim religion.<br />
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji said "There is no Hindu, there is no Mussulman." By this Guru Sahib was not belittling these faiths, but saying that in the eyes of God all are the same.<br />
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The Q'uran holds no significance for a Sikh.<br />
Fasting holds no relevance to a Sikh.<br />
Circumcision holds no relevance to a Sikh.<br />
Sikhs do not go in for ritual slaughter of innocent animals.<br />
Sikhs do not face in any particular direction, east or west, when praying.<br />
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Sikhs do not hold any significance in ritual shaving of the head, in fact removing of hair is forbidden in Sikhism.<br />
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One commonly encounters the insistent claim that Sikhism owes much to Islam and specifically to the Sufi tradition. Some have carried this theory to the point of claiming that Sikhism can be treated as an example of conscious syncretism, one which deliberately tried to blend Hindu and Muslim ideals. This claim can be dismissed, it is true there are parallels of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s teaching and Sufism but that can be traced to Bhaghti sources. Guru Nanak Dev Ji certainly chose Muslim terminology in a few shabads, but only because the shabads were addressed to a Muslim audience.<br />
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji viewed both Hindu traditions and Islam in a typical Sant manner. In there conventional form, both offered systems of belief and practices which largely relied on external authorities and outward responses. As such both were to be condemned. Only those who perceived the inner reality of truth could achieve deliverance and this end could be attained regardless of whether one was a Hindu or Muslim. Those who follow this inner path are the true believers as opposed to the false believers who continue to put trust in ritual and pilgrimage, Barhamins and Mullas.<br />
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Guru Ji used this true false theme in many shabads, one being in a shalok from Var Manjh :<br />
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Make mercy your mosque and devotion your prayer mat, righteousness your Qur’an.<br />
Meekness your circumcising, goodness your fasting, for thus the true Muslim expresses his faith.<br />
Make good works your Ka’bah, take truth as your pir, compassion your creed and your prayer.<br />
Let service to God be the beads which you tell and God will exalt you to glory.<br />
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This is classic Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s approach, typical both in terms of its insistent interior emphasis and its striking use of imagery.<br />
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Sikhs do not believe in a last prophet. There have been many men of God who have put people on the path of the Almighty and there will be many more. Who are we to put a stop on the Almighty’s will? If He wishes he will send down as many prophets as he likes.<br />
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Sikhs do not believe in a judgement day when all dead people will rise and be judged. We are judged every single day, every single second of every minute of every hour and meted out judgement as appropriate. If a person dies and is buried in the ground his decomposed body will release it's material into the earth. That material may get into the food chain and be consumed by another person. On this ‘judgement day’ who will rise from the dead to be judged? The first person or the second person and how can the first person rise if he is now part of the second person?<br />
First Mehl:<br />
The clay of the Muslim's grave becomes clay for the potter's wheel.<br />
Pots and bricks are fashioned from it, and it cries out as it burns.<br />
The poor clay burns, burns and weeps, as the fiery coal fall upon it.<br />
O Nanak, the Creator created the creation; the Creator Lord alone knows. ||2|| Guru Nanak Dev Ji<br />
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What Sikhism teaches and what other faiths teach are separate paths. The aim of most other faiths is to reach heaven and avoid hell with devils and Shaitans to way lay you and put you off your path. ‘They’ are the only people who will reach heaven and non else. Some promise hourries, fairy maidens to satisfy your every whim with wine to drink, golden palaces to reside in and servants at your beck and call. Sikhism neither wants nor needs any of these enticements. All Sikhs want is to merge with the one True Lord from whence we have come, as a drop of water merges with the ocean. Merging with the almighty liberates one from the circle of life and death and salvation is achieved by the grace of Waheguru.<br />
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As for Christianity, Sikhs do not believe that the Almighty sent down his son who will take all your sins upon himself only if you believe in him. You are the perpetrator of your sins and only you will have to answer for them. Of course if you submit to the will of God and ask for forgiveness then God as your true father will forgive all your misdemeanours. There is no one person or faith that has a monopoly on salvation.<br />
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==2 . Did Guru Nanak Dev Ji not have a robe with quotes from the Q'uran ?==<br />
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji traveled east to Nepal and the Himalayas visiting sacred centers of the Hindus on the way like Benaras and Hardwar. On an another udassi (journey) Guru Ji traveled south to Sri Lanka again visiting many places of learning. On a separate journey to the west Guru Nanak Dev Ji with Mardana traveled to Bhagdad and Mecca, not as a pilgrimage as some would suggest but on Gods mission to spread Gods word and to put people on the path of righteousness.<br />
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On Guru Ji's travels through Bhagdad, Mardana would play the rabab and Guru Sahib Ji would sing about the infiniteness of God and His Creation, wherein occurred the following expression: “ patala patal, lakha aghasa aghaas” - there are countless patals (earths) and innumerable akashs (sky). Which goes contrary to Muslim belief, as they only know of 7 earths and skys, When some Muslim who was listening to it and understood its purport went and reported the blasphemy of the utterance - inasmuch as the Qu'ran had mentioned only seven earths and seven skies - to the Sajjdanashin of the Shrine of Pir Dastagir, Abdul Qadir Jilani an agitated crowd gathered on the spot. The people were on the verge of throwing stones when they heard the Guru’s divine invocation. The sweet words of God entered their ears and the people in remorse of their actions went to their Pir and told him of the presence of a holy man.<br />
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The Pir, having reached the place, enquired from Mardana who the holy man was. He was told that he was Nanak who had rejected all others except one God who was all pervading on earth, sky and in all four directions. Guru Nanak Dev Ji stayed for a number of days and the people flocked to his side eagerly listening to the word of God. Guru Sahib Ji had many discourses with the local holy men.<br />
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One day Guru Sahib Ji was sleeping and his feet were towards the Kaaba. When challenged by the local Imam, Guru Ji replied “point my feet where God is not.” The local Imam ashamed of his actions asked Guru Sahib Ji to do kalma with him. As the Imam started his kalma Guru Ji did not. Guru Ji asked him “What is the use of meaningless ritual when your mind is somewhere else trying to work out how to get the best price for your horses.” Guru Ji had no need for kalma for he sang the Almighty's name 24/7.<br />
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Before his departure from there he was presented a chola (robe) as a token of respect on which verses in arabic were inscribed. This chola lies preserved in the Gurdwara at Dera Baba Nanak, in Pakistan. The chola was given to Guru Sahib Ji by his devotees in Bagdhad and there was no alterier motive, Guru Sahib Ji took it in the spirit in which it was given. Pir Babhol, a Sufi saint was deeply influenced by Guru Nanak Dev.<br />
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==3. Sikhs are Hindus or Sikhism is a Hindu sect.==<br />
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Sikhism and Hinduism are distinctly separate religions. Hinduism believes in caste distinctions, worships idols, and astrologic divination. Most Hindus are not monotheist, that is, they worship a god or goddess from a large array of deities. Sikhs on the other hand believe in the equality of all persons of both genders, do not believe one day to be more auspicious than another, and worship One, timeless God who is beyond birth and death.<br />
Although respected, the Vedas, Puranas, Shastras (Hindu scriptures) hold no relevance to Sikhs.<br />
Sikhs do not believe in fasting<br />
Sikhs do not believe in the tilak and jineu, marks of the Hindu<br />
Sikhs do not believe in high caste or low, all are one in the eyes of the Lord.<br />
Sikhs do not hold any significance in ritual shaving of the head, in fact removing of hair id forbidden in Sikhism.<br />
Sikhs reject of Idol worship<br />
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Although Sikhs respect great deities like Brahama, Shivji and Vishnu there belief in the One almighty God is unshakable.<br />
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You may bathe and wash, and apply a ritualistic tilak mark to your forehead, but without inner purity, there is no understanding. ||6|| Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Raag Raamkalee. p903<br />
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji explores the austerities carried out mostly by Hindus and concludes that they are of no avail unless you have the True Lord in your heart.<br />
Swine eats filth, elephants and donkeys bespatter themselves with dust.<br />
Jackals live at places of cremation.<br />
Owls live in tombs, deer wander alone in the forests, trees ever die in silence;<br />
The man who re-straineth his seed should only have the credit of the hermaphrodite<br />
Monkeys ever wander bare-footed.<br />
They who eat grass and renounce the desire of wealth are no more then calves and oxen.<br />
They who engage in meditation resemble cranes, cates and wolves<br />
For grazing on akk, eating fruits and flowers, and ever wandering in the forests, there is no animal like the goat.<br />
In the cold season the jackal barketh five times. and the elephant and donkey utter various cries<br />
If anyone were by repeating Gods name to obtain God (who cannot be obtained just by lip-worship), then the warbler ever uttereth "Tu hi ! Tu hi ! (would have obtained salvation)" <br />
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The Akal Ustat from Dasam Granth<br />
The Lord Akal creates millions of Krishna, annihilates them and recreates them.<br />
Some hang stones as gods around their necks, while others erroneously call Mahesh 'God'<br />
I have discarded all these false religions and am of the firm view that He who is the creator of the Universe, is the only Lord.<br />
Everyone is caught in the noose of Death, no Rama or prophet can escape from it. All of them who made grand claims of being Avtars of God died repentant. Why doest not thou, O, hapless being seek the shelter of the One Lord. (15th swayya) Dasam Granth<br />
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Even the ancient Hindu books only deal with those in the varn jati. Anyone outside this so called fluidity is a malesh. No matter if a Muslim has been a pious person all his life, never lied and always remembered Allah, in Hindu scriptures he/she will be a malesh. Punjabis are malesh just for residing in punjab according to the gita because they never accepted a Brahmin’s superiority.<br />
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==4 . Did the Gurus not write about Hindu deities ?==<br />
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It is indeed correct that Hindu deities are mentioned many times in Guru Granth Sahib Ji and Dasam Granth Ji and it is true that in many shabads (hymns) they are shown great respect, but it does not follow that the Hindu deities are revered in any way. In fact the deities – Brahman, Vishnu, Shiv Ji, Parvati, Hanuman – are shown to be spiritually higher life forms but who have flaws and are influenced by Maya/illusion, ego and the vices.<br />
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Guru Granth Sahib Ji and Dasam Granth Ji both mention Avtar/incarnations of past ages. God who is Nirgun (He has all qualities so He is without any single quality, hence Nir(no) Guna(Quality)) to restore order in his manifestation, the whole universe(s), from time to time will take the form of mighty men and women, who display some of his qualities, which is called Saguna - Sa(with) Guna (Qualities). So as per Dasham Granth Ji Saguna forms were described to show the might of Nirguna. The ultimate power is God - AkalPurkh, Waheguru, Paarbrahm, Ram, Allah - what ever you want to call Him, He has many names, and only Sikhism respects all great Saguna Saroops (forms) of God in all faiths.<br />
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First and foremost the Gurus remind us that the deities were all created (and will be destroyed) by the Almighty. This shows clearly that the Gurus had respect but in no way revered the deities.<br />
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So many winds, waters and fires; so many Krishnas and Shivas. Guru Nanak Dev Ji Japji.<br />
He created air, water and fire, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - the whole creation. Guru Nanak Dev Ji<br />
The realm of Shiva, the realms of Brahma and Indra as well - no place anywhere is permanent.<br />
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Guru Arjun dev ji.<br />
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The Gurus remind us time and again that the gods and goddesses have meditated for eons but still have not understood the secret of the Almighty.<br />
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Shiva, Brahma and all the silent sages cannot understand the state of the Lord. Guru Arjun Dev Ji<br />
The wise one, Shiva, remains absorbed in himself, but he is engrossed in dark passions and excessive egotism. ||2|| Guru Amar Daas Ji Raag Vadhans p559<br />
Shiva meditates through lakhs of methods (postures) but still could not recognise the form, hue and guise of the Lord.<br />
Vishnu incarnated himself through lakhs of creatures but he could not recognise even a bit of that Lord. Var18.<br />
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Beings like Sanak, Sanand, Shiva and Shaysh-naaga - none of them know Your mystery, Lord. ||1|| Bhagat Kabeer Ji Raag Dhanaasree p691<br />
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In the following shabad Guru Arjun Dev Ji describes Maya – illusion. Maya has the whole world in her embrace and even the mighty gods and goddesses cannot escape her.<br />
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Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:<br />
A frown creases her forehead, and her look is evil.<br />
Her speech is bitter, and her tongue is rude.<br />
She is always hungry, and she believes her Husband to be far away. ||1||<br />
Such is Maya, the woman, which the One Lord has created.<br />
She is devouring the whole world, but the Guru has saved me, O my Siblings of Destiny.<br />
Administering her poisons, she has overcome the whole world.<br />
She has bewitched Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.<br />
Only those Gurmukhs who are attuned to the Naam are blessed. ||2||<br />
Performing fasts, religious observances and atonements, the mortals have grown weary.<br />
They wander over the entire planet, on pilgrimages to the banks of sacred rivers.<br />
But they alone are saved, who seek the Sanctuary of the True Guru. ||3||<br />
Attached to Maya, the whole world is in bondage.<br />
The foolish self-willed manmukhs are consumed by their egotism.<br />
Taking me by the arm, Guru Nanak has saved me. ||4||2||96||<br />
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Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Aasaa p394<br />
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The deities are chastised for not putting people on the path of the one Almighty but rather making them their own devotees.<br />
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Those who serve Shiva and Brahma do not find the limits of the Lord. Guru Amar Daas Ji. Raag Gujri p516<br />
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This is not to say that the Gurus did not write about the deities with warmth and affection.<br />
The true Vaishnaav, the devotee of Vishnu, is the one with whom God is thoroughly pleased.<br />
He dwells apart from Maya.<br />
Performing good deeds, he does not seek rewards.<br />
Spotlessly pure is the religion of such a Vaishnaav;<br />
he has no desire for the fruits of his labours.<br />
He is absorbed in devotional worship and the singing of Kirtan, the songs of the Lord's Glory.<br />
Within his mind and body, he meditates in remembrance on the Lord of the Universe.<br />
He is kind to all creatures.<br />
He holds fast to the Naam, and inspires others to chant it.<br />
O Nanak, such a Vaishnaav obtains the supreme status. ||2||Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gauree p274<br />
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji describes the wonders of Akal Purkh and mentions that even Vishnu and Brahma could not comprehend the vastness of the Lord.<br />
Gujari, First Mehl:<br />
From the lotus of Vishnu's navel, Brahma was born; He chanted the Vedas with a melodious voice.<br />
He could not find the Lord's limits, and he remained in the darkness of coming and going. ||1||<br />
Why should I forget my Beloved? He is the support of my very breath of life.<br />
The perfect beings perform devotional worship to Him. The silent sages serve Him through the Guru's Teachings. ||1||Pause||<br />
His lamps are the sun and the moon; the One Light of the Destroyer of ego fills the three worlds.<br />
One who becomes Gurmukh remains immaculately pure, day and night, while the self-willed manmukh is enveloped by the darkness of night. ||2||<br />
The Siddhas in Samaadhi are continually in conflict; what can they see with their two eyes?<br />
