InderjitS

Guru Ki Maseet. When Hargobind Sahib Ji was anointed the sixth guru of the Sikhs he asked Baba Buddha Ji, an eminent Sikh to bring forth two swords. These Guru Sahib Ji put on as symbols of spiritual (miri) and temporal (piri) authority. Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji is known as ‘miri piri thay malik’, Lord of miri piri. Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji built the Akal Takhat, the throne of the Almighty, opposite the Harmindar Sahib (Golden temple), again this was a sign of bringing together spiritual and temporal powers. In December, 1634 Guru Hargobind Sahib fought a fierce battle against Mughal forces near the river Beas, although heavily outnumbered Guru Ji was victorious. Guru Sahib Ji decided to stay for a while, and soon a settlement grew up. The settlement expanded into a town which became known as Sri Hargobindpur (-pur, being a suffix for place of). As the conflict with the Mughals was intensifying the towns defences were fortified. In fact, these fortifications were so solid that the original city walls and many buildings within are still visible today throughout Sri Hargobindpur Residents of all faiths flocked to the Guru and perceived themselves as heirs to the sixth Guru’s desire to found a secure and secular home on the banks of the Beas. The Sikhs built themselves a Gurdwara (Sikh temple) but the local Muslims did not have the capacity to build themselves a place of worship. They came to the Guru and asked him for help. The All Knowing Guru was equally comfortable with Muslim faqirs and Hindu sadhus and saw all people with one benevolent gaze. Guru Sahib Ji ordered his Sikhs to start construction of a maseet (mosque). The maseet was duly completed and handed over to the Muslims. With the turmoil of the partitioning of India in 1947, the mosque fell into a state of neglect and disrepair. In time the care of the masset fell into the hands of a group a Nihang Singhs who installed the Sikh scriptures Guru Granth Sahib. For many years, the mosque was maintained by the Nihangs. In February 8th, 2003 a “Memorandum of Understanding” (MoU) was signed by Baba Kirtan Singh the chief of the Nihangs, the Sikh caretakers of the mosque, and the Punjab Waqf Board. It was Baba Kirtan Singhs desire that Muslims perform their prayers at the mosque which was gifted to them. As per the wishes of Baba Kirtan Singh, five saplings were planted in the names of the Sikh Gurus. Dr Mohammad Rizwanul Haque, Punjab Waqf Board Administrator, described the MoU as an international event which would pave the way for strengthening communal harmony in the country. The mosque was in a state of disrepair and work began on its restoration by a group of Sikhs and Muslims in a unique manifestation of India's multi-religious society. Sikhs offered their labour, Muslim masons repaired the walls and an all-woman team of restorers led by Ms Gurmeet Kaur Rai lent its expertise. The entire village, and even those from the surrounding areas, answered Rai's call for clearing the earth around the shrine. Hundreds of school children and Nihangs did the spadework. Today the mosque stands elevated. "We will now try and remove all later additions, like cement, plaster and white-wash from the brick structure, and then apply lime paste plaster, which will allow the building to breathe," said Rai. The work was finally completed on March 23rd, 2004. ''The performance of Muslim religious prayers in the mosque after 55 years would be recorded in history as an event when Sikhs showed so much magnanimity towards Muslims,'' said Dr Mohammed Rizwanul Haque. In a similar event a year ago Sikhs of Chahar Mazra village in Ropar District built a mosque for their Muslim neighbours. Sant Varyam Singh, who heads Vishwa Gurumat spiritual mission in the adjacent Ratwara Sahib village, built the mosque for the Muslims of the area. The first prayers were offered in March last year. After the prayers there were heart-warning scenes of celebrations and Muslims embracing their Sikh brethren. The Guru’s civic plan reflected this understanding of the concept of God having multiple names but being one entity as the town includes gurdwaras, temples and a mosque. Even today, the people of Sri Hargobindpur visit all these places frequently and freely, regardless of their religious affiliations.

