Siri Guru Granth Sahib

[SikherOfTheNaam]

As much as i respect and adore the Guru Granth Sahib i find it hard as to why we have to put it to sleep. I know its treated as a living Guru, but its hard to understand that aspect.

Many someone help,

Best wishes Khalsa123 :T:

[4givme4mysins]

Ek Onkar Satnam

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

I see it as a level of respect to our Guru, i can understand it may look like we put Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to sleep, obviously Guru ji does not sleep, it is to show we dont just treat our Guru the holy scriptures like all the other faiths i.e. wrapping up the quran in cloth and placing it on a shelth, it is our statement to the world that we revolve around our Guru and respect him as if he was in the form of our previous satgurus. The same misunderstanding people have regarding doing bhog on langar, we do not present Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji with food so Guru ji can magically eat it, we ask Guru ji to bless the langar and publically acknowledge he is the giver of the food.

Please forgive me if i have said anything offensive

Gurfateh ji

"I have no name"

[KharkooSingh]

Article from R4G blog.

http://respect4guruji.blogspot.com/2006/12...ernal-guru.html

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - The Eternal Guru of the Sikh Faith

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!!

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is often mistakenly referred to as a "book" by many western and even some Punjabi-originating people. For a Sikh, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji represents much more. In 1708 Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th Guru of the Sikh religion, passed the Guruship, or the spiritual succession and leadership of the Sikh religion onto the religion's formally compiled holy scriptures, transforming them into the 11th and eternal leader of the Sikh faith. For a Sikh, their Guru is much more than just a teacher but a figure of absolute respect and power. The word "Sikh" itself means "disciple" or "student" and a student must always have a teacher. The student must submit completely and wholeheartedly to his or her Guru and with faith and devotion place their head in the loving hands of their Guru.

Within the context of Sikhism, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is thus seen as a living embodiment of the Sikh religion, and the Sargun Saroop (visible form) of the 10 Gurus and thus God Himself. The whole purpose of a Gurdwara is to provide Parkash for Guru Ji and nothing else; Guru Sahib is kept in a clean, often decorated room, covered with Rumalas and placed on a Palki, or a royal throne. Sikhs in this way lovingly treat their Guru in the exact way they would treat a king of the highest order; the atmosphere of the Divan Hall is always one of complete respect and focus on Guru Sahib. Within this area all heads are covered and shoes are removed. Many will go as far as never to turn their back to the Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj.

Thus it is quite shocking when it is considered that despite many Sikhs focussing their entire life around and following Guru Sahib, some individuals feel that Guru Sahib should follow them! As Sikhs, we should be blessed that God has allowed us to have the very Darshan (presence) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj and allowed us to sit in His Darbar within the Gurdwara. Some people, usually through lack of education or understanding of the basic principles of Sikhism, have not understood the status of Guru Sahib within Sikhism. They feel that it is acceptable, that Guru Sahib can be taken to a place of their choice so that any religious formalities can be easily and very conveniently carried out in the same venue as where the post wedding celebrations and parties will take place.

The current state of affairs, whereby Guru Sahib is taken to places such as clubs, hotels and other similar places where alcohol, cigarettes, meat and other similar substances are used is wholly unacceptable. Within a Gurdwara, all three of the above mentioned substances are completely prohibited in any area; to take Guru Sahib to such a place where such substances may have been used previously or in some cases even used at the same time, is completely unacceptable and sacrilegious to the basic principles of Sikhism. No one is being forced to give up meat, alcohol or smoking; rather all that is being asked is the most very basic respect being shown to the centre of the entire Sikh faith - if we are unable to even display this and respect our teacher, father, guide and sustainer, how can we call ourselves Sikhs of our Guru?

Within the religious ceremony of the Sikh marriage, the bride and groom are required to do Parkama, or circle around Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The symbolism of this is that Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the centre of their life and sustainer of their marriage. It is hypocritical and severely dishonouring to take Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to a hotel or club for a false Sikh wedding. Should those involved in the marriage have no religious inclination, surely it would be better to bypass what is now degenerating into a hollow and meaningless practise for those who do not believe in it? Those who perform the religious rituals of the Sikh wedding simply as a formality should seriously rethink how they can be true to themselves and stop the meaning of the Sikh religious rituals being diluted and undermined. For those who truly do see Guru Sahib as the centre of their life, surely they should be able to come into the shelter of Guru Sahib's home (the Gurdwara) to show the intentions of their marriage in a sincere and heartfelt way?

The Akal Takht Sahib, the temporal authority for Sikhs worldwide, has already issued a Hukamnama, or command, that Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji cannot be taken to locations such as clubs or hotels for weddings. Whilst many of the offending parties complain those Sikhs who try to prevent the dishonouring of Guru Sahib to be "fanatics", they seem to conveniently forget that follow of the commands of Akal Takht Sahib has always been the norm for mainstream Sikhs.

[hum kookar tayray darbaar]

nirbhao naam dheyaaya.. atal sukh nanak paaya

waheguru waheguru waheguru

[hum kookar tayray darbaar]

nirbhao naam dheyaaya.. atal sukh nanak paaya

waheguru waheguru waheguru