One who has the Divine Light within his heart, and is awakened to the melody of the Word of the Shabad - the True Guru settles his conflicts. ||3||<br />
O Lord of angels and men, infinite and unborn, Your True Mansion is incomparable.<br />
Nanak merges imperceptibly into the Life of the world; shower Your mercy upon him, and save him. ||4||2|| Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Raag Gujri. Pannaa 489<br />
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'''Bhagat Kabir Ji whose hymns are found in Guru Granth Sahib Ji says :'''<br />
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Raag Dhanaasaree, The Word Of Devotee Kabeer Jee:<br />
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:<br />
Beings like Sanak, Sanand, Shiva and Shaysh-naaga - none of them know Your mystery, Lord. ||1||<br />
In the Society of the Saints, the Lord dwells within the heart. ||1||Pause||<br />
Beings like Hanumaan, Garura, Indra the King of the gods and the rulers of humans - none of them know Your Glories, Lord. ||2||<br />
The four Vedas, the Simritees and the Puraanas, Vishnu the Lord of Lakshmi and Lakshmi herself - none of them know the Lord. ||3||<br />
Says Kabeer, one who falls at the Lord's feet, and remains in His Sanctuary, does not wander around lost. ||4||1|| Bhagat Kabeer Ji in Raag Dhanaasree on Pannaa 691<br />
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Only Sikhism acknowledges that there are many paths to the Almighty and respect other faiths.<br />
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The followers of the Vedas, the Bible and the Koran, standing at Your Door, meditate on You.<br />
Uncounted are those who fall at Your Door.<br />
Brahma meditates on You, as does Indra on his throne.<br />
Shiva and Vishnu, and their incarnations, chant the Lord's Praise with their mouths,<br />
as do the Pirs, the spiritual teachers, the prophets and the Shaykhs, the silent sages and the seers.<br />
Through and through, the Formless Lord is woven into each and every heart.<br />
One is destroyed through falsehood; through righteousness, one prospers.<br />
Whatever the Lord links him to, to that he is linked. ||2||Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gujri on Pannaa 518<br />
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji in his Dasam Granth has written many compositions that tell the lives of deities worshipped by Hindus. It is their misunderstanding (intentional or unintentional) that the Guru Ji revered or worshipped the deities.<br />
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji had faith in the one almighty God and him alone. The opening of every composition in the Dasam Granth is a homage in praise of the one formless God, in the case of his autobiography, Bachittar Natak, the first quarter of the composition is in praise of God. The compositions Jaap Sahib and Akal Ustat (Eulogy to God), which being the Dasam Granth, are totally in praise of the Amlighty. As for the compositions Var Bhagauti Ki (Chandi di Var – composition re-telling the story of the goddess Durgas battle with the demons) and Chaubis Avtar ( the telling of the twenty four incarnations of Vishnu which include Bhagwan Krishan Ji, Sri Ram Chandar Ji, Macch Avatar, Kacch Avatar and Kalki Avatar) again the first part is in praise of the Almighty. So the notion that somehow Guru Sahib Ji revered or worshiped these deities is totally false.<br />
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'''Here is the start of Var Bhagauti Ki.'''<br />
Var Bhagauti Ki<br />
First and foremost I remember Bhauguti Ji (God) and then set my mind on Guru Nanak.<br />
Then I seek the help of Guru Angad, Guru Amar Das and Guru Ram Das. Arjan, Hargobind and (Guru) Har Rai be remembered.<br />
Sri Harkrishan be meditated upon whose mere glimpse removes all sorrows. (Guru) Tegh Bahadur be remembered as it causes the home to flourish.<br />
They all help me at all times.<br />
The Lord first created Khanda, the double edged sword and then his manifest world. Having created Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, He created the entire play of Kudrat (manifest world).<br />
He created the oceans, mountains, earth and sky which stands above, unsupported by any pillars.<br />
He created both gods(deities) and demons and then created polemic.<br />
It was You who created Durga so as to destroy the demons.<br />
Rama also took strength from you to kill Ravan with his arrow.<br />
Krishan also got strength from You and thus threw down Kansa by his hair.<br />
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Many great deities and ascetics underwent hard austerities, but none could fathom thy greatness. <br />
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==5 . Was the Singh Sabha Movement just a front for the British government ?== <br />
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In the mid ninteenth century the Christian missionaries were gaining ground within the Sikhs with the partonage of the British rulers. The Hindus under the Arya Samaj Movement were also making rapid strides into the Punjab. To counter these threats the enlightened section of the sikh community launched from Amritsar a revivalist movement known as the Singh Sabha Movement in 1873 to counter the conversions of of Sikhs. There were two sections one in Lahore and the original in Amritsar. Notable Sikh thinkers included Professor Gurmukh Singh, Bhai Ditt Singh, Bhai Kanh Singh (of Nabha), Sunder Singh and Bhai Vir Singh Ji. With the efforts of these Sikhs the Sikh faith was restored to its original Khalsa tradition and pristine purity. The movement battled against British rule and to think that these Sikhs colluded with the British is untrue.<br />
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==6. Sikhism is a derivative religion from Islam and Hinduism.==<br />
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Sikhism originated from the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Guru Ji obtained his message direct from the One Timeless Lord and sought to put the masses on to the righteous path towards realisation of God through meditation, sharing the fruits of your honest work and loving your fellow man, it is in no way derivative of any philosophy or religious thought. Guru Ji, on one hand sought to show the people the futility of the Caste system, of idol worship of inequality of the genders so inherent in Hinduism, and on the other, the cruelty of aggressive and forcible conversions and the inhumane treatment of ones fellow man.<br />
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==7. Sikhism was created to defend the downtrodden Hindus and Hinduism.==<br />
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Sikhism was not created to defend any religious group, Sikhism is a path to realisation of God. Pressure from government sources during the times of the last six Gurus led to the development of a Sikh army for self-defense. A Sikh is taught to stand against injustice from whatever source and to defend the weak and downtrodden, no matter what their religious affiliation. In the armies of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji there were many from a whole spectrum of religious beliefs, from Muslims to Hindus.<br />
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==8. Sikhs are a martial race, that they are a violent people.==<br />
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The "martial race" theory is a colonial construct that was created and propagated by the British who recruited large numbers of so called "martial races," the Sikhs, Gurkhas, Rajputs, etc., for service in the British army. Sikhs by and large are a very hard working law abiding group. [[Guru Gobind Singh]] famously stated that only after all other means are exhausted it is right to take to the sword. During the struggle to gain independence from the British Raj it was the Sikhs who lead peaceful, unarmed demonstrations such as the [[Jaito Morcha]] in 1924, even though they were fired upon by British forces. Many believe that Ghandi was inspired to start his demonstrations after seeing the effectiveness of these peaceful marches by the Sikhs.<br />
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==9. What type of names do Sikhs have ?==<br />
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Most Sikh names apply equally to men and women, the distinguishing feature is 'Singh' after a mans first name and 'Kaur' after a woman's. Traditional Sikh names normally end in the suffix<br />
- inder , as in Rajinder, Jatinder and Sukhinder.<br />
- pal , as in Kirnpal, Pritpal and Rajpal.<br />
- deep , as in Kirndeep, Jasdeep and Mandeep.<br />
- preet , as in Harpreet, Jaspreet and Sukhpreet.<br />
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There are names that do not fall into this pattern, for example - Kushvant, Keertan, Prishant and Bhavanjot.<br />
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==10. Khalsa means "pure".==<br />
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The word Khalsa means both "pure" and "belonging only to God". The Khalsa was created by the tenth master, Guru Gobind Singh Ji on Vaisakhi day 1699.When a committed Sikh is initiated he or she becomes a member of a spiritual order called Khalsa. A Khalsa belongs only to God.<br />
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==11. Sikhs don't eat beef.==<br />
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Some Sikhs eat any type of meat, some do not eat beef and some believe that Sikhs should not eat any meat or meat products. Sikhs who have been initiated into the order of the Khalsa by the Amrit ceremony are strictly forbidden to eat any type of meat which has been ritually slaughtered (e.g. Halal or Kosher)<br />
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==12. Sikhs are allowed to drink alcohol.==<br />
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The Sikh Code of Conduct states, "A Sikh must not take hemp, opium, liquor, tobacco, or any intoxicant." At the time of initiation, a Sikh vows not to use any intoxicant. Drinking alcohol is forbidden for Sikhs.<br />
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==13. The Sikh kirpan is a weapon. Sikh men hide kirpans in their turbans==<br />
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The kirpan is one of the five articles of Sikh faith. It is mandatory for Khalsa to wear the kirpan. The kirpan is a symbol of a Sikhs' commitment to protect the weak and to promote justice. Sikh men DO NOT hide the kirpan in their turban. The kirpan is commonly worn in a cloth holster on the right shoulder under ones clothing.<br />
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==14. Women are subservient to men.==<br />
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Sikhism recognizes the complete equality between men and women in all spheres of life. In order that Sikhs would not follow the prevailing system which divided people into immutable castes, the 10th Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, gave all Sikh women the last name "Kaur" (meaning princess) and all Sikh men the last name "Singh" (meaning lion).<br />
It is through woman that order is maintained. Then why call her inferior from whom all great ones are born. Guru Granth Sahib Ji, p 473<br />
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At birth a Sikh girl is immediately “our darling” to her mother and father.<br />
Later, she becomes admired by her brothers and sisters and favoured by her relatives.<br />
On attaining to “ the bloom of youth” she is wedding with costly gifts and presents.<br />
Now, respected by her husbands family and deemed lucky in her new household, she<br />
regarded as the equal of her spouse in both virtue and wisdom.<br />
She becomes as a doorway to salvation. Such is the verbal portrait of a Guru-inspired<br />
And blessed, faithful Sikh woman. Var Bhai Gurdas Ji(5.16)<br />
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==15. Sikhs are required to practice yoga. Yoga is an integral part of Sikhism.==<br />
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Yoga is not an inherent or required Sikh religious practice. Some American followers of Sikhism do practice yoga, which, they believe aids their practice of Sikhism.<br />
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==16 What is the traditional dress of a Sikh ?==<br />
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Female.<br />
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The traditional dress of a Sikh is Salwaar Kameez - loose fitting top and bottoms - with a chunni (a large rectangular piece of cloth) to cover the head and draped around the shoulders. This traditional dress is also worn by others from the Indian subcontinent. Therefore the most obvious sign of a Sikh is unshorn hair kept in a bun or platt's, the other being the Kara ( the steel bracelet which forms part of the five K's) worn on the left wrist.<br />
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Amritdhari Sikhs, those that have been baptised by partaking in the Amrit ceremony and are now part of the brotherhood of the Khalsa, may wear a Kasekee (small turban) also.<br />
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Male.<br />
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Amritdhari. <br />
Wear full beard and turban and a Kara on the right wrist. Older Sikhs may wear the traditional Kurta Pyjama - Loose fitting white cotton clothing.<br />
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Sehajdhari. <br />
(Slow learners) May wear turban with designer(?) stubble, may not wear turban and are clean shaven or a combination. Most still wear the Kara on their wrist.<br />
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Note : <br />
There are certain sections of the 'Asian' community who masquerade as Sikhs by wearing a Kara to deceive Sikh females.<br />
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'''Turban.'''<br />
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African style. <br />
Pointed apex at the front. Style started by those Sikhs living in Kenya and Uganda. Now favoured by the young.<br />
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Indian style. <br />
Blunt rounded apex at the front. Style of the Sikhs of India.<br />
Traditional. <br />
A very rounded style altogether. Favoured by orthodox Sikhs and by spiritually enlightened souls.<br />
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'''Turban Colour.'''<br />
White. Favoured by older Sikhs.<br />
Black. Favoured by the younger generation.<br />
Saffron. The traditional colour of the Sikhs.<br />
Red. Normally worn by the groom at the Anand Karaj (wedding) ceremony.<br />
Others No significance.<br />
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==17. Going to visit a Sikh home?==<br />
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Never take any cigarettes or tobacco to a Sikh house, and never ever ask to smoke. Sikhs are prohibited from smoking and consider smoking as unsociable and dirty. Sikhs are also not allowed to drink alcohol and eat meat, but some do not adhere to these principles. If a Sikh is Amritdhari, then he/she will definitely not consume alcohol, so best not to take a bottle of wine.<br />
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When it comes to food Sikhs are very hospitable , so be warned!<br />
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If you do not require second helpings of food refuse politely but firmly, but this will generally be ignored and samosa's and onion bhaji's will be piled up on your plate accompanied with "Don't by shy, consider this your home" or "You have hardly started eating, here have some more, and don't by shy."<br />
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Asked if you would like to watch an Indian video, politely refuse as you will have to watch the whole three hours. Same applies to wedding videos or else another three hours of your life will be wasted.<br />
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==18. Going to the Sikh Gurdwara?==<br />
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The proper name for the Sikh place of worship is the Gurdwara, not temple.<br />
Never enter a Gurdwara if you have consumed alcohol or if you have any cigarettes or tobacco on your person. Before entering the Darbar or main hall shoes and socks must be removed and head covered. Heads can be covered with a hat or material shaped like a handkerchief which is available from the Gurdwara. When approaching Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the holy scriptures, one can bow and place offering of money as a sign of respect then join the Sangat (congregation) seated on the carpeted floor. Most people are not used to sitting cross legged on the floor but be aware that sitting with legs stretched out with feet pointing at the Guru Granth Sahib is disrespectful.<br />
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A service at the Gurdwara normally consists of a combination of sermons and singing of shabads (hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib), unless it is a wedding you are attending in which case there is also the Anand Karaj (wedding) ceremony. All ends with the Ardaas, this is a special prayer that is spoken by the Giani (priest) while the Sangat stands with folded hands. This ends with a "Bolay sone hall, sat siri Akal" said by all at the tops of their voices. The blessed pudding of Parsad, is then distributed to all the Sangat who eat with their hands. It is important that no part of the parsad (consisting of floor, semolina, butter, sugar and water) falls on the floor as it has been blessed. It is then off to the dining hall for Langar (blessed lunch). Again it is important that you get only what you intend to eat, as leaving food that is blessed is frowned upon.</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Sikh_Basic_%26_Misconceptions&diff=26567
Sikh Basic & Misconceptions
2007-03-21T12:17:50Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* 11. Sikhs don't eat beef. */</p>
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<div>Considering that the Sikhs are one of the most visible of communities there is a surprising lack of knowledge and understanding about them. Let us look at the basics and dispel some common mistakes and misconceptions about Sikhs and Sikhism.<br />
A Sikh is a person who believes in the ten Gurus – the lineage that begins with Guru Nanak Dev Ji born in 1469, and concludes with Guru Gobind Singh Ji who ascended the heavens in 1708. The teaching of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his successors concerning liberation through remembrance of the divine Name are incorporated in the holy scriptures known as the Aadh Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Sikhs also acknowledge the practice of naam-simram to be mandatory, though for some the acknowledgment may be implicit and the actual practice rudimentary.<br />
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The building which houses the Guru Granth Sahib Ji is called a Gurdwara and all Sikhs acknowledge the sanctity that the scriptures confers on it. They also recognise the role of the gurdwara in expressing the anti-caste ideals of the Gurus. This is done through the distribution of karah-parshaad and the institution of langar.<br />
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Those who acknowledge allegiance to Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his successors constitute the community originally known as Nanak-panth but now is simply called Panth. During the time of Guru Gobind Singh Ji members of the Panth were summoned to accept initiation into the Khalsa order and therefore to observe its code of discipline, the Rehat. Prominent among the many features of the Rehat are a series of obligations which include the Five K’s. Two particularly conspicuous items are the prohibition of hair -cutting and a rigorous ban on smoking.<br />
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Shortly before the ascension of Guru Gobind Singh Ji to heaven, Guru Ji declared the line of personal Gurus to be at an end and transferred the authority to Aath Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the Guru Panth. Orthodox Sikhs believe that the Guru Panth consists exclusively of initiated members of the Khalsa. All orthodox Sikhs accept these statements as the authentic commandments of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and although a proportion do not actually undergo initiation into the Khalsa they will at least observe the basic requirements of the Rehat.<br />
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Those who have undergone initiation are known as amrit-dhari Sikhs. If they have not been initiated but still accept at least the fundamentals of the Rehat they are regarded as Kes-dhari Sikhs. Acceptance must include the ban of cutting hair. Those Sikhs who are not kes-dhari and who do not follow the Rehat are known as Sahaj-dhari Sikhs, slow learners.<br />
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Sikhs reject the claim that they are a variety of Hinduism.<br />
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Sikhs are heirs to a history and a fund of tradition which they regard as a continuing source of guidance and inspiration. Although most Sikhs are Punjabis, the Panth is open to any who accept its doctrines and practices. Sikhism is not a religion of “you are either with us or against us.” It is a faith where we are all brothers and sisters and can sit down together in peace.<br />
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There are four castes of Hindus and four sects of Muslims in the world<br />
The members of both religions are selfish, jealous, proud, bigoted and violent.<br />
The Hindus make pilgrimage to Hardvar and Banaras, the Muslim to the Kaaba of Mecca.<br />
Circumcision is dear to the Muslims, sandal mark (tilak) and sacred thread to the Hindus.<br />
The Hindus invoke Ram, the Muslims, Rahim, but in reality there is only One God.<br />
Since they have forgotten the Vedas and the Katebas, worldly greed and devil have led them astray.<br />
Truth hidden from both; the brahmins and maulvis kill one another by their animosities.<br />
Neither sect shall find liberation from transmigration. (Guru Nanak dev Ji.)<br />
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==1. Sikhs are the same as Muslims or Arabs.==<br />
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Sikhs must not be confused with muslims, it is difficult for people from the west to distinguish between different ethnic groups of people from the east. Due to recent events and to the great dismay of Sikhs all over the world they have been mistaken for muslims with tragic consequences, two Sikhs have been shot dead in the USA and many many more harassed. This is due to images of muslims wearing beards and turbans. The reality is that 95% of all men with turbans and beards are Sikhs. While it is true that some Muslims wear turbans, the majority of people in the world wearing a turban are Sikhs. Sikh males, and some females, wear a turban to keep their long, uncut hair neat. Muslims, even those who wear turbans cut their hair. While orthodox Muslim males wear a particular style of trimmed beard, an adult Sikh male's beard is full and uncut. In addition, Sikhs do not profess the Muslim religion.<br />
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji said "There is no Hindu, there is no Mussulman." By this Guru Sahib was not belittling these faiths, but saying that in the eyes of God all are the same.<br />
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The Q'uran holds no significance for a Sikh.<br />
Fasting holds no relevance to a Sikh.<br />
Circumcision holds no relevance to a Sikh.<br />
Sikhs do not go in for ritual slaughter of innocent animals.<br />
Sikhs do not face in any particular direction, east or west, when praying.<br />
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Sikhs do not hold any significance in ritual shaving of the head, in fact removing of hair is forbidden in Sikhism.<br />
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One commonly encounters the insistent claim that Sikhism owes much to Islam and specifically to the Sufi tradition. Some have carried this theory to the point of claiming that Sikhism can be treated as an example of conscious syncretism, one which deliberately tried to blend Hindu and Muslim ideals. This claim can be dismissed, it is true there are parallels of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s teaching and Sufism but that can be traced to Bhaghti sources. Guru Nanak Dev Ji certainly chose Muslim terminology in a few shabads, but only because the shabads were addressed to a Muslim audience.<br />
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji viewed both Hindu traditions and Islam in a typical Sant manner. In there conventional form, both offered systems of belief and practices which largely relied on external authorities and outward responses. As such both were to be condemned. Only those who perceived the inner reality of truth could achieve deliverance and this end could be attained regardless of whether one was a Hindu or Muslim. Those who follow this inner path are the true believers as opposed to the false believers who continue to put trust in ritual and pilgrimage, Barhamins and Mullas.<br />
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Guru Ji used this true false theme in many shabads, one being in a shalok from Var Manjh :<br />
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Make mercy your mosque and devotion your prayer mat, righteousness your Qur’an.<br />
Meekness your circumcising, goodness your fasting, for thus the true Muslim expresses his faith.<br />
Make good works your Ka’bah, take truth as your pir, compassion your creed and your prayer.<br />
Let service to God be the beads which you tell and God will exalt you to glory.<br />
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This is classic Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s approach, typical both in terms of its insistent interior emphasis and its striking use of imagery.<br />
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Sikhs do not believe in a last prophet. There have been many men of God who have put people on the path of the Almighty and there will be many more. Who are we to put a stop on the Almighty’s will? If He wishes he will send down as many prophets as he likes.<br />
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Sikhs do not believe in a judgement day when all dead people will rise and be judged. We are judged every single day, every single second of every minute of every hour and meted out judgement as appropriate. If a person dies and is buried in the ground his decomposed body will release it's material into the earth. That material may get into the food chain and be consumed by another person. On this ‘judgement day’ who will rise from the dead to be judged? The first person or the second person and how can the first person rise if he is now part of the second person?<br />
First Mehl:<br />
The clay of the Muslim's grave becomes clay for the potter's wheel.<br />
Pots and bricks are fashioned from it, and it cries out as it burns.<br />
The poor clay burns, burns and weeps, as the fiery coal fall upon it.<br />
O Nanak, the Creator created the creation; the Creator Lord alone knows. ||2|| Guru Nanak Dev Ji<br />
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What Sikhism teaches and what other faiths teach are separate paths. The aim of most other faiths is to reach heaven and avoid hell with devils and Shaitans to way lay you and put you off your path. ‘They’ are the only people who will reach heaven and non else. Some promise hourries, fairy maidens to satisfy your every whim with wine to drink, golden palaces to reside in and servants at your beck and call. Sikhism neither wants nor needs any of these enticements. All Sikhs want is to merge with the one True Lord from whence we have come, as a drop of water merges with the ocean. Merging with the almighty liberates one from the circle of life and death and salvation is achieved by the grace of Waheguru.<br />
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As for Christianity, Sikhs do not believe that the Almighty sent down his son who will take all your sins upon himself only if you believe in him. You are the perpetrator of your sins and only you will have to answer for them. Of course if you submit to the will of God and ask for forgiveness then God as your true father will forgive all your misdemeanours. There is no one person or faith that has a monopoly on salvation.<br />
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==2 . Did Guru Nanak Dev Ji not have a robe with quotes from the Q'uran ?==<br />
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji traveled east to Nepal and the Himalayas visiting sacred centers of the Hindus on the way like Benaras and Hardwar. On an another udassi (journey) Guru Ji traveled south to Sri Lanka again visiting many places of learning. On a separate journey to the west Guru Nanak Dev Ji with Mardana traveled to Bhagdad and Mecca, not as a pilgrimage as some would suggest but on Gods mission to spread Gods word and to put people on the path of righteousness.<br />
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On Guru Ji's travels through Bhagdad, Mardana would play the rabab and Guru Sahib Ji would sing about the infiniteness of God and His Creation, wherein occurred the following expression: “ patala patal, lakha aghasa aghaas” - there are countless patals (earths) and innumerable akashs (sky). Which goes contrary to Muslim belief, as they only know of 7 earths and skys, When some Muslim who was listening to it and understood its purport went and reported the blasphemy of the utterance - inasmuch as the Qu'ran had mentioned only seven earths and seven skies - to the Sajjdanashin of the Shrine of Pir Dastagir, Abdul Qadir Jilani an agitated crowd gathered on the spot. The people were on the verge of throwing stones when they heard the Guru’s divine invocation. The sweet words of God entered their ears and the people in remorse of their actions went to their Pir and told him of the presence of a holy man.<br />
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The Pir, having reached the place, enquired from Mardana who the holy man was. He was told that he was Nanak who had rejected all others except one God who was all pervading on earth, sky and in all four directions. Guru Nanak Dev Ji stayed for a number of days and the people flocked to his side eagerly listening to the word of God. Guru Sahib Ji had many discourses with the local holy men.<br />
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One day Guru Sahib Ji was sleeping and his feet were towards the Kaaba. When challenged by the local Imam, Guru Ji replied “point my feet where God is not.” The local Imam ashamed of his actions asked Guru Sahib Ji to do kalma with him. As the Imam started his kalma Guru Ji did not. Guru Ji asked him “What is the use of meaningless ritual when your mind is somewhere else trying to work out how to get the best price for your horses.” Guru Ji had no need for kalma for he sang the Almighty's name 24/7.<br />
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Before his departure from there he was presented a chola (robe) as a token of respect on which verses in arabic were inscribed. This chola lies preserved in the Gurdwara at Dera Baba Nanak, in Pakistan. The chola was given to Guru Sahib Ji by his devotees in Bagdhad and there was no alterier motive, Guru Sahib Ji took it in the spirit in which it was given. Pir Babhol, a Sufi saint was deeply influenced by Guru Nanak Dev.<br />
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==3. Sikhs are Hindus or Sikhism is a Hindu sect.==<br />
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Sikhism and Hinduism are distinctly separate religions. Hinduism believes in caste distinctions, worships idols, and astrologic divination. Most Hindus are not monotheist, that is, they worship a god or goddess from a large array of deities. Sikhs on the other hand believe in the equality of all persons of both genders, do not believe one day to be more auspicious than another, and worship One, timeless God who is beyond birth and death.<br />
Although respected, the Vedas, Puranas, Shastras (Hindu scriptures) hold no relevance to Sikhs.<br />
Sikhs do not believe in fasting<br />
Sikhs do not believe in the tilak and jineu, marks of the Hindu<br />
Sikhs do not believe in high caste or low, all are one in the eyes of the Lord.<br />
Sikhs do not hold any significance in ritual shaving of the head, in fact removing of hair id forbidden in Sikhism.<br />
Sikhs reject of Idol worship<br />
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Although Sikhs respect great deities like Brahama, Shivji and Vishnu there belief in the One almighty God is unshakable.<br />
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You may bathe and wash, and apply a ritualistic tilak mark to your forehead, but without inner purity, there is no understanding. ||6|| Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Raag Raamkalee. p903<br />
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji explores the austerities carried out mostly by Hindus and concludes that they are of no avail unless you have the True Lord in your heart.<br />
Swine eats filth, elephants and donkeys bespatter themselves with dust.<br />
Jackals live at places of cremation.<br />
Owls live in tombs, deer wander alone in the forests, trees ever die in silence;<br />
The man who re-straineth his seed should only have the credit of the hermaphrodite<br />
Monkeys ever wander bare-footed.<br />
They who eat grass and renounce the desire of wealth are no more then calves and oxen.<br />
They who engage in meditation resemble cranes, cates and wolves<br />
For grazing on akk, eating fruits and flowers, and ever wandering in the forests, there is no animal like the goat.<br />
In the cold season the jackal barketh five times. and the elephant and donkey utter various cries<br />
If anyone were by repeating Gods name to obtain God (who cannot be obtained just by lip-worship), then the warbler ever uttereth "Tu hi ! Tu hi ! (would have obtained salvation)" <br />
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The Akal Ustat from Dasam Granth<br />
The Lord Akal creates millions of Krishna, annihilates them and recreates them.<br />
Some hang stones as gods around their necks, while others erroneously call Mahesh 'God'<br />
I have discarded all these false religions and am of the firm view that He who is the creator of the Universe, is the only Lord.<br />
Everyone is caught in the noose of Death, no Rama or prophet can escape from it. All of them who made grand claims of being Avtars of God died repentant. Why doest not thou, O, hapless being seek the shelter of the One Lord. (15th swayya) Dasam Granth<br />
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Even the ancient Hindu books only deal with those in the varn jati. Anyone outside this so called fluidity is a malesh. No matter if a Muslim has been a pious person all his life, never lied and always remembered Allah, in Hindu scriptures he/she will be a malesh. Punjabis are malesh just for residing in punjab according to the gita because they never accepted a Brahmin’s superiority.<br />
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==4 . Did the Gurus not write about Hindu deities ?==<br />
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It is indeed correct that Hindu deities are mentioned many times in Guru Granth Sahib Ji and Dasam Granth Ji and it is true that in many shabads (hymns) they are shown great respect, but it does not follow that the Hindu deities are revered in any way. In fact the deities – Brahman, Vishnu, Shiv Ji, Parvati, Hanuman – are shown to be spiritually higher life forms but who have flaws and are influenced by Maya/illusion, ego and the vices.<br />
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Guru Granth Sahib Ji and Dasam Granth Ji both mention Avtar/incarnations of past ages. God who is Nirgun (He has all qualities so He is without any single quality, hence Nir(no) Guna(Quality)) to restore order in his manifestation, the whole universe(s), from time to time will take the form of mighty men and women, who display some of his qualities, which is called Saguna - Sa(with) Guna (Qualities). So as per Dasham Granth Ji Saguna forms were described to show the might of Nirguna. The ultimate power is God - AkalPurkh, Waheguru, Paarbrahm, Ram, Allah - what ever you want to call Him, He has many names, and only Sikhism respects all great Saguna Saroops (forms) of God in all faiths.<br />
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First and foremost the Gurus remind us that the deities were all created (and will be destroyed) by the Almighty. This shows clearly that the Gurus had respect but in no way revered the deities.<br />
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So many winds, waters and fires; so many Krishnas and Shivas. Guru Nanak Dev Ji Japji.<br />
He created air, water and fire, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - the whole creation. Guru Nanak Dev Ji<br />
The realm of Shiva, the realms of Brahma and Indra as well - no place anywhere is permanent.<br />
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Guru Arjun dev ji.<br />
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The Gurus remind us time and again that the gods and goddesses have meditated for eons but still have not understood the secret of the Almighty.<br />
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Shiva, Brahma and all the silent sages cannot understand the state of the Lord. Guru Arjun Dev Ji<br />
The wise one, Shiva, remains absorbed in himself, but he is engrossed in dark passions and excessive egotism. ||2|| Guru Amar Daas Ji Raag Vadhans p559<br />
Shiva meditates through lakhs of methods (postures) but still could not recognise the form, hue and guise of the Lord.<br />
Vishnu incarnated himself through lakhs of creatures but he could not recognise even a bit of that Lord. Var18.<br />
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Beings like Sanak, Sanand, Shiva and Shaysh-naaga - none of them know Your mystery, Lord. ||1|| Bhagat Kabeer Ji Raag Dhanaasree p691<br />
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In the following shabad Guru Arjun Dev Ji describes Maya – illusion. Maya has the whole world in her embrace and even the mighty gods and goddesses cannot escape her.<br />
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Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:<br />
A frown creases her forehead, and her look is evil.<br />
Her speech is bitter, and her tongue is rude.<br />
She is always hungry, and she believes her Husband to be far away. ||1||<br />
Such is Maya, the woman, which the One Lord has created.<br />
She is devouring the whole world, but the Guru has saved me, O my Siblings of Destiny.<br />
Administering her poisons, she has overcome the whole world.<br />
She has bewitched Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.<br />
Only those Gurmukhs who are attuned to the Naam are blessed. ||2||<br />
Performing fasts, religious observances and atonements, the mortals have grown weary.<br />
They wander over the entire planet, on pilgrimages to the banks of sacred rivers.<br />
But they alone are saved, who seek the Sanctuary of the True Guru. ||3||<br />
Attached to Maya, the whole world is in bondage.<br />
The foolish self-willed manmukhs are consumed by their egotism.<br />
Taking me by the arm, Guru Nanak has saved me. ||4||2||96||<br />
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Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Aasaa p394<br />
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The deities are chastised for not putting people on the path of the one Almighty but rather making them their own devotees.<br />
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Those who serve Shiva and Brahma do not find the limits of the Lord. Guru Amar Daas Ji. Raag Gujri p516<br />
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This is not to say that the Gurus did not write about the deities with warmth and affection.<br />
The true Vaishnaav, the devotee of Vishnu, is the one with whom God is thoroughly pleased.<br />
He dwells apart from Maya.<br />
Performing good deeds, he does not seek rewards.<br />
Spotlessly pure is the religion of such a Vaishnaav;<br />
he has no desire for the fruits of his labours.<br />
He is absorbed in devotional worship and the singing of Kirtan, the songs of the Lord's Glory.<br />
Within his mind and body, he meditates in remembrance on the Lord of the Universe.<br />
He is kind to all creatures.<br />
He holds fast to the Naam, and inspires others to chant it.<br />
O Nanak, such a Vaishnaav obtains the supreme status. ||2||Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gauree p274<br />
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji describes the wonders of Akal Purkh and mentions that even Vishnu and Brahma could not comprehend the vastness of the Lord.<br />
Gujari, First Mehl:<br />
From the lotus of Vishnu's navel, Brahma was born; He chanted the Vedas with a melodious voice.<br />
He could not find the Lord's limits, and he remained in the darkness of coming and going. ||1||<br />
Why should I forget my Beloved? He is the support of my very breath of life.<br />
The perfect beings perform devotional worship to Him. The silent sages serve Him through the Guru's Teachings. ||1||Pause||<br />
His lamps are the sun and the moon; the One Light of the Destroyer of ego fills the three worlds.<br />
One who becomes Gurmukh remains immaculately pure, day and night, while the self-willed manmukh is enveloped by the darkness of night. ||2||<br />
The Siddhas in Samaadhi are continually in conflict; what can they see with their two eyes?<br />
One who has the Divine Light within his heart, and is awakened to the melody of the Word of the Shabad - the True Guru settles his conflicts. ||3||<br />
O Lord of angels and men, infinite and unborn, Your True Mansion is incomparable.<br />
Nanak merges imperceptibly into the Life of the world; shower Your mercy upon him, and save him. ||4||2|| Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Raag Gujri. Pannaa 489<br />
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'''Bhagat Kabir Ji whose hymns are found in Guru Granth Sahib Ji says :'''<br />
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Raag Dhanaasaree, The Word Of Devotee Kabeer Jee:<br />
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:<br />
Beings like Sanak, Sanand, Shiva and Shaysh-naaga - none of them know Your mystery, Lord. ||1||<br />
In the Society of the Saints, the Lord dwells within the heart. ||1||Pause||<br />
Beings like Hanumaan, Garura, Indra the King of the gods and the rulers of humans - none of them know Your Glories, Lord. ||2||<br />
The four Vedas, the Simritees and the Puraanas, Vishnu the Lord of Lakshmi and Lakshmi herself - none of them know the Lord. ||3||<br />
Says Kabeer, one who falls at the Lord's feet, and remains in His Sanctuary, does not wander around lost. ||4||1|| Bhagat Kabeer Ji in Raag Dhanaasree on Pannaa 691<br />
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Only Sikhism acknowledges that there are many paths to the Almighty and respect other faiths.<br />
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The followers of the Vedas, the Bible and the Koran, standing at Your Door, meditate on You.<br />
Uncounted are those who fall at Your Door.<br />
Brahma meditates on You, as does Indra on his throne.<br />
Shiva and Vishnu, and their incarnations, chant the Lord's Praise with their mouths,<br />
as do the Pirs, the spiritual teachers, the prophets and the Shaykhs, the silent sages and the seers.<br />
Through and through, the Formless Lord is woven into each and every heart.<br />
One is destroyed through falsehood; through righteousness, one prospers.<br />
Whatever the Lord links him to, to that he is linked. ||2||Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gujri on Pannaa 518<br />
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji in his Dasam Granth has written many compositions that tell the lives of deities worshipped by Hindus. It is their misunderstanding (intentional or unintentional) that the Guru Ji revered or worshipped the deities.<br />
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji had faith in the one almighty God and him alone. The opening of every composition in the Dasam Granth is a homage in praise of the one formless God, in the case of his autobiography, Bachittar Natak, the first quarter of the composition is in praise of God. The compositions Jaap Sahib and Akal Ustat (Eulogy to God), which being the Dasam Granth, are totally in praise of the Amlighty. As for the compositions Var Bhagauti Ki (Chandi di Var – composition re-telling the story of the goddess Durgas battle with the demons) and Chaubis Avtar ( the telling of the twenty four incarnations of Vishnu which include Bhagwan Krishan Ji, Sri Ram Chandar Ji, Macch Avatar, Kacch Avatar and Kalki Avatar) again the first part is in praise of the Almighty. So the notion that somehow Guru Sahib Ji revered or worshiped these deities is totally false.<br />
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'''Here is the start of Var Bhagauti Ki.'''<br />
Var Bhagauti Ki<br />
First and foremost I remember Bhauguti Ji (God) and then set my mind on Guru Nanak.<br />
Then I seek the help of Guru Angad, Guru Amar Das and Guru Ram Das. Arjan, Hargobind and (Guru) Har Rai be remembered.<br />
Sri Harkrishan be meditated upon whose mere glimpse removes all sorrows. (Guru) Tegh Bahadur be remembered as it causes the home to flourish.<br />
They all help me at all times.<br />
The Lord first created Khanda, the double edged sword and then his manifest world. Having created Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, He created the entire play of Kudrat (manifest world).<br />
He created the oceans, mountains, earth and sky which stands above, unsupported by any pillars.<br />
He created both gods(deities) and demons and then created polemic.<br />
It was You who created Durga so as to destroy the demons.<br />
Rama also took strength from you to kill Ravan with his arrow.<br />
Krishan also got strength from You and thus threw down Kansa by his hair.<br />
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Many great deities and ascetics underwent hard austerities, but none could fathom thy greatness. <br />
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==5 . Was the Singh Sabha Movement just a front for the British government ?== <br />
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In the mid ninteenth century the Christian missionaries were gaining ground within the Sikhs with the partonage of the British rulers. The Hindus under the Arya Samaj Movement were also making rapid strides into the Punjab. To counter these threats the enlightened section of the sikh community launched from Amritsar a revivalist movement known as the Singh Sabha Movement in 1873 to counter the conversions of of Sikhs. There were two sections one in Lahore and the original in Amritsar. Notable Sikh thinkers included Professor Gurmukh Singh, Bhai Ditt Singh, Bhai Kanh Singh (of Nabha), Sunder Singh and Bhai Vir Singh Ji. With the efforts of these Sikhs the Sikh faith was restored to its original Khalsa tradition and pristine purity. The movement battled against British rule and to think that these Sikhs colluded with the British is untrue.<br />
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==6. Sikhism is a derivative religion from Islam and Hinduism.==<br />
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Sikhism originated from the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Guru Ji obtained his message direct from the One Timeless Lord and sought to put the masses on to the righteous path towards realisation of God through meditation, sharing the fruits of your honest work and loving your fellow man, it is in no way derivative of any philosophy or religious thought. Guru Ji, on one hand sought to show the people the futility of the Caste system, of idol worship of inequality of the genders so inherent in Hinduism, and on the other, the cruelty of aggressive and forcible conversions and the inhumane treatment of ones fellow man.<br />
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==7. Sikhism was created to defend the downtrodden Hindus and Hinduism.==<br />
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Sikhism was not created to defend any religious group, Sikhism is a path to realisation of God. Pressure from government sources during the times of the last six Gurus led to the development of a Sikh army for self-defense. A Sikh is taught to stand against injustice from whatever source and to defend the weak and downtrodden, no matter what their religious affiliation. In the armies of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji there were many from a whole spectrum of religious beliefs, from Muslims to Hindus.<br />
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==8. Sikhs are a martial race, that they are a violent people.==<br />
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The "martial race" theory is a colonial construct that was created and propagated by the British who recruited large numbers of so called "martial races," the Sikhs, Gurkhas, Rajputs, etc., for service in the British army. Sikhs by and large are a very hard working law abiding group. [[Guru Gobind Singh]] famously stated that only after all other means are exhausted it is right to take to the sword. During the struggle to gain independence from the British Raj it was the Sikhs who lead peaceful, unarmed demonstrations such as the [[Jaito Morcha]] in 1924, even though they were fired upon by British forces. Many believe that Ghandi was inspired to start his demonstrations after seeing the effectiveness of these peaceful marches by the Sikhs.<br />
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==9. What type of names do Sikhs have ?==<br />
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Most Sikh names apply equally to men and women, the distinguishing feature is 'Singh' after a mans first name and 'Kaur' after a woman's. Traditional Sikh names normally end in the suffix<br />
- inder , as in Rajinder, Jatinder and Sukhinder.<br />
- pal , as in Kirnpal, Pritpal and Rajpal.<br />
- deep , as in Kirndeep, Jasdeep and Mandeep.<br />
- preet , as in Harpreet, Jaspreet and Sukhpreet.<br />
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There are names that do not fall into this pattern, for example - Kushvant, Keertan, Prishant and Bhavanjot.<br />
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==10. Khalsa means "pure".==<br />
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The word Khalsa means both "pure" and "belonging only to God". The Khalsa was created by the tenth master, Guru Gobind Singh Ji on Vaisakhi day 1699.When a committed Sikh is initiated he or she becomes a member of a spiritual order called Khalsa. A Khalsa belongs only to God.<br />
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==11. Sikhs don't eat beef.==<br />
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Some Sikhs eat any type of meat, some do not eat beef and some believe that Sikhs should not eat any meat or meat products. Sikhs who have been initiated into the order of the Khalsa by the Amrit ceremony are strictly forbidden to eat any type of meat which has been ritually slaughtered (e.g. Halal or Kosher)<br />
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==12. Sikhs are allowed to drink alcohol.==<br />
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The Sikh Code of Conduct states, "A Sikh must not take hemp, opium, liquor, tobacco, or any intoxicant." At the time of initiation, a Sikh vows not to use any intoxicant. Drinking alcohol is forbidden for Sikhs.watch [[fools who wrangle over flesh]]<br />
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==13. The Sikh kirpan is a weapon. Sikh men hide kirpans in their turbans==<br />
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The kirpan is one of the five articles of Sikh faith. It is mandatory for Khalsa to wear the kirpan. The kirpan is a symbol of a Sikhs' commitment to protect the weak and to promote justice. Sikh men DO NOT hide the kirpan in their turban. The kirpan is commonly worn in a cloth holster on the right shoulder under ones clothing.<br />
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==14. Women are subservient to men.==<br />
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Sikhism recognizes the complete equality between men and women in all spheres of life. In order that Sikhs would not follow the prevailing system which divided people into immutable castes, the 10th Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, gave all Sikh women the last name "Kaur" (meaning princess) and all Sikh men the last name "Singh" (meaning lion).<br />
It is through woman that order is maintained. Then why call her inferior from whom all great ones are born. Guru Granth Sahib Ji, p 473<br />
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At birth a Sikh girl is immediately “our darling” to her mother and father.<br />
Later, she becomes admired by her brothers and sisters and favoured by her relatives.<br />
On attaining to “ the bloom of youth” she is wedding with costly gifts and presents.<br />
Now, respected by her husbands family and deemed lucky in her new household, she<br />
regarded as the equal of her spouse in both virtue and wisdom.<br />
She becomes as a doorway to salvation. Such is the verbal portrait of a Guru-inspired<br />
And blessed, faithful Sikh woman. Var Bhai Gurdas Ji(5.16)<br />
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==15. Sikhs are required to practice yoga. Yoga is an integral part of Sikhism.==<br />
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Yoga is not an inherent or required Sikh religious practice. Some American followers of Sikhism do practice yoga, which, they believe aids their practice of Sikhism.<br />
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==16 What is the traditional dress of a Sikh ?==<br />
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Female.<br />
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The traditional dress of a Sikh is Salwaar Kameez - loose fitting top and bottoms - with a chunni (a large rectangular piece of cloth) to cover the head and draped around the shoulders. This traditional dress is also worn by others from the Indian subcontinent. Therefore the most obvious sign of a Sikh is unshorn hair kept in a bun or platt's, the other being the Kara ( the steel bracelet which forms part of the five K's) worn on the left wrist.<br />
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Amritdhari Sikhs, those that have been baptised by partaking in the Amrit ceremony and are now part of the brotherhood of the Khalsa, may wear a Kasekee (small turban) also.<br />
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Male.<br />
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Amritdhari. <br />
Wear full beard and turban and a Kara on the right wrist. Older Sikhs may wear the traditional Kurta Pyjama - Loose fitting white cotton clothing.<br />
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Sehajdhari. <br />
(Slow learners) May wear turban with designer(?) stubble, may not wear turban and are clean shaven or a combination. Most still wear the Kara on their wrist.<br />
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Note : <br />
There are certain sections of the 'Asian' community who masquerade as Sikhs by wearing a Kara to deceive Sikh females.<br />
