Jaat Paat

[Vpanesar]

hey guys, im confused on some stuff and wondering if some of u can clear some stuff up for me. can a sikh call himself jatt? if he cant call himself a sikh jatt then i guess he cant call himself a punjabi sikh? sounds confusing??? well let me put it this way. i believe that if u call yourself a sikh, then u shouldnt believe in status and call urself a jatt or dharkan even if jatt isnt a caste. what someone said to me was that u cant call ur self punjabi sikh either. i dunt think anyone one should catergorize(if a word) into any sikh but just a sikh. eg. sikh jatt, sikh dharkan, sikh ramgharian, sikh nirankari, namdhari and so on......

and what's it say in the maryada? sikhs cant believe in castes? whats the actuall word cause i know its not castes?

the reason im asking is cause theres a debate on dholis.com lol

i'm fully against naming urself sikh_______ if u consider urself a sikh, then stay sikh and not jatt sikh, if ur a jatt stay jatt nd not sikhs.... its just hurting the sikh khom.

[EktaOne.com]

http://www.ektaone.com/sikhismcastes.php

"Know people by the light illuminating them and do not ask their caste; for in the hereafter no one is differentiated by caste."

Guru Nanak Dev Ji

Historical Context

Almost all the evils of Indian society and the misfortunes of the Indian subcontinent can be attributed to the introduction of the caste system.

When Aryans migrated to the sub-continent from Central Asia (approx. 500 BC), they were having a tough time at the hands of the native Dravidians.

Caste system at that time was expediency, so that the migrants might be able to devote their single-minded attention to the pursuits of education, statesmanship, agricultural and artisan activities.

To begin with, the duties were assigned to various citizens on the basis of their aptitude, intelligence and valour.

But as the conditions stabilised, birth and not worth became the exclusive factor for determining the caste of a person.

This sowed the seeds of India's political, social and economic evils.

Education became the exclusive monopoly of the Brahmins (priests).

They did not have to work for their livelihood, and enjoyed themselves on the offerings of others.

Kshatriyas, the martial class, assumed the entire political power.

The Vaishayas (working classes) were kept illiterate, because their low caste did not entitle them to any benefit of education and privilege of statesmanship.

The Shudras, the lowliest members of society had no rights, but all obligations of menial work.

The Brahmins began to regard themselves as touch-me-nots and the Shudras were despised as untouchables.

The Guru's Reforms

The teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the succeeding Guru's produced important reforms. Sikhi recognises no caste.

All people are equal irrespective of their calling and social positions.

Prince or serf, rich or poor, Brahman or shudra, man or woman, black or white, all as human beings, were considered to be equal.

"The caste of all mankind is one and the same."

Guru Gobind Singh Ji

In order to counteract the traditions of inequality the Guru's introduced langar (common kitchen) where Hindus and Muslims, Brahmans and Shudras, princes and paupers all sat down in rows together (pangat) and took food.

Even Emperor Akbar of Delhi had to sit down and dine with sweepers and beggars in the Guru's kitchen before he was allowed to see the Guru in person.

Sikhi is a great leveller of people and emphatically declares the equality of all.

Equality Of All People - The Guru's Basic Teachings

In order to demonstrate practically that the Gurus meant what they said. Guru Arjan Dev Ji (the 5th Guru) included in the Guru Granth Sahib the hymns of Muslim and Hindu Bhagats (Saints) some of whom belonged to the so-called low castes.

One of these Saints was Bhagat Kabir Ji, he was born into a Shudra family of cloth weavers in 1398 AD Kabir worshipped One formless God, led a pious life, preached love of God and fellow beings, as God's light was equally present in all.

He raised a powerful voice against caste and challenged the high caste Brahmans:

"How is it that you claim to be a Brahman and brand us as untouchables ?

Do you dare call yourself milk-white and label us as polluted blood?

"If you claim to be a Brahman because you were born to a Brahman woman; Do you also dare to claim that you were born differently?"

Bhagat Kabir Ji

Actions make people high or low, good or bad, the ignorant person is the one who is proud of their birth :

"God created light;

His omnipotence gave birth to all;

All beings are born from the same light, how can some be good and some bad?

Your caste and rank depend on your own actions.

Do not be proud of your caste.

O ignorant fool, this pride is the root of all evils."

Guru Nanak Dev Ji

The Gurus created a casteless society, but what is happening today ?

Why is it when you ask a person what he/she is they say :" Oh, I'm a Sikh " but then they also proudly say: " I'm a JAT !! " .. "I'm a Ramgharia !!" .. "I'm a Ravidasi !!" or .. "I'm a Parjapat !!".

The Guru's shown us the way and yet we don't even follow the Guru's basic teachings; have a look at ourselves, are we contradicting ourselves by calling ourselves "Sikh" and then believing and holding onto the caste system.

The fundamental assumption of the caste ideology is that people are not born equal, but are forever unequal. Do we want to believe in this ?

How Can We Release Ourselves From The Evil Chains Of Caste ?

The previous generation has shown their ignorance of the Guru's teachings by believing in caste marriages and going to the extent of naming Gurdwaras by caste.

We the next generation need to look at the mistakes of our parents and amend them to the Guru's teachings.

The solution to free ourselves from caste is by love and attachment to The Truth, we will be immensely pressurised by our parents, peers and society to believe in the caste system, in the same way other prejudices become the norm, but whilst respecting our parents we must attach ourselves to the truth - that caste has no place in Sikhi.

The more closer we get to Guru Ji (Guru Granth Sahib Ji) the more God will shower his grace upon us, and free us from the evil chains of caste which have stalled the development of our society.

By arming ourselves with the knowledge of Gurbani we will also gain the answers to the mythology we will be challenged with.

We may ask 'How can I get closer to Guru Ji and God ? - There are many ways which can be tried - it is all about making the effort to take steps towards Guru Ji.

The relationship between the true Sikh and Guru Ji is unique and special:

"By taking one step towards the Guru, the Guru will take thousands of steps towards you."

Guru Granth Sahib Ji

We can try to read translations, try to understand what the Guru is saying to us, learn our great history; the greatest timeless philosopher is Guru Ji and yet we don't even make an effort to understand what the Guru is saying- this says a lot about today's Sikhs.

Amrit - The Answer

At the time of baptism ceremony (Amrit Sanskar), the Guru enjoined on all who have joined the Khalsa that they should consider any previous 'castes' erased and deem themselves as brothers and sisters; all members of one family.

When initiated into the Khalsa order there is no question of so called caste.

Amrit is drank from the same iron bowl to shatter all barriers.

The example of the Panj Piara's, all five from different background and place of origin, shows us the way to unification into the family of God.