The best English parchar on this topic is by Bhai Kulbir Singh, well worth watching: It deals with the many points raised above, some correct and others not so.

Gurugranthdarpan.com

Prof Sahib Singh: ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਮਾਲਕ-ਪ੍ਰਭੂ! ਮੈਂ (ਭੀ) ਤੇਰੇ (ਬਖ਼ਸ਼ਸ਼ ਦੀ) ਕਦਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਾਂ ਜਾਣਦਾ, ਮੈਨੂੰ ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੀ ਸੂਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੀ, ਤੇਰੇ ਚਰਨਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਟਿਕਾਣੀ ਭੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਸਾਂ, ਕਿਸੇ ਹੋਰ ਧਾਰਮਿਕ ਕੰਮ ਦੀ ਭੀ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਸੂਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੀ। ਪਰ (ਤੇਰੀ ਮੇਹਰ ਨਾਲ) ਮੈਨੂੰ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਡਾ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਮਿਲ ਪਿਆ, ਜਿਸ ਨੇ ਮੇਰੀ ਲਾਜ ਰੱਖ ਲਈ (ਤੇ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਤੇਰੇ ਚਰਨਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਜੋੜ ਦਿੱਤਾ)

Our ears have become accustomed to Harmonium so we (including myself) like it. But in truth, nothing in reality compares to Kirtan accompanied with string and wind instruments, unmatched for the infinite range of notes available. Flute and Saranghi for me produce the most magical sounds. When matched with a suitable voice its out of this world, hits you right in the chest. A Shabad sung in raag with these instruments, I find also has a longer lasting impact on the mind.

Good news, I wish Gurinder Singh would stop calling a Gurdwara a temple though :stupidme:

On the 20th anniversary of the police abduction of human rights defender Jaswant Singh Khalra, Ensaaf released A Light of Justice: Commemorating Jaswant Singh Khalra. This 30-minute film contains interviews with Khalra’s family, as well as archival footage of Khalra when he was investigating secret cremations and disappearances in Punjab. Twenty years after Khalra’s martyrdom, the architects of the widespread and systematic human rights abuses in Punjab remain free. The Indian government is no closer to bringing Gill and the other perpetrators to justice for organizing Khalra’s – and thousands of other innocent Sikhs’ – death. Please watch and share this film via Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

edited for those who should not be reading this past the watershed :omg:

My wife thinks there is equality in our house :surrender:

The trickiest part is filtering genuine refugees and asylum seekers who should be sheltered by all countries from those that are riding on the proverbial gravy train. For all we know hundreds of ISIL fighters could end up in the West, well hidden amongst those really in need. So aside from Muslim over breeding and them placing a strain on already tight resources, the West may hypothetically end up with a security nightmare on their hands. Someone in the know may be able to explain where a country like the UK would extradite extremist refugees without passports and from a war torn country?

I should have written 'At this present stage though, surely anyone is better than Prakash Chand Badal'. Capt A is no better than him. Yes Aap is for sure a better alternative.

Equality has not place for us, women are meant to be subservient to men :lol2:

Don't know if they are anti-Sikh, but Kejriwal has not made any mention for autonomy in Punjab for Sikhs or a separate homeland. Simranjit Singh Maan said recently why would he, he's Hindu! At this present stage though, surely anyone maybe apart from Capt A, has to be be better than Prakash Chand.

Everyone's at it in these places not just Sikhs, they have ruined their own back gardens in the quest for money and you're right some have moved into affluent home counties, but the old guard have been doing this for 3 decades. Councils cannot keep up with the rate of these ugly outbuildings and very few are demolished. Ealing Hospitals eventual development and proposed 270 homes will also no doubt bring the cash rolling in to its new owners.

I'd like to see DTF speak for himself. No one should have more than one ID unless they have something to hide or have an ulterior motive. Dhoka taa aslee vich aap noo hi hunda.

Wow some Singhs are highly excitable! As the title suggests I was referring to Salok Mahalla 9, of course nothing is wrong with the rest of it, why would it be?