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'''Turban.'''<br />
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African style. <br />
Pointed apex at the front. Style started by those Sikhs living in Kenya and Uganda. Now favoured by the young.<br />
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Indian style. <br />
Blunt rounded apex at the front. Style of the Sikhs of India.<br />
Traditional. <br />
A very rounded style altogether. Favoured by orthodox Sikhs and by spiritually enlightened souls.<br />
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'''Turban Colour.'''<br />
White. Favoured by older Sikhs.<br />
Black. Favoured by the younger generation.<br />
Saffron. The traditional colour of the Sikhs.<br />
Red. Normally worn by the groom at the Anand Karaj (wedding) ceremony.<br />
Others No significance.<br />
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==17. Going to visit a Sikh home?==<br />
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Never take any cigarettes or tobacco to a Sikh house, and never ever ask to smoke. Sikhs are prohibited from smoking and consider smoking as unsociable and dirty. Sikhs are also not allowed to drink alcohol and eat meat, but some do not adhere to these principles. If a Sikh is Amritdhari, then he/she will definitely not consume alcohol, so best not to take a bottle of wine.<br />
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When it comes to food Sikhs are very hospitable , so be warned!<br />
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If you do not require second helpings of food refuse politely but firmly, but this will generally be ignored and samosa's and onion bhaji's will be piled up on your plate accompanied with "Don't by shy, consider this your home" or "You have hardly started eating, here have some more, and don't by shy."<br />
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Asked if you would like to watch an Indian video, politely refuse as you will have to watch the whole three hours. Same applies to wedding videos or else another three hours of your life will be wasted.<br />
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==18. Going to the Sikh Gurdwara?==<br />
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The proper name for the Sikh place of worship is the Gurdwara, not temple.<br />
Never enter a Gurdwara if you have consumed alcohol or if you have any cigarettes or tobacco on your person. Before entering the Darbar or main hall shoes and socks must be removed and head covered. Heads can be covered with a hat or material shaped like a handkerchief which is available from the Gurdwara. When approaching Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the holy scriptures, one can bow and place offering of money as a sign of respect then join the Sangat (congregation) seated on the carpeted floor. Most people are not used to sitting cross legged on the floor but be aware that sitting with legs stretched out with feet pointing at the Guru Granth Sahib is disrespectful.<br />
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A service at the Gurdwara normally consists of a combination of sermons and singing of shabads (hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib), unless it is a wedding you are attending in which case there is also the Anand Karaj (wedding) ceremony. All ends with the Ardaas, this is a special prayer that is spoken by the Giani (priest) while the Sangat stands with folded hands. This ends with a "Bolay sone hall, sat siri Akal" said by all at the tops of their voices. The blessed pudding of Parsad, is then distributed to all the Sangat who eat with their hands. It is important that no part of the parsad (consisting of floor, semolina, butter, sugar and water) falls on the floor as it has been blessed. It is then off to the dining hall for Langar (blessed lunch). Again it is important that you get only what you intend to eat, as leaving food that is blessed is frowned upon.</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Sikh_Basic_%26_Misconceptions&diff=26566
Sikh Basic & Misconceptions
2007-03-21T12:11:02Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* 8. Sikhs are a martial race, that they are a violent people. */</p>
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<div>Considering that the Sikhs are one of the most visible of communities there is a surprising lack of knowledge and understanding about them. Let us look at the basics and dispel some common mistakes and misconceptions about Sikhs and Sikhism.<br />
A Sikh is a person who believes in the ten Gurus – the lineage that begins with Guru Nanak Dev Ji born in 1469, and concludes with Guru Gobind Singh Ji who ascended the heavens in 1708. The teaching of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his successors concerning liberation through remembrance of the divine Name are incorporated in the holy scriptures known as the Aadh Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Sikhs also acknowledge the practice of naam-simram to be mandatory, though for some the acknowledgment may be implicit and the actual practice rudimentary.<br />
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The building which houses the Guru Granth Sahib Ji is called a Gurdwara and all Sikhs acknowledge the sanctity that the scriptures confers on it. They also recognise the role of the gurdwara in expressing the anti-caste ideals of the Gurus. This is done through the distribution of karah-parshaad and the institution of langar.<br />
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Those who acknowledge allegiance to Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his successors constitute the community originally known as Nanak-panth but now is simply called Panth. During the time of Guru Gobind Singh Ji members of the Panth were summoned to accept initiation into the Khalsa order and therefore to observe its code of discipline, the Rehat. Prominent among the many features of the Rehat are a series of obligations which include the Five K’s. Two particularly conspicuous items are the prohibition of hair -cutting and a rigorous ban on smoking.<br />
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Shortly before the ascension of Guru Gobind Singh Ji to heaven, Guru Ji declared the line of personal Gurus to be at an end and transferred the authority to Aath Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the Guru Panth. Orthodox Sikhs believe that the Guru Panth consists exclusively of initiated members of the Khalsa. All orthodox Sikhs accept these statements as the authentic commandments of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and although a proportion do not actually undergo initiation into the Khalsa they will at least observe the basic requirements of the Rehat.<br />
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Those who have undergone initiation are known as amrit-dhari Sikhs. If they have not been initiated but still accept at least the fundamentals of the Rehat they are regarded as Kes-dhari Sikhs. Acceptance must include the ban of cutting hair. Those Sikhs who are not kes-dhari and who do not follow the Rehat are known as Sahaj-dhari Sikhs, slow learners.<br />
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Sikhs reject the claim that they are a variety of Hinduism.<br />
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Sikhs are heirs to a history and a fund of tradition which they regard as a continuing source of guidance and inspiration. Although most Sikhs are Punjabis, the Panth is open to any who accept its doctrines and practices. Sikhism is not a religion of “you are either with us or against us.” It is a faith where we are all brothers and sisters and can sit down together in peace.<br />
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There are four castes of Hindus and four sects of Muslims in the world<br />
The members of both religions are selfish, jealous, proud, bigoted and violent.<br />
The Hindus make pilgrimage to Hardvar and Banaras, the Muslim to the Kaaba of Mecca.<br />
Circumcision is dear to the Muslims, sandal mark (tilak) and sacred thread to the Hindus.<br />
The Hindus invoke Ram, the Muslims, Rahim, but in reality there is only One God.<br />
Since they have forgotten the Vedas and the Katebas, worldly greed and devil have led them astray.<br />
Truth hidden from both; the brahmins and maulvis kill one another by their animosities.<br />
Neither sect shall find liberation from transmigration. (Guru Nanak dev Ji.)<br />
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==1. Sikhs are the same as Muslims or Arabs.==<br />
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Sikhs must not be confused with muslims, it is difficult for people from the west to distinguish between different ethnic groups of people from the east. Due to recent events and to the great dismay of Sikhs all over the world they have been mistaken for muslims with tragic consequences, two Sikhs have been shot dead in the USA and many many more harassed. This is due to images of muslims wearing beards and turbans. The reality is that 95% of all men with turbans and beards are Sikhs. While it is true that some Muslims wear turbans, the majority of people in the world wearing a turban are Sikhs. Sikh males, and some females, wear a turban to keep their long, uncut hair neat. Muslims, even those who wear turbans cut their hair. While orthodox Muslim males wear a particular style of trimmed beard, an adult Sikh male's beard is full and uncut. In addition, Sikhs do not profess the Muslim religion.<br />
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji said "There is no Hindu, there is no Mussulman." By this Guru Sahib was not belittling these faiths, but saying that in the eyes of God all are the same.<br />
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The Q'uran holds no significance for a Sikh.<br />
Fasting holds no relevance to a Sikh.<br />
Circumcision holds no relevance to a Sikh.<br />
Sikhs do not go in for ritual slaughter of innocent animals.<br />
Sikhs do not face in any particular direction, east or west, when praying.<br />
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Sikhs do not hold any significance in ritual shaving of the head, in fact removing of hair is forbidden in Sikhism.<br />
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One commonly encounters the insistent claim that Sikhism owes much to Islam and specifically to the Sufi tradition. Some have carried this theory to the point of claiming that Sikhism can be treated as an example of conscious syncretism, one which deliberately tried to blend Hindu and Muslim ideals. This claim can be dismissed, it is true there are parallels of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s teaching and Sufism but that can be traced to Bhaghti sources. Guru Nanak Dev Ji certainly chose Muslim terminology in a few shabads, but only because the shabads were addressed to a Muslim audience.<br />
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji viewed both Hindu traditions and Islam in a typical Sant manner. In there conventional form, both offered systems of belief and practices which largely relied on external authorities and outward responses. As such both were to be condemned. Only those who perceived the inner reality of truth could achieve deliverance and this end could be attained regardless of whether one was a Hindu or Muslim. Those who follow this inner path are the true believers as opposed to the false believers who continue to put trust in ritual and pilgrimage, Barhamins and Mullas.<br />
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Guru Ji used this true false theme in many shabads, one being in a shalok from Var Manjh :<br />
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Make mercy your mosque and devotion your prayer mat, righteousness your Qur’an.<br />
Meekness your circumcising, goodness your fasting, for thus the true Muslim expresses his faith.<br />
Make good works your Ka’bah, take truth as your pir, compassion your creed and your prayer.<br />
Let service to God be the beads which you tell and God will exalt you to glory.<br />
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This is classic Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s approach, typical both in terms of its insistent interior emphasis and its striking use of imagery.<br />
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Sikhs do not believe in a last prophet. There have been many men of God who have put people on the path of the Almighty and there will be many more. Who are we to put a stop on the Almighty’s will? If He wishes he will send down as many prophets as he likes.<br />
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Sikhs do not believe in a judgement day when all dead people will rise and be judged. We are judged every single day, every single second of every minute of every hour and meted out judgement as appropriate. If a person dies and is buried in the ground his decomposed body will release it's material into the earth. That material may get into the food chain and be consumed by another person. On this ‘judgement day’ who will rise from the dead to be judged? The first person or the second person and how can the first person rise if he is now part of the second person?<br />
First Mehl:<br />
The clay of the Muslim's grave becomes clay for the potter's wheel.<br />
Pots and bricks are fashioned from it, and it cries out as it burns.<br />
The poor clay burns, burns and weeps, as the fiery coal fall upon it.<br />
O Nanak, the Creator created the creation; the Creator Lord alone knows. ||2|| Guru Nanak Dev Ji<br />
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What Sikhism teaches and what other faiths teach are separate paths. The aim of most other faiths is to reach heaven and avoid hell with devils and Shaitans to way lay you and put you off your path. ‘They’ are the only people who will reach heaven and non else. Some promise hourries, fairy maidens to satisfy your every whim with wine to drink, golden palaces to reside in and servants at your beck and call. Sikhism neither wants nor needs any of these enticements. All Sikhs want is to merge with the one True Lord from whence we have come, as a drop of water merges with the ocean. Merging with the almighty liberates one from the circle of life and death and salvation is achieved by the grace of Waheguru.<br />
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As for Christianity, Sikhs do not believe that the Almighty sent down his son who will take all your sins upon himself only if you believe in him. You are the perpetrator of your sins and only you will have to answer for them. Of course if you submit to the will of God and ask for forgiveness then God as your true father will forgive all your misdemeanours. There is no one person or faith that has a monopoly on salvation.<br />
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==2 . Did Guru Nanak Dev Ji not have a robe with quotes from the Q'uran ?==<br />
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji traveled east to Nepal and the Himalayas visiting sacred centers of the Hindus on the way like Benaras and Hardwar. On an another udassi (journey) Guru Ji traveled south to Sri Lanka again visiting many places of learning. On a separate journey to the west Guru Nanak Dev Ji with Mardana traveled to Bhagdad and Mecca, not as a pilgrimage as some would suggest but on Gods mission to spread Gods word and to put people on the path of righteousness.<br />
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On Guru Ji's travels through Bhagdad, Mardana would play the rabab and Guru Sahib Ji would sing about the infiniteness of God and His Creation, wherein occurred the following expression: “ patala patal, lakha aghasa aghaas” - there are countless patals (earths) and innumerable akashs (sky). Which goes contrary to Muslim belief, as they only know of 7 earths and skys, When some Muslim who was listening to it and understood its purport went and reported the blasphemy of the utterance - inasmuch as the Qu'ran had mentioned only seven earths and seven skies - to the Sajjdanashin of the Shrine of Pir Dastagir, Abdul Qadir Jilani an agitated crowd gathered on the spot. The people were on the verge of throwing stones when they heard the Guru’s divine invocation. The sweet words of God entered their ears and the people in remorse of their actions went to their Pir and told him of the presence of a holy man.<br />
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The Pir, having reached the place, enquired from Mardana who the holy man was. He was told that he was Nanak who had rejected all others except one God who was all pervading on earth, sky and in all four directions. Guru Nanak Dev Ji stayed for a number of days and the people flocked to his side eagerly listening to the word of God. Guru Sahib Ji had many discourses with the local holy men.<br />
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One day Guru Sahib Ji was sleeping and his feet were towards the Kaaba. When challenged by the local Imam, Guru Ji replied “point my feet where God is not.” The local Imam ashamed of his actions asked Guru Sahib Ji to do kalma with him. As the Imam started his kalma Guru Ji did not. Guru Ji asked him “What is the use of meaningless ritual when your mind is somewhere else trying to work out how to get the best price for your horses.” Guru Ji had no need for kalma for he sang the Almighty's name 24/7.<br />
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Before his departure from there he was presented a chola (robe) as a token of respect on which verses in arabic were inscribed. This chola lies preserved in the Gurdwara at Dera Baba Nanak, in Pakistan. The chola was given to Guru Sahib Ji by his devotees in Bagdhad and there was no alterier motive, Guru Sahib Ji took it in the spirit in which it was given. Pir Babhol, a Sufi saint was deeply influenced by Guru Nanak Dev.<br />
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==3. Sikhs are Hindus or Sikhism is a Hindu sect.==<br />
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Sikhism and Hinduism are distinctly separate religions. Hinduism believes in caste distinctions, worships idols, and astrologic divination. Most Hindus are not monotheist, that is, they worship a god or goddess from a large array of deities. Sikhs on the other hand believe in the equality of all persons of both genders, do not believe one day to be more auspicious than another, and worship One, timeless God who is beyond birth and death.<br />
Although respected, the Vedas, Puranas, Shastras (Hindu scriptures) hold no relevance to Sikhs.<br />
Sikhs do not believe in fasting<br />
Sikhs do not believe in the tilak and jineu, marks of the Hindu<br />
Sikhs do not believe in high caste or low, all are one in the eyes of the Lord.<br />
Sikhs do not hold any significance in ritual shaving of the head, in fact removing of hair id forbidden in Sikhism.<br />
Sikhs reject of Idol worship<br />
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Although Sikhs respect great deities like Brahama, Shivji and Vishnu there belief in the One almighty God is unshakable.<br />
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You may bathe and wash, and apply a ritualistic tilak mark to your forehead, but without inner purity, there is no understanding. ||6|| Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Raag Raamkalee. p903<br />
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji explores the austerities carried out mostly by Hindus and concludes that they are of no avail unless you have the True Lord in your heart.<br />
Swine eats filth, elephants and donkeys bespatter themselves with dust.<br />
Jackals live at places of cremation.<br />
Owls live in tombs, deer wander alone in the forests, trees ever die in silence;<br />
The man who re-straineth his seed should only have the credit of the hermaphrodite<br />
Monkeys ever wander bare-footed.<br />
They who eat grass and renounce the desire of wealth are no more then calves and oxen.<br />
They who engage in meditation resemble cranes, cates and wolves<br />
For grazing on akk, eating fruits and flowers, and ever wandering in the forests, there is no animal like the goat.<br />
In the cold season the jackal barketh five times. and the elephant and donkey utter various cries<br />
If anyone were by repeating Gods name to obtain God (who cannot be obtained just by lip-worship), then the warbler ever uttereth "Tu hi ! Tu hi ! (would have obtained salvation)" <br />
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The Akal Ustat from Dasam Granth<br />
The Lord Akal creates millions of Krishna, annihilates them and recreates them.<br />
Some hang stones as gods around their necks, while others erroneously call Mahesh 'God'<br />
I have discarded all these false religions and am of the firm view that He who is the creator of the Universe, is the only Lord.<br />
Everyone is caught in the noose of Death, no Rama or prophet can escape from it. All of them who made grand claims of being Avtars of God died repentant. Why doest not thou, O, hapless being seek the shelter of the One Lord. (15th swayya) Dasam Granth<br />
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Even the ancient Hindu books only deal with those in the varn jati. Anyone outside this so called fluidity is a malesh. No matter if a Muslim has been a pious person all his life, never lied and always remembered Allah, in Hindu scriptures he/she will be a malesh. Punjabis are malesh just for residing in punjab according to the gita because they never accepted a Brahmin’s superiority.<br />
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==4 . Did the Gurus not write about Hindu deities ?==<br />
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It is indeed correct that Hindu deities are mentioned many times in Guru Granth Sahib Ji and Dasam Granth Ji and it is true that in many shabads (hymns) they are shown great respect, but it does not follow that the Hindu deities are revered in any way. In fact the deities – Brahman, Vishnu, Shiv Ji, Parvati, Hanuman – are shown to be spiritually higher life forms but who have flaws and are influenced by Maya/illusion, ego and the vices.<br />
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Guru Granth Sahib Ji and Dasam Granth Ji both mention Avtar/incarnations of past ages. God who is Nirgun (He has all qualities so He is without any single quality, hence Nir(no) Guna(Quality)) to restore order in his manifestation, the whole universe(s), from time to time will take the form of mighty men and women, who display some of his qualities, which is called Saguna - Sa(with) Guna (Qualities). So as per Dasham Granth Ji Saguna forms were described to show the might of Nirguna. The ultimate power is God - AkalPurkh, Waheguru, Paarbrahm, Ram, Allah - what ever you want to call Him, He has many names, and only Sikhism respects all great Saguna Saroops (forms) of God in all faiths.<br />
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First and foremost the Gurus remind us that the deities were all created (and will be destroyed) by the Almighty. This shows clearly that the Gurus had respect but in no way revered the deities.<br />
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So many winds, waters and fires; so many Krishnas and Shivas. Guru Nanak Dev Ji Japji.<br />
He created air, water and fire, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - the whole creation. Guru Nanak Dev Ji<br />
The realm of Shiva, the realms of Brahma and Indra as well - no place anywhere is permanent.<br />
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Guru Arjun dev ji.<br />
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The Gurus remind us time and again that the gods and goddesses have meditated for eons but still have not understood the secret of the Almighty.<br />
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Shiva, Brahma and all the silent sages cannot understand the state of the Lord. Guru Arjun Dev Ji<br />
The wise one, Shiva, remains absorbed in himself, but he is engrossed in dark passions and excessive egotism. ||2|| Guru Amar Daas Ji Raag Vadhans p559<br />
Shiva meditates through lakhs of methods (postures) but still could not recognise the form, hue and guise of the Lord.<br />
Vishnu incarnated himself through lakhs of creatures but he could not recognise even a bit of that Lord. Var18.<br />
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Beings like Sanak, Sanand, Shiva and Shaysh-naaga - none of them know Your mystery, Lord. ||1|| Bhagat Kabeer Ji Raag Dhanaasree p691<br />
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In the following shabad Guru Arjun Dev Ji describes Maya – illusion. Maya has the whole world in her embrace and even the mighty gods and goddesses cannot escape her.<br />
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Aasaa, Fifth Mehl:<br />
A frown creases her forehead, and her look is evil.<br />
Her speech is bitter, and her tongue is rude.<br />
She is always hungry, and she believes her Husband to be far away. ||1||<br />
Such is Maya, the woman, which the One Lord has created.<br />
She is devouring the whole world, but the Guru has saved me, O my Siblings of Destiny.<br />
Administering her poisons, she has overcome the whole world.<br />
She has bewitched Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.<br />
Only those Gurmukhs who are attuned to the Naam are blessed. ||2||<br />
Performing fasts, religious observances and atonements, the mortals have grown weary.<br />
They wander over the entire planet, on pilgrimages to the banks of sacred rivers.<br />
But they alone are saved, who seek the Sanctuary of the True Guru. ||3||<br />
Attached to Maya, the whole world is in bondage.<br />
The foolish self-willed manmukhs are consumed by their egotism.<br />
Taking me by the arm, Guru Nanak has saved me. ||4||2||96||<br />
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Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Aasaa p394<br />
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The deities are chastised for not putting people on the path of the one Almighty but rather making them their own devotees.<br />
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Those who serve Shiva and Brahma do not find the limits of the Lord. Guru Amar Daas Ji. Raag Gujri p516<br />
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This is not to say that the Gurus did not write about the deities with warmth and affection.<br />
The true Vaishnaav, the devotee of Vishnu, is the one with whom God is thoroughly pleased.<br />
He dwells apart from Maya.<br />
Performing good deeds, he does not seek rewards.<br />
Spotlessly pure is the religion of such a Vaishnaav;<br />
he has no desire for the fruits of his labours.<br />
He is absorbed in devotional worship and the singing of Kirtan, the songs of the Lord's Glory.<br />
Within his mind and body, he meditates in remembrance on the Lord of the Universe.<br />
He is kind to all creatures.<br />
He holds fast to the Naam, and inspires others to chant it.<br />
O Nanak, such a Vaishnaav obtains the supreme status. ||2||Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gauree p274<br />
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Guru Nanak Dev Ji describes the wonders of Akal Purkh and mentions that even Vishnu and Brahma could not comprehend the vastness of the Lord.<br />
Gujari, First Mehl:<br />
From the lotus of Vishnu's navel, Brahma was born; He chanted the Vedas with a melodious voice.<br />
He could not find the Lord's limits, and he remained in the darkness of coming and going. ||1||<br />
Why should I forget my Beloved? He is the support of my very breath of life.<br />
The perfect beings perform devotional worship to Him. The silent sages serve Him through the Guru's Teachings. ||1||Pause||<br />
His lamps are the sun and the moon; the One Light of the Destroyer of ego fills the three worlds.<br />
One who becomes Gurmukh remains immaculately pure, day and night, while the self-willed manmukh is enveloped by the darkness of night. ||2||<br />
The Siddhas in Samaadhi are continually in conflict; what can they see with their two eyes?<br />
One who has the Divine Light within his heart, and is awakened to the melody of the Word of the Shabad - the True Guru settles his conflicts. ||3||<br />
O Lord of angels and men, infinite and unborn, Your True Mansion is incomparable.<br />
Nanak merges imperceptibly into the Life of the world; shower Your mercy upon him, and save him. ||4||2|| Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Raag Gujri. Pannaa 489<br />
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'''Bhagat Kabir Ji whose hymns are found in Guru Granth Sahib Ji says :'''<br />
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Raag Dhanaasaree, The Word Of Devotee Kabeer Jee:<br />
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:<br />
Beings like Sanak, Sanand, Shiva and Shaysh-naaga - none of them know Your mystery, Lord. ||1||<br />
In the Society of the Saints, the Lord dwells within the heart. ||1||Pause||<br />
Beings like Hanumaan, Garura, Indra the King of the gods and the rulers of humans - none of them know Your Glories, Lord. ||2||<br />
The four Vedas, the Simritees and the Puraanas, Vishnu the Lord of Lakshmi and Lakshmi herself - none of them know the Lord. ||3||<br />
Says Kabeer, one who falls at the Lord's feet, and remains in His Sanctuary, does not wander around lost. ||4||1|| Bhagat Kabeer Ji in Raag Dhanaasree on Pannaa 691<br />
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Only Sikhism acknowledges that there are many paths to the Almighty and respect other faiths.<br />
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The followers of the Vedas, the Bible and the Koran, standing at Your Door, meditate on You.<br />
Uncounted are those who fall at Your Door.<br />
Brahma meditates on You, as does Indra on his throne.<br />
Shiva and Vishnu, and their incarnations, chant the Lord's Praise with their mouths,<br />
as do the Pirs, the spiritual teachers, the prophets and the Shaykhs, the silent sages and the seers.<br />
Through and through, the Formless Lord is woven into each and every heart.<br />
One is destroyed through falsehood; through righteousness, one prospers.<br />
Whatever the Lord links him to, to that he is linked. ||2||Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gujri on Pannaa 518<br />
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji in his Dasam Granth has written many compositions that tell the lives of deities worshipped by Hindus. It is their misunderstanding (intentional or unintentional) that the Guru Ji revered or worshipped the deities.<br />
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji had faith in the one almighty God and him alone. The opening of every composition in the Dasam Granth is a homage in praise of the one formless God, in the case of his autobiography, Bachittar Natak, the first quarter of the composition is in praise of God. The compositions Jaap Sahib and Akal Ustat (Eulogy to God), which being the Dasam Granth, are totally in praise of the Amlighty. As for the compositions Var Bhagauti Ki (Chandi di Var – composition re-telling the story of the goddess Durgas battle with the demons) and Chaubis Avtar ( the telling of the twenty four incarnations of Vishnu which include Bhagwan Krishan Ji, Sri Ram Chandar Ji, Macch Avatar, Kacch Avatar and Kalki Avatar) again the first part is in praise of the Almighty. So the notion that somehow Guru Sahib Ji revered or worshiped these deities is totally false.<br />
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'''Here is the start of Var Bhagauti Ki.'''<br />
Var Bhagauti Ki<br />
First and foremost I remember Bhauguti Ji (God) and then set my mind on Guru Nanak.<br />
Then I seek the help of Guru Angad, Guru Amar Das and Guru Ram Das. Arjan, Hargobind and (Guru) Har Rai be remembered.<br />
Sri Harkrishan be meditated upon whose mere glimpse removes all sorrows. (Guru) Tegh Bahadur be remembered as it causes the home to flourish.<br />
They all help me at all times.<br />
The Lord first created Khanda, the double edged sword and then his manifest world. Having created Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, He created the entire play of Kudrat (manifest world).<br />
He created the oceans, mountains, earth and sky which stands above, unsupported by any pillars.<br />
He created both gods(deities) and demons and then created polemic.<br />
It was You who created Durga so as to destroy the demons.<br />
Rama also took strength from you to kill Ravan with his arrow.<br />
Krishan also got strength from You and thus threw down Kansa by his hair.<br />
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Many great deities and ascetics underwent hard austerities, but none could fathom thy greatness. <br />
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==5 . Was the Singh Sabha Movement just a front for the British government ?== <br />
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In the mid ninteenth century the Christian missionaries were gaining ground within the Sikhs with the partonage of the British rulers. The Hindus under the Arya Samaj Movement were also making rapid strides into the Punjab. To counter these threats the enlightened section of the sikh community launched from Amritsar a revivalist movement known as the Singh Sabha Movement in 1873 to counter the conversions of of Sikhs. There were two sections one in Lahore and the original in Amritsar. Notable Sikh thinkers included Professor Gurmukh Singh, Bhai Ditt Singh, Bhai Kanh Singh (of Nabha), Sunder Singh and Bhai Vir Singh Ji. With the efforts of these Sikhs the Sikh faith was restored to its original Khalsa tradition and pristine purity. The movement battled against British rule and to think that these Sikhs colluded with the British is untrue.<br />
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==6. Sikhism is a derivative religion from Islam and Hinduism.==<br />
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Sikhism originated from the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Guru Ji obtained his message direct from the One Timeless Lord and sought to put the masses on to the righteous path towards realisation of God through meditation, sharing the fruits of your honest work and loving your fellow man, it is in no way derivative of any philosophy or religious thought. Guru Ji, on one hand sought to show the people the futility of the Caste system, of idol worship of inequality of the genders so inherent in Hinduism, and on the other, the cruelty of aggressive and forcible conversions and the inhumane treatment of ones fellow man.<br />
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==7. Sikhism was created to defend the downtrodden Hindus and Hinduism.==<br />
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Sikhism was not created to defend any religious group, Sikhism is a path to realisation of God. Pressure from government sources during the times of the last six Gurus led to the development of a Sikh army for self-defense. A Sikh is taught to stand against injustice from whatever source and to defend the weak and downtrodden, no matter what their religious affiliation. In the armies of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji there were many from a whole spectrum of religious beliefs, from Muslims to Hindus.<br />
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==8. Sikhs are a martial race, that they are a violent people.==<br />
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The "martial race" theory is a colonial construct that was created and propagated by the British who recruited large numbers of so called "martial races," the Sikhs, Gurkhas, Rajputs, etc., for service in the British army. Sikhs by and large are a very hard working law abiding group. [[Guru Gobind Singh]] famously stated that only after all other means are exhausted it is right to take to the sword. During the struggle to gain independence from the British Raj it was the Sikhs who lead peaceful, unarmed demonstrations such as the [[Jaito Morcha]] in 1924, even though they were fired upon by British forces. Many believe that Ghandi was inspired to start his demonstrations after seeing the effectiveness of these peaceful marches by the Sikhs.<br />
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==9. What type of names do Sikhs have ?==<br />
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Most Sikh names apply equally to men and women, the distinguishing feature is 'Singh' after a mans first name and 'Kaur' after a woman's. Traditional Sikh names normally end in the suffix<br />
- inder , as in Rajinder, Jatinder and Sukhinder.<br />
- pal , as in Kirnpal, Pritpal and Rajpal.<br />
- deep , as in Kirndeep, Jasdeep and Mandeep.<br />
- preet , as in Harpreet, Jaspreet and Sukhpreet.<br />
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There are names that do not fall into this pattern, for example - Kushvant, Keertan, Prishant and Bhavanjot.<br />
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==10. Khalsa means "pure".==<br />
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The word Khalsa means both "pure" and "belonging only to God". The Khalsa was created by the tenth master, Guru Gobind Singh Ji on Vaisakhi day 1699.When a committed Sikh is initiated he or she becomes a member of a spiritual order called Khalsa. A Khalsa belongs only to God.<br />
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==11. Sikhs don't eat beef.==<br />
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Some Sikhs eat any type of meat, some do not eat beef and some believe that Sikhs should not eat ritually slaughtered meat. Sikhs who have been initiated into the order of the Khalsa by the Amrit ceremony are strictly forbidden to eat any type of meat or meat products.<br />
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==12. Sikhs are allowed to drink alcohol.==<br />
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The Sikh Code of Conduct states, "A Sikh must not take hemp, opium, liquor, tobacco, or any intoxicant." At the time of initiation, a Sikh vows not to use any intoxicant. Drinking alcohol is forbidden for Sikhs.watch [[fools who wrangle over flesh]]<br />
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==13. The Sikh kirpan is a weapon. Sikh men hide kirpans in their turbans==<br />
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The kirpan is one of the five articles of Sikh faith. It is mandatory for Khalsa to wear the kirpan. The kirpan is a symbol of a Sikhs' commitment to protect the weak and to promote justice. Sikh men DO NOT hide the kirpan in their turban. The kirpan is commonly worn in a cloth holster on the right shoulder under ones clothing.<br />
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==14. Women are subservient to men.==<br />
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Sikhism recognizes the complete equality between men and women in all spheres of life. In order that Sikhs would not follow the prevailing system which divided people into immutable castes, the 10th Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, gave all Sikh women the last name "Kaur" (meaning princess) and all Sikh men the last name "Singh" (meaning lion).<br />
It is through woman that order is maintained. Then why call her inferior from whom all great ones are born. Guru Granth Sahib Ji, p 473<br />
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At birth a Sikh girl is immediately “our darling” to her mother and father.<br />
Later, she becomes admired by her brothers and sisters and favoured by her relatives.<br />
On attaining to “ the bloom of youth” she is wedding with costly gifts and presents.<br />
Now, respected by her husbands family and deemed lucky in her new household, she<br />
regarded as the equal of her spouse in both virtue and wisdom.<br />
She becomes as a doorway to salvation. Such is the verbal portrait of a Guru-inspired<br />
And blessed, faithful Sikh woman. Var Bhai Gurdas Ji(5.16)<br />
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==15. Sikhs are required to practice yoga. Yoga is an integral part of Sikhism.==<br />
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Yoga is not an inherent or required Sikh religious practice. Some American followers of Sikhism do practice yoga, which, they believe aids their practice of Sikhism.<br />
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==16 What is the traditional dress of a Sikh ?==<br />
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Female.<br />
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The traditional dress of a Sikh is Salwaar Kameez - loose fitting top and bottoms - with a chunni (a large rectangular piece of cloth) to cover the head and draped around the shoulders. This traditional dress is also worn by others from the Indian subcontinent. Therefore the most obvious sign of a Sikh is unshorn hair kept in a bun or platt's, the other being the Kara ( the steel bracelet which forms part of the five K's) worn on the left wrist.<br />
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Amritdhari Sikhs, those that have been baptised by partaking in the Amrit ceremony and are now part of the brotherhood of the Khalsa, may wear a Kasekee (small turban) also.<br />
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Male.<br />
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Amritdhari. <br />
Wear full beard and turban and a Kara on the right wrist. Older Sikhs may wear the traditional Kurta Pyjama - Loose fitting white cotton clothing.<br />
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Sehajdhari. <br />
(Slow learners) May wear turban with designer(?) stubble, may not wear turban and are clean shaven or a combination. Most still wear the Kara on their wrist.<br />
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Note : <br />
There are certain sections of the 'Asian' community who masquerade as Sikhs by wearing a Kara to deceive Sikh females.<br />
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'''Turban.'''<br />
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African style. <br />
Pointed apex at the front. Style started by those Sikhs living in Kenya and Uganda. Now favoured by the young.<br />
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Indian style. <br />
Blunt rounded apex at the front. Style of the Sikhs of India.<br />
Traditional. <br />
A very rounded style altogether. Favoured by orthodox Sikhs and by spiritually enlightened souls.<br />
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'''Turban Colour.'''<br />
White. Favoured by older Sikhs.<br />
Black. Favoured by the younger generation.<br />
Saffron. The traditional colour of the Sikhs.<br />
Red. Normally worn by the groom at the Anand Karaj (wedding) ceremony.<br />
Others No significance.<br />
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==17. Going to visit a Sikh home?==<br />
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Never take any cigarettes or tobacco to a Sikh house, and never ever ask to smoke. Sikhs are prohibited from smoking and consider smoking as unsociable and dirty. Sikhs are also not allowed to drink alcohol and eat meat, but some do not adhere to these principles. If a Sikh is Amritdhari, then he/she will definitely not consume alcohol, so best not to take a bottle of wine.<br />
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When it comes to food Sikhs are very hospitable , so be warned!<br />
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If you do not require second helpings of food refuse politely but firmly, but this will generally be ignored and samosa's and onion bhaji's will be piled up on your plate accompanied with "Don't by shy, consider this your home" or "You have hardly started eating, here have some more, and don't by shy."<br />
<br />
Asked if you would like to watch an Indian video, politely refuse as you will have to watch the whole three hours. Same applies to wedding videos or else another three hours of your life will be wasted.<br />
<br />
<br />
==18. Going to the Sikh Gurdwara?==<br />
<br />
The proper name for the Sikh place of worship is the Gurdwara, not temple.<br />
Never enter a Gurdwara if you have consumed alcohol or if you have any cigarettes or tobacco on your person. Before entering the Darbar or main hall shoes and socks must be removed and head covered. Heads can be covered with a hat or material shaped like a handkerchief which is available from the Gurdwara. When approaching Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the holy scriptures, one can bow and place offering of money as a sign of respect then join the Sangat (congregation) seated on the carpeted floor. Most people are not used to sitting cross legged on the floor but be aware that sitting with legs stretched out with feet pointing at the Guru Granth Sahib is disrespectful.<br />
<br />
A service at the Gurdwara normally consists of a combination of sermons and singing of shabads (hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib), unless it is a wedding you are attending in which case there is also the Anand Karaj (wedding) ceremony. All ends with the Ardaas, this is a special prayer that is spoken by the Giani (priest) while the Sangat stands with folded hands. This ends with a "Bolay sone hall, sat siri Akal" said by all at the tops of their voices. The blessed pudding of Parsad, is then distributed to all the Sangat who eat with their hands. It is important that no part of the parsad (consisting of floor, semolina, butter, sugar and water) falls on the floor as it has been blessed. It is then off to the dining hall for Langar (blessed lunch). Again it is important that you get only what you intend to eat, as leaving food that is blessed is frowned upon.</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Central_Gurdwara_(Khalsa_Jatha)_London&diff=16424
Central Gurdwara (Khalsa Jatha) London
2006-08-31T16:09:11Z
<p>Bsingh20: </p>
<hr />
<div>See [[The Central Gurdwara, London]]</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=England_Gurdwaras&diff=16423
England Gurdwaras
2006-08-31T15:57:47Z
<p>Bsingh20: added BSC</p>
<hr />
<div><h2>Gurdwaras in England</h2><br />
<br />
==Directories==<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
==Counties & Cities==<br />
===Bedford===<br />
*[[Sri Nanak Naam, Bedford]] [http://www.bedfordgurdwara.org.uk/centre/gurdw.htm External Link]<br />
<br />
===Birmingham===<br />
<br />
<br />
*[[Guru Nanak NSJ, Soho Road, Birmingham]] [http://www.redditch93.freeserve.co.uk/SewarkJaptha.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Ramgharia Gurdwara, Birmingham]] [http://www.redditch93.freeserve.co.uk/RamghariaGurd.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara, Balsall Heath, Birmingham]] [http://www.gobind-singh.org.uk/ External Link]<br />
*[[Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Smethwick, Birmingham]] [http://www.gngsmethwick.com/ External Link 1] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/panoramas/smethwick_temple_360.shtml External Link 2]<br />
*GURDWARA SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI SMETHWICK (BRIMINGHAM)<br />
<br />
*[[Ramgharia Sikh Temple, Birmingham]] [http://www.redditch93.freeserve.co.uk/Sikhism.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Bebe Nanaki Gurdwara, Birmingham]] [http://www.redditch93.freeserve.co.uk/BebeNanaki.htm External Link]<br />
<br />
<br />
===Bradford===<br />
*[[Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara,Bradford]] [http://www.bradfordgurdwara.com/index.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Ramgarhia Gurdwara, Bradford]] [http://www.ngfl.ac.uk/re/welcometothegurdwara.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Amrit Parchar Dharmik Diwan, Bradford]] [http://www.gurdwara.org.uk/gurdwara/index.html External Link]<br />
<br />
===Essex===<br />
*[[Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Seven Kings, Essex]] 722/730 High Road Seven Kings ILFORD IG3 8SX t:020 8597 8822<br />
*[[Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Barking, Essex]] Gurdwara Singh Sabha, 100 North Street, Barking,Essex IG11 8JD t:020 8594 3940<br />
*[[Sri Guru Karamsar, Ilford, Essex]] 400 High Road Ilford Essex IG1 1TW UK t:020 8478 8090<br />
<br />
===Hertfordshire===<br />
*[[Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Hitchin]] [http://www.hitchingurdwara.co.uk/ External Link]<br />
<br />
===KETTERING===<br />
*SRI GURU SINGH SABHA (SIKH TEMPLE)<br />
*THIS GURDWARA WAS CONSTRUCTED ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO AND DAILY PATTHS AND LANGARS ARE HELD HERE. THIS GURDWARA IS IN KING STREET KETTERING NEAR SAINSBURYS. KETTERING IS JUST 30MINS FROM NORTHAMPTON.<br />
<br />
<br />
===Leeds===<br />
*[[The Sikh Temple, Leeds]] [http://www.leedsgurdwara.com/ External Link]<br />
*[[Gurdwara Shri Kalgidhar Sahib, Leeds]] [http://www.hathisoft.com/sikhism/Gurdwaras/bhatra.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Guru Nanak NSJ, Leeds]] [http://www.hathisoft.com/sikhism/Gurdwaras/gnnsj.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Guru Nanak Sikh Temple, Leeds]] [http://www.hathisoft.com/sikhism/Gurdwaras/gurunank.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Ramgarhia Board, Leeds]] [http://www.hathisoft.com/sikhism/Gurdwaras/ramgharia.htm External Link]<br />
<br />
===Leicester===<br />
*[[Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Leicester]] [http://www.punjab2000.co.uk/LeicesterSikhsBG.html External Link]<br />
*[[Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, Leicester]] [http://www.punjab2000.co.uk/LeicesterSikhsBG.html External Link]<br />
<br />
<br />
===London===<br />
<br />
====North====<br />
<br />
*[[The Central Gurdwara, London]] [http://www.centralgurdwara.org.uk/ External Link] 62 Queensdale Road, London W11 4SG t: 0202 7603 2789<br />
*[[Damesh Darbar, East Ham, London]] 97a Rosebery Avenue, Manor Park, London E12 6PT t: 0208 84712204 <br />
*[[Ramgarhia Gurdwara, Upton Park, London]] 10-14 Neville Road, Forest Gate, London E7 9SQ<br />
*[[Ramgaria Community Centre, Upton Park, London]] 96 Neville Road, Forest Gate, London E7 <br />
*[[Gurdwara Brent Sikh Centre, Kingsbury, London]] [http://www.brentsikhcentre.co.uk/ External Link] 241 Stag Lane, Kingsbury, London NW9 0EF t: 020 8206 1231<br />
*[[Gurdwara Sikh Sangat, Leyton, London]] 71 Francis Road, Leyton, London E10 6PL<br />
*[[Nanak Darbar North London]] 136 High Road, New Southgate, London N11 IPJ t: 020 8368 2484/7104<br />
*[[ Gurdwara Namdhari Sangat]] 96 Upton Lane, Forest Gate, London E7 t: 020 8471 6826<br />
<br />
<br />
* See also [[England_Gurdwaras#Middlesex |Middlesex]] [[England_Gurdwaras#Essex |Essex ]]<br />
<br />
====South====<br />
<br />
*[[Ramgarhia Sikh Association, Woolwich, London]] [http://www.ramgarhia-association.freeserve.co.uk/ External Link] Masons Hill , Woolwich, London SE18 6EJ t: 020 8854 1786/4694<br />
*[[ Southfields Sikh Association]] 1 Southbrook Road, Streatham, London SW 16<br />
*[[Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar]] Old Mill Road, Plumstead, London SE18<br />
*[[Nanak Darbar North London]] 136 High Road, New Southgate London N11 IPJ t: 020 8368 2484/7104<br />
*[[Shiromani Akali Dal]] 62 Seymour Avenue, Tottenham, London N17<br />
*[[Maha Sabha London]] 9 Truro Road, Wood Green, London N22 4EH<br />
*[[Siri Guru Singh Sabha South London]] 74 Avam Road, London SW17<br />
*[[South London Sikh Gurdwara]] 142 Merton Road, London SW18 5SP t: 020 8870 7594<br />
*[[Ramgarhia Welfare Darvar]] 31 Hart Grove, Ealing, London W5<br />
<br />
===Manchester===<br />
*[[Sri Guru HarKrishan Sahib Ji, Manchester]] [http://www.gsghks.org.uk/about1.htm External Link]<br />
SRI GURU HARKRISHAN SAHIB JI (MANCHESTER)<br />
<br />
===Middlesborough===<br />
<br />
<br />
*[[SIKH TEMPLE, MIDDELSBOROUGH]] <br />
<br />
===Middlesex===<br />
<br />
*[[SRI GURU SINGH SABHA, SOUTHALL]] [http://www.sgsss.org/ www.sgsss.org] Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall, 2 - 8 Park Avenue, Southall UB1 3AG t:020 8574 8901 f: 020 8574 8902 Havelock Road:- t: 020 8574 4311 f: 020 8574 8902<br />
<br />
===Northampton===<br />
*[[SRI GURU SINGH SABHA, NORTHAMPTON]]<br />
*[[SRI RAMGHARIA SAHIB, NORTHAMPTON]]<br />
* Siri Guru Singh Sabha (Sikh Temple / Gurdwara)<br />
17 - 19 St Georges Street, Northampton, NN1 2TN Tel: 01604 634641<br />
<br />
* Sikh Community Centre<br />
23 - 25 St Georges Street, Northampton, NN1 2TN Tel: 01604 475802<br />
<br />
===Southampton===<br />
*[[Gurdwara Nanaksar, Southampton]] [http://www.touchsouthampton.com/business/list/bid/2375505 External Link]<br />
<br />
===Watford===<br />
*[[Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Watford]] [http://www.thegrid.org.uk/learning/re/pupil/sikh/index.shtml External Link]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[category:Europe]][[Category:Gurdwaras]] [[Category:Gurdwaras in England]]</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=England_Gurdwaras&diff=16422
England Gurdwaras
2006-08-31T15:50:15Z
<p>Bsingh20: external site no longer valid</p>
<hr />
<div><h2>Gurdwaras in England</h2><br />
<br />
==Directories==<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
==Counties & Cities==<br />
===Bedford===<br />
*[[Sri Nanak Naam, Bedford]] [http://www.bedfordgurdwara.org.uk/centre/gurdw.htm External Link]<br />
<br />
===Birmingham===<br />
<br />
<br />
*[[Guru Nanak NSJ, Soho Road, Birmingham]] [http://www.redditch93.freeserve.co.uk/SewarkJaptha.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Ramgharia Gurdwara, Birmingham]] [http://www.redditch93.freeserve.co.uk/RamghariaGurd.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara, Balsall Heath, Birmingham]] [http://www.gobind-singh.org.uk/ External Link]<br />
*[[Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Smethwick, Birmingham]] [http://www.gngsmethwick.com/ External Link 1] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/panoramas/smethwick_temple_360.shtml External Link 2]<br />
*GURDWARA SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI SMETHWICK (BRIMINGHAM)<br />
<br />
*[[Ramgharia Sikh Temple, Birmingham]] [http://www.redditch93.freeserve.co.uk/Sikhism.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Bebe Nanaki Gurdwara, Birmingham]] [http://www.redditch93.freeserve.co.uk/BebeNanaki.htm External Link]<br />
<br />
<br />
===Bradford===<br />
*[[Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara,Bradford]] [http://www.bradfordgurdwara.com/index.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Ramgarhia Gurdwara, Bradford]] [http://www.ngfl.ac.uk/re/welcometothegurdwara.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Amrit Parchar Dharmik Diwan, Bradford]] [http://www.gurdwara.org.uk/gurdwara/index.html External Link]<br />
<br />
===Essex===<br />
*[[Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Seven Kings, Essex]] 722/730 High Road Seven Kings ILFORD IG3 8SX t:020 8597 8822<br />
*[[Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Barking, Essex]] Gurdwara Singh Sabha, 100 North Street, Barking,Essex IG11 8JD t:020 8594 3940<br />
*[[Sri Guru Karamsar, Ilford, Essex]] 400 High Road Ilford Essex IG1 1TW UK t:020 8478 8090<br />
<br />
===Hertfordshire===<br />
*[[Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Hitchin]] [http://www.hitchingurdwara.co.uk/ External Link]<br />
<br />
===KETTERING===<br />
*SRI GURU SINGH SABHA (SIKH TEMPLE)<br />
*THIS GURDWARA WAS CONSTRUCTED ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO AND DAILY PATTHS AND LANGARS ARE HELD HERE. THIS GURDWARA IS IN KING STREET KETTERING NEAR SAINSBURYS. KETTERING IS JUST 30MINS FROM NORTHAMPTON.<br />
<br />
<br />
===Leeds===<br />
*[[The Sikh Temple, Leeds]] [http://www.leedsgurdwara.com/ External Link]<br />
