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{{p|File:Deghinlangar.jpg|[[Degh]]}}
{{p|File:Deghinlangar.jpg|[[Degh]]}}


'''Degh Tegh''' ([[Punjabi]] ਦੇਗ ਤੇਗ): This term forms part of the Sikh [[Ardas]] where it is recited in the line: "ਦੇਗ ਤੇਗ ਫਤਹ, ਬਿਰਦ ਕੀ ਪੈਜ, ਪੰਥ ਕੀ ਜੀਤ...." "'''Daeg taeg Fateh''', bihrd kee paaej, Panth kee jeet....". The word "degh" means "Large cooking pot" or "cauldron" or an "offering". The word "tegh" means "sword" or "[[kirpan]]". The term "degh tegh" refers to the concept of serving food [[Langar]] and protecting the liberty of the community. The two concepts of making sure that everyone in the community is fed and does not go hungry; and also that no one's life is in any danger and that all in the community feel safe are both concepts equally promoted by [[Sikhi]] and the [[Sikh Gurus]].
'''Degh Tegh''' ([[Punjabi]] ਦੇਗ ਤੇਗ): This term forms part of the Sikh [[Ardas]] where it is recited in the line: "ਦੇਗ ਤੇਗ ਫਤਹ, ਬਿਰਦ ਕੀ ਪੈਜ, ਪੰਥ ਕੀ ਜੀਤ...." "'''Daeg taeg Fateh''', bihrd kee paaej, Panth kee jeet....". The first phrase is '''"Daeg taeg Fateh"'''which means victory to "degh and tegh"; the second phrase is ''"bihrd kee paaej"'' or "protecting the honour or  respect of the old or elderly" "and the third phrase is ''"Panth kee jeet"'' or "victory to the [[panth]] or 'followers of the righteous path'". In this article, we will just look at the first phrase: '''"Daeg taeg Fateh"'''


In [[Chaubis Avtar]] which is part of the [[Dasam Granth]], [[Guru Gobind Singh]] says: "Deg Teg Jag Maih Dou Chleha" which means "May both the kitchen and the sword prevail in the world" ([http://www.sridasam.org/dasam?Action=Page&p=733&english=t&id=93547 <big>ਅਪਨਾ ਜਾਨ ਮ੝ਝੇ ਪ੝ਰਤਿਪਰੀਝ ਚ੝ਨ ਚ੝ਨ ਸ਼ੱਤ੝ ਹਮਾਰੇ ਮਰੀਝ '''ਦੇਗ ਤੇਗ ਜਗ ਮੈ ਦੋਊ ਚਲੈ''' ਰਾਖ ਆਪ ਮ੝ਹਿ ਅਉਰ੝ ਨ ਦਲੈ ॥੪੩੬॥</big>]. In this line the Guru ordained that the kitchen to feed the poor and the sword to teach the tyrant should go together hand-in-hand.  
The word "degh" means "Large cooking pot" or "cauldron" or an "offering". The word "tegh" means "sword" or "[[kirpan]]". The term "degh tegh" refers to the concept of "degh" which is the serving of food to the community as in respect of the [[Langar]];  and "tegh" which is the protecting the liberty and rights of each member within the community.
 
The two concepts of making sure that everyone in the community is fed and does not go hungry; and also that no one's life in the community is in any danger and that all in society feel safe and protected are both concepts equally promoted by [[Sikhi]] and the [[Sikh Gurus]]. This combined concept has been promoted since the founder of [[Sikhism]], the young [[Guru Nanak]] who when asked by his father to do a "sacch suhdah" or "true deed" gladly and lovingly spent the 20 rupees given to him by his father on feeding the holy sadhus (priests) in the vicinity rather than starting a business as expected by his father.
 
The concept of communal sharing and of joint protection has been a cornerstone of [[Sikhi]].  
 