How have you figured out DTF has all these aliases? Without having read all his posts, I find them mostly in line with Sikhi, aside from the one where he is happy for sham marriages to take place at the Guru Ghar.

Vah! Kinee saaf vaaj, te man noon shaanti jhat mildhee :biggrin2: from 08:32 onwards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6uUGcGaCpc#t=454

Wow, used to listen to all these on records and cassette. Brings back memories, golden days those were :biggrin2:

According to pages 210 - 211 in this book, KPS Gill and Badal held meetings to discuss fake encounters and how to rid Punjab of the Kharkoos. Another claim is he even appeared at the bhog of the murdered Singh's and shed crocodile tears, what a Kanjar and Akirtghan!. The chance of Singh's being released under his regime is NIL. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x34r1r3

The tunes are usually recycled between keertanis of old to the more up an coming ones. For instance the tune for the shabad 'Mere Shaha' has been modified when compared to the one performed by Tejinderpal Singh 'Dulla Jee'. I was going to say I preferred Dulla Jee's but both are great!

Instead they uttered "Mittha Lagai Tera Bana". Slight correction - Tera Bhana Meetha Lagai Ardas is a powerful tool and performed with real conviction anything is possible, yes even the changing of grades after the event. Nothing is impossible where the relationship of Hari and his jan is concerned. It is true we should ask for naam dhi dhaat and Gursikhi jeevan come what may, but we are his 'kids' and unworthy and still ask for material well being and all sorts of other maya. Bhagat Dhanna Ji in his innocent manner and beautifully captured in Aarti asked for a horse, a good wife, quality grains. clothes and gheo. There are numerous Sakhis that back the power of Ardas (yes I know you are not questioning this) and sometimes even trivial requests are fulfilled depending on the state of the requester. This is one reason spiritually advanced souls speak very little in case the inadvertently say something they might regret.

Good idea in principle, will not happen until the dusht is dethroned. Take back 'Panth Rattan' title from Badal, say Surat Khalsa supporters Sikh activist Surat Singh Khalsa at the civil hospital in Ludhiana on Monday. (HT Photo) The supporters of Surat Singh Khalsa, who has been on a hunger strike since January demanding the release of Sikh detainees, on Monday appealed to Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh to withdraw' the 'Panth Rattan, Fakr-e-Quam' honour that was bestowed on Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The Akal Takht had bestowed this title or honour on Badal in 2011 in recognition of his services to the Sikh 'panth' (community). The supporters of Khalsa under the banner of, 'Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa Sangarsh Committee', met the Jathedar in his office here on Monday. They forwarded a memorandum to him in which they made this demand, referring to the Chief Minister as an enemy (dushman) of the Sikh 'panth'. They have set August 30 as the deadline for withdrawing this honour and threatened that if their demand was not met then, " the 'quam' will itself issue a directive announcing the withdrawal of the honour ". Those who met the Jathedar included Surjit Singh Kalabala, SGPC member, Jarnail Singh Sakhira and Jaskaran Singh Kahan Singhwala, both of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Harbir Singh Sandhu and Gurdip Singh Bathinda. "We have the highest regard for the Akal Takht and have always been ready to submit to its dictates. At critical junctures, the 'quam' always looks to the Akal Takht for guidance", the memorandum stated. The memorandum described Badal as a " dushman of the Sikh quam", holding him responsible for the "degradation of Sikh values". The memorandum claimed that as chief minister he had taken no worthwhile steps to secure the release of Sikh detainees who have behind bars for a very long and for whose release Surat Singh Khalsa had gone on hunger strike. The memorandum held Badal responsible for the rise in the number of drug addiction cases in Punjab as he did not take stern measures to check drug smuggling into the state. "IF you do not withdraw this honour then you will be insulting those 'panthic' stalwarts who were bestowed with this high honour earlier", the memorandum stated. The Jathedar refused to comment on the contents of the memorandum or on the demand of the Sangarsh Committee.