*[[Gurdwara Shri Kalgidhar Sahib, Leeds]] [http://www.hathisoft.com/sikhism/Gurdwaras/bhatra.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Guru Nanak NSJ, Leeds]] [http://www.hathisoft.com/sikhism/Gurdwaras/gnnsj.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Guru Nanak Sikh Temple, Leeds]] [http://www.hathisoft.com/sikhism/Gurdwaras/gurunank.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Ramgarhia Board, Leeds]] [http://www.hathisoft.com/sikhism/Gurdwaras/ramgharia.htm External Link]<br />
<br />
===Leicester===<br />
*[[Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Leicester]] [http://www.punjab2000.co.uk/LeicesterSikhsBG.html External Link]<br />
*[[Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, Leicester]] [http://www.punjab2000.co.uk/LeicesterSikhsBG.html External Link]<br />
<br />
<br />
===London===<br />
<br />
====North====<br />
<br />
*[[The Central Gurdwara, London]] [http://www.centralgurdwara.org.uk/ External Link] 62 Queensdale Road, London W11 4SG t: 0202 7603 2789<br />
*[[Damesh Darbar, East Ham, London]] 97a Rosebery Avenue, Manor Park, London E12 6PT t: 0208 84712204 <br />
*[[Ramgarhia Gurdwara, Upton Park, London]] 10-14 Neville Road, Forest Gate, London E7 9SQ<br />
*[[Ramgaria Community Centre, Upton Park, London]] 96 Neville Road, Forest Gate, London E7 <br />
*[[Gurdwara Sikh Sangat, Leyton, London]] 71 Francis Road, Leyton, London E10 6PL<br />
*[[Nanak Darbar North London]] 136 High Road, New Southgate, London N11 IPJ t: 020 8368 2484/7104<br />
*[[ Gurdwara Namdhari Sangat]] 96 Upton Lane, Forest Gate, London E7 t: 020 8471 6826<br />
<br />
<br />
* See also [[England_Gurdwaras#Middlesex |Middlesex]] [[England_Gurdwaras#Essex |Essex ]]<br />
<br />
====South====<br />
<br />
*[[Ramgarhia Sikh Association, Woolwich, London]] [http://www.ramgarhia-association.freeserve.co.uk/ External Link] Masons Hill , Woolwich, London SE18 6EJ t: 020 8854 1786/4694<br />
*[[ Southfields Sikh Association]] 1 Southbrook Road, Streatham, London SW 16<br />
*[[Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar]] Old Mill Road, Plumstead, London SE18<br />
*[[Nanak Darbar North London]] 136 High Road, New Southgate London N11 IPJ t: 020 8368 2484/7104<br />
*[[Shiromani Akali Dal]] 62 Seymour Avenue, Tottenham, London N17<br />
*[[Maha Sabha London]] 9 Truro Road, Wood Green, London N22 4EH<br />
*[[Siri Guru Singh Sabha South London]] 74 Avam Road, London SW17<br />
*[[South London Sikh Gurdwara]] 142 Merton Road, London SW18 5SP t: 020 8870 7594<br />
*[[Ramgarhia Welfare Darvar]] 31 Hart Grove, Ealing, London W5<br />
<br />
===Manchester===<br />
*[[Sri Guru HarKrishan Sahib Ji, Manchester]] [http://www.gsghks.org.uk/about1.htm External Link]<br />
SRI GURU HARKRISHAN SAHIB JI (MANCHESTER)<br />
<br />
===Middlesborough===<br />
<br />
<br />
*[[SIKH TEMPLE, MIDDELSBOROUGH]] <br />
<br />
===Middlesex===<br />
<br />
*[[SRI GURU SINGH SABHA, SOUTHALL]] [http://www.sgsss.org/ www.sgsss.org] Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall, 2 - 8 Park Avenue, Southall UB1 3AG t:020 8574 8901 f: 020 8574 8902 Havelock Road:- t: 020 8574 4311 f: 020 8574 8902<br />
<br />
===Northampton===<br />
*[[SRI GURU SINGH SABHA, NORTHAMPTON]]<br />
*[[SRI RAMGHARIA SAHIB, NORTHAMPTON]]<br />
* Siri Guru Singh Sabha (Sikh Temple / Gurdwara)<br />
17 - 19 St Georges Street, Northampton, NN1 2TN Tel: 01604 634641<br />
<br />
* Sikh Community Centre<br />
23 - 25 St Georges Street, Northampton, NN1 2TN Tel: 01604 475802<br />
<br />
===Southampton===<br />
*[[Gurdwara Nanaksar, Southampton]] [http://www.touchsouthampton.com/business/list/bid/2375505 External Link]<br />
<br />
===Watford===<br />
*[[Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Watford]] [http://www.thegrid.org.uk/learning/re/pupil/sikh/index.shtml External Link]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[category:Europe]][[Category:Gurdwaras]] [[Category:Gurdwaras in England]]</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=England_Gurdwaras&diff=16421
England Gurdwaras
2006-08-31T15:49:32Z
<p>Bsingh20: external site no longer valid</p>
<hr />
<div><h2>Gurdwaras in England</h2><br />
<br />
==Directories==<br />
<br />
<br />
===Directory - London===<br />
*[http://www.southall-punjabi.com/gurdwara_index_london.html Directory of Gurdwaras in London]<br />
<br />
==Counties & Cities==<br />
===Bedford===<br />
*[[Sri Nanak Naam, Bedford]] [http://www.bedfordgurdwara.org.uk/centre/gurdw.htm External Link]<br />
<br />
===Birmingham===<br />
<br />
<br />
*[[Guru Nanak NSJ, Soho Road, Birmingham]] [http://www.redditch93.freeserve.co.uk/SewarkJaptha.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Ramgharia Gurdwara, Birmingham]] [http://www.redditch93.freeserve.co.uk/RamghariaGurd.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara, Balsall Heath, Birmingham]] [http://www.gobind-singh.org.uk/ External Link]<br />
*[[Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Smethwick, Birmingham]] [http://www.gngsmethwick.com/ External Link 1] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/panoramas/smethwick_temple_360.shtml External Link 2]<br />
*GURDWARA SRI GURU NANAK DEV JI SMETHWICK (BRIMINGHAM)<br />
<br />
*[[Ramgharia Sikh Temple, Birmingham]] [http://www.redditch93.freeserve.co.uk/Sikhism.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Bebe Nanaki Gurdwara, Birmingham]] [http://www.redditch93.freeserve.co.uk/BebeNanaki.htm External Link]<br />
<br />
<br />
===Bradford===<br />
*[[Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara,Bradford]] [http://www.bradfordgurdwara.com/index.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Ramgarhia Gurdwara, Bradford]] [http://www.ngfl.ac.uk/re/welcometothegurdwara.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Amrit Parchar Dharmik Diwan, Bradford]] [http://www.gurdwara.org.uk/gurdwara/index.html External Link]<br />
<br />
===Essex===<br />
*[[Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Seven Kings, Essex]] 722/730 High Road Seven Kings ILFORD IG3 8SX t:020 8597 8822<br />
*[[Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Barking, Essex]] Gurdwara Singh Sabha, 100 North Street, Barking,Essex IG11 8JD t:020 8594 3940<br />
*[[Sri Guru Karamsar, Ilford, Essex]] 400 High Road Ilford Essex IG1 1TW UK t:020 8478 8090<br />
<br />
===Hertfordshire===<br />
*[[Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Hitchin]] [http://www.hitchingurdwara.co.uk/ External Link]<br />
<br />
===KETTERING===<br />
*SRI GURU SINGH SABHA (SIKH TEMPLE)<br />
*THIS GURDWARA WAS CONSTRUCTED ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO AND DAILY PATTHS AND LANGARS ARE HELD HERE. THIS GURDWARA IS IN KING STREET KETTERING NEAR SAINSBURYS. KETTERING IS JUST 30MINS FROM NORTHAMPTON.<br />
<br />
<br />
===Leeds===<br />
*[[The Sikh Temple, Leeds]] [http://www.leedsgurdwara.com/ External Link]<br />
*[[Gurdwara Shri Kalgidhar Sahib, Leeds]] [http://www.hathisoft.com/sikhism/Gurdwaras/bhatra.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Guru Nanak NSJ, Leeds]] [http://www.hathisoft.com/sikhism/Gurdwaras/gnnsj.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Guru Nanak Sikh Temple, Leeds]] [http://www.hathisoft.com/sikhism/Gurdwaras/gurunank.htm External Link]<br />
*[[Ramgarhia Board, Leeds]] [http://www.hathisoft.com/sikhism/Gurdwaras/ramgharia.htm External Link]<br />
<br />
===Leicester===<br />
*[[Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Leicester]] [http://www.punjab2000.co.uk/LeicesterSikhsBG.html External Link]<br />
*[[Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara, Leicester]] [http://www.punjab2000.co.uk/LeicesterSikhsBG.html External Link]<br />
<br />
<br />
===London===<br />
<br />
====North====<br />
<br />
*[[The Central Gurdwara, London]] [http://www.centralgurdwara.org.uk/ External Link] 62 Queensdale Road, London W11 4SG t: 0202 7603 2789<br />
*[[Damesh Darbar, East Ham, London]] 97a Rosebery Avenue, Manor Park, London E12 6PT t: 0208 84712204 <br />
*[[Ramgarhia Gurdwara, Upton Park, London]] 10-14 Neville Road, Forest Gate, London E7 9SQ<br />
*[[Ramgaria Community Centre, Upton Park, London]] 96 Neville Road, Forest Gate, London E7 <br />
*[[Gurdwara Sikh Sangat, Leyton, London]] 71 Francis Road, Leyton, London E10 6PL<br />
*[[Nanak Darbar North London]] 136 High Road, New Southgate, London N11 IPJ t: 020 8368 2484/7104<br />
*[[ Gurdwara Namdhari Sangat]] 96 Upton Lane, Forest Gate, London E7 t: 020 8471 6826<br />
<br />
<br />
* See also [[England_Gurdwaras#Middlesex |Middlesex]] [[England_Gurdwaras#Essex |Essex ]]<br />
<br />
====South====<br />
<br />
*[[Ramgarhia Sikh Association, Woolwich, London]] [http://www.ramgarhia-association.freeserve.co.uk/ External Link] Masons Hill , Woolwich, London SE18 6EJ t: 020 8854 1786/4694<br />
*[[ Southfields Sikh Association]] 1 Southbrook Road, Streatham, London SW 16<br />
*[[Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar]] Old Mill Road, Plumstead, London SE18<br />
*[[Nanak Darbar North London]] 136 High Road, New Southgate London N11 IPJ t: 020 8368 2484/7104<br />
*[[Shiromani Akali Dal]] 62 Seymour Avenue, Tottenham, London N17<br />
*[[Maha Sabha London]] 9 Truro Road, Wood Green, London N22 4EH<br />
*[[Siri Guru Singh Sabha South London]] 74 Avam Road, London SW17<br />
*[[South London Sikh Gurdwara]] 142 Merton Road, London SW18 5SP t: 020 8870 7594<br />
*[[Ramgarhia Welfare Darvar]] 31 Hart Grove, Ealing, London W5<br />
<br />
===Manchester===<br />
*[[Sri Guru HarKrishan Sahib Ji, Manchester]] [http://www.gsghks.org.uk/about1.htm External Link]<br />
SRI GURU HARKRISHAN SAHIB JI (MANCHESTER)<br />
<br />
===Middlesborough===<br />
<br />
<br />
*[[SIKH TEMPLE, MIDDELSBOROUGH]] <br />
<br />
===Middlesex===<br />
<br />
*[[SRI GURU SINGH SABHA, SOUTHALL]] [http://www.sgsss.org/ www.sgsss.org] Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall, 2 - 8 Park Avenue, Southall UB1 3AG t:020 8574 8901 f: 020 8574 8902 Havelock Road:- t: 020 8574 4311 f: 020 8574 8902<br />
<br />
===Northampton===<br />
*[[SRI GURU SINGH SABHA, NORTHAMPTON]]<br />
*[[SRI RAMGHARIA SAHIB, NORTHAMPTON]]<br />
* Siri Guru Singh Sabha (Sikh Temple / Gurdwara)<br />
17 - 19 St Georges Street, Northampton, NN1 2TN Tel: 01604 634641<br />
<br />
* Sikh Community Centre<br />
23 - 25 St Georges Street, Northampton, NN1 2TN Tel: 01604 475802<br />
<br />
===Southampton===<br />
*[[Gurdwara Nanaksar, Southampton]] [http://www.touchsouthampton.com/business/list/bid/2375505 External Link]<br />
<br />
===Watford===<br />
*[[Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Watford]] [http://www.thegrid.org.uk/learning/re/pupil/sikh/index.shtml External Link]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[[category:Europe]][[Category:Gurdwaras]] [[Category:Gurdwaras in England]]</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=The_Central_Gurdwara,_London&diff=16420
The Central Gurdwara, London
2006-08-31T15:42:08Z
<p>Bsingh20: </p>
<hr />
<div><h1>The Central Gurdwara (Khalsa Jatha) London</h1><br />
62 Queensdale Road, London W11 4SG Tel: 020 7603 2789 <br />
[http://www.centralgurdwara.org.uk/ Central Gurdwara]<br />
<br />
[[Image:Shepherd bush palki.jpg|thumb|Palki Sahib]]<br />
<br />
[[Image:Shepherd Bush langar.jpg|thumb|Langar Hall]]<br />
<br />
The Khalsa Jatha, British Isles, London was formed in the year 1908, to promote religious and social activities among the Sikhs who had settled in the UK. Later in the same year it was affiliated to the Chief Khalsa Diwan, Amritsar. In 1911 the Jatha acquired a house in Putney (South London) for a period of 2 years. The opening ceremony was performed by Maharaja Bhupindra Singh of Patiala. In 1913 the Jatha bought the lease of 79 Sinclair Road, Shepherd Bush, London. Where the Jatha remained for 63 years.<br />
<br />
From 1931 to 1950 the Khalsa Jatha made good serving the still small Sikh community. In 1953 weekly diwans started and in 1954 a full time [[Granthi]] was employed.<br />
<br />
As funds were raised, the Jatha purchased a building known as Norland Castle, Queensdale Road, London, in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and in 1969 after extensive re-building the Jatha moved into the building where the Gurdwara now stands. The building consists of a [[Langar]] hall and kitchen at basement level, the main [[divan]] hall on the ground floor and a 1st floor gallery. <br />
<br />
The domes were added to the exterior in the early 1990's and a new [[palki]] sahib was built. A further programme of refurbishment began in 2000 to extend the 1st floor gallery to provide a second hall for smaller divans.<br />
<br />
<br />
====Gurbani Tapes====<br />
<br />
Recorded tapes of Shabad Kirtan and Shabad Vichar by visiting Ragis and recordings of the complete Siri Guru Granth Sahib ji are available to buy.</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=The_Central_Gurdwara,_London&diff=16419
The Central Gurdwara, London
2006-08-31T15:41:38Z
<p>Bsingh20: </p>
<hr />
<div><h1>The Central Gurdwara (Khalsa Jatha) London</h1><br />
62 Queensdale Road, London W11 4SG Tel: 020 7603 2789 </br> <br />
[http://www.centralgurdwara.org.uk/ Central Gurdwara]<br />
<br />
[[Image:Shepherd bush palki.jpg|thumb|Palki Sahib]]<br />
<br />
[[Image:Shepherd Bush langar.jpg|thumb|Langar Hall]]<br />
<br />
The Khalsa Jatha, British Isles, London was formed in the year 1908, to promote religious and social activities among the Sikhs who had settled in the UK. Later in the same year it was affiliated to the Chief Khalsa Diwan, Amritsar. In 1911 the Jatha acquired a house in Putney (South London) for a period of 2 years. The opening ceremony was performed by Maharaja Bhupindra Singh of Patiala. In 1913 the Jatha bought the lease of 79 Sinclair Road, Shepherd Bush, London. Where the Jatha remained for 63 years.<br />
<br />
From 1931 to 1950 the Khalsa Jatha made good serving the still small Sikh community. In 1953 weekly diwans started and in 1954 a full time [[Granthi]] was employed.<br />
<br />
As funds were raised, the Jatha purchased a building known as Norland Castle, Queensdale Road, London, in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and in 1969 after extensive re-building the Jatha moved into the building where the Gurdwara now stands. The building consists of a [[Langar]] hall and kitchen at basement level, the main [[divan]] hall on the ground floor and a 1st floor gallery. <br />
<br />
The domes were added to the exterior in the early 1990's and a new [[palki]] sahib was built. A further programme of refurbishment began in 2000 to extend the 1st floor gallery to provide a second hall for smaller divans.<br />
<br />
<br />
====Gurbani Tapes====<br />
<br />
Recorded tapes of Shabad Kirtan and Shabad Vichar by visiting Ragis and recordings of the complete Siri Guru Granth Sahib ji are available to buy.</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=The_Central_Gurdwara,_London&diff=16418
The Central Gurdwara, London
2006-08-31T15:35:34Z
<p>Bsingh20: </p>
<hr />
<div><h1>The Central Gurdwara (Khalsa Jatha) London</h1><br />
62 Queensdale Road, London W11 4SG Tel: 020 7603 2789 <br />
[http://www.centralgurdwara.org.uk/ Central Gurdwara]<br />
<br />
[[Image:Shepherd bush palki.jpg|thumb|Palki Sahib]]<br />
<br />
[[Image:Shepherd Bush langar.jpg|thumb|Langar Hall]]<br />
<br />
The Khalsa Jatha, British Isles, London was formed in the year 1908, to promote religious and social activities among the Sikhs who had settled in the UK. Later in the same year it was affiliated to the Chief Khalsa Diwan, Amritsar. In 1911 the Jatha acquired a house in Putney (South London) for a period of 2 years. The opening ceremony was performed by Maharaja Bhupindra Singh of Patiala. In 1913 the Jatha bought the lease of 79 Sinclair Road, Shepherd Bush, London. Where the Jatha remained for 63 years.<br />
<br />
From 1931 to 1950 the Khalsa Jatha made good serving the still small Sikh community. In 1953 weekly diwans started and in 1954 a full time [[Granthi]] was employed.<br />
<br />
As funds were raised, the Jatha purchased a building known as Norland Castle, Queensdale Road, London, in the [[Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea]] and in 1969 after extensive re-building the Jatha moved into the building where the Gurdwara now stands. The building consists of a [[Langar]] hall and kitchen at basement level, the main [[divan]] hall on the ground floor and a 1st floor gallery. <br />
<br />
The domes were added to the exterior in the early 1990's and a new [[palki]] sahib was built. A further programme of refurbishment began in 2000 to extend the 1st floor gallery to provide a second hall for smaller divans.<br />
<br />
<br />
====Gurbani Tapes====<br />
<br />
Recorded tapes of Shabad Kirtan and Shabad Vichar by visiting Ragis and recordings of the complete Siri Guru Granth Sahib ji are available to buy.</div>
Bsingh20
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=The_Central_Gurdwara,_London&diff=16417
The Central Gurdwara, London
2006-08-31T15:26:24Z
<p>Bsingh20: /* Gurdwara Facilities */</p>
<hr />
<div><h1>The Central Gurdwara (Khalsa Jatha) London</h1><br />
62 Queensdale Road, London W11 4SG Tel: 020 7603 2789 <br />
[http://www.centralgurdwara.org.uk/ Central Gurdwara]<br />
<br />
[[Image:Shepherd bush palki.jpg|thumb|Palki Sahib]]<br />
<br />
[[Image:Shepherd Bush langar.jpg|thumb|Langar Hall]]<br />
<br />
The Khalsa Jatha, British Isles, London was formed in the year 1908, to promote religious and social activities among the Sikhs who had settled in the UK. Later in the same year it was affiliated to the Chief Khalsa Diwan, Amritsar. In 1911 the Jatha acquired a house in Putney (South London) for a period of 2 years. The opening ceremony was performed by Maharaja Bhupindra Singh of Patiala. In 1913 the Jatha bought the lease of 79 Sinclair Road, Shepherd Bush, London. Where the Jatha remained for 63 years.<br />
<br />
From 1931 to 1950 the Khalsa Jatha made good serving the still small Sikh community. In 1953 weekly diwans started and in 1954 a full time Granthi was employed.<br />
<br />
As funds were raised, the Jatha purchased a building known as Norland Castle, Queensdale Road, London, in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and in 1969 after extensive re-building the Jatha moved into the building where the Gurdwara now stands. The building consists of a Langar hall and kitchen at basement level, the main divan hall on the ground floor and a 1st floor gallery. <br />
<br />
The domes were added to the exterior in the early 1990's and a new palki sahib was built. A further programme of refurbishment began in 2000 to extend the 1st floor gallery to provide a second hall for smaller divans.<br />
<br />
<br />
====Gurbani Tapes====<br />
<br />
Recorded tapes of Shabad Kirtan, Shabad Vichar by the famous visiting Ragis and complete Siri Guru Granth Sahib ji are available on Wednesday’s or Sunday’s during the Diwan times from the Tape Room.</div>
Bsingh20