{{tuk|286|13045|ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਤ ਹੋਇ ਨਿਹਕਾਮੀ ਤਿਸ ਕਉ ਹੋਤ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਸ੝ਆਮੀ
|Sevĝ karaṯ ho▫e nihkĝmī. Ŧis ka▫o hoṯ parĝpaṯ su▫ĝmī.
|One who performs selfless service, without thought of reward, shall attain his Lord and Master.}}
 
{{tuk|508|22747|ਜੀਵਨ ਮ੝ਕਤ ਜਗਦੀਸ ਜਪਿ ਮਨ ਧਾਰਿ ਰਿਦ ਪਰਤੀਤਿ ਜੀਅ ਦਇਆ ਮਇਆ ਸਰਬਤ੝ਰ ਰਮਣੰ ਪਰਮ ਹੰਸਹ ਰੀਤਿ ॥੭॥
|Jīvan mukaṯ jagḝīs jap man ḝẖĝr riḝ parṯīṯ. Jī▫a ḝa▫i▫ĝ ma▫i▫ĝ sarbaṯar ramṇaʼn param hansah rīṯ. (7)
|Become Jivan-Mukta, liberated while yet alive, by meditating on the Lord of the Universe, O mind, and maintaining faith in Him in your heart.<br>
Show kindness and mercy to all beings, and realize that the Lord is pervading everywhere; this is the way of life of the enlightened soul, the supreme swan.(7)}}




==Detailed Description==
==Detailed Description==
In [[Chaubis Avtar]] which is part of the [[Dasam Granth]], [[Guru Gobind Singh]] says: "Deg Teg Jag Maih Dou Chleha" which means "May both the kitchen and the sword prevail in the world" ([http://www.sridasam.org/dasam?Action=Page&p=733&english=t&id=93547 <big>ਅਪਨਾ ਜਾਨ ਮ੝ਝੇ ਪ੝ਰਤਿਪਰੀਝ ॥ ਚ੝ਨ ਚ੝ਨ ਸ਼ੱਤ੝ ਹਮਾਰੇ ਮਰੀਝ ॥ '''ਦੇਗ ਤੇਗ ਜਗ ਮੈ ਦੋਊ ਚਲੈ''' ॥ ਰਾਖ ਆਪ ਮ੝ਹਿ ਅਉਰ੝ ਨ ਦਲੈ ॥੪੩੬॥</big>]. In this line the Guru ordained that the kitchen to feed the poor and the sword to teach the tyrant should go together hand-in-hand.


Deg and Teg are Persian words, meaning the kettle and the sword respectively. Deg literally means a cooking-pot. It symbolically stands for the free kitchen or Langar; whereas Teg or the sword represents dignity and power. Deg to feed the poor and the stranger, regardless of caste and religion; and Teg, the sword, to destroy the oppressor of humanity and protect the oppressed. Hence Deg and Teg are symbols of service and protection.  
Deg and Teg are Persian words, meaning the kettle and the sword respectively. Deg literally means a cooking-pot. It symbolically stands for the free kitchen or Langar; whereas Teg or the sword represents dignity and power. Deg to feed the poor and the stranger, regardless of caste and religion; and Teg, the sword, to destroy the oppressor of humanity and protect the oppressed. Hence Deg and Teg are symbols of service and protection.  

Revision as of 22:21, 10 July 2009

Degh Tegh (Punjabi ਦੇਗ ਤੇਗ): This term forms part of the Sikh Ardas where it is recited in the line: "ਦੇਗ ਤੇਗ ਫਤਹ, ਬਿਰਦ ਕੀ ਪੈਜ, ਪੰਥ ਕੀ ਜੀਤ...." "Daeg taeg Fateh, bihrd kee paaej, Panth kee jeet....". The first phrase is "Daeg taeg Fateh"which means victory to "degh and tegh"; the second phrase is "bihrd kee paaej" or "protecting the honour or respect of the old or elderly" "and the third phrase is "Panth kee jeet" or "victory to the panth or 'followers of the righteous path'". In this article, we will just look at the first phrase: "Daeg taeg Fateh"

The word "degh" means "Large cooking pot" or "cauldron" or an "offering". The word "tegh" means "sword" or "kirpan". The term "degh tegh" refers to the concept of "degh" which is the serving of food to the community as in respect of the Langar; and "tegh" which is the protecting the liberty and rights of each member within the community.

The two concepts of making sure that everyone in the community is fed and does not go hungry; and also that no one's life in the community is in any danger and that all in society feel safe and protected are both concepts equally promoted by Sikhi and the Sikh Gurus. This combined concept has been promoted since the founder of Sikhism, the young Guru Nanak who when asked by his father to do a "sacch suhdah" or "true deed" gladly and lovingly spent the 20 rupees given to him by his father on feeding the holy sadhus (priests) in the vicinity rather than starting a business as expected by his father.

The concept of communal sharing and of joint protection has been a cornerstone of Sikhi.

ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਤ ਹੋਇ ਨਿਹਕਾਮੀ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਕਉ ਹੋਤ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਸ੝ਆਮੀ ॥
Sevĝ karaṯ ho▫e nihkĝmī. Ŧis ka▫o hoṯ parĝpaṯ su▫ĝmī.
One who performs selfless service, without thought of reward, shall attain his Lord and Master.
ਜੀਵਨ ਮ੝ਕਤ ਜਗਦੀਸ ਜਪਿ ਮਨ ਧਾਰਿ ਰਿਦ ਪਰਤੀਤਿ ॥ ਜੀਅ ਦਇਆ ਮਇਆ ਸਰਬਤ੝ਰ ਰਮਣੰ ਪਰਮ ਹੰਸਹ ਰੀਤਿ ॥੭॥
Jīvan mukaṯ jagḝīs jap man ḝẖĝr riḝ parṯīṯ. Jī▫a ḝa▫i▫ĝ ma▫i▫ĝ sarbaṯar ramṇaʼn param hansah rīṯ. (7)
Become Jivan-Mukta, liberated while yet alive, by meditating on the Lord of the Universe, O mind, and maintaining faith in Him in your heart.

Show kindness and mercy to all beings, and realize that the Lord is pervading everywhere; this is the way of life of the enlightened soul, the supreme swan.(7)


Detailed Description

In Chaubis Avtar which is part of the Dasam Granth, Guru Gobind Singh says: "Deg Teg Jag Maih Dou Chleha" which means "May both the kitchen and the sword prevail in the world" (ਅਪਨਾ ਜਾਨ ਮ੝ਝੇ ਪ੝ਰਤਿਪਰੀਝ ॥ ਚ੝ਨ ਚ੝ਨ ਸ਼ੱਤ੝ ਹਮਾਰੇ ਮਰੀਝ ॥ ਦੇਗ ਤੇਗ ਜਗ ਮੈ ਦੋਊ ਚਲੈ ॥ ਰਾਖ ਆਪ ਮ੝ਹਿ ਅਉਰ੝ ਨ ਦਲੈ ॥੪੩੬॥. In this line the Guru ordained that the kitchen to feed the poor and the sword to teach the tyrant should go together hand-in-hand.

Deg and Teg are Persian words, meaning the kettle and the sword respectively. Deg literally means a cooking-pot. It symbolically stands for the free kitchen or Langar; whereas Teg or the sword represents dignity and power. Deg to feed the poor and the stranger, regardless of caste and religion; and Teg, the sword, to destroy the oppressor of humanity and protect the oppressed. Hence Deg and Teg are symbols of service and protection.

In Pakhiano Charitra Guru Gobind Singh says: "Charity and Kirpan are symbolic of self-respect" The terms Deg and Teg have so often come together in the Sikh literature and the history, symbolically meaning the sustenance: spiritual and material.

Some Sikhs also state that Deg is the "Bowl containing parshad" (the blessed pudding served in the Gurdwara) - teg is the kirpan and that Deg and Teg turns parshad into Karah parshad - holy blessed food. Others state that spiritual sustenance ie food (deg) plus kirpan (Teg) is essential for fateh (victory). Fateh does not simply mean victory in a battle field but in every endeavour of life, and Chardikala imparts an art of positive thinking.

Going back to the recitation from the ardas, "Deg, Teg and Fateh" - is a call by the sangat in the ardas for victory of the concept of "degh Tegh" ie May voctory prevail for the concept of "service and langar or food" and the "protection and safety" for all the peoples of the world